What fear — whether it’s personal, or one related to the development, financing, production or distribution of your film — did you have to confront and conquer in the making of your movie?

What fear hit me on The Bronze?

Hmmm. Well, I guess going into a film which a husband (Winston Rauch) and wife (Melissa Rauch) wrote the script, and are both producers. Then toss on top of that Melissa was the star in every scene, and you have something that seemed a little like a formula for disaster worthy of avoiding at all costs.

This fear wasn’t based upon the world’s obsession with Kanye and Kim. No, I had firsthand experience. I had actually worked with a DP and a loader husband/wife combo when I started shooting for ESPN years ago. I remember the first fight broke out between them before the first 400 foot mag was loaded. And it was downhill from there. Yes, I recall it was a long day shooting 16mm in Hartford.

It is safe to say — Melissa and Winston almost immediately removed that bad memory from me. Quite simply, even at our first meeting, I could see they were special. Madly in love, and respectful to all those they were working with. This isn’t an exaggeration. Trust me. As we developed the script and went into rehearsals and finally shooting and the edit, our trust and bond grew and grew. And now we find our film opening Sundance this week. Not a single squabble along the way. Divorce lawyers take note: Please stand down.

[PREMIERE SCREENING: Thursday January 22 at 9:30 pm — Eccles Theatre]

Sundance 2015 Responses