Category: Production

Reckoning Filming Continues in Highlands, North Carolina

Posted on by Kyler Boudreau

Highlands, NC Filming Continues

Production continues in Highlands, NC for Reckoning! We’re shooting in cold temperatures and incredible locations thanks to the generosity of local families. Pictured below is a setup with our young actress who plays Rose Lawson. We’re inside a chicken coop where she hides Cavalry gold in the film. And this was a functioning barn! So we had friendly (and noisy) goats along with curious chickens. It’s the world of independent film!

A lot of the shoot takes place in a nearby cabin which historically was a sharecroppers cabin. It’s beautiful inside and out and we are forever grateful to the Garcia family for their generosity to our film production. This shooting location made the movie possible. Ultimately, so many locations from generous people made Reckoning what it is, but we definitely cannot imagine the Rose Lawson cabin anywhere else but here!

Our Producer Joins Camera Crew

The days were cold and the nights even colder! But faithful friends and family made the production happen. I’m so grateful for each individual who helped with this movie possible. The shot below takes place towards the end of the film. Rose and the Cavalry soldier await the arrival of a notorious outlaw named Ghost. Sandi Boudreau is a producer on the film, but tonight she’s also 2nd AC. Only on independent films does a producer join the camera crew!

Overall, the production for Reckoning is moving along at a solid pace! It’s a lot of legwork and long hours with a skeleton crew. Yet the freedom of story telling outside the studio system also holds distinct advantages that often lend to less pressure and more creative freedom. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Elizabeth Wright Prince House Filming Begins

Posted on by Kyler Boudreau

Prince House Shoot Day One

We’re finally at Day 1 of our shoot at the historic landmark in downtown Highlands known as the Elizabeth Wright Prince House. Nothing will put actors in the 19th century mood more than this location!

We feel crazy blessed to shoot crucial scenes for our film here. Pictured below are Terri Crain Goodman and Journey Boudreau. They share an actress to actress moment during the shoot. Terri plays Addie Crain and Journey plays Rose Lawson in the film.

The Prince house serves as Addie’s home in the film. Addie runs the local post office and mercantile store and she receives a letter for Rose Lawson from the US Cavalry in response to Lawson’s report of stolen gold. The letter announces a Cavalry soldier will soon visit.

The pic below shows us during a take in the Prince House kitchen. Kyler Boudreau operates camera, Aniah McKim is 2nd Assistant Camera and Jehelena McKim is production sound mixer. A unique thing about this film production is local friends helped that had never been on a film set before! This film was done to show the Write & Direct film school model which empowers new directors to not be reliant on experienced crew when they don’t have the budget. We’re super grateful for Aniah, Jehelena and others who helped out on this project!

The Board Pays A Visit

It was super cool to have a visit from the head of the board during our shoot. They were probably stopping by to ensure we weren’t doing anything too 19th century crazy in this treasure of a home! In all seriousness, both Harry and Lance from the Highlands Historical Society were beyond kind and helpful with all aspects of this production. We will forever be in their debt.

We’re also grateful to the nearby Weichert Real Estate office for allowing us to use their facility for costuming and makeup. And of course any bathroom needs for cast and crew as a 19th century home is only equipped with bed pans!

We can’t say enough about this house and adjacent museum that allow visitors a glimpse into Highlands, NC history. You might be surprised at what this town used to be like! Thank you Highlands Historical Society—our film is complete with your generosity.

Production Begins for Reckoning!

Posted on by Kyler Boudreau

Day 1 – Sapphire, NC

There is nothing like day 1 of an independent film production. Day 1 of any film production is a big deal, but with indie filmmaking, a lot of responsibility rests on the director. In addition to normal director tasks, today it’s call times, craft services, transportation, camera operation and production sound mixing. ARGH. But it’s exhilarating.

Oddly day 1 of shooting is also page one of the script. Not normal, but just how it happened this round. At the beginning of Reckoning, two men stumble across an abandoned cabin that’s also the current hideout of an outlaw name GHOST. Unfortunately it doesn’t go well for one of these mountain men. But hush! No more spoilers.

Our two actors on horseback are Kayren Hinkle, owner of Whitewater Equestrian, and Rick Roepke, a family friend from Bowling Green, KY. Kayren not only allowed us to shoot for free on his property with his horses, but he was willing to be in the film! Rick and his wife Kathy drove down from Kentucky to participate. Both men did incredible!

Filmmaking Detail: Even though the opening of Reckoning happens in one physical location, we had to shoot the scene in three separate areas to get the cabins, horses and confrontation scene all the way they needed to be!

If you’re in the Highlands/Cashiers area and want to enjoy horses, nature and incredible guides, Whitewater Equestrian is the place! Check out their website. And when you get there, make sure Kayren gives you an autograph—He’s famous now!