CZ: It’s been about a year and six month process. I sent it to script analysts, sent it to teachers to get their opinions. I still don’t feel like it is perfect, but you continue rewriting – even when on set. Things change even while you’re in the moment.
NM: Do you have a production company?
CZ: It’s Milestone Pro Films, Jason’s production company. This is his first feature film.
NM: Jason, how did you and Chelsea come together?
Jason Wathen: We were in a grocery store. I was checking out, she was checking out, and we had a conversation in the parking lot. I told her I was working on a project, and we met to discuss a documentary she could help me with.
NM: What’s the name of that project?
JW: It’s The American Dream.
CZ: Although we haven’t locked down a title yet. It’s about Harold “Hal” Berry, the quintessential self-made man.
JW: It’s about how he came from a really poor family and how he achieved his American dream.
NM: So you have this side project going on at the same time.
JW: It’s been a struggle balancing time with us both working full time. So doing this and that, there’s been some very temperamental stuff between us. We want both our projects to go well. At the first meeting, I told Chelsea about the documentary, and she told me she was looking for a director of photography. I didn’t have a whole lot of time, or previous film experience, but I said I’d try it out. She saw some of my work on my website, and asked if I’d be DP (director of photography) on her film. I’d never done one, so I thought it would be interesting to try out.
NM: What is the film’s setting, the environment?