Filming Our Short Film 'But I'm a Shoe' at the Waco Regional Airport

      Chen Drachman is the writer-director of “But I’m a Shoe,” a short film centered on a sneaker facing the challenges of air travel. In the following piece, Drachman shares how the Waco Regional Airport became a crucial setting for the film, with support from the Waco Independent Film Festival.—M.M.

      “I’m going to need an airport, aren’t I?”

      That was the thought that crossed my mind as I realized I was on the verge of creating my second short film, “But I’m a Shoe.” The talented actor and comedian Janet Varney from The Legend of Korra had agreed to participate, along with exceptional animator Andrew Dittmann.

      “But how do I film these scenes at an airport near New York City?”

      The solution became apparent soon after: we wouldn’t be filming anywhere close to New York, where I reside. Instead, we would head to Waco, Texas, the location of the Waco Independent Film Festival.

      A couple of years prior, when the script for “But I’m a Shoe” was a contender in the festival’s scriptwriting competition, I participated in a tour of local filming sites organized by the festival. Although the airport wasn't a formal stop on the tour, I experienced the variety that Waco had to offer: gas stations, arboretums, cemeteries, museums, and more.

      Following the tour, I approached the festival's co-director, Louis Hunter, and inquired: “So, how's the airport situation looking?”

      “We have two gates and two flights a day,” he replied. It was a match made in aviation heaven.

      To create my short film about a shoe boarding a plane, I needed to reach out to the Transportation Security Administration, a division of the Department of Homeland Security. Both agencies and the Waco Regional Airport were incredibly accommodating. I found myself on a Zoom call with these officials, thinking, “What is my life?”

      After some discussions about our requirements and restrictions, we received approval to film at the airport, free of charge.

      Yes, you heard that right.

      Numerous locations in New York City do not differentiate between a small production and a larger one (like that time I was asked to pay the same fee as HBO had to pay). But time and again, filming in Waco has proven to be beneficial.

      Background on ‘But I’m a Shoe’

      The lead character in Chen Drachman’s “But I’m a Shoe.”

      “But I’m a Shoe” is a hybrid short film that combines live-action and animation, depicting the trials of air travel through the perspective of a lively, yellow, talking Converse sneaker.

      If it sounds like it originated from a whimsical mind, that’s because it did.

      “Shoe” came to life while I was packing in Arizona for a 4 a.m. shuttle to the airport. In my state of sleep deprivation, I found myself talking to myself.

      Whatever the opposite of motivating myself is, that’s what I was doing, already bracing for body aches, uncomfortable temperatures, the likely absence of a satisfying meal, and various other possible letdowns.

      At that moment, I voiced aloud in a vacant room, “I wish I could transform into a small object for the flight.” And so, the idea began to take root. A few days later, once back at home and somewhat rejuvenated, I started to type one of the most absurd ideas I've ever had in Final Draft.

      I’ve made my job more challenging by shooting films far from where I live, without the opportunity to scout locations beforehand.

      The only way this can work is if you have local people who can support the film’s needs.

      Fortunately, we assembled a fantastic team. With producer Rachel Jobin (who was recently shortlisted for the Academy Awards with Ado) and 1st AD Dan Beard from the Baylor University Film Department faculty, I was able to take part in location scouts via Zoom, and felt assured everything would come together smoothly in real-time. With weekly production meetings and updates, I knew I was in excellent hands, doing as much as I could from my computer, 1,600 miles away from Waco.

      If there’s one thing I could have approached differently, it would be the animation process. Having never worked with animation before, I thought that having Andrew start on some of the set designs before principal photography would expedite the post-production phase.

      In hindsight, that was a mistake, as I soon discovered that things are always subject to change.

      An Exciting Change at the Waco Regional Airport

      Janet Varney in “But I’m a Shoe”

      As it happened, we were right on track for our upcoming filming. But then, surprise!

      The airport was still under construction, although we were assured that the work would be completed well before our shoot in Waco. Sadly, it was not.

      The realization finally hit: not only were we filming at an airport, but we were also operating within a construction