Big Actors, Indie Films: The Play's The Thing For Actors Who Choose Small Projects

BY MICHELLE LONDON michelle.london@thmedia.com Apr 19, 2024

Independent films are the lifeblood of the film festival circuit, including the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, which opens next week.

Usually made with small budgets and tight filming schedules, most indie films don’t see major film distribution, although they do account for about a fifth of the global box office.

Actors with mainstream success take on independent film projects for a variety of reasons — the ability to work more collaboratively on a set, the chance to stay busy during a lull in their schedule or their belief in a filmmaker or scriptwriter.

For actor Beau Bridges, 82, one of the stars of “Camera,” it all starts with the writing.

“A script is the most important element of any project,” he said. “Like Shakespeare said, ‘The play’s the thing.’ That’s very true. It’s all about the story.”

Bridges grew up as part of Hollywood royalty. His father was actor Lloyd Bridges, and his younger brother is actor Jeff Bridges. Some of Bridges’ five children are also actors, including son Ezekiel, who appears in “Camera.”

“That was a tradition started by my dad a long time ago,” Bridges said. “We always enjoy (working together).”

Bridges, who is a friend of “Camera” director Jay Silverman, said his choice to participate in the project wasn’t a hard one to make.

“It was a great script,” he said. “And one thing that happens with independent films that is unique to that experience is because of the limited budget, everyone is aware you have to go with the flow. You have to deal with whatever happens. You don’t have any wiggle room. You have to come totally focused and ready to go.”

For Silverman, a writer-director-producer who runs his own production company, the draw is controlling his own projects.

“The predominant allure is it’s a much less complex scenario when you’re controlling the end game,” he said. “I would be willing to bet that’s one of the luxuries for the actors, too. It’s a four or five week commitment, and then they can go and make a Marvel movie.”

Miguel Gabriel, 15, is the young actor who shares most of his screen time with Bridges as Oscar, a camera-loving boy who is unable to speak due to a birth injury.

“It felt amazing to work with (Beau) and talk to him and hang out with him,” he said. “He’s a legend, and a really kind soul. The crew and the cast were all so talented. It’s the best time I’ve ever had filming a movie.”

For Silverman, independent filmmaking is a rewarding, albeit painful, process, and one that he wouldn’t trade for anything.

“It’s all about finding the right people to embrace and fall in love with your property,” he said. “It’s painful to make these films. Not only to make them, but to get people to watch them. But then you work with people like Beau, who not only have gifts, but who are just exquisite human beings. It’s incredible to have somebody like that not only command a performance, but do it with such love.”

For actor Karen David, 44, choosing to work with first-time filmmaker and scriptwriter Kit Rich on “Isabel’s Garden” was a gamble, but one David was willing to take.

“With indie films, it’s like what Forrest Gump said: ‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get,’” she said. “But the magic, the joy, the unknown of indie filmmaking can be quite thrilling.”

David, who starred for five seasons as Grace Mukherjee on AMC’s “Fear the Walking Dead” and is currently co-starring with Jesse L. Martin on the NBC series “The Irrational,” was willing to take that gamble.

“I had a drama teacher in college tell me once that all it takes is one enthusiastic person to get the ball rolling,” she said. “That resonated so much with me about Kit. I could relate to her passion project, because it started in her heart and she was so invested in these characters.”

But that didn’t mean David, a seasoned actor with 25 years in the business, wasn’t afraid of that leap of faith.

“It was absolutely petrifying and horrifyingly nerve-wracking,” she said. “Did I feel that every day, knowing the stakes were so high? Absolutely. But when everyone comes together as a team, thinks together as a team, makes these small miracles happen every day on set, it’s very special.”

In “Breakup Season,” Samantha Isler and Chandler Riggs, who have both enjoyed mainstream success as young actors, were attracted to the script.

“I got the script a little over a year ago and the shoot dates were right in the middle of a bunch of things for me,” said Riggs, 24, who spent eight seasons playing Carl Grimes on the AMC hit series “The Walking Dead.” “I didn’t even know if I’d be able to do it. But I really liked the script. The writing was fantastic. I just loved how real a story it was.”

For Isler, 25, who played Amara on CW’s long-running series “Supernatural,” the attraction was much the same.

“You could get excited about who’s attached to it, or if it’s established directors or actors,” she said. “But at the end of the day, the script always comes first. What was really cool for me is that (director/writer) Nelson (Tracey) was a new filmmaker. There was a lot of unknowns going into it, but I had a lot of faith in the script. I was super intrigued by how organic and authentic it was.”

The three-week shoot on location in rural Oregon also gave both actors, who have behind-the-camera aspirations as well, an opportunity to learn.

“(The crew) didn’t mind that I asked a lot of questions,” said Isler, who has been spending her time between projects doing a lot of writing. “Whatever (indie films) lack in resources or budget or time they make up for in heart and passion and drive and collaboration. Everyone is giving 200%.”

Riggs, who co-owns a production company called Smooth Blend Films, said the dynamic on an indie film set is unique.

“Everyone’s taking paycuts and it’s likely they could be doing other projects where they’d be making more money,” he said. “But on indie sets everyone is on the same playing field. Everybody genuinely cares about the story, so they just bring a whole new level of passion and love to a project.”

Bridges, who has a home in Kauai, Hawaii, visited a small rockhound shop near his home just before filming began on “Camera,” which takes place in a fictional seaside town called Jasper.

“I saw this jasper stone,” he said. “I picked them up and just for fun gave them to Jay and Miguel. We incorporated those stones into the script, because jasper stone has a real spiritual quality. Not all directors are open to that kind of experience.”

For actors who choose to make an independent film, it’s often a learning experience, no matter how many years they’ve been in the business.

“I’ve done indie films that never saw the light of day,” David said. “Do I regret it? No. Because it’s another day of school. You give it all you’ve got. You want to continue to do better and be better and tell these amazing stories.”