An Interdependent Film

As we come closer to our private preview cast and crew screening, I’d like to share with you some thoughts on the concept of INTERDEPENDENT FILMMAKING, and specifically how it applies to White Knuckles. 

White Knuckles was born out of a deep desire to explore a story with a group of artists through the collaborative medium of film – and to explore it as much as possible while the story is happening – while it’s on its feet in production – while the characters fully inhabit the actors.  The means of accomplishing this would be a team of artists that could invest themselves personally in the shared vision of the project, and could work as a unified whole that could shift, adapt and adjust whenever the story changed based on the flexible nature of capturing dramatic improvisation. This could only be accomplished by maintaining a collective atmosphere of safety and trust with the crew, filmmakers and the cast. An atmosphere where the actors could feel like they can fully explore their characters without any judgments or self-direction. A creative space where the actors can go deeper in the improvisational present moment, and the filmmakers and the crew can support and guide them along. A truly interdependent process where there are no idle hands on set – a place where everyone is involved, and each member on the production is truly critical.

With White Knuckles, we wanted to see what would happen if we wrote a script and then took it away at some point during production – when the film begins to breathe on its own. We wanted to see “what happens with the characters” and we wanted to see “where will the story go?” It was in a large part about curiousity. Though we had a screenplay that would be great to shoot – we thought that perhaps guiding the improvisation initially, we could fully let go later and produce real surprises and true-to-life dialogue and moments that could not have otherwise been planned.  To do this in a drama that goes to the places White Knuckles does – it took the safety net of the rest of the cast and crew to make this work. Really, it took each other – and every individual working together as a unified whole to make this real “Interdependent” film happen.

There is a point in every soulful, artful film production where the actors seem to fully inhabit the characters, sooner or later. On set, sometimes this happens early – other times certain key aspects of the character emerge later depending on the circumstance. But ultimately – there is a collaborative search for truth that makes ‘a film by Sabi Pictures’ – and if the film is honest (as I believe White Knuckles is) than perhaps it will be blessed to find its audience.  

It is a rare group of talented filmmakers that converged to create White Knuckles. And what we have in this film, is in my humble opinion, a true example of interdependent filmmaking. As filmmakers – we all simply wanted to be able to let go of pages and pre-conceived notions and rather listen very closely to what comes out of (and what comes from within the soul) of the character. We wanted to hear an authentic voice, and wanted to see the story that was the deeper, more meaningful, more real version (than the duplication of the intentions on the page). We want to see the sum that is greater than it’s parts – a piece of real art emerging from our collective creative contributions together. 

This is ultimately the collective desire of a collaborative group of artists working on an Interdependent Film. Interdependent Filmmaking is the kind of filmmaking where one uses “us” and “we” and “our” more often than they use “I” when describing the process of making that film. We think that White Knuckles is unique because of the interdependent nature of the shoot. The WK website’s “Creative” section details examples of how many of us together collaborated on this film, and there will also be some behind the scenes posted to get a look at the faces that made it happen. 

As with every interdependent film, there are so many hands on the work that it is hard to summarize or describe the process of each member that took part – but each person’s contribution made the film possible. And though the credits on the film will generally reveal every person’s name that contributed – there are so many more roles that were filled by each member than can possibly be listed. 

Calling White Knuckles and interdependent film is a way to say Thank You – to acknowledge that the film could not be possible without the entire interwoven web of creative contributions, a network of interdependent people, that all get behind one idea. It’s a beautiful thing when it works, and it is the most fulfilling kind of filmmaking. And Interdependent Filmmaking is the evolution of the art form, in my humble opinion.  I’m honored to have been a part of this process at Sabi Pictures. Sure it is an ever-changing and an ever-evolving process with each new story – but the unique way of making each film bears one thing in common between everything we’ve made: there is simply no room and no time for inflated egos when a group of artists want to venture into the great unknown of making a film together. There is only room to learn from one another, for true collaboration, for support of each other under any circumstance, and for the collective desire to see the story through to the end no matter what.  We had a very talented group of individuals that came together to bring you the interdependent film White Knuckles – as well as Heart of Now. We guided the stories to the end rather than pushed them, and what resulted from the process thus far may move you, and perhaps even surprise you.

Kevin K. Shah
Director

A NEW letter from Sue Gaetzman

August 26, 2008

Dearest Kevin,

Am I too late to send my thoughts on the movie? Can you ever forgive me? You are always on my mind and in my heart, it’s just that sometimes I physically don’t have it together. But I am doing much better. I seem to have more energy in the evenings. Mornings are challenging. But it is one of my goals to improve on that. My life has changed in so many ways since hearing of the cancer, I can’t begin to tell you, but I’m sure you can imagine. It seems everything has changed. So, such is life…it’s full of change. We just have to make the best of it and believe that everything is good.

I miss everyone in the cast and crew of your fabulous film. Even if I am too late to have this printed, let me say a few things

just so you know.

I will speak in the 3rd person in case you have time to use it.

“Working with Kevin Shah was a gift from the heavens. I have acted in my share of films and television so I can honestly say that starting with Kevin the director, and including the entire cast and hard-working, diligent crew — my experience was comparable to the best of the best. And I think it is evident when you see the end product. The movie reeks of professionalism with every take. I particularly loved the style in which Kevin chose to direct the actors–as we improvised while loosely staying with the script. It made for a very stimulating and unpredictable exercise and one in which I would love to experience again. I thought the beauty of the film was in it’s honestly displayed in every moment. I found myself mesmerized by these peoples’ lives, feeling at times, a sparkle in my eyes and a smile, and at other times, great sadness. I also enjoyed the music and shots of nature’s scenery, which added mood and texture. It takes a sensitive director to allow that to happen and a crew that was in every way, a part of the transformation. Kudos to Kevin for manning the ship on the ocean from where so many treasures were found.”

Please keep in touch, Kevin, and I promise to do the same, especially since I’m back online. When you get a chance, I’d love to hear from you.

You’re the best.

All my love,

SUE GAETZMAN

Sue Gaetzman plays Dora in the film, Julie’s best friend and the catalyst for the idea that Julie gets in her mind on how she might be able to change her situation with her husband William. It’s Dora’s dark humor that leads Julie down an unexpected path that sets off the chain of events of the rest of the film. When Julie sees how happy Dora is since her husband passed away, she can’t help but wonder what her life might like if William suddenly disappeared. Dora is a multi-layered character, on one hand she enjoys her new found freedom, on the other hand – her experience with her husband’s passing has brought a price. But in her joyful, sincere way – Dora is there for Julie throughout the film, and we get a glimpse into her deepest secret before the end.

Sue Gaetzman played Dora with honesty and courage, she brought to this character layers upon layers, and made her come to life on screen in the most realistic way. Sue and I discussed creating a character that would be likeable despite her dark humor, a woman that clearly is happy with her new life, and wants to share that joy with her best friend whom she sees is stuck. Sue and I talked about how Dora couldn’t simply be a “device” in this film – that although she is a catalyst, she is a human being with her own feature length story – and we wanted to treat her this way, we wanted to feel the presence of Dora in her absence – we wanted the audience and Julie to wake up to possibilities whenever she appeared on screen.

We also talked about drawing from personal experience if possible and if appropriate, and we discussed improvising the lines at length before we began shooting, including incorporating personal feelings of what it’s like to lose a loved one into the picture. Sue’s naturally warm and flirtatious personality endeared the entire cast and crew to her – and her little quirks come out in the most unique way in her portrayal of Dora. To say she’s created a spitfire of a character would be an injustice. Sue Gaetzman’s Dora is a forest fire, and ignites the screen with every scene she’s in.

Our thoughts, prayers and best wishes for continued healing is with you Sue from myself and everyone here at Sabi. Godspeed a full recovery (and a screening of our film which we will attend together).