Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1433736
one is curious, they ask questions, they become inquisitive and with that can become vulnerable. It becomes a very di erent collaboration that waya dialogue. It becomes humane. I am often intimidated by the cultural weight America carries and how that impacts the stories being told. I often ask myself Will I be able to do a good job Will I be able to create an environment that is layered with experiences Will I be able to tell stories that precede the moment being captured on camera What encourages me to keep asking is, that I have an endless passion to get to know all di erent kinds of people, all di erent kinds of experiences and all di erent kinds of stories. As much as directors love actors, I love the environments people create. I leave no stone unturned and always engage collaborators to share how they relate. Teamwork is key. I enjoy hearing ideas, stories and opinions from collaborators, because together we can deepen the physical environments we create. andy invited me up to his hometown, the city where the fi rst season of BMF takes place. So, I snuck away for a weekend from the show I was on at the time and drove to Detroit. On the way in the car, I had my studio pitch with Curtis Jackson and Starz and as I pulled into the city, they gave me their blessing. I arrived to meet and get to know the Flenory family and the community of outhwest etroit. That's where the work really started. To meet the women and best friends of the two lead characters gave direct insight into what looked like for Terry and Meech. Their mother and sister opened their home to the production. We sat at their dinner table, said a prayer and broke bread together. They graciously and generously shared hours of stories and many photos, all details that essentially were the building blocks of the hero sets and defi ned the design of every personal space. We laughed, we cried and I could ask uestions. They took me to the most signifi cant locations of drug deals made and shoot-outs that happened, and I ate one of those famous Detroit hot dogs from Coney Island, another set created for the pilot. More stories were shared over a backyard fi re with andy's college mates, listening to etroit music while drinking mulled wine. The experience of D A B C A. FLENORY HOME LIVING ROOM. SKETCHUP MODEL BY JOSHUA WELLS. B. FLENORY HOME DINING ROOM. SKETCHUP MODEL BY JOSHUA WELLS. C. FLENORY HOME KITCHEN. SKETCHUP MODEL BY JOSHUA WELLS. D. FLENORY HOME. FIRST- FLOOR PLAN DRAWN BY JOSHUA WELLS.