Roderick McClure and Joshua Ferrell of RodFather Productions discuss their forthcoming film, Both Eyes Open starring Gail Bean, and how they create a supportive atmosphere that empowers others.
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind Both Eyes Open? And what drew you to this particular story?
Josh: This is one of our first feature films. So, we were really looking for a script that would be captivating, but also a script that would be of interest to land some big stars as far as actors go. And we connected with Julia Harrison, who’s the director and writer of the film. We were instantly sold on the script, sold on her, sold on the potential of the project and just kind of hit the ground running from there.
Rod: Just to emphasize what Josh just stated. We waited patiently for the right script. Again, the script that we thought would attract the type of cast that we wanted to showcase in our movie. And once we presented the script, then we knew we had something really special.
What strengths do each of you bring to Rodfather Productions?
Josh: I would say Rod has always been the big idea person in every facet. And he’s a strong leader. He really knows how to pull people together. He knows how to come up with the vision. I just bring my project management skill-set, connecting with different people. I put people in the right position to execute the vision that Rod has made. So, we are a duo that works in tandem pretty well.
Rod: Josh is masterful at solving problems and networking. And those are two key ingredients necessary, especially when you’re on the set because you never know what issues may come up at any given moment. A lot of issues that people may have had never reached my desk because Josh would have already addressed them and we could continue on.
Both Eyes Open is described as a psychological thriller. What were some of the obstacles you faced in bringing this narrative to life?
Rod: Just having the premiere cast—a huge shout out to Gail Bean, Taye Diggs, Joy Brunson, Christie Leverette, Tristan Mack Wilds, Michael Oloyede, Carla Fisher, and others—they really made that part easy because they are really good at what they do. They were able to fully understand their characters, understanding what Ariel was asking out of them, embodying those roles, and executing seamlessly.
Taye Diggs and Gail Bean are prominent actors in Both Eyes Open. What was it like working with them and how did they contribute to the film’s dynamic?
Rod: It was definitely a very fun experience, I would say. The whole environment on set was fun as well, and they played a big part in that. Taye is obviously a very experienced and talented actor. There’s nothing short of that in this project. He just brought his character to life, and that was amazing to watch.
Josh: And Gail, with this being one of her first lead roles, she embodied that responsibility on and off the screen. It really just set the tone on set. It was very encouraging to every single member of the crew. She had a spirit about her that was just contagious and made everybody want to work even harder. It was a phenomenal experience to work with those two.
The film has been praised for its intriguing storyline. How did you approach the screenplay development and what aspects did you focus on maintaining the suspense and the engagement?
Rod: We attribute that to our phenomenal team, including the writer and director, Ariel Julie Harrison. This was her script that she developed. And she had the vision for it from the start.
Josh: She was able to really lay out what that vision was to us. And we were there to help bring it all together. I know she could speak more to the details about the origination of it. We definitely give her a lot of praise and credit for the job that she did with the overall script and execution of it.
Rodfather Productions aims to bring often-overlooked talent to the screen. Can you elaborate on your vision for the company and how it influences your choice of projects?
Josh: We definitely know that there are a lot of talented individuals on and off the screen, from producers to actors who just may not have gotten the opportunity that they needed. One of the things we enjoy is providing people with these opportunities and identifying their potential. We recognize how hard they work and just their commitment to the craft. We love providing that vessel to propel them further in their career by giving them these amazing opportunities.
Rod: It’s something that we stay true to in all our projects. Where some production companies may shy away from hiring first-time writers or first-time actors, we empower them. We believe there is a wealth of overlooked talent out there on the horizon. We invite those individuals to our sets, and we enjoy watching them as they develop, grow and shine while using their craft and skills to bring projects to life.
Creating a positive working environment on set is noted as one of your strengths. What steps do you take to foster such an environment and how does it impact the creative process?
Rod: First and foremost, we value people. And when people feel valued, they’re able to give you an output of their best self. We want to make sure that people feel heard and seen. And we also want to just create a fun environment on set. Whether it be different team-building activities that we do after shooting or making sure we’re having fun in between breaks.
Josh: We keep the morale up and we keep everybody engaged. We also pride ourselves on the high quality of product that we put out. We have such high standards for everything. Rod does a good job of laying that out, setting that standard, and setting that tone. It kind of becomes contagious on set. And so, it’s a really good environment that we’re able to authentically create and just really get everybody to buy in.
Rod: We just try to create an environment that shows that everyone on the set matters. It doesn’t matter if you’re the caterer, if you’re an intern or the leading actor, you matter. We simply try to treat everyone exactly how we would like to be treated. And in return, we believe that boosts the morale, so everybody’s willing to bring so much more energy to work every day. Our goal is excellence. We believe that if the morale is high, if we are creating positive energy, we will receive a greater return with greater effort from everyone on the set.
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