ON SET: The Weirdest Movie I've Ever Made!
- LeonAcord
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
I just finished shooting what may be the weirdest movie I've ever made!
It might also be one of the most beautiful.
The film in question is the American Film Institute's three-minute “visual essay” Saul, written by Silas Croddy and directed by Croddy & Eliana Alcouloumre. Saul (me) is a queer lighthouse keeper fighting to save his fisherman lover from a nightmare realm of Saul’s deepest fears, all triggered by a bizarre meteor that crashes on the beach..
Like I said, weird. But in the best possible way!
I loved shooting on 35mm film after decades of high-def video.
It was my first time working with special effects, reacting to things that will be added in post-production. And I think, based on what I've seen, those effects are going to be amazing!
It also marked my first time working with an intimacy coordinator for a bizarre sex scene between Saul's lover and Saul's evil doppelganger that occurs at the ocean's floor.
Like I said -- weird!
But not as weird as shooting a scene half naked at the age of 62, rolling around with an actor 20 years younger! But being covered with seaweed & slippery black oil-like goo made it a bit less scary!
And so did that actor, the very talented and incredibly nice Mike Mizwicki. Whew!
And the crew was beyond professional and took very good care of us, even occasionally pouring pitchers of steaming hot water into our "goo pit" to keep us warm!
Ah, show biz! One day you're basking in the sun on the beaches of Malibu, the next day you're shivering half nude in a pit of goo 4 inches deep!
The AFI "visual essay" is the final project for graduating cinematographers to use as their "calling card" as they enter the industry. And I'm honored to have been involved.
The film hits the film-fest market this fall. Meanwhile, enjoy these photos from the set!
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