Production Log #002: Designing a Human Set

Notes from a $100K feature film built around respect, discipline, and emotional truth

Chalk on Paper by Edward Hopper “Study for Conference at Night” (1949)

Read yesterday’s update [here].

December 16th — From the first snow, 8:00 PM

BURYING DORIS is a prestige ensemble drama about grief, legacy, and the emotional reckoning of an estranged New England farm family. This series, “Production Log”, serves as a year-long production journal tracking the film’s evolution in real time.

Today I touched:

Today’s focus was on wrapping up last week's actions after a great phone call with my collaborator, Chris.

Production Log #001: Kickstarting the process.

That means creating:

• Finish - a proper outline for the final touch-ups on the script

• Create - an inventory of all resources my team has access to, for accurate budgeting (Link)

• Create - a formal list of non-negotiables for the project (Link)

One thing that worked:

Being selfish and thinking about what really matters to me to effectively and efficiently make this film. And to do that, I will need:

1. The On-Set Editor: This is mandatory. The character of Joey films the family throughout the movie, and the climax is a montage of that footage.

   • Production will mirror the plot. We will have an editor on-set building the timeline in real-time to ensure the emotional payoff works before we wrap.

2. The “Human” Set:

   • 10-Hour Days Max: We respect our time and sanity.

   • Paid Crew: Everyone gets paid. Plus deferred deals.

3. Financial Discipline: We have a $100,000 Hard Cap. We are dedicated to returning investment (even $1 profit matters). We make the movie for the money we have, not the money we wish we had.

One thing that didn’t:

I need to do follow up on a more aggressive timeline.

The feeling under all of it:

Tired but committed.

Tomorrow, I will:

• Finish the Outline.

Together, with Faith.

M.P. Rekola

How I Sustain the Work Being a “NonDē Filmmaker” (Non-Dependent) means I rely on this community, not a corporation. If you want to support the work I do here, you can:

• Buy the Book: The Modern Filmmaker’s On-Set Dictionary

• Hire Goodworks: My commercial production company

• Book a Consult: Get 1-on-1 producing advice

• Support the Build: Follow along as I build a local micro drive-in

Every book sale, booking, and donation buys me the time to keep writing.

Thank you.