Following the successful production of two television spots for Mississippi Power in December 2004, the company’s advertising agency, Godwin Group, single bid my production company, Portland, OR-based Limbo Films (with me as director), to return to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi for five days of shooting–exactly one month after Hurricane Katrina had devastated the area. In response to the disaster, this modest-sized power company had increased its workforce from 1,200 to 12,000, borrowing linemen, engineers and support staff from neighboring states, and had restored power to the region in an amazing 12 days. The ads we created tell their story.
The series of three spots featured employees of the company, as well as community members who had recently re-opened their businesses to the deep appreciation of residents who were–and still are–in desperate need of prescriptions, clean laundry and hot meals. A local singer/guitarist tells of how it feels to bring music to people’s lives again; a laundry mat owner once again has electricity to help wash load after load of dirty clothing for displaced families, giving them just a touch of the comforts swept away by the storm; and lights returning to a high school stadium afford the community a break from its misery with a little Friday night football. Layer after layer of how much our daily existence depends on electricity was revealed to us.
My producer, Rebecca Hynes, and I were excited for the opportunity to return to many of the areas in which we had filmed just a year prior, to see in person what had occurred there. All of the news footage we had seen did little to prepare us for the reality of daily existence in Gulfport, MS, where we based the production.
With sparse cell phone service, few motel rooms, and limited access to the little things we all take for granted like ice, food, water and fuel, the shoot was full of challenging circumstances that demanded a re-definition of our normal approach to production.
Locations ranged from small businesses to beach-front buildings, which were only accessible by the Mississippi Power’s unrestricted access past the armed checkpoints guarding the devastated neighborhoods. One location, in particular, had us sharing a parking lot with giant tractors as they tore apart one of the most famous casinos on the coast, now sitting a half mile from where it was located before the hurricane–a very surreal moment.
Each day brought us unique opportunities to give back directly to residents of the area. One of these particular opportunities was in filming the football team of Bay St. Louis High School, located in one of the areas hit hardest by Katrina. Wearing jerseys that were donated to them by an out-of-state school after having lost all their equipment, the team was filmed by us after a practice, then invited to stay for a feast of fresh barbequed ribs–one of the first meals the boys had enjoyed together since the storm.
For those of us who traveled in from Portland, it was a continual minute-to-minute reminder of all we have to be thankful for, as well as how ridiculously spoiled we can all become during production, when normally a latte is just a walkie-talkie call away. I personally stood in a line at Wal-Mart for over 90 minutes just to buy bottled water for our production office. But how could I bitch about that when everyone around me was just happy to be warm, dry and alive?
While the motel we retired to each night was the type of place where you are dubious about touching the carpet with your bare feet, how do you complain when the majority of the New Orleans film crew we hired had lost everything they owned, but wore constant smiles just to be working again and have a break from their own dire circumstances?
In the midst of changes affecting every element of life in the area, where a return to “normalcy” was everyone’s ultimate desire, the shoot went off seamlessly. This was the result of the tireless efforts and adaptable problem-solving skills of our crew and the ever-positive agency personnel.
The cooperative spirit of the amazing citizenry of Gulfport, Biloxi and Bay St. Louis was nothing less than inspirational. They face daily rejection and indifference from insurance companies, as well as our own government, but continue to carry on the best way possible.
As with so many things in life–it’s all just a matter of perspective and feeling another person’s point of view. This shoot was a rare opportunity to realize, despite all the pressures of deadlines and client induced headaches, just how lucky we are.
A “Wicked” Welcome From The National Board of Review
Days after "Wicked" went home from the Golden Globes with a single award for box office achievement, the National Board of Review Awards held space for the smash hit musical, celebrating its cast and director in the New York group's annual gala Tuesday. The untelevised but starry NBR Awards were a chance for many of the nominees who didn't win Sunday to trot out their would-be acceptance speeches, including Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman. Accepting the award for best actress for her performance in the erotic thriller "Babygirl," Kidman celebrated by chugging a glass of milk, a nod to some of the film's kinky sex games. After finishing, Kidman triumphantly announced "Good girl!" and left the stage. It also was an opportunity for some jabs at the Globes. "Isn't this room just a little bit classier than the Beverly Hilton?" quipped presenter Christine Baranski, looking around the elegant marble-columned midtown venue, Cipriani's. Others were less impressed by the old-school New York vibe. "The bathroom attendant, that shouldn't exist anymore," Kieran Culkin said during a typically free-form acceptance speech for best supporting actor for his role in "A Real Pain." The night belonged to Jon M. Chu's "Wicked." The musical was the board's pick for best film, best director for Chu and a special award for the creative collaboration of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The two, in back-and-forth remarks, continued their mutual praise of each other. "Also you're welcome," added Grande. "I truly think you would have murdered anyone else." "Probably true," responded Erivo. Chu, who was introduced by Lin-Manuel Miranda, used the moment to reflect on his yearslong journey with "Wicked," which will be followed by an already-shot part two due out this... Read More