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Bianchi’s thoughts:
When I took to writing the screenplay in the fall of 2013, my junior year at SUNY Oswego, I decided to do things differently. Up until that point, I had written screenplays and short stories with numerous characters, none of whom I found satisfying enough to consider their lives being real. I wanted to write a short script that would focus on only three characters, with each decision grounded in reality and honesty so I could practice defining characterization on deeper, more sensitive levels than I had previously done.
By November, the first few drafts had been completed. Jessi Partridge, a friend of mine who had developed an interest in producing, sat down to talk about the story. Passion for the project grew in the coming weeks as we assessed our resources, realizing that this film might actually be possible.
Before the close of the semester, Jessi quietly pulled me aside. Her grandfather, John Partridge, had passed away. She told me he had always talked to her about making the movie of his life. She presented me with letters that he had penned during World War II as an army captain. Through the letters, I read of a man who loved his family, his home, and although he yearned to be with them every day, he did his duty. He fought hard, eventually being one of the leaders of Operation Overlord, D-Day. Each letter was endearing signed, “As Ever, John.”
We worked to incorporate quotes from his letters into the film. Throughout the story, James Roman’s voice reads from the letters he sent home describing events, fastidious thoughts and ideas, and most importantly, the emotions of a young man who had been changed by war. John’s words gave us meaning, muscle, and most importantly, spirit.
This was a unique storytelling position for us because we, the filmmakers, could have been drafted if we had lived in the 1940s. John’s accounts of war gave us a direct link to those times. He gave us perspective we could never have had – of love, loss, and a glimpse of what an era of war truly is.
John brought us to the final stages of the script. From there, cinematographer Kyle Crowell joined us, followed by other key members of the crew. We launched a Kickstarter – my first crowdfunding experience. Through generous donations, we raised over three thousand dollars. It was exhilarating. We could actually afford to make this movie!
When we laid out possible shooting days within the middle of a semester, we agreed that spring break would be the prime time to get a majority of filming done. Oswego, however, is immediately beside Lake Ontario and regularly gets bombarded with winds and low temperatures that make outdoor shooting impossible…even in March. Due to professional and family connections in the south (and many thanks to my dog cousin Chaser the Boarder Collie), we were able to take our crew down to Spartanburg, South Carolina. Our nine person cast and crew piled into a van, stuffed with lights, camera equipment, props, costumes, personal belongings, and a vintage bicycle! The temperatures were modest, the color scheme beautiful. On the five day trip, we trekked around the state, where we gathered the diner scene as well as many of those that took place outside.
Wofford College provided the backdrop for the exterior of the college; its color tone and architectural style matched that of SUNY Oswego. Upon our return, we filmed the interiors of the college scenes at our university, where we had access to more extras that would play college students.
The trip was unbelievable. Bringing the characters portrayed by Danny Stalter, Taylor McCown and Keith Gallucci to life, as well as creating a rich 1940s world, was a thrill. We met the most kind and helpful people, explored the state, spent time with a dozen dogs and horses at the ranch, witnessed the misty hills of lake croft and ate the greasiest of foods. It was a timeless adventure for the nine of us – “The Fellowship” – a period of fun, joyous exploration and of non-stop creativity within a work family.
When we came back to school, it felt as though everything had changed. Our little family kept our ties strong. At the end of the semester, before we parted ways, we shared our story with our school’s community of filmmakers, writers, and creative artists. To this day, this was the experience that opened my eyes to the life I’d always dreamed of having.