Ashley gives an update on Life’s Waltz as we start Week 3 of production.

In the spring of 2008, Jared and I completed this short documentary on senior living in retirement communities. Since we had such a positive experience and since we still have a lot of passion for the subject matter, we decided over the phone to expand the project into a feature length film. Our first “feature” film—it’s very exciting and very empowering!

As we’ve been gearing up for this film, it’s been interesting to observe my other friends and their post-graduate lifestyles, too. We all graduated with the same film degree from USC back in May 2008, but many of these friends and I have taken very different paths in pursing this medium and the entertainment industry at large. So far, the path that Jared and I have taken to pursue this project seems to be more atypical that others, though each side has pros and cons.

Like any independent film project, Life’s Waltz has its own set of risks. We have no guarantees for distribution or a salary, but our job description excludes the menial responsibilities Hollywood has to offer us recent grads and there is an immense amount of potential for Jared and me to grow as individuals and as filmmakers (technically, emotionally, creatively, collaboratively, etc.). “Real jobs” are supposed to be more financially stable and provide networking opportunities or promotions; but starting out as an assistant or a PA can consume you and often it’s difficult to envision how your 12-hour days, dedicated to a boss that throws a stapler at your head when you don’t roll calls in ~9 seconds, can help you move forward toward your professional goals. For me, this industry we are all getting ourselves into remains very fascinating, exciting, and a bit frightening too.

But, I digress.

As Jared has mentioned, I have had a very strict condition that I would not travel to Dallas until the equipment was purchased and we had equipment with which to film.

“I ain’t goin’ nowhere ‘til you git that came-rah!”

Until that condition was fulfilled, I did whatever producing I could to move the project forward as if the film might take place in Oregon. I helped in drafting our original proposal for the communities; compiled a grant proposal; visited some retirement communities in the neighborhood; researched local businesses in my hometown of Bend and in Dallas that might serve as sponsors; and approached contacts in the documentary industry to seek out advice on everything from equipment to distribution. The ultimate goal was for the project to take place in Dallas; but my job was organize enough of a set-up in Oregon so that if our situation in Dallas fell through, that we would have an equally strong contender to keep the project going.

My days in Oregon were a mixture of pre-production work for Life’s Waltz and at least one outdoor indulgence per day. Fortunately, this year’s autumn was particularly wonderful. The bike trails, damp and littered with fallen maple leaves and larch needles, were irresistible; the weather was perfect for a horseback ride among the manzanita on a crisp afternoon; and the lack of snow made it possible to fit in one last hike in the Cascades.

“I’m gonna write this part of the proposal up, research two more companies, and then go horse-riding for four hours! Woooo!”

But, I am totally biased and am in love with Oregon.

Simultaneously, Jared was a rock star in staying informed on the latest technologies and highest quality, most cost effective products we would use for picture and sound. Let’s hear a round of applause! But, continually finding newer, albeit better, equipment still resulted in a later starting date for our first day of filming. As I reflect on this moment in pre-production, we were certainly itching to get filming! Since this project is constantly seeking out active seniors, I recall Jared suggesting,

“We could just go to a skydiving company and ask them if they have anyone 65+ who skydives and tag along with those extreme seniors.”

“Or bullriders, or snowboarders. Wow, that could be crazy,” I replied.

But, as it turns out…

Jared and I are very diligent, persistent individuals. And finally, this persistence began to pay off everything began to come together: we were able to garner the trust and approval of those in charge at Jared’s grandmother’s retirement community, Town Village North; we also secured additional communities for filming; formed Life’s Waltz Productions, LLC; purchased state-of-the-art equipment; we’ve finalized a starting day for shooting; and lastly, I’m now living in TEXAS! One day I’m a passenger atop a galloping horse down a dusty, forested trail in Oregon, and now about to co-direct a documentary about a group of people who I have a lot of respect for and feel are underrepresented in mainstream media.

I’m here. In Dallas, Texas. The equipment arrived. Our subjects are ready. We’ve scheduled interviews. The blog is up. The YouTube Channel active. No lights, lots of camera, and we’ve yet to see what action will unfold…thanks for reading and I hope you continue to follow this adventure!

If you’re reading this, you probably already know a bit about what we’re doing. But just in case, let me catch you up really quickly. Ashley and I are co-creating (producing, directing, shooting, editing, etc.) a feature documentary (80-120 minutes) together. Just the two of us. We’ve already done a short-subject doc about the same thing–life in old age–and it was such an amazing experience that we decided to do it again in a way that could have the potential to get the message out to so many more people. So, we have gotten permission to shoot for a couple of months at Town Village North Dallas (and others in the works!), a really nice retirement community in Dallas, TX (Jared’s hometown). We’ll get to know a number of people there by interviewing them, talking with them, hanging out with them, and doing all of their activities with them. It’s kind of like a “day-in-the-life”! We’ve been working tirelessly for the past few months (ever since that fateful phone call I made to Ashley from New York City back in late July) to gain our bearings, research equipment, find a willing and ideal community (or two!), get all of the legal releases and matters taken care of, form a business (LLC), and get everything else ready to shoot and do it all the right way.

And now, after all of that preparation, Ashley is arriving in less than 24 hours! She said to me, “I’m not booking a ticket until you place the order on the equipment, buster!” So that was the deal, and I placed the order on Friday, so she did the same for a flight. We’re moving into Phase II (I just made that up…), where we actually do some creative stuff! Wow, I almost have forgotten that I once made movies. The next part of what we’re going to be doing isn’t just shooting and editing. In fact, it’s way more than that. It’s also the launching of this blog, our youtube channel (youtube.com/lifeswaltz), and the entire effort to create a community and interact with people who are interested in what we’re doing: you. (And also we’ve got a bunch of other work to do too that we’ll talk about soon.) But what do you mean you want to interact with us, Jared and Ashley?

Here’s how we want to interact with all of you out there. First off, we’re gonna do blogs (a.k.a. an online journal, which is what you’re reading right now, for the baby boomers and up out there reading this!) and vlogs (video blogs–talking into a camera… you’ll catch on!) about every single aspect of what Ashley and I will be doing and have done already (we got some catchin’ up to do here!), and in addition we’ll probably have some of the people who turn out to be our subjects do some vlogs as well. Also, we’re going to post clips from our select dailies (especially good footage from what we shoot, selected daily) throughout our shooting period (“production”). And we’re going to put up other media and try to interact in every way possible with all of you. Of course, we’ll always welcome comments and suggestions and hope that everyone can get as involved as possible (and learn a thing or two along the way) in the making of Life’s Waltz! I wouldn’t be surprised if some other surprises come up along the way, too. This is a dynamic enterprise!

Wow, there are some long sentences (and parentheticals with exclamation marks!) in there. You’ll be able to tell that Jared’s writing when the sentences don’t end and are fraught with little quips! Ok, I think I’ve explained it pretty well. Please, please, please post comments and questions, like, “Jared, what’s a ‘documentary’?” or “What kind of waveforms were you looking when you recorded that audio on yesterday’s dailies, and what kind of mixing techniques will you employ to fix that rubbish?!” or “I really like the direction you guys are taking! Here’s a bunch of money with no strings attached!” We’re hoping for a whole wide range of people who’ll be coming here, people of all kinds of backgrounds and expertises (or none at all!), so no question or comment is dumb. I love constructive criticism, so let’s have that too!

We’re so excited to start. Here we go!