“He’s My Friend, Man!” Or rather, he was my friend, man. One of the greatest experiments of my life is over, and I couldn’t feel more bittersweet about it. It’s been about a month, but it still feels surreal that this project has already come and gone. Before it fades into the aether and we all move forward, I just want to take a moment to say thank you to the people who made this possible.
To my main cast, Isha, Sanders, Thomas, Brielle, and Elliot. Your dedication and commitment carried this film. Isha, you became a brother to me and you were the only person capable of carrying this story the way it needed to be carried. I’m proud it was you who brought this vision to life. Sanders, your comedic edge and humanity gave the film its heart. Smitty doesn’t exist without you. Thomas, you took a character that could easily be misunderstood and grounded him in truth, creating the perfect space for Kirk to breathe. Brielle, you made Stacy brighter than I ever imagined, and your presence shifted the dynamic of every scene. Elliot, you jumped in late, faced the challenge head on, and delivered something incredibly nuanced. I’m so grateful for your commitment.
To my supporting cast, thank you for showing up and elevating every moment you were part of. To my dedicated crew, JD, Alex, Preston, Jennifer, Ricardo, Owen, and Oneil, there’s no way I could have done this without you. Weekend after weekend, you showed up with passion and made sure I never felt alone on set.
Dave, your support meant everything. From helping with equipment to stepping in as a one man camera team when I needed it most, you’ve always believed in what I’m trying to do, and I’ll never forget that.
And Gracie, my rock through all of this. Your confidence in me gave me the clarity to go out and make this. You had my back every step of the way, and I’m endlessly grateful. I love you, and I’m excited to keep editing this beast together.
To everyone else who helped along the way, thank you. More soon. God bless.
Last weekend was a true full circle moment for me. Getting to see not only my thesis but all the films me and @owen_.m._johnson made throughout our time at SCAD with my family and friends was a gift. I couldn’t be prouder of what Owen and I were able to pull off. And the fact that I got to celebrate it with my best friends who grew up making films with me was the cherry on top. And then also to get interviewed by the local news the next day about my roots in Virginia Beach and what it means to be an artist coming from there was incredible. I’m overwhelmed with a sense with nostalgia, joy, and pride. I’m so happy I was able to share this project with all those who have supported me literally for over a decade, and now I am excited to share it with the rest of the world! Thank you all!
Downtown Disarray has wrapped! And I couldn’t be more proud of what everyone helped create! It was genuinely the most incredible, important experiences of my life. It defined my confidence as a director. I love film, I love filmmaking, and I love everyone who helped me get to this point. Everything everyone did this past weekend was just awesome and I couldn’t have done it without this amazing team around me! I think everyone will really love what we cooked up, I look forward to sharing more. 😏 BTS: @chloechristiansonn
Tonight was incredible! The love and support I saw from my friends and peers gave me confidence to make Downtown Disarray. I’m so excited for this film and for the chance to do something different. Thank you all for coming out tonight! I look forward to seeing you all again! Photo Credit @chloechristiansonn
