Blackhead

The morning of our first day of shooting, I stopped at a gas station to grab last-minute snacks for the crew. The birds were chirping, the sun was rising over the Blue Ridge Mountains… and in the car, Jack McLain (director) and I sat in total silence, both quietly terrified. Blackhead was our first time running a set. We had no idea what the next two days would hold.

What followed was nothing short of a victory. We made it through our first film, not just intact, but proud. That shoot is where I discovered my love for producing: the thrill of championing a vision, the magic of watching a director connect with their actors, and the quiet power a producer brings to a set. I took notes; lessons I still carry as I’ve grown into directing myself. Understanding how to run a set with care, efficiency, and a deep respect for the vision is something I hold dear to this day. But it was on Blackhead where I first learned just how much a single “Action!” can make all the drafts, spreadsheets, and sleepless nights feel worth it.