Last Stop

Every film project carries within it a unique narrative, not just on screen, but in the arduous journey of its creation. “Last Stop,” emerged from the 48-hour film challenge bearing the indelible mark of Liz Wright’s vision and dedication.

In a recent conversation Liz Wright unraveled the intricate threads of her creative journey, offering a glimpse into the making of “Last Stop” and the myriad facets that punctuated its path to fruition.

“Last Stop” is a road trip movie based on two bickering sisters and one of their daughters that are on the way to see their dad in hospice care” said Wright. “And it’s kind of a sad, but it’s like think of like Little Miss Sunshine versus like Thelma and Louise kind of vibe. That’s kind of I would say the genre is really just like a family oriented movie on, you know, forgiveness, redemption. And ultimately it also focus a little bit around mental health.”

At its core, “Last Stop” epitomizes the boundless potential of collaborative endeavors, as Liz Wright ingeniously assembled her cast and crew from diverse corners of the filmmaking community. Harnessing the power of social media platforms like Facebook, Wright collected a team of talent, each individual contributing their unique skills to breathe life into this cinematic vision.

“I really didn’t tell anybody No. Anybody that said, “Yes, I’m interested”. I said, “Cool. What are you interested in doing? What are your talents? What are your strengths? What kind of equipment do you have?” And so I got a few different team members that had different camera options. We had awesome equipment. But you can’t really plan or cast a movie that you haven’t written yet. And so it was just finding people that were passionate and people that were committed. And whoever showed up got to be part of it.”

Amidst the camaraderie and creative fervor, challenges still were present in the filmmaking process. From navigating conflicting creative voices to weathering literal storms like a sudden hailstorm during filming, Wright confronted each obstacle with unwavering determination and resourcefulness.

“I had too many cooks in the kitchen, if that makes sense. I had people that had been directors and had been writers and so and I wanted to have that on my team split. I had that additional experience that I didn’t have because this is my first film.”

Beyond the trials it was the camaraderie and sheer joy of creation that defined the essence of the filmmaking process for Wright and her team. Amidst the regular chaos of film production, laughter rang out, forging bonds that transcended beyond this 48 hour experience.

“There was a scene that between me and the other girl who played my sister where I really wanted to capture her emotion because the line that we had to use as part of the 48 hour challenge was “we’re not friends and we never will be”. I really wanted to capture that emotion. So we had our DP, literally sitting on her lap with the camera in front of her face. We really were able to captured that emotion on her face up close. We were laughing the whole time in this super emotional scene, but that was probably one of my favorite memories.”

The culmination of this journey was the exhilarating premiere of “Last Stop,” an experience akin to witnessing the birth of a child. As the film flickered to life on the silver screen, Wright and her team basked in the glow of their collective achievement.

“Just being able to sit there and see it on the big screen was like the equivalent to me of giving birth to a baby, probably because I don’t have any kids of my own. The only thing I’ve done artistically where I’ve been able to see my work out in the world or my creation out in the world was when I published my first book. And it was that same type of feeling of  ripping open the box and unveiling it and tears come to your eyes when you’re just like, “Wow, we did it.”

For Wright, the journey does not end with a single premiere. Buoyed by the success of “Last Stop,” she sets her sights on new horizons, embarking on the ambitious endeavor of expanding her short film into a feature-length production. Undeterred by the daunting challenges that lie ahead, Wright’s indomitable spirit and unwavering passion propel her forward, eager to embrace the next chapter of her cinematic odyssey.

Aspiring filmmakers, take heed: Liz Wright’s journey offers a poignant reminder that the path to cinematic greatness is paved not just with talent, but with grit, perseverance, and an unyielding belief in the power of storytelling. So pick up that camera, join a set, or embark on your own creative odyssey. For in the boundless expanse of filmmaking, the possibilities are as endless as the depths of your imagination.