Written by Benjamin StarkDon’t Die is about a desperate man who robs a drug store to get life-saving medicine. While the stakes of making indie films in a place like Alabama are much lower, I think anyone who’s made a movie will agree that it’s an endeavor that comes with its fair share of desperation. The tagline of my first feature, The Nocturnal Third, was “Do what you can with what you have.” Given that it was a self-financed microbudget thriller that we shot on weekends over the course of three months, that became our production motto as well. What I didn’t realize at the time was that it would be a major theme of my life going forward. I’m proud of our work on The Nocturnal Third. I made it with great friends and a great cast, and I stand by many of my directing decisions. But it didn’t make the splash I hoped it would make. After that production, the creative team amicably parted ways as my collaborators pursued other opportunities in different parts of the country. So I spent the next few years recommitting to doing what I could with what I had. 'Don't Die'Courtesy of Jeremy BurgessInstead of trying to muscle another feature into existence through pure willpower and great personal expense, I focused on honing my craft as a director in various ways. I put forth my best effort on corporate videos, music videos, and short films. If I couldn’t break in as a feature...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Friday, 12 April, 2024