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For When You Get Lost
When June’s father says he has to talk to her in person, her gut tells her the six months the doctors gave him is a long shot. She sets out on a journey from LA to Washington, armed with a limited data plan, a list of roadside breweries, and the determination to collect her estranged sisters and heal her broken family before her father is gone.
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When writer Jennifer Sorenson first sent me the script for For When You Get Lost in 2022, I loved it from the very first scene. It was funny, authentic, emotional, and surprising. The lead character of June, to be played by Jennifer herself, was complex, heartbreaking, and hilarious. I related whole-heartedly to her broken and often self-sabotaging journey of reconciliation, forgiveness and self-discovery. Anyone who works in indie filmmaking knows what a gift it is to get the opportunity to work on a story like this, and I immediately said that I wanted to direct the film. My only hesitation was the scope — the story took place in three states at many locations, including an airport, a boat, and multiple breweries. Jennifer assured me that the producers and the director of photography had ideas in place, and what we didn’t know, we would figure out.
And figure it out we did! We shot the film in two phases with a skeleton crew for an ultra-low budget. By prioritizing emotional authenticity, narrative and performance over complicated design or camera and lighting set-ups, we were able to shoot fast and stay light on our feet as we moved up the West Coast. Our hard-working and talented director of photography April Frame captured the beautiful landscapes and the performances with efficiency and care. Our all-female team of producers - Meredith Riley Stewart, Kerry Carlock, Jennifer Sorenson, and Alethea Root - kept the train on the tracks with incredible ingenuity and energy.
In many ways, it was a charmed production. Our wonderful cast and crew believed in our story and committed to bringing it to life. Locations — even the worrisome ones like the airport, the boat, and the breweries — were donated by locals in the areas we were shooting. We could not have made this film without many amazing people in Washington, Oregon, and California pitching in their own efforts and resources for the sake of the movie.
Directing For When You Get Lost has been one of the most creatively rewarding, challenging, and educational experiences of my life. I'm thrilled to be in post-production now and can't wait to share it.
-Director's Statement