Behind the Lens: A Personal Reflection
- dfflip
- Jul 20
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 20
The Beginning: Coffee Shop Conversations
This journey began in the most humble of places—coffee shops scattered around the city. Paula Puryear and I would meet regularly, sharing stories and visions over endless cups of coffee. It was crucial for her to express her creative vision, and equally important for me to understand the personal story she wanted to tell. These conversations revealed the deeply personal nature of this project—a story rooted in Paula’s own upbringing and experiences. I’m grateful she trusted me enough to share such intimate details of her journey, as it became the foundation for everything we built together.
What I didn’t expect was how deeply it would impact my own life. As Paula opened up about her struggles, it mirrored some of what I had gone through with my own son. I’d been trying to find a way back to him, trying to bridge a gap that had grown too wide for comfort. Working on this film gave me something I hadn’t felt in a long time—clarity and the courage to reach out. Working through this story with Paula brought up so much that I found myself crying harder than I ever had before.
In helping Paula tell her story, I found the strength to start rewriting mine. The process was more than just professional—it was personal. Because of it, my son and I have rebuilt something I once feared was lost. Our bond is stronger today because of this project. It didn’t just move my career forward—it healed something in me I didn’t even know needed healing.
The Challenge: Creating Everything from Nothing
This project represented the biggest production challenge I'd faced to date as Director of Photography. For the first time, we were filming entirely on a movie ranch with completely blank sets. Nothing existed beforehand—no courtroom, no house, no bedrooms. Every single element had to be manufactured and built from scratch. We transformed empty spaces into Paula's childhood home, constructed a functioning courtroom, and created authentic living spaces that would transport audiences to another time. Production Designer Marian Wood's vision and expertise were instrumental in bringing these sets to life, ensuring every detail served the story's emotional core.
Period Authenticity: The Devil in the Details
Set in the 1980s and 1990s (which, as I'm reminded, now qualifies as "period"—making me feel appropriately vintage), every detail mattered. From the RV featured in key scenes to the car driven by our lead actress, everything had to be authentic to its specific time period. It's funny how these details might go unnoticed by audiences, but they're essential for creating that seamless sense of place and time that makes a story believable.
Industry Powerhouses Behind the Vision
Beyond our incredible on-set team, this project attracted some of the entertainment industry's most respected figures as executive producers and key collaborators. Having Barbara Broccoli, the legendary James Bond producer and CBE recipient, serve as executive producer brought unparalleled industry credibility to our production. Her recent $1 billion deal with Amazon for the Bond franchise speaks to her influence in Hollywood.
Preston Holmes, whose three-decade career includes hits like "New Jack City," "Girls Trip," and "Till," joined as producer, bringing his proven track record of over $430 million in box office success. His long-standing collaboration with Spike Lee and expertise in both independent and commercial filmmaking made him an invaluable partner.
Will Packer's involvement as executive producer added another layer of industry support, while Kim Coleman—a two-time Emmy-nominated casting director known for her work on "BlacKkKlansman," "Lovecraft Country," and collaborations with Spike Lee and Tyler Perry—ensured we had access to exceptional talent throughout the casting process.
Having this caliber of industry veterans believe in our project and contribute their expertise validated our vision and elevated every aspect of the production. Their combined experience spans decades of successful filmmaking, from blockbuster franchises to critically acclaimed independent films.
Exceptional Performances That Elevated Every Scene
The heart of any film lies in its performances, and our cast delivered beyond all expectations. Luta Young brought such a great spirit to set—her energy is infectious and her performance was outstanding. She has this remarkable ability to find truth in every moment, making even the most challenging scenes feel effortless.
Gerald Dewey brought a realism and intensity that couldn't be faked. At times, I was brought to tears from the emotion he brought to the screen. His commitment to authenticity and his fearless approach to the character created some of the most powerful moments in the film.
Kelly Jenrette's professionalism and depth as a performer anchored many of our most crucial scenes. Her ability to convey complex emotions with subtlety and grace reminded everyone on set why she's considered one of the industry's most respected talents.
Victoria Nuckles delivered a performance that was both nuanced and compelling. Her natural charisma and genuine approach to the character brought layers of complexity that enriched every scene she was in, proving once again that great casting is the foundation of great storytelling.
The Dream Team and Incredible Support
I knew this ambitious project would require my most trusted collaborators. Jerry Mundy, my longtime gaffer, brought his 10-ton grip truck and gave everything he had to the project. His expertise and equipment were invaluable in bringing our vision to life.
Sofia Gonzalez, our first AC, and Joe Hernandez, our steadicam operator, both went above and beyond. We worked Joe hard around the clock, and his dedication never wavered. I’ve worked with Sofia on multiple projects, and it’s incredible how far she’s come. She’s grown into a sharp, detail-oriented first AC—and now she’s even teaching me things about lenses.
We shot on the RED V-RAPTOR, which gave us incredible flexibility and dynamic range. One of the things I did differently on this project was shoot exteriors at 2000 ISO and interiors at 500 ISO (yes you read that right). Paired with Tokina Cinema lenses, the look we achieved was rich and cinematic, with beautifully preserved highlights and shadows. Dan Duran at RED was especially helpful, offering key advice on how to protect detail in both ends of the exposure range.
I’m also incredibly grateful to RED Camera, who generously donated their equipment for this production. Thanks to Naida Albright and Clark McClanathan, we had access to professional-grade gear that truly elevated the entire project. It was a gesture they absolutely didn’t have to make, but their support made all the difference. It’s this kind of industry generosity that keeps independent filmmaking alive.
Even our PAs flew in from Houston, thanks to Tyrone Dixon—a professor with a PhD in film philosophy whose presence on set was inspiring. Having access to his brilliant mind and thoughtful perspective elevated everyone's work. Tyrone is more than a colleague; he's become a brother through this process.
Against the Odds
We completed this five-day shoot despite going through two ADs who believed the schedule was impossible. But Paula Puryear's persistence and our team's determination proved them wrong. We made our days, completed our shot list, and learned invaluable lessons along the way.
Gratitude and Growth
This experience has been transformative. Working with such dedicated artists, building something substantial from nothing, and witnessing Paula's vision come to life has reminded me why I fell in love with filmmaking. Every challenge we faced—from construction delays to equipment issues to scheduling conflicts—became an opportunity to innovate and grow.
The generosity of companies like Red Camera and individuals like Naida, Clark, Jerry, Sofia, Joe, and Tyrone demonstrates the collaborative spirit that makes our industry special. When people believe in a project and choose to support it, magic happens.
As I continue my journey as a filmmaker, this project will always represent what's possible when creative vision meets unwavering determination and community support. I'm grateful for every person who contributed to bringing this story to life, and I'm excited to share the final result with audiences soon.
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