Capturing Magic in Central Park with Franco

A Phone Call Sparks Inspiration

Such a simple phrase, yet so powerful for anyone looking to create something. 'Just Do It' became one of Nike’s most iconic ad campaigns, showcasing athletes at their peak performing incredible feats of athleticism. Even after its debut in 1988, this three-word mantra still resonates, especially in a time when we're bombarded with endless options and 'how-to' guides for everything.

As a filmmaker, I often find myself needing to remind myself of this phrase to kickstart my creativity. That's exactly what happened with my latest short film, titled 'Franco.' It all began with a phone call from filmmaker Mike Nicholas, who proposed a collaboration on a short film with a tight deadline. We had just seven days. I thrive under deadlines – I have plenty of stories about racing against the clock to finish a film!

Central Park: The Perfect Setting

We tossed around a few ideas, and I knew I wanted to shoot outdoors, preferably in Central Park. By Friday afternoon, we were at 72nd Street and Central Park West, with Mike as our DP. We decided to shoot in chronological order, with my good friend Franco Coello, a saxophonist, as our sole actor. Armed with the Red Komodo and using available light, we dove into filming, improvising scenes on the spot and going with the flow.

Four hours later, we wrapped up shooting and spent the next two days editing, mixing, color grading, and finalizing the short film. What started with a simple phone call culminated in a finished short film in just seven days, thanks to the collaborative effort of everyone involved.

Collaborative Creativity Unleashed

So, to all the filmmakers, storytellers, and creative souls out there, remember – you have all the tools you need to create something uniquely yours. So, as Nike says, 'Just Do It.'

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