This past February, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in a film festival called Winterfilm, a high-energy competition where teams race against the clock to write, shoot, and edit a short film—all within a month. Initially, I was only supposed to be part of one team, but as things tend to happen in the indie film world, I quickly found myself roped into directing two projects instead of one. While it was a challenge to juggle both productions, it ended up being one of the most fun, intense, and rewarding filmmaking experiences I’ve had.
Behind the Scenes of “The Knowledge Keepers”
The first film I directed, “The Knowledge Keepers,” was a dystopian fantasy about a group of rebels fighting to protect banned books from an oppressive government. Filming took place during the second weekend of February at The William Frances Theatre. We had a large cast and crew, which made for some epic behind-the-scenes moments. We hit a few snags—like running late on our first shoot day—but through solid teamwork and determination, we managed to wrap by the following Thursday.
What made this project truly special for me was the opportunity to step into the fantasy genre. I’ve always wanted to create a film with magical elements and choreographed superpowers, and this story let me do just that. Seeing our actors bring these supernatural abilities to life on screen was a dream come true, and it’s a film that I hope to expand into a feature-length project one day.
The Snowstorm That Almost Stopped Our Second Film
The second film—a lighthearted romantic comedy—was scheduled to be shot on the third Sunday of the month. But in true winterfilm fashion, nature had other plans. A massive snowstorm hit, forcing us to postpone the entire shoot to the final Sunday of the month. The delay put us under serious time pressure, leaving us with only a few days to edit and polish the final cut before the deadline. Despite the last-minute scramble, we pulled it off, and the final product turned out amazing.
This film followed the story of a guy who keeps awkwardly messing up his attempts to ask out a girl. It was a blast to direct because I rarely get the chance to work on comedies, and stepping into a genre outside of my usual projects pushed me creatively in all the best ways. The cast nailed the comedic timing, and every take was filled with laughter—both on and off-camera.
Reflections on an Unforgettable Experience
Directing two films for Winterfilm was an intense but thrilling challenge. From late-night script revisions to unexpected snowstorms and behind-the-scenes problem-solving, every moment was an adventure. This festival reminded me why I love filmmaking—the ability to bring stories to life under pressure, collaborate with amazing creatives, and push my artistic limits.
Would I do it all over again? Absolutely. If you’d like to see some behind the scenes clip you can check it out by clicking here.