The Cinematography Podcast Episode 304 - Grace Point indie film director Rory Karpf & DP Al Francesco

For director Rory Karpf, a core philosophy is that things are going to change- a lesson learned from years of documentary filmmaking. This flexibility proved invaluable when crafting his indie feature, Grace Point. Adapted from a larger, more ambitious script, Grace Point tells the story of a young man on his way to a remote drug rehab. His journey takes a dark and unexpected turn when he finds himself in a strange town being chased by the locals and his own personal demons.

The genesis of Grace Point began with a documentary shoot in a very specific location. Rory and cinematographer Al Francesco were working on recreations in Laurinburg, North Carolina. Al suggested that Rory reimagine the script as a smaller, more intimate indie film, using the town’s natural settings. They were able to find every location they needed in Laurinburg and the surrounding area.

The rapid 19 day production schedule with 10-hour workdays required working around outdoor shoots and unpredictable Southern weather. With many locations donated, Rory and Al knew they couldn’t waste time with reshoots or lose any days to the weather. They dedicated two weeks to detailed location and technical scouting, meticulously planning shots and coverage. Al found the time to be flexible and see compositions when they naturally occurred, like taking advantage of a beautiful foggy morning during the shoot.

Rory and Al’s background in documentary filmmaking proved to be a significant asset. “One thing I learned with documentaries are things are gonna change,” Rory states. “With narrative scripted filmmaking, it could be the actor isn’t getting the scene right for whatever reason. We’re gonna try something a little bit different, and be open to that working.” Al’s documentary instincts led him to adopt a “keep the camera rolling” approach, even after “cut” was called, capturing authentic reactions. He also streamlined the process by lighting entire scenes and shooting multiple angles without resetting, and even capturing close-ups and inserts during rehearsals.

The collaboration between Rory and Al began at NFL Films, where they honed their skills on sports documentaries featuring prominent figures like Peyton Manning (The Book of Manning) and Snoop Dogg (Coach Snoop). These “follow docs” often involved recreations, which served as mini-movies, providing valuable experience for their transition to narrative filmmaking. Their established network of crew members, producers, and access to affordable gear proved crucial. “It’s not a negative for us to have a small crew and make the most of it- that’s normally what we do,” Al notes.

For Rory, the most vital aspect of filmmaking is fostering a positive and enjoyable atmosphere. “Working with Al, he makes the stuff look great, but he also understands how it incorporates in the story,” he says. This blend of technical expertise and storytelling acumen is what brought Grace Point to life, proving that even with limited resources, passion and ingenuity can create compelling cinema.

You can see Grace Point on Apple TV and Amazon Prime.

Find Rory Karpf: https://www.gracepointfilm.com/

Find Al Francesco

Instagram: @gracepointfilm

Close focus: Panavision Hollywood is closing, indicating another downturn in the film industry.

Ben’s short end: Ben finally got to see From Darkness to Light, as he discussed in a previous episode. The TCM documentary is about the Jerry Lewis film, The Day the Clown Cried.

Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna is the Hulu documentary about Halyna Hutchins and the tragedy of her death on the set of Rust.

Illya’s short end: The South by Southwest Festival is going to be reduced to 1 week, and the music portion is shrinking as the Austin convention center is renovated for the next few years.

Sponsored by Hot Rod Cameras

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Sponsored by ARRI: Five out of 10 Best Picture Oscar nominations used ARRI cameras, and 3 out of 10 were serviced by ARRI Rental. Best Picture winner Anora used ARRICAM LT 35mm film cameras. Lol Crawley, Best Cinematography winner for The Brutalist supplemented the VistaVision format with ARRICAM LT and ST along with ARRIFLEX 235, 435, and 416 cameras. You can purchase ARRI digital cameras at Hot Rod Cameras.

Sponsored by Greentree Creative: If you enjoy The Cinematography Podcast and you’re interested in growing or starting your own podcast, contact Alana Kode at Greentree Creative. Greentree Creative can help you with all of your digital marketing needs including podcast launch and creation, advertising, social media management and content creation.

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Podcast Credits:

Producer: Alana Kode

All web and social media content written by Alana Kode

Host and editor in Chief:  Illya Friedman

Instagram: @illyafriedman @hotrodcameras

Host: Ben Rock

Twitter: @neptunesalad

Instagram: @bejamin_rock

Editor: Charlie Nix

Composer: Kays Al-Atrakchi