Sometimes you just need to listen.

I went out that day to document an oyster harvest for Hold Fast. I wasn't working from a script or a shot list. I had my iPhone and expected to capture what was happening.

Then I started talking with Hold Fast founder Dan Knott.

I asked a few questions. Then a few more.

The story started to reveal itself.

Once Dan finished, I started talking with Nick Barnes.

I didn't have a list of prepared questions. I listened to what Dan had told me and tried to ask Nick questions that would reinforce and expand on those ideas.

One interview began informing the next.

The story was starting to take shape while I was still shooting it.

Once I knew I had the beginnings of something, I also knew what I'd need to finish it.

I started looking for the images and moments that could help tell the story—the oyster harvesting, the people, the environment and the details that would eventually become the B-roll connecting everything together.

Fortunately, it was a calm day. The natural sound was usable, and something that hadn't started as a production was becoming one.

Back in the edit, I had interviews, natural sound and the images I'd gathered throughout the day.

Now the job was to find the most important ideas, connect Dan and Nick's perspectives, and shape everything into a tight story about Hold Fast.

There hadn't been a script.

There hadn't been a storyboard.

There hadn't even been a plan to make this particular film.

There was a story. I just had to listen for it.