Shownotes
Episode 49 - The Power of Community in Filmmaking with Tara Massey
In this episode of the Faith and Family Filmmakers podcast, hosts Geoffrey Whitt and Jaclyn Whitt welcome Tara Massey to discuss her journey in filmmaking - specifically her first feature film, 'Do Not Grow Weary', produced with Dove Light Studios. Tara shares the origins of her Production Club, the collaborative and creative process involved, and the challenges faced along the way. She highlights the importance of community support, fundraising efforts, and trusting in divine guidance throughout the filmmaking process. The episode also provides insights into the practical aspects of starting a film production club, the roles volunteers can play, and the integration of professional help to enhance production quality.
- Welcome and Introduction
- Tara's Journey into Filmmaking
- Starting the Production Club / Community
- Fundraising and Filming Challenges
- Support from the Local Community
- Overcoming Financial Hurdles
- Opportunities for Club Members and Unexpected Help
- Money Breakdown
- Club Connections and Contributions
- Learnings and Takeaways
- Spiritual Insights and Personal Growth
- Final Thoughts and Encouragement
Tara Masey is a mom of 2, a loving wife, and a child of God. She's also an actress and a producer. She and her husband founded Dove Light studios, She worked with Dean Cain on her most recent project, which she and her husband produced with their film club.
dovelightstudios.com https://www.dovelightphotography.com/
Dngwmovie.com https://www.dngwmovie.com/
Tara on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=taraelizabethmassey
Tara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taraelizabethmassey/
The Faith & Family Filmmakers podcast helps filmmakers who share a Christian worldview stay in touch, informed, and inspired. Releasing new episodes every week, we interview experts from varying fields of filmmaking; from screenwriters, actors, directors, and producers, to film scorers, talent agents, and distributors.
It is produced and hosted by Geoffrey Whitt and Jaclyn Whitt , and is brought to you by the Faith & Family Filmmakers Association
Support Faith & Family Filmmakers Our mission is to help filmmakers who share a Christian Worldview stay in touch, informed, and inspired. If you would like to assist with the costs of producing this podcast, you can help by leaving a tip.
Enter the Faith & Family Screenwriting Awards festival
Faith and Family Screenwriting Academy: https://www.faffassociation.com/
Script Notes and Coaching: https://www.faffassociation.com/script-services
Copyright 2024 Ivan Ann Productions
Transcripts
Welcome back to our members episode, with Geoffrey and Jaclyn Whitt, and our guest, Tara Massey.
Geoff:Tara, we know from our previous episode that you've produced a movie, Do Not Grow Weary with Dove Light Studios
Geoff:. Was that your first movie?
Geoff:Tell us your history with moviemaking specifically.
Tara:Yeah, sure.
Tara:So it was our first full feature.
Tara:We had done a short film previously called Love Noted.
Tara:And we had a lot of volunteers.
Tara:And a lot of just aspiring filmmakers.
Tara:No one with a lot of experience.
Tara:But we did have some amazing, um, amazing encounters I'll say, and we did have a lot of help and mentorship, but also it was really neat to see how God prepared us to produce the film.
Tara:So I have produced a lot of, commercials and like promotional videos and other videos for businesses.
Jaclyn:Mm hmm.
Tara:but beyond that, I hadn't.
Tara:done a full feature film, and so Do Not Grow weary was our first.
Jaclyn:You mentioned in the previous interview that, um, was it Jason Campbell that approached you or just somebody from JC Films?
Tara:Yeah, Jason Campbell, He was the founder of JCFilms.
Jaclyn:Mm hmm.
Jaclyn:So he approached you with a partially written script and was like, Hey, do you want to do this?
Jaclyn:So did you end up starting, like a group or was it just that you and your husband ran with it and just hired people along the way?
Tara:Yeah, great question.
Tara:So we did start a production club, and, we still have this amazing production club.
Tara:It's a community of people.
Tara:we're first and foremost a community.
Geoff:Sounds like a lot
Geoff:of fun.
Tara:Oh yes.
Tara:Oh, we have movie nights and we had like a girls' pajama night and we did facial masks and watched a movie.
Jaclyn:Oh, fun!
Jaclyn:It's been a while since I've done that.
Tara:Oh man, you gotta come out
Tara:I'll
Jaclyn:Maybe I'll fly out.
Tara:that'd be awesome.
Tara:Um, yeah, so we're first and foremost a community.
Tara:we kind of put it out there on Facebook and then we're like, Hey, we're starting this production club, and the first night, 20 people showed up.
Jaclyn:Oh, wow.
Jaclyn:Mm-Hmm.
Tara:We were like, oh, okay, well, here we go.
Tara:You know, "You build it, they will come".
Tara:It was really neat.
Tara:And I asked the question, so what brings you here?
Tara:Why are you interested in film production and being a part of this club?
Tara:And I think almost everyone in the room said something like, "You know, I'm just feeling a little burned out and I need something to inspire me right now".
Tara:Or "Hey, I had some talents that have been on the back burner and I just want to pull them out".
Tara:Or, " You know, I've always wanted to act, and I've had all these kids, and I've done all these things, and I don't, I've never had time to until now".
Tara:And so, it was a really neat thing to see a community come together and, start getting creative and getting this opportunity.
Tara:So...
Geoff:You know, this could be something that, one of our listeners would be interested in doing.
Geoff:Tell us a bit more about the process of taking it from, doing a Facebook ad or throwing it out there and getting 20 people show up.
Geoff:To the process of, to what degree you formally have to form this club.
Jaclyn:Yeah.
Jaclyn:Like what are the
Jaclyn:logistics?
Jaclyn:how do you make it all work?
Tara:Great question.
Tara:So we were kind of like figuring that out as we went, you know?
Tara:First we were like, Hey, we're going to need some money here.
Tara:Let's put our heads together, and like praying and we'll, start some fundraising.
Tara:So we did do some fundraising events.
Tara:Um, we had like a murder mystery dinner theater.
Tara:We actually first formed an improv group for the number of actors that we had in our club.
Tara:So, we had an improv group going, and we, did a dinner theater.
Tara:That was a great fundraiser.
Tara:Um, Let's see, we did some acting classes and some workshops that we hired pro actors and, screenwriters and people to come out and teach different things.
Tara:So those were fundraisers.
Tara:Um, I'm trying to think.
Tara:And then We started filming and this is interesting.
Tara:Um, so I really felt like the Lord was putting October of 2022 on my heart for the filming to start.
Tara:And, it was interesting because at that time we were ending our weddings for Dove Lights Photography.
Tara:We were like, Hey, after this, we are going to be done with weddings.
Tara:But we still had some in October and that was really going to help pay our personal bills and things.
Tara:So we were kind of like, you know what?
Tara:We're going to be sustained.
Tara:Let's just, let's shoot this thing.
Tara:And so, um, we blocked out 14 days in October.
Tara:We did not have all our money raised, but we did have a lot of resources.
Tara:We had our locations ready to go.
Tara:And I mentioned in the other episode, we live in a Hallmark town.
Tara:We have a very beautiful small town.
Tara:And, it's also tight knit.
Tara:We got to know all of our business owners.
Tara:around us in 2020.
Tara:And so, it's just so cool how the Lord like kind of paved the way for us.
Tara:so we went to these business owners and we just asked them, Hey, do you want to be involved with our movie?
Tara:Can we use your location for this or that?
Tara:And so our studio is basically our staging area.
Tara:And then just outside our back door...
Tara:well, you can see my window here, but right out that window was our law office, and we, filmed there.
Tara:It was a perfect setting, um, for our, the law office scenes.
Tara:We used our local police station, and the police station was so like accommodating and helpful.
Tara:We were like, yeah, I'm so sorry...
Tara:uh, but can we have like a, you know, a cruiser here at this address in about 20 minutes, and they're like, yeah, no problem.
Jaclyn:Oh, awesome.
Tara:like, So we'd go and use the jail.
Tara:We filmed all day in jail.
Tara:was so much fun.
Tara:Oh my gosh.
Tara:Yeah, so our locations was based on the generosity of our town, and then also we had a power player in our club who just went out and asked all kinds of businesses if they would feed our cast and crew.
Tara:And so we had tons of free catering and we never ate pizza.
Tara:I mean, we did not eat pizza on our set unless it was donated to us.
Tara:Um, it was amazing.
Tara:So we were just very spoiled in that way with all our sponsors.
Jaclyn:That sounds really exciting, but I'm sure that there's going to be pros and cons to every scenario.
Jaclyn:Just to kind of give people an idea, if they do want to start a club, you know, there's going to be pros and cons, like there is with anything.
Tara:Absolutely.
Geoff:And challenges.
Geoff:What's the challenges?
Tara:Yeah.
Tara:So we are a year and a half since we started filming.
Tara:We are almost to the finish line.
Tara:The film is in scoring right now, and then it will be in audio mixing and coloring, and then it should be done end of March.
Tara:It better be because it's in a film festival.
Tara:So...
Tara:But I guess, the con would be, really go ahead and raise that money.
Tara:We discovered that every time we asked, we received.
Tara:But guess what?
Tara:We never really asked for money.
Tara:Yeah.
Tara:You know, we just didn't do that.
Tara:I don't know if it was...
Tara:I hate money.
Tara:I don't know.
Tara:Like...
Jaclyn:Yeah, it's, it's hard to approach that, right?
Jaclyn:like, it's one thing if you have, a track record, but, you know, as we've been talking, like, this was your first feature.
Jaclyn:And so I think sometimes it can be really difficult to put yourself out there and ask for people to invest in you if you're just starting out.
Tara:That's so true.
Tara:It was.
Tara:I mean, we believed a hundred percent in what we were doing cause God was just like paving the way for us.
Tara:But it was also like, that was a, thing we didn't really step out in faith with, just asking for the money, you know.
Tara:Um, I believe it takes a miracle and money to make a movie, and the miracle came easier than the money, so...
Jaclyn:Oh, man, how many people can relate to that?
Tara:Yeah,
Jaclyn:So I guess like definitely one of the upsides of a film club would be if you're new to the industry in whatever capacity you're interested in, whether it be acting or like director of photography or, I don't know...
Jaclyn:Is that like a good place for people to start out?
Jaclyn:Because, guess everybody involved in the club has an opportunity to participate,
Jaclyn:right?
Tara:That's
Tara:right.
Tara:To an extent, yes.
Tara:And I will say that there were other, I guess, Pros and cons.
Tara:So let me kind of explain like what happened.
Tara:We had, people interested in all kinds of crew roles, but everyone really is a production assistant, if they don't know how to run the gear.
Tara:My husband has had experience with, being a DP.
Tara:So, that was a huge benefit.
Tara:We had someone who had experience being a first AD.
Tara:He like walked onto our set.
Tara:Well, he came to, a production meeting.
Tara:I wasn't even here and I was kind of in charge of everything, you know, I wasn't even here for that meeting, but I met him on set.
Tara:He had seen a TV interview that I did and he recognized me from his sister's wedding and so he showed up, cool little, you know, connections and he showed up, and was like the perfect first AD for us.
Tara:So he really kept things organized on set.
Tara:He came through and he gathered props and organized our props for us as well.
Tara:But even cooler...
Tara:this is where it got really like, whoa.
Tara:Um, so Jason and I had known of this filmmaker in our area, but we, um.
Tara:We never really reached out to him or anything like that.
Tara:He actually reached out to us and,
Tara:it was really neat.
Tara:about two weeks before we started filming, he came to us and just had coffee and he kind of told us a little bit about what he was doing.
Tara:And he said, so I hear you guys are making a movie.
Tara:And we're like, yeah.
Tara:And he goes, well, would you like any help?
Tara:Uh huh.
Tara:We were like, Yes.
Tara:Like desperate yes,
Jaclyn:Yes, please.
Jaclyn:Yes.
Tara:So, he came, um, and met with us again just a few days later and he brought his friend, Ben Macy Jack.
Tara:So we had Shane McMullen and Ben Macy Jack.
Tara:Both of them directed, produced, were very involved with the Kendrick Brothers a lot and in Atlanta and such.
Tara:So they had a huge amount of experience and they were like, you know, Why don't you guys use our cameras and our gear?
Tara:And I was still struggling with scheduling.
Tara:Yeah, I wasn't using like a software or anything.
Tara:I had a lot of logistics figured out, but, um, was still working on call sheets and things like that without a software.
Tara:so Ben came in and fixed all of that and helped me with all of that.
Tara:So we had, Blackmagic, you know, 6K cameras.
Tara:And I mean, it was just amazing to be able to, make our quality just, you know, jump up because we had their equipment now, and we had their mentorship.
Tara:So they really helped us and it was like a godsend.
Tara:So we had that.
Tara:And then, from there people just started showing up that we had never heard of or seen before.
Tara:So people outside of the club, they were like, Oh, you're making a movie?
Tara:Can I help?
Tara:And well, sure.
Tara:What can you do?
Tara:I can hold things like, so gaffers and grips and, you know, we just kind of threw them in.
Tara:We had some people from Charlotte, North Carolina, they drove two hours almost every day to come and hang out on set with us and help hold things, you know, move things around and, do a lot of crew work.
Tara:It was really amazing, who showed up at the right time and, and their skill set and we listened you know, to a lot of people...
Tara:their ideas and things, but they also really respected our vision.
Tara:And, and it was just this really beautiful synergy, like, honestly, a really perfect example of what the kingdom of heaven, you know, should look like.
Tara:It was, beautiful.
Jaclyn:Right.
Jaclyn:Exactly.
Jaclyn:So, okay, Where did the majority of the funding end up going?
Jaclyn:how did that work?
Jaclyn:Because I think that, you know, we did kind of touch on money for a bit, but, I don't know if you're comfortable talking about what you were able to make the movie for, but at least where did the majority of the money end up going to?
Tara:Great question.
Tara:Um, I did forget to mention that during our filming, we also had a big day at a courtroom.
Tara:We had about a hundred extras and, It was a lot to manage, and it was really fun, too.
Tara:And people traveled from, like, Canada to come and be it, because Dean, it was Dean Day, we called it.
Tara:That was the day Dean was filming with us So, they got to be in a scene with Dean, and, Yeah, it was hilarious.
Tara:So, that day we had all our scenes with Dean filmed and most of them took place at the courthouse.
Tara:And then, he did a fundraiser with us.
Tara:So we did dessert with Dean Cain and we served desserts, we shared the story, we had Dean speak.
Tara:Everyone got a picture with Dean.
Tara:It was amazing.
Tara:And we raised a lot of money and the money went to a little bit toward like the gear just for them allowing us, I mean, everything was super discounted for us, but we did rent some things.
Tara:So gear, and then some went to just overall expenses for props and things like that.
Tara:Um, let's see, some went toward editing and audio guy or audio guy was paid.
Tara:Um, let's see.
Tara:And then some also went to Jason for DPing and then just helped us with some expenses.
Tara:and then now we're, really trying to finish, paying, you know, our editor, and for the scoring as well.
Tara:So, and then distribution and getting it into film festivals.
Tara:and any premiere costs.
Tara:So we're looking to still raise about, I don't know, around, I think it was 7, 000 or so that we're still trying to get.
Tara:But we've learned, like I said, we've learned to ask for money, so we're getting on it.
Tara:Starting to go find some people to ask.
Geoff:It sounds like one of the benefits of the club is in connections.
Geoff:if you have 10 connections in your community, or it's 50 connections in your community, if you multiply that by 20 people, uh, you know, when you're looking for locations as favors, especially, and, You mentioned one of them was a power player, knew lots of the businesses, I believe you said, and, there's certainly advantages to having more people, reaching out to their connections than, just two or
Geoff:three.
Tara:it was so true.
Tara:And, you know, everyone in the club had such, I mean, we just had a diverse, group of people, a lot of different backgrounds.
Tara:Uh, we had a lot of people in healthcare.
Tara:we had, I mean, just, a huge variety and, and gifts and talents.
Tara:And I think of, um, Susan Englert, she's a graphic designer and she helped immensely.
Tara:She actually did our casting as well, but she helped with a lot of the artwork and promotions for fundraising events and a lot of logistics, but people just wanted to help and they wanted to stretch themselves.
Tara:And, you know, even I will say, I mean, I'm ashamed to say it, but sometimes you kind of get to know people and you're like, They probably won't be so good at this or that, you know, and then they just blow you away and you're like, nevermind,
Tara:you know, I mean, it's just amazing what, kind of comes out of people.
Tara:So what they can do.
Jaclyn:So what did you learn?
Jaclyn:Like, you're almost at the end now, wrapping up post production.
Jaclyn:Um, what have you learned?
Jaclyn:What are your major takeaways from this process?
Tara:I think that, one of the major takeaways is having a You know, one solid vision and casting that well...
Tara:communicating that effectively.
Tara:And, you know, being a Christ-like leader too.
Tara:And we were very humbled at this point, Jason and I, we just were like very humbled to be putting on this film, but also, you know, facilitating this club and leading it.
Tara:We felt like the Lord was really entrusting something amazing to us, and we didn't really know why.
Tara:But we also really found a lot of purpose in that, you know, and being able to use our gifts and talents for such an amazing thing with a group of people was, I mean, just a miracle.
Tara:And, um, I mean, like I said, it just was so much a picture of what the kingdom of heaven looked like.
Tara:And so we had to keep that in mind and we had to put God first and everything, and we let the scriptures really just change our lives.
Tara:And there were a lot of scriptures in this film and you know, we didn't want them to be like really forcing anything, you know?
Tara:But we did want to present truth in a very creative way, and there are a lot of scriptures in this, and one of the verses that Do Not Grow Weary is based on is Isaiah 40:31.
Tara:Those whose hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
Tara:They will soar on wings like eagles.
Tara:They will run and not grow weary.
Tara:They will walk and not be faint.
Tara:And, it was really cool because, that was a verse that has stuck with me for a long time throughout my life, but it just spoke volumes, you know, but also when I was going through my depression before we got into all of this.
Tara:So what led me into the filmmaking world, was me just going through a breaking point, you know?
Tara:I was so depressed and you know what, I have an acting class.
Tara:I'm going to take this opportunity.
Tara:I need to get away from my life, you know, and I went and did that and that's what, Let us to making this movie, but also, scripture changed my life there.
Tara:I'd always really loved the verse Proverbs 3:5, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your path straight.
Tara:And, you know, to be honest, I would meditate on that verse because I'm an ultra runner and so I'd be running for like 10, you know, 12 hours.
Tara:And that's the verse I would meditate on and I would get really sick of it.
Tara:I'd be like, Lord, can you just give me another verse here?
Tara:You know?
Tara:I think he just was like, no, cause you're not getting it yet.
Tara:You know?
Tara:You don't know what it fully means to trust me.
Tara:And I thought I was.
Tara:But then I had this day where I was like, I'm so done being depressed.
Tara:I'm so done.
Tara:I've done everything I can.
Tara:I don't know how to break this.
Tara:And, the song came to my head and it was from 1 Peter 5, 7.
Tara:And the song basically just states the verse, you know, cast all your cares upon him for he cares for you.
Tara:And that hit me where it was like, Oh my goodness, what do I care about?
Tara:And I just started listing off all these things that I cared about, you know, my children's schooling, uh, whether or not I should clean the chicken coop you know, all these stupid tiny little things in my life and, and my relationships and every aspect of my life.
Tara:And it, honestly took all day to just list off everything that I cared about that I needed to hand over to the Lord.
Tara:And then I realized, oh, there it is.
Tara:That's a true surrender.
Tara:Like really, really giving it all up.
Tara:Forget the to do list.
Tara:Forget all the things you have to do, you know?
Tara:It's about God and His kingdom, not the world and not what the world is asking me to do.
Tara:And when we look at making a movie with that light, things come together because you have to trust the Lord with all these details.
Tara:There's a million, million more details that, you know, take place in a movie than in my daily life.
Jaclyn:Mm hmm.
Jaclyn:I can imagine.
Jaclyn:Yeah.
Jaclyn:And the balancing, right?
Jaclyn:Or the managing is probably a better word.
Jaclyn:Managing both the set and your home and, you know, like there's just so many factors in life.
Jaclyn:It's not like only one thing that you have to do.
Jaclyn:it's all of the things.
Jaclyn:so yeah, like you're saying, giving your cares to Jesus and allowing him to manage things with you and give you that wisdom with the Holy Spirit sharing with you, you know, what to focus your attention on, what to maybe not even give your attention to.
Jaclyn:I think sometimes that's where we need to simplify our lives.
Jaclyn:So I really appreciate.
Jaclyn:everything that you've shared, I think it's going to be very helpful for our listeners.
Jaclyn:Especially anybody who's been thinking about maybe joining, a film club.
Jaclyn:You've shared a lot of, great insight into that.
Jaclyn:Is there anything else that you'd like to share before we close out this interview?
Tara:Oh, thank you.
Tara:Well just, just keep trusting in the Lord.
Tara:And yeah, just take steps of obedience.
Tara:Be diligent with your craft, and learn and continue to grow.
Tara:And yes, volunteers can be a humongous gift, but it is also necessary to hire professionals and to you know, have somebody on set that, that knows how to do things.
Tara:Um, I think one final thing I'd like to just share is, the day that Dean Cain came, on our set...
Tara:you know, he's been on a lot of different indie film sets and he has said, you never know what you're really walking into sometimes.
Jaclyn:Mm
Geoff:Uh huh.
Jaclyn:I bet.
Tara:When he came, he...
Tara:they were really impressed that we had full reign of the police department.
Tara:But, uh, he and Jason Campbell kind of came on set thinking they're going to have to take over.
Tara:And then all of a sudden they realized like, no, we have a plan in place and we're following through with it.
Tara:And, we have all our ducks in a row and they just started to relax a lot.
Tara:We could just see them kind of trust us.
Tara:And at the end of the day, we ended up cutting, uh, Dean an hour early before, planned.
Tara:And were like, Dean, you're all set.
Tara:You know, thank you so much.
Tara:And, he was happy about that.
Tara:And Jason and Dean encouraged us like crazy.
Tara:They just told us how good of a job and how professional the set was.
Tara:And I'll tell you, that was just so affirming.
Tara:And we were like, "Thank you, Lord".
Tara:You know, "that was all you".
Tara:So it was really neat.
Jaclyn:Mm hmm.
Geoff:Very cool.
Jaclyn:Tara, thank you so much for sharing
Jaclyn:and for joining us today.
Geoff:It's been great to see you again.
Tara:Yeah, you too.
Geoff:hi to Jason for us.
Tara:I will.
Tara:Absolutely.
Tara:Thank you.
Tara:So good to see you guys are doing this.
Jaclyn:God bless.
Tara:God bless.
