Iowa Filmmaking: Authenticity Through Limited Resources

Role: Line Producer

Impact: This project presented a perfect storm of production challenges that tested and showcased my resourcefulness as a line producer. Working with minimal budget, the director's insistence on shooting on film, and being on a plane to Ames, Iowa—where we had zero existing relationships—mere days after landing the project created a uniquely demanding production scenario.

Upon landing in Iowa, I immediately transformed my hotel room into a makeshift production office, spending three intensive days cold-calling dozens of strangers to identify potential talent and locations. Each decision had cascading effects on our creative storytelling and had to fit within our extremely tight three-day production window. Iowa's expansive geography further complicated logistics, requiring precise scheduling to capture everything we needed.

Never have I worked so far outside my comfort zone, yet never have I been prouder of the result. The finished advertisement feels genuine, emotionally resonant, and impactful—transcending its political purpose to connect on a human level. This project demonstrates my ability to build an entire production framework from scratch in unfamiliar territory while maintaining creative excellence under extraordinary constraints.