Three Bedrooms

23. That was the age that I’ve always had in my mind as the day that I would make my first feature. For a while now, I knew that summer of 2019 would be the summer when I shot my first feature, no matter what. You can imagine 2018 being a pretty hectic year in my existence. I spent it writing a bullcrap feature film in the midst of planning my wedding. I managed to finish a rough draft a week before I got married to then forget about it. I went on my honeymoon to the beautiful city of Portland, and one hot summer night I woke up in sweats. I was noticeably anxious because deep inside I knew that the film I had written was a piece of trash. I really had to really get my crap together if I wanted to shoot a film the next summer. I’m really glad I did.

Jumping back to 2017, I was in Colombia partaking in a family gathering. My family, my extended family that is, was getting drunk out of their mind as my uncle turned 50 years old. I vividly remember the moment when my aunt took my brother out to a dance. My brother, someone who had probably never danced in his whole life, was out there doing something that vaguely reminded me of salsa dancing. I took a mental photograph of my aunt's face. She was plastered, just having the time of her life with someone who obviously wasn't enjoying it; and in that moment, the film popped into my mind. I imagined the feeling of a boyfriend going to her girlfriend’s insane mother's house and being forced to spend time with her for three days straight.

When I finished the first draft and I showed it to a close circle of friends, I remember getting the question of - “so, who’s the main character?” I stared blankly. I should know the answer to this question, right? I mean, they taught me in first grade how to recognize the main character. Don’t I have a B.A in film? That should serve as credentials. I should be the guy who people go to when they don’t know who is the main character. I will say that I suspect Ella to be the main character, and Donna the least likely candidate for that nomenclature. However, as I received notes from producers and studied the film in detail in preparation for production, I realized that this story is not a “here’s your main character going through x-y-z” story. This film is a forced social experiment; the story of a family event that could have happened.

What if a family was forced to spend three days trapped in the same house? That’s the question that prompted narrative momentum. The choices seem endless, and I had so much fun imagining the 1001 possibilities. Three Bedrooms is the one hour of narrative choices that moved me the most. It’s a story about relationships, romance and loyalty; but it also overcomes the expectations that come with those labels and teaches us that love sometimes comes from the most unexpected of places. It explores true connection, fantasy and longing.

Three Bedrooms is easily spoilable, and sometimes I wish I could tell people about it. I’ve had casual conversations with people who know the story, and we’ve had a lot of fun discussing the characters and the what-ifs. I’m not talking about actor meetings I had prior to the film. Those were necessary. I sat down with a producer over some smokes and spent a good time talking about the film. I love that about this film; it spurs conversation and intrigues without being overly controversial. At the end of the day, I think this film does something that every good story does: it lets us experience the range of emotions and connects us to our humanity through its nuances. I’m really proud of what this film has become; and trust me, I am my own worst critic and boss. I wish I could be sitting down in a theater watching it with people. I am really looking forward to having those conversations, whether you love or you hate it, I know you will love experiencing it.