Filming my Short Film in 5 days (Extended Deep Dive)

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This is the full, unfiltered process of directing my first short film in 15 years – from the pressure, to the mistakes, to the moments that made it worth it.

I wanted to pull the curtain WAY back to show my entire process directing a short film for Canon USA. I think so many creatives (myself included) only show the flashy BTS moments, but this is my first real attempt at showing the raw, unpolished process from start to finish.

My hope is that this helps another creative understand what a production like this truly looks like – how much work goes into even the smallest moments. From ideation, to pre-production, to production, I wanted to show it in its entirety.

As many of you know, my dad recently passed away from cancer. In the months leading up to that, I stepped away from work to be home and help my mom, and whenever I had a little downtime, I slowly chipped away at this video. I didn’t realize at the time how therapeutic it was to shut everything else out and just focus on the process. When his health declined, I paused the edit entirely. A few weeks after he passed, I found myself back in the project, determined to finish it. Sharing knowledge and helping others was something my dad was incredibly proud of, and completing this video felt like a small way to honor that. To keep pushing forward with my mission of educating however I can.

Thanks for allowing me the space to be absent. It feels really good to be back. ❤️

Watch Lost Woods:
   • Lost Woods | A Short Film Captured on RF24...  

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🫂 SPONSOR:
Elgato Embrace Computer Chair
Link: http://elgato.sjv.io/EEoAkD
10% Off Code: BENwuzHERE

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🤝 CONNECT & SUPPORT:
→ Join the Free BWNC Community: https://bwnc.com/join
→ Patreon:   / benhagarty  
→ Instagram:   / benrealvsworld  
→ My Podcast:    / blackwithnocream  
→ Inquiries: hello@bwnc.com

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⚙️ GEAR MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:
Canon C400: https://amzn.to/3LueOry
Canon C80: https://amzn.to/3ZaNv8G
Canon RF24mm F1.4: https://amzn.to/4sFXuAz
Canon RF50mm F1.4: https://amzn.to/49vvnN7

A list of all the gear I use daily: https://tr.ee/HHQzHR1dSL

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🙏 SPECIAL THANKS:

To my cast, crew, family, friends, and Canon USA for making this dream become a reality. I couldn't do it without any of you.
→ KYLA:   / kylanotkayla  
→ SALT FOX:   / saltfoxmusic  
→ SHAWN:   / shawnes  
→ MATT:   / mattxwelch  
→ POKEY:   / xpokeyx  
→ EVERYDAY ASTRONAUT:    / everydayastronaut  

BTS shot by Josh Voigt:
  / voigtmedia  

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(Note: This video is meant to be experienced start to finish, but chapters are included to help revisit specific moments)

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Why I Needed to Make This Film
03:26 - Building the Team and Cast
06:18 - Pre-Production Chaos
11:22 - The Shot That Defined the Film
16:18 - Day One: The Music Festival
22:22 - We Only Had One Chance to Get This Shot
27:48 - Stopping the Concert for a “Mock” Scene
31:31 - Day Two: Dialogue on the Boat
36:36 - Problem-Solving When Things Go Wrong
47:29 - Day Three: Turning One Location Into Multiple Scenes
57:49 - Day Five: Getting Coverage to Sell the Story
01:09:00 - Pushing Through Exhaustion for the Final Shots
01:11:00 - Gaining Access to the Music Studio
01:14:17 - Full Creativity Is the Only Reason This Worked
01:16:40 - What This Film Ultimately Taught Me
01:18:56 - The Power of the Creative Community