Knowing that I
wanted to make a fan film and not having any access to
sets; I did was almost every other fan filmmaker seems
to do. HEAD FOR THE WOODS! In Florida
however, and especially on Merritt Island where there
is wildlife refuge, this can be hazardous. (Real
gators fear not the false lightsaber.) I needed a
location with unique characteristics. I needed,
if at all possible, a gigantic tree, to stand as the
archetypal symbol for the universal Wisdom Tree, where
all things come from the World Navel, as
referenced by Joseph Campbell. I also needed a
location that wasn't too dense and offered the
possibility of making it look like multiple locations
when it was in actuality only one. As I worked
on my FX tests, I scoured around. Well, there is
plenty of beach around here, so I could've gone the "Duel"
route and used a digital matte to take out the ocean
and go with the Tatooine look. But I really
wanted the huge tree, and the more I thought of it,
the idea that Master Rhikkid Stor would hold classes
under this monstrous tree became more and more
essential to the story. The tree began to
signify "sanctuary" - a neutral ground where
Jedi and Sith could debate their difference without
fear of reprisal from either side. I contacted
the Brevard
Film Commission for a permit and asked about
possible locations. Immediately, they mentioned
"The Enchanted Forest", not only did it
offer multiple environments, from tropical rain
forest, mangroves, to arid desert, but it had wide
open fields, and above all, a gigantic tree called the
"Ancient Oak". I scouted it out and
fell in love with it. I needed to get a permit
to shoot on Environmentally Protected Land and they
were a bit squeamish because they didn't really have a
feel for what a "fan film" was.
Everything worked out though, and except for being
right next to an airport, "The Enchanted
Forest" was the perfect location.
Here
are some of the original pictures I took when scouting
the location.
