Night One of Young, Awkward and Stupid

Wednesday night marked the first night of shooting for a film based on my script Young, Awkward and Stupid. Young, Awkward and Stupid started off as an autiobiographical feature film screenplay that I wrote earlier this year about the awkwardness of dating, my insecurities with women and many other fun subjects. I tried to get it into production last year (and even cast it) but a lot of factors kept it from actually happening (though maybe one day the whole thing will happen).

This new version of Young, Awkward and Stupid actually comes from a section of the original screenplay, though with some big changes and rewrites to make it self contained. This short film is inspired heavily from my first kiss, which was a very awkward and stressful situation that I got myself into.

The short film is being directed by Justin Andrews. It's pretty weird watching something I've dreamed about creating myself for two years now directed by someone else. But, in a way, it's very freeing. Justin is adding a hell of a lot to my script and, although he isn't envisioning it the exact same way I would, I love what he's doing with it. Our friend and classmate Adam Tuckey is the director of photography. He's pulled off some really beautiful lighting.

I'm really happy that I'm getting to work with Justin and Adam on this. We worked well together on Cinevannah and we're pulling off something very special with this piece. We all see things creatively in a similar manner and that's very refreshing. It's nice to find people that I click with creatively. I'm hoping I get to work with them again in the future.

Our crew for Young, Awkward and Stupid is the following:

Director- Justin Andrews

Director of Photography- Adam Tuckey

Producer / 1st AD- Kurt Shrader

Sound Mixer- Kim Travis

Camera Operator- Wesley Caldwell

1st AC- Alex Gangi

Art Director- Kristen Hall

Boom Operator- Christoph Tallerico

Key Grip- Gerald Turner

Grip- Abosedé Copeland

Gaffer- Katy Lowe

Best Boy- Jamey Smith

Script Supervisor- Rachael Abrams

Our cast for Young, Awkward and Stupid is the following:

Trevor- Bob Zerweck

Mary- Melissa Gandy

Shooting on Wednesday night was amazing. Honestly, it was one of the best nights of my life. I can't tell you what it was like to finally see this script come to life. Our crew was incredible. Our actors were great. And I had a damn blast shooting this thing. Wednesday was about a 17 hour day (got up for The Sandwich at 6 am and finished shooting Young, Awkward and Stupid around 11:30 pm) but I barely felt it. I was on a film high and there was no getting me down (I actually didn't sleep much once I got home because I was so wired).

Since I was camera operator, I was working my T2i for most of the shoot. I took a lot of behind the scenes pictures of the set up and shoot, which you can see below.

Our director of photography working his brain.

This still cracks me up. Kristen and Rachael making the room sexy.

Director planning / staying caffeinated.

Alana, Justin's girlfriend, made us all Young, Awkward and Stupid gift bags.

Katy gaffing.

Me and Abosedé are constantly in a battle for class's campiest t-shirt.

Katy and Kristen standing in for the actors so we can get the lighting right / line the frame up.

Bob and Melissa, our two great actors.

Kristen brought her T1i and also took a lot of behind the scenes pictures. You can see all of her's below.

Our family.

Me and Alex, my 1st AC, lining up the frame. Alex has been a great 1st AC. We've had a great working relationship and have worked hard to make the image for this film look spectacular.

This was a tough shot to pull off but it looked great.

That's it for now. Stay tuned for more updates on Young, Awkward and Stupid.