For our latest feature, we speak with director and producer Bo Youngblood from Showdown Productions about her directorial debut for the film In Flight starring Tiffany Smith (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) and Cristo Fernández (Ted Lasso).
Written by Drew McAnany and John Ierardi, In Flight follows Claire (Smith) who wakes up on a plane and has no idea how she got there after a strange encounter the night before with a stranger (Fernández).
In this digital magazine feature, Bo reflects on directing the plane thriller, the preparation beforehand, and what got her interested in filmmaking. She also discusses her production company, Showdown Productions, which she runs with her partner John Ierardi.
Photos for this exclusive feature by Tony Rysk
What were the first and last days like directing In Flight?
Bo Youngblood (BY): My first day on In Flight was soo exciting. I couldn’t sleep the night before. I was just excited to get to set and jump right in. I wasn’t nervous because I had done enough prep. I was ready to see all the actors in action. My last day on In Flight was stressful and sad. It was our biggest day with the amount of set ups we needed, and the private plane set was malfunctioning a bit which put us behind a bit. But when we called cut on the last take, I knew we had it in the bag. I was soo sad because I wished we could have had more days selfishly to see the cast and crew more. I immediately missed everyone. But I knew we had all worked so hard to create something really special.
What was it like capturing the suspense in a film that takes place in the air?
BY: Keeping the suspense was the one thing we constantly talked about every day on set. It was the most important element of the film. So, when my DP Dan Watt and I needed to pivot or change a shot we always made sure we discussed how to keep the stakes and tensions high.
What was the preparation process like for you directing this film?
BY: I was really lucky to have a full week with Dan, my DP, on the set to rehearse and physically work through the shot list together. We were there every day going page by page shot by shot. He brought his camera and I would get into the space and we would pre shoot as a way to storyboard. It was so fun and collaborative and I really believe it allowed us to become really fluid in the space, so on the day it was second nature and all I needed to do was focus on the actors.
With the actors, I know most of them personally, and I made sure we all had one on one conversations about the project, their characters, and any questions or thoughts they had. Tiffany and I had many long conversations getting to know eachother better which really helped inform her character choices for Claire. It was also really nice being able to connect with everyone and learn how they like to communicate. I found it really helpful when giving notes.
Specifically with directing, what were some films that inspired you to want to direct and make films?
BY: I have such a mixed bag of films that really inspired me, I’m a bit all over the place. I would say Baz Luhrman’s Romeo & Juliet, Scream, anything made by Alfred Hitchcock, and 80’s comedies like Overboard and Uncle Buck.
There are some big scenes in In Flight that probably took longer to film than others, did those scenes feel like they were their own mini movie by itself, or did they feel like part of the big picture?
BY: We were a bit risky and combined a few shots into oners because of time. We only had 10 days to shoot the film. I think when we made those decisions everyone, cast and crew, really had to look at the entire shot as its own piece. So in a sense,we hyperfocused on the task at hand, but it always felt like part of the whole film.
At Showdown Productions, you produce many films in different genres, what do you look for in a project that you want to be part of?
BY: I think John and I really gravitate towards a strong voice and strong protagonist. Genre aside, if the script is written and structured well, and the elements of the genre are done well, we are excited. I also think there is something really exciting when you are reading and you know you haven’t read anything like it before, a new or surprising element. It’s a hard question to answer because there is no one answer, no secret.
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In Flight is available to watch on Apple TV, Tubi, Plex, Xumo Play, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.
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