We have all seen the end credits of a film. They go on for a while, don't they? Ours last four minutes. Here we have included a small glimpse of what it took to tell this importnat story. Enjoy! And be sure to stay through the credits when you watch SPOKE.
Film producer and director heard about firefighter Rudy Pospisil's incredible story in the winter of 2023. By the fall of the same year, the two were together on set filming SPOKE.
One of the first people director Bogdan Darev told about the film was friend and fellow producer Micah Knapp. Micah fell in love with the story immediately and signed up to become the film's producer.
Cinematographer Matthew Skala lives and works in LA. He worked with director Bogdan Darev and production designer Mariya Apostolova first in 2008. Nothing compares to working with the same team over time. The more the creative relationships deepen on set, the richer the final result.
Production Designer Mariya Apostolova sets the famous SPOKE table. Her attention to detail is contagious. Just three weeks before the shoot she was on a film set in Bulgaria, her native country. She currently lives and works in Seattle.
Co-producer
Alexander Sylvester stands in for Rudy. Making an indie film is
a
total team effort. Everyone pitches in where help is needed.
Rudy high-fiving the Labrador Eiffel. Sadly, the scene didn't make it into the final film, but the memory remains!
Recreating
a scene from Rudy's childhood using a dolly and a healthy dose of
imagination. Our costume designer, Mariya Apostolova, sourced out the clothes from vintages
stores in Seattle.
The
powerful family scenes around the table required a unique way of filming.
Director Bogdan Darev wished for the camera movement to symbolize the motion
of time and bike wheels. It was decided early on to place a circular dolly
track around the table and have two dollies move clockwise. For this purpose
SPOKE was filmed on a sound stage.
Rudy
hates snakes. He saw a lot of them on the road. Here he faces his worst fear. However, in
the final film the shots with the snake are left open ended for the audience to interpret as
they wish. Could the snake symbolize healing and spiritual awakening as it often does in
Eastern religions? Or is it a symbol of temptation and a fall from grace?
Our
gifted make-up artist, Kathryn Dixson, attaching a bald cap. In one day she had to attach
two bold caps and create the two amazing burnt looks in the next photo. Katy, you
rock!
A
hands-on director, Bogdan Darev loves to get behind the camera. Here he films a scene with
two burnt victims. The scene recreates the memories that haunt firefighter Rudy Pospisil. As
he cycles around the world, on long stretches of desolate roads, Rudy must face off with 30
years of post traumatic stress.
Gaffer
James Winters and our key grip light the sound stage.
Director
Bogdan Darev works with our youngest actor who portrays another haunting memory. SPOKE is as
much a documentary as it is an impression of the unbearable weight first responders often
carry.
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