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.
Review: Director Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked”
It's the ultimate celebrity redemption tour, two decades in the making. In the annals of pop culture, few characters have undergone an image makeover quite like the Wicked Witch of the West.
Oh, she may have been vengeful and scary in "The Wizard of Oz." But something changed — like, REALLY changed — on the way from the yellow brick road to the Great White Way. Since 2003, crowds have packed nightly into "Wicked" at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre to cheer as the green-skinned, misunderstood Elphaba rises up on her broomstick to belt "Defying Gravity," that enduring girl-power anthem.
How many people have seen "Wicked"? Rudimentary math suggests more than 15 million on Broadway alone. And now we have "Wicked" the movie, director Jon M. Chu's lavish, faithful, impeccably crafted (and nearly three-hour) ode to this origin story of Elphaba and her (eventual) bestie — Glinda, the very good and very blonde. Welcome to Hollywood, ladies.
Before we get to what this movie does well (Those big numbers! Those costumes!), just a couple thornier issues to ponder. Will this "Wicked," powered by a soulful Cynthia Erivo (owner of one of the best singing voices on the planet) and a sprightly, comedic, hair-tossing Ariana Grande, turn even musical theater haters into lovers?
Tricky question. Some people just don't buy into the musical thing, and they should be allowed to live freely amongst us. But if people breaking into song delights rather than flummoxes you, if elaborate dance numbers in village squares and fantastical nightclubs and emerald-hued cities make perfect sense to you, and especially if you already love "Wicked," well then, you will likely love this film. If it feels like they made the best "Wicked" movie money could buy — well, it's... Read More