Past Filmmakers

R. Keith Harris
Harvest

1. How did you come up with the idea for you film?

I’ve always been fascinated with the 1950’s.  There is a certain innocence about that era that attracts me – our country was “growing up” and losing that innocence too.  The idea sparked from a desire to personify what happens to a person on the inside (i.e. to our emotions and spirit) when they are in an inappropriate and/or adulterous relationship.  The relationship may have started from the noblest of circumstances, but somehow gotten out of control.  When we cheat and lie to each other – someone, in the end – gets “burned” – our hearts get “fried”.

2. How long did the production process take?

We shot the film in 4 crazy and hectic days.  We had major locations changes throughout the middle of the state.  We shot in Winston-Salem, Archdale, Spencer, and Yadkinville, NC.

3. What challenges did you experience in the creation of the film?

What challenges did we NOT experience may be more appropriate.  We had major location changes, we fought, weather, but my favorite story is about Sunday – our third day of shooting.  We shot all the stuff in the cornfield, where Potter finds Bridgette and Tony stopped by the road, that day.  I woke to a phone call telling me that one of our 1954 vehicles had broken down on the way to set.  So we had to have it towed to the set.  Then, the owner of another 1954 vehicle we had scheduled to work that day, decided to stop answering our phones calls and not show up.  The whole day of shooting revolved around these three 1954 vehicles.  We were one short.  Mr. Sydney Beeson, whose farm we were using, just happens to have a 1954 dump truck that he still used at farm equipment.  He let us use his truck for the one that didn’t show.  All the other truck had to do was pull in from a side road and stop – so we put 5 guys on the truck to push it in and out then we added in the engine and the sound of the breaks in post-production.  It ended up working out OK – but it was quite stressful at the time.

4. What was your favorite memory from creating the film?

I’d have to say it sprang from the above event.  One of my favorite shots in the movie came about because we used Mr. Beeson’s dump truck.  It’s the shot in the film when Jed pulls up and stop.  Jed is seen in the foreground in the side-view mirror and Tony and Bridgette are in background.  We wouldn’t have had that shot without that truck. 

5. When someone has finished watching the film, what do you hope they take away from the experience?

I like movies that make me think and films that leave an impression – films that I find myself thinking about a few days later.  So I guess my answer would be, I hope they remember it – I hope some piece of the film’s message ideally impacts future thinking.

6. What type of reaction has your film received from viewers?

Silence with a gasp here and there throughout the film and silence afterwards.  It’s not really a “feel good” kind of movie.  LOL.

7. What advice would you give to aspiring young filmmakers?

My advice would be; learn to write first!   The STORY is the key – the story is what engages people!  If you have A+ production value and a C- story – at best you have a C+ movie.  But if you have an A+ story and C- production value at worst you have an A- or B+ movie.   Too many directors now-a-days are all flash and no substance.  The best movies combine both aspects.  Take time to figure out what you want to say with your film and then go tell the story as best you can.  If the story is truthful – the film will work and engage the audience.

8. Please tell us about the next film you plan to work on?

Currently I have a new short film in post-production called “A Penny For Dad”.  It’s a story of a mentally retarded man coming to terms with the death of his father.  I also have a feature called “Damascus Road” that I’m currently raising money for.  “Damascus Road” is set in the 1954 also, right after the Supreme Court decided Brown vs. Board of Education.  Through an unlikely turn of events, the head of the local KKK and a black man must work together to bring change to small southern town.  I entered the script in the Scriptapalooza Screenplay Competition in LA.  Out of 4150+ scripts, “Damascus Road” finished in the top 10.

9. What are your thoughts on the film industry in NC?

I think is on the verge of really blowing up.  We still have some hurdles though.  South Carolina and Louisiana have better incentive packages than NC.  But I would venture to say we have a far deeper talent pool, both in front and behind the camera.  NCSA school of filmmaking is really churning out quality people as well.  The thing the State lacks are interested, qualified, investors who are willing back indigenous productions.  Financing a feature film can be like playing high stakes craps.  BUT – I think this is a matter of educating potential financiers (and filmmakers for that matter) about the plethora of State and Federal incentives offered for feature films under 15 million.  It’s not as dangerous an investment as it used to be.  The incentives offset a lot of the risk.  Add “Name” actors to the mix after that and you have great possibilities.  But it is also on the shoulders of the filmmakers to know this business backward and forward and bring sound Investment Offerings to investors.  As a filmmaker, if you don’t know what an “ROI” is – don’t expect someone other than your parents to put money in your movie.  Independent filmmakers have GOT to get beyond asking mom and dad and uncles and aunts for money to meet production costs – it’s a great place to start, but only a certain level can be reached that way.  I am of the firm belief that the talent is here for the next level to be reached – and it is my intention to be on the cutting edge of it.