Behind the D4: 'Shovel'

Behind the D4 is an interview series about the D4 films made by Film MFA Program students. After completing their Directing IV coursework, each student is required to direct a short final project, called the “D4 Film.” 

Shovel

When a pair of hired criminals kidnap the wrong target, they find themselves stuck with an impossible decision: kill an innocent man, or face the wrath of their superior.

Cast and Crew

Writer/Director: Camille Hamadé
Producer: Nicholas Nyhof
DP: Kenneth Keeler
ADs: Erica Tennyson & Caitlin Ferrel
Editor: Patrick Nichols
AC: Erin Ramirez
Gaffer: Jared Wiedmeyer
Script Supervisor: Vivienne Shaw
Production Design: Vishnu Sinha
Sound Recordist: Andrew Feyer
PA: Kevin Lee
Cast: Rob Cardazone, Chistian Miranda, Kamran Saliani, and Paul Forrest Quinn 

How challenging was it to make a movie during the pandemic?

Camille Hamadé: This summer was crazy in terms of productions. Everyone was trying to compensate for a year of not shooting anything because of COVID, so it was a battle for the crew, equipment, and resources. With the influx of productions, we knew we needed to think about the shoot way in advance. I was lucky enough to have worked with Nicholas on our “8-12,” so we were already a team. It was a marathon, and I am glad we got through it.

Teamwork

Nicholas Nyhof: It was essential that everyone feel comfortable and understand that we are taking all the necessary precautions for the production. Camille did rehearsals in Central Park and kept distance between the actors before the shoot to ensure we looked after their best interests. On my side, it was really about communicating with the team as clearly as possible about the restrictions and production plans. I think information and communication made everybody feel more at ease. If you are trying to hide what you are doing or being ambiguous about how you plan to approach certain scenes, people will be a little worried, which you don't want to have on your set.

Rob Cardazone: If you have a good and collaborative crew, everyone works together towards the solutions. The way a set works is not tyranny, and it's not democracy. It is someplace in between. Sometimes you don't have resources or enough time, so everybody needs to work together to find a way to accomplish the director's vision, which is what we did on this set as a team.

Kamran Saliani: It was the nicest set I've ever been on. Everyone was respectful and professional, which made me feel very safe, especially with COVID. If everyone had a question or needed anything, production was like, "you got it." It was great energy, and no one was mean, rude, or arrogant. I don't know what they are doing at that place, but excellent personality building at Columbia University - keep doing it.

Camille Hamadé: I am not as proud of myself as I am of my team and the work they put in, or else it wouldn't have gone as smoothly as it was. Everybody put the effort in to make it as good as possible because you could see the extra lengths that the crew was willing to go to make this as smooth as it was. I was fortunate to have them.