Jace, a young aspiring actor, finally books a commercial after a year of rejections. The twist? He finds himself on set with Andrew, a nervous, inexperienced cameraman who is fumbling through his first commercial shoot for a winery.

The scene follows Jace, a young aspiring actor, who finally books a commercial after a year of rejections. The twist? He finds himself on set with Andrew, a nervous, inexperienced cameraman who is fumbling through his first commercial shoot for a winery. Due to Andrew’s lack of knowledge for this shoot, he gives Jace a real bottle of wine to drink during the commercial. As multiple takes go wrong, Jace becomes increasingly intoxicated, leading to a chaotic day on set. 

This project was my first time fully overseeing every aspect of a production by myself, from planning and shooting to editing. It was a hands-on experience that gave me invaluable insight into the responsibilities of each role on set and the importance of trial and error from a creative standpoint. The biggest takeaway was the importance of chemistry between actors. Casting Eric as Jace and Harry as Andrew worked perfectly as they were roommates and brought natural, effortless banter to their roles. The improvisation that emerged from them really allowed for some incredible unscripted moments that made it into the short film.

Additionally, this was the first time I was given the responsibility of sound, which was a steep learning curve but a great opportunity for growth. As this was my first comedy, it pushed me to explore a more playful, less rigid side of my filmmaking. When choosing a genre for this studio, I knew I wanted to try something that showed a new side of myself. Normally, I focus on dramatic, dialogue-heavy narratives and lean more into the horror genre. During the shooting process of Wasted Takes, I allowed the actors to deviate from the script, keeping the camera rolling and trusting their instincts. This resulted in a humorous and chaotic set that perfectly aligned with the narrative and challenged me in new ways. This ultimately made the entire process much more enjoyable. Despite its challenges, this was an incredibly freeing experience that I am grateful to have had.