Crew Call Update: The Price of Staying, Mid-September 2026

Six weeks ago we posted the crew call for The Price of Staying. Sixty of you read it. Some of you reached out. A few of you are now in the deal memo pipeline. Here is exactly where we stand.

What We Locked

Since the August 12 call, we have formally locked or confirmed the following roles:

Hayden Fay remains our Production Designer. He will also serve as Editor, with a fallback to Postproduction Supervisor if we bring on a dedicated Editor. This is formally locked in the deal memo pipeline.

Rachel Chavez is locked as Storyboard Artist. She will also support Costume and Production Assistant duties on flexible shoot days.

Estavon Medina is locked as BTS Photographer and Videographer.

Eric Emerson stepped up as our Composer after our first-choice candidate passed on the full score role. Eric is tentatively locked and is working with the Director on tonal direction, with potential collaboration through the Pikes Peak State College music pipeline.

Chet DSilva is locked as Producer.

Mikaela Pampkin is locked as Executive Producer.

Carrie Durnell has accepted the role of Production Manager. She brings nonprofit operations experience running multi-phase conferences and demonstrated the people-first instincts this production demands. Deal memo is in motion.

What Changed

Composer search is closed. Jay Ragsdale, our first outreach, declined the full score role. We remain open to licensing specific tracks if the opportunity aligns.

DP candidates shifted. Two Colorado Springs-based candidates who were in consideration for Director of Photography withdrew to pursue camera department roles (2nd AC, Data Wrangler) rather than the DP chair. They are no longer in the DP pipeline but may be reconsidered for crew roles through standard hiring once the DP is locked.

Academic partnership is live. We met with Shazia Ali, Music Department Chair at Pikes Peak State College, on September 9. A full internship partnership packet is now in her hands. This opens a pipeline for student composers, sound designers, and recording engineers to support the score and post-production under professional mentorship.

What Is Still Open

The following roles remain active and urgent:

Director of Photography (DP) - Our highest priority. We need someone who can handle bleak, bureaucratic horror and wants to work on something unflinching. Must not be dual-hatted with Director or Gaffer.

1st Assistant Director (1st AD) - Owns call sheets, on-set scheduling, and maintaining the 18-day shoot structure.

Sound Mixer / Sound Recordist - Location and interior dialogue capture for the Swift Serve kitchen and Halcyon tower environments.

Gaffer - Lighting design for the 2039 corporate palette.

Location Scout - Securing the Halcyon tower, Swift Serve kitchen, and Continuance Processing environments. Can be freelance or stipend-based.

Dedicated Editor - If we find a separate Editor, Hayden moves to Postproduction Supervisor. If not, Hayden stays in the chair.

Script Supervisor - Owns continuity, script notes, and the daily editors log across the 18-day shoot.

Casting Director - Leads talent outreach, audition logistics, and SAG-AFTRA ULB compliance for principal and supporting roles.

Colorist - Will handle the 2039 corporate palette in post: sterile greys, industrial reds, institutional voids.

Production Assistant Pool - General PA support for load-in, load-out, lock-ups, and runner duties across all three locations.

What Is New

We have also finalized the Crowdfundr campaign architecture: a $35,000 Phase 1 Development Seed, with a contingent $85,000 Phase 2 Production Bridge. The campaign page is in final review. We will announce the launch date here when it is locked.

The Jives Coffee Lounge community fundraising partnership is now taking shape. Five fundraising windows are planned from September through November, ranging from casual drop-ins to a full anchor event with Ellie Burdg. Photo and video coverage for the key sessions is being confirmed with our crew, so if you stop by you might end up in the build-in-public content.

How to Apply

If you fill one of the open roles above, email info@outlawpoetdigitalfilm.com with the subject line:

[TPS APPLICATION] - [Your Name] - [Role]

Include your reel, resume, and availability for Q1 2027. Student and early-career applicants are still encouraged.

We are not building this in the dark. We are building it in the open.

- Northstar

Director, The Price of Staying

Outlaw Poet Digital Films LLC