Will Carter picked the Rail Haven motel on Route 66 before he knew what SATO 48 was going to throw at him. Then his crew of 25 shot Safe Haven there until five in the morning, and there wasn't a dry eye on set.
I sat down with Will at SATO 48 in Springfield right after Safe Haven screened. He got into this in 2023 over backyard barbecues with his cinematographer James, made every first-year mistake, and now runs a film company between Springfield and Kansas City. His 2024 short Cold Heart took Best Set Production Design and has gone on to win at festivals since.
Safe Haven was different. Will wanted to push himself past comedy and sci-fi into something dramatic, wrote the script for two specific actors, told his writing team that every line had to matter, and then found out the challenge packet included a full minute with no dialogue. He talks about why the subject of the film is one he doesn't take lightly, the mental-health checks they stopped for on set, and the one rule about how people get treated that he won't bend for anyone.
The back half is his advice: what went wrong with six location changes in year one, why audio matters more than the camera, why you shouldn't be afraid to ask to borrow gear, and why independent film is having a moment right now.
Recorded at SATO 48, Springfield, Missouri. Thanks to Kyaw Tha Hla, Jeff Clinkenbeard, and the whole SATO 48 crew for having us.
Every corner of the Ozarks has a story worth telling — a person worth knowing, a business worth supporting, a community worth celebrating. That's why we do this.
Listen on the go: open.spotify.com/show/25HVisEC035N4KixYh5XOW