By Dave Fairman, Independent Film Director

My name is Dave Fairman and I’m a writer, director, and producer. I’ve spent the last decade plus making independent movies, commercials, and other film and video and film content in Michigan and Los Angeles.

This past fall, along with some equally dedicated and possibly insane creative collaborators, we decided to film our newest independent project at Camp Walden — a location that quickly became more than just a backdrop for our story.

The script was written by Travis Hayward, who also co-directed and co-produced. Our third producer, Ashley Richardson, is also an extremely talented makeup artist and brought much of the design of the movie to life.

While Travis and I have worked together for years — he has been the cinematographer on many of my projects, and I’ve assistant directed on his — this was the first time we officially co-directed a film together. The process felt like a natural extension of a long-standing creative partnership – the rare marriage where goals are the same and there’s no bickering.

The project itself came together quickly. Travis wrote the first draft of the script in August and we moved into prep almost immediately. Because the story was set in the fall, the timeline for producing the film before winter was aggressive to say the least. If we wanted to capture the Michigan autumn season authentically, we had to move fast.

Originally, we had secured a different camp location. Then, one week before production, that plan disappeared. The camp canceled abruptly, claiming financial issues and an unexpected closure. I’ll never forget reading that email and realizing our project might be falling apart.

That’s when Camp Walden entered the picture.

We reached out on a Monday, visited the grounds the very next day, and knew almost immediately that we had found something special. The setting was expansive and had the perfect feel – quiet yet cinematic. It offered the kind of atmosphere filmmakers hope for but rarely find – especially on short notice.

We filmed at Camp Walden for nine days in October. I arrived three days early and Travis two days in advance to walk the grounds, plan logistics, and adapt the script to the spaces available. Our cast and crew was intentionally small — averaging around fifteen people per day — which allowed us to move efficiently while still obtaining some great footage.

We stayed on location throughout the shoot, primarily in the staff housing and the infirmary. The nights were chilly and it rained during the final two days, but beyond that the weather was nothing short of ideal. More importantly, the camp itself was such a wonderful character in the movie, it made any challenge feel manageable.

Filming an independent movie is never easy. On smaller productions, people take on multiple roles, stretch themselves creatively and physically, and usually do so for…let’s say “modest” compensation. It requires commitment and effort to make something so small feel so large.

At Camp Walden, that effort was matched by the environment.

We ate together in the mess hall. We slept on the grounds. Outside of a few supply runs, we didn’t leave the camp. The result was a strong sense of camaraderie — the kind that comes from sharing space, time, and purpose. For a week and a half, everyone was fully there.

The location became a highlight for the entire team. The lake was calm and beautiful. The surrounding woods were peaceful and cinematic. Several cast and crew members traveled from as far as Los Angeles, and many remarked on how grounding it felt to work in such a natural setting.

There’s a familiar feeling that arrives when a film shoot ends — a quiet emotional drop after weeks of intensity and collaboration. You spend long days creating something together, building relationships, solving problems, and then suddenly it’s over. That contrast can be difficult, but it’s also a reminder of why the work matters to us.

Camp Hallow was no different. When we wrapped, it felt less like leaving a job and more like saying goodbye after a shared experience. The end of movie camp, as it were.

Several cast and crew members have since mentioned feeling the same way. Some moved directly onto other productions and were surprised by how different the atmosphere felt. There was something about the time at Camp Walden — the closeness, the setting, the shared rhythm of life and work — that stayed with them.

For us, Camp Walden wasn’t just where the film took place. It became an essential part of how the film was made. It gave us the space to focus, to collaborate, and to fully inhabit the process during a demanding and meaningful period.

We’re deeply grateful for the openness, flexibility, and trust extended to us. Camp Walden showed what’s possible when a place is allowed to be used in an unexpected way — and it’s an experience we’ll carry forward into everything we make next.