Jesseca Kusher

This week I have worked diligently on editing my senior thesis film, “Paddle Your Canoe.”

In the beginning of this journey, I cast an actor who I knew would challenge me. Throughout the ups and downs of working on his over-expression, I know I learned an enormous amount. Now, in the final stages of editing, I have one final chance to highlight the very best of his performances.

Honestly, I’m proud of how this is turning out. He’s not bad when he doesn’t realize he needs to stretch every dramatic moment. The trick is, of course, to then slightly overwhelm him with enough information to force him to think beyond the caricature of sadness. Sounds like a lot, right? Well, I’m proud of how my directing skills came through. In the bustle of it all I forgot that I really knew what I was doing. Now, as I listen back to myself giving my actors direction, I’m starting to realize that I should be more confident in my directing ability.

Many of those performances, were –admittedly captured through some trickery on my part. Rolling the camera when he didn’t realize it was on, rolling super long takes, and doing serious emotional-given-circumstances coaching were all part of it.

While it is a bit of a challenge, I know it has made me a better collaborator and director.