Making an indie film is always a gamble, but for the team behind Do Us Part, the stakes were literally life and death. During a recent Q&A for the film, writer-director Reed Arnold and stars Kelly Russo and Travis Laughlin opened up about a harrowing moment on set that nearly turned their romantic comedy into a tragedy.
The trio, who originally brought the story to life as an award-winning stage play, reunited for a whirlwind 13-day shoot to adapt their intimate production for the big screen. The film follows Ryan (Laughlin) on his wedding day, when his college best friend and unrequited love, Rose (Russo), crashes the ceremony to confess her feelings. Meanwhile, Ryan's morally flexible best man, Mark (Arnold), tries to keep the wedding on track while juggling a web of secrets.
During the Q&A, moderated by Steve Weintraub, the conversation took a shocking turn when the cast revealed that they were nearly shot while filming. "We were in a location that had some firearms on set," Arnold explained. "There was a moment where a prop gun was mishandled, and we all realized how close we came to a real disaster." The incident, which could have ended the production, instead became a bonding experience for the close-knit cast.
Arnold, who also stars in the film, shared how the project evolved from a 25-page script into a full-length feature. "The original piece was just the wedding stuff," he said. "But after staging it as a one-act play, we expanded it with college flashbacks and fleshed out the characters." The play premiered in 2015 and was restaged several times, but it wasn't until 2019 that Arnold considered adapting it for the screen. "A theater company mentioned a film, and my first instinct was no," he admitted. "But then I realized I had to take the opportunity."
The COVID-19 pandemic derailed those initial plans, but Arnold eventually decided to make the film himself, reaching out to his original castmates. "I knew I needed people who could nail it in one take," he said. "We had 13 days to shoot, and there were many times we only had one shot to get it right." The fast-paced production meant the cast had to be at the top of their game, and their years of friendship helped them work seamlessly together.
One of the biggest changes from play to film was the structure. "The play was five long scenes, mostly in one location," Arnold explained. "For the film, I knew we needed shorter scenes and more variety, so I added new characters and expanded the flashbacks." The result is a more dynamic story that still captures the heart of the original.
Filming the college flashbacks presented its own challenges, including a quick transformation for the actors. "Travis and I had beards for the wedding scenes, so we shot all of those first," Arnold said. "Then we shaved and did the flashbacks." The physical change helped the actors get into the mindset of their younger selves, but it also added to the already tight schedule.
Despite the close call on set and the grueling pace, the cast looks back on the experience with fondness. "It was so fun to step back with them eight years later," Arnold said. "We're all friends in real life, and that chemistry comes through on screen." For fans of indie rom-coms, Do Us Part is a testament to the power of collaboration and the magic that can happen when a team is willing to take risks.
For more behind-the-scenes stories from the world of indie filmmaking, check out our coverage of other thrilling productions and near-miss film projects.
