I am writing this post at 11:42 pm after a day of attempting to produce a new short film. I am compelled to direct another film for a 72-hour challenge sponsored by an organization dedicated to inspiring beginning filmmakers, Cinematography for Actors, because they provide an opportunity to get out there and make films with other creatives. It is an opportunity that is too delicious to pass up. It requires 72 intense hours of your life and the reward is that you have completed a film. The last film I made, Don't Assume is now being shown in the LA Film Festival on May 21, 2026 at 7:00pm.
To buy tickets if you're in LA
LOS ANGELES FILM FEST | May 13th-24th 2026 Tickets, Wednesday, May 13-Sunday, May 24 | Eventbrite
Although I was enchanted by filmmaking when I first arrived in Los Angeles in the mid 80's, I never fully pursued this "dream" in serious ways. I worked on crews and dabbled, but made my way into education and other art forms instead. This new interest is a much more realistic approach. I love the format of the short film. I am long past any "Hollywood Dreams" and am much more interested in telling a story in a different medium, in addition to as an author.
As the writer/director/producer, I find that the first step for me is to pair with a cinematographer, with whom I can collaborate. With this accomplishment, the potential script can begin its journey into the formation of a cinematic reality.
As an author, the story reality begins with me. The creative work done, is solitary. Yes, there are critique partners along the way, my agent's expert adjustments, an editor's desire for the story, and the acquisition team’s decision to make the manuscript into a book. But for the most part, the process is a relatively solo journey until the manuscript is ready to make its way into the publishing world.
A story on its way to the screen is a completely different process, with many collaborations along the way.
I began this particular endeavor with a creative partnership with the cinematographer, Evan Parquette. Together, we worked the script into shape. It had many layers for a 7-minute film so there were many hours spent tweaking and twisting the words and directions on the page.
Once satisfied with the shape of the story, we set about finding other members of the crew. We found a film editor who will take the footage we will shoot and arrange the sound and images into a cohesive story, paying close attention to tone and pacing. Using their artistry, they will tell the story by the arrangement they choose.
We have spent the past few days securing equipment necessary to record sound and image. As these pieces came together, we were hopeful. But one cannot make a film without a location or actors. This is where we stumbled. It is easier said than done.
Writing a manuscript as an author isn’t easy but there are some key differences of the artform. As an author, I must world-build. I must use the words to create images of place, in the imagination of the reader. I must create living, breathing characters with histories, objectives, desires, motivations, and relationships. If I succeed, the characters come to life in the readers imaginations as well. Taking up emotional space and navigating a journey through a story that the reader is willing to embark on.
Throughout the day, we thought we had secured the location. We were on our way, and then we lost it and had to start from scratch. By afternoon, we were unsuccessful in securing another location.
Meanwhile, we were scrambling to cast the two main actors. Without actors, we are unable to bring the story to life. By late afternoon we threw in the towel and pivoted.
As an author, I have complete control over the characters in my story. In film, I must depend on other people to act out the parts on camera to tell the story. I have no real control. It is a feeling of helplessness and frustration. A feeling that I am not accustomed to. As an author, the story dictates my progress. I am experiencing that in film; the logistics and other people dictate the progress. Film is truly a collaborative medium. I love story crafting as an author. I am learning to love story crafting as a filmmaker with many collaborators.
The film story we were trying to tell was multi-dimensional, with many different complicated levels. We were beginning to worry that the elements necessary to tell such a sophisticated story with very little prep would result in a telling that was sophomoric and trite.
Did I have a different story that we could film? Could I recycle an old story? How much revision would be necessary? Changing from a manuscript to film script would take some rethinking.
By late evening, I pulled out a scene from the novel that I have been working on about the twin sister of the school shooter.
I know these characters backward and forward. I know what's in their hearts. I know their wounds. I know how they love and hate. Fortunately, it didn't take long to rework the scene into a 7 minute short film. Thank goodness. We were out of time.
By late night, we were back to looking for a location and searching for actors for a different story.
It is now 2:32 am. Tomorrow will tell if the pieces to this puzzle come together. So many pieces must align. It’s so labor intensive as well as expensive. If you have an explosion in the story, it will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. As an author, it’s free. It is all created in the reader’s mind. Such different mediums, and yet, there is enchantment and excitement in both. A journey to be taken.
By Zeena M. Pliska
Author of
Hello, Little One: A Monarch Butterfly Story
Egyptian Lullaby
Chicken Soup for the Soul for Babies Say Thank You? (But Why?)
Chicken Soup for the Soul for Babies A Gift For Me? (I Want It!)