A chronicle of building independent films—from first draft to final frame.
Narragate was founded on the belief that every story is a journey that inspires. This journal follows another journey: the often unseen process of building an independent film company and bringing stories to life. Here you'll find reflections on filmmaking, storytelling, business, music, production, and the lessons learned along the way.
Journal Entry No. 001
One Encouraging Development This Week
July 10, 2026
I recently met with Penn State's Legal Clinic to discuss Narragate and Duet. They're reviewing whether they can assist with contract review and the securities side of preparing for investors. For a small independent production company, having access to that kind of guidance could make a real difference.
As I've shared recently, filmmaking is both art and business, and both matter. Without the legal structure, I can't raise money or move forward responsibly. Without a strong product—a solid screenplay—there's no reason to begin conversations with investors in the first place.
On the creative side, one lesson from revising Duet has been that every creative choice has to serve the story.
I recently replaced one song in the film with another—not because the first one wasn't meaningful, but because the second one told the emotional truth of that moment more honestly.
That's one of the challenges of making a music-driven film. The songs aren't interruptions; they're part of the screenplay.
The building continues.
Journal Entry No. 002
Digging A Little Deeper
July 11, 2026
I want to dig a little deeper into something I touched on yesterday.
I mentioned that I recently replaced one song in Duet with another. At first glance that might seem like a small creative decision, but it reminded me of an important lesson.
The original song, "Covered Bridge," felt right because it reflected Pennsylvania so well. Its imagery fit the landscape and the atmosphere I wanted the audience to experience.
But as I continued revising the screenplay, I realized the scene didn't need to deepen our understanding of the place. It needed to deepen our understanding of Annie.
"We Had a Good Run" isn't simply a different song. It expresses Annie's emotional journey as Ethan is finally beginning to understand it. In that moment, the relationship mattered more than the landscape.
That's one of the lessons I've learned while writing a music-driven film. Songs aren't interruptions in the story—they're dramatic scenes. Sometimes beautiful poetry has to give way to dramatic purpose.
Every revision is really asking the same question: Does this help tell the story more truthfully? That's the standard every creative decision has to meet.
The building continues.
