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Bo McKenzie

@bomckenzie

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For those who know me, they know I’m a big believer in magic.

Magic, to me, is the ability to transmute heart, beauty, and warmth from some seemingly unknowable, profound place. The creation of something whose origin can’t quite be explained, but still stands firm; poignant and undeniably there. Something made of equal parts whimsy and fortitude.

And truly, that’s what these last six weeks have encompassed: magic—envisioned, woven, and brought to life by the most incredible group of Wilmington, NC bugs.

The film community here left me in awe, and I’m so grateful to have been a part of it, even for a brief flicker.

It was an enormous privilege to 1st AD alongside the cast and crew of Jojo and the Freaks. This film was ambitious, challenging, deeply collaborative, and singularly made possible by the talent, heart, grit, and commitment of every person who showed up for it.

The BIGGEST shoutout and all of my love to my incredible AD team: Emma, Kathleen, Cate, Mar, Sievey, Meredith, and every one of our amazing day players. I quite literally could not have done this without you. Thank you for running alongside me, problem-solving the impossible, keeping us moving, and bringing so much heart to every single day. 💕

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More stunning B & W snaps from #jojoandthefreaks🎪 by the extraordinary @kbell.jpeg . Thank you so much!!

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jojo & the tungsten specials: now with some of my favorite freaks

had an absolutely magical september working with @honeyheadfilms on this beautiful movie. turned 28, worked with an incredible crew, & got so many songs stuck in people’s heads. i don’t have the words for how grateful i was for this opportunity. see y’all on the next one!

special camera creds to @portcityfilms for letting me borrow the fuji for the month.

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Some inspirational parting words from our fearless leader and director extraordinaire @erika.arlee of @honeyheadfilms #jojoandthefreaks🎪

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@bomckenzie making sure B was pulling her weight on set! #jojoandthefreaks🎪 💪😆

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Another down for the books! Thank you again @honeyheadfilms for the chance to hop on this incredible project. Could have asked for a better crew to work with either. One for the memories!

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That’s a wrap on Jojo and the Freaks. ✨

This show was ambitious, challenging, deeply collaborative, and so incredibly full of heart and magic. It was an enormous honor to 1st AD alongside a cast and crew who singularly made this film possible. I am in awe of the talent, heart, grit, humor, and commitment this team brought to work every single day.

We faced high winds, torrential rain and lightning storms, creeks, cottonmouths (don’t worry, we had the best wrangler), tight days, big swings, and an incredibly ambitious schedule; and somehow, through all of it, there were still smiles, support, laughter, and a whole lotta love.

There were ops in the creek, but we were in the trenches together. 😂 And I wouldn’t have wanted to be there with anyone else.

Erika; what an enormous honor it was to work alongside you, support your vision, and watch your mind at work. Your heart and courage are embedded in every frame of this film. Watching you work and rework scenes, respond to your actors, and shape the movie in real time was a privilege. The community @honeyheadfilms has built astounds me. Thank you for trusting me to help you bring this wild, beautiful thing to life.

And to every single person who showed up and gave this movie a piece of themselves: thank you. Movies like this simply do not happen without the people standing beside you, and this one happened because of every single one of you.

The gratitude I have for this experience and these people cannot be put into words. So simply, I’ll leave you with this:

We made something special.

And I cannot wait for y’all to see it on the big screen. 💕✨

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Glory to God for this amazing opportunity. I can’t believe it’s over already.
That’s a wrap on JOJO AND THE FREAKS. Seeing this film go from pre-production script revisions, all the way through principal photography was such an honor.
Honey Head, I love ya gals. JoJo crew, you guys are the best. Cast, you guys killed it every take.
I met some amazing people, and made some real good friends. I loved being a Camera Utility with you freaks. 🎬🙌

And can I just say… being part of a period film was a dream to me. ‘60s interiors, picture cars, and costumes are such a beautiful sight to see.

Until next time… love you all 🫶

#setlife #filmset #honeyhead

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I’m back! While I was gone, time still passed and boy, was September lowk actually pretty busy. For starters, September was my team and I having one of our shorts screen in a festival and win our first ever film award!!!

September was being in the bridal party and getting to help with the lovely wedding of two of my best friends (along with taking tough af Polaroids and sprinting across the Airbnb while playing Hear Say) :)

September was serving as a 1st team PA for the first time and being blessed with the best cast to grow into the role that I could’ve asked for (and huge s/o to @marmaduke318 for helping me keep track of where everyone would wander off to)

September was getting to be part of this kickass AD team of bugs (and blasting Julia Wolf and 2000 hits with them) :)

September was a lot of posing in a lot mirrors ofc (but this one was a very elegant one)

September was finally getting to visit the Charleston Lauren and Sean and soak in the sunshine for street fest and breakfast :)

September was having so many of the Wilm film people at the wedding that the ABC show in town simply couldn’t shoot that weekend ;)

September was proudly serving as the on-set uncle for @brooklynactress and @charliestoverofficial and @maedunning and all our other incredible young talent and making sure they stayed hydrated. If the future of film is in their hands, then we can most certainly expect some great movies (and even better Kanoodle solvers)

September was bumbling through an acceptance speech @charlestonfilmfestival bc I didn’t realize there were awards, let alone that our team was gonna win one at our very first festival debut :)))

September was bearing witness to the absolutely bonkers etch-a-sketch talents of Kristi Ray of @honeyheadfilms (it was like seeing the spirit of Madam Etch a Sketch possess her, and she’s only known she could do this for a month!!)

September was finally getting to work with and feeling so welcomed by the @honeyheadfilms family and having the chance to be part of a film that is gonna warm all your hearts :)

September was getting to see a film I directed screen on the big screen for the first time and be part of the Q&A afterwards !!

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That’s a WRAP on #jojoandthefreaks🎪 !!!! 🥹🥹🥹

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Too many amazing pics to come from JoJo and the Freaks. This experience has been so much more enriching and life-changing than we ever could have imagined. The cast and crew worked SO hard to make this gem of an indie film happen in just 22 days. The days were HOT, the hours long, the shots complex, the bugs hungry, the terrain tricky. But always there was something unbelievably beautiful happening. It was clear that every cast and crew member were in this together. Everyone was on the same page that this film could be EVERYTHING, if we could all dig down deep and give it our all. So we did. And it is. It. Is. Gorgeous. We are overwhelmed with pride to have had Brooklyn carry the weight and honor of the character “JoJo” on her shoulders. She put everything she had into this film. We hope you all love it as much as we treasured being a part of it. Today is our last filming day. We will be departing North Carolina with a couple pieces of our hearts left behind here. Part of us will now always belong to this beautiful state, and to the people who played a part in this absolute dream come true. You’ll always be our favorite bunch of freaks. We love you, we’ll miss you, we’ll see you on another gypsy caravan soon….. #jojoandthefreaks🎪

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Somewhere in 1969.

There’s been something quite warm and cohesive, even synchronistic, about this world coming together on screen.

We could go on and on about how the set decoration, wardrobe styling, lighting design, hair and makeup choices so effortlessly speak to each other…

…but you’ll just have to wait for the making-of EPK for the deep dive.

@blake___ellis, everyone 👏🏼📸

Blessed by this crew / cast / story.

#jojoandthefreaks🎪 is well under way.

#indiefilm #periodpiece #makeartnotnoise #filmstillsphotographer

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