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"I think one of the great enemies of creativity is too much time and money." — Ryan Reynolds
A few short months ago, my editor let us know that the publication was looking to cover more stories about student and independent films happening in our area. As an amateur filmmaker myself, I was thrilled to document the work of young creatives and give their hard work the spotlight. What I didn't know, however, was that I would be stepping into one of the most intimidating, nerve-wracking filming locations imaginable: my own college campus.
I truly did get to shadow some upperclassmen filmmakers—practically in my backyard; that is in no way to suggest my matchbox freshman dorm had a backyard—let's be serious.
So, down the sidewalk I went; it was a quick six-hour shoot with about a 15-person crew (all students). I quickly realized that I was stepping into a room of incredible creatives with genius ideas on how to engage an audience. The short film they were making was a spoof on the beloved Scooby-Doo (beat you to it, Netflix). It was aptly named Doobie-Doo and featured characters named Scruffy, Frank, Phoebe, and Alma (if you catch their drift). It mirrored the chaotic, goofy charm of the original cartoon—and that same energy was present within the camaraderie of the cast & crew.
Cracking the Case
For me, it really solidified the fact that student films are a masterclass in getting creative. Their school, the University of North Georgia (shout out: Professor McG!), provided them with all the equipment they used for this shoot. It is so incredible to see schools taking the financial burden of renting equipment off students' shoulders, allowing them the opportunity to create artistic and ambitious films. That being said, even though they provided equipment, there is still so much brainstorming and teamwork that goes into figuring out how to get a project like this made. On the set of Doobie-Doo, they filmed entirely in one building on campus (getting creative with angles and different rooms to make it seem like the characters were traveling). They also used all their own clothes for wardrobe, and in doing so they perfectly nailed the look of each iconic character.
Obviously there are a few canon bumps along the way: batteries dying, forgotten shots, and as always, daylight escaping us too fast. However, as someone who's grown up on network sets, I was incredibly impressed with how adaptable and equip to problem-solve this group of students was! There was no "calling it quits" on that set. I most distinctly remember the DP fixing a tripod jam with a pen—and being successful! Huge shout-out to their 1st AD, Ellie Herreman, for being a powerhouse while shooting. She kept everyone's heads on when things got stressful and always kept things moving—a dream crew member with a bright future in film.
Scooby Dooby Croo
It's crew.
These students seemed to have a positive energy and camaraderie that can sometimes be missed on massive, high-budget sets. It's the importance of teamwork and vision that allows for such raw connection between the team. Everyone in the cast and crew performed professionally and had the proper slate and lingo for every shot. But what makes the experience (and the film in turn) so great, is that they were working with what they had and exceeding the boundaries of their resources.
If you'd like to stream the film and support these filmmakers, you can watch Doobie-Doo HERE.
I hope this article will entertain my niche little audience, but most importantly, I hope that it inspires young aspiring directors, actors, and cinematographers alike to make whatever project has been heavy on their heart. If you are feeling held back by money, time, location, or resources, find a way to make it work. Some of the greatest films of all time began as low-budget proof-of-concept films before the right person saw their potential and invested in them. Believe in your ideas and instincts—and just enjoy your work.
