Deep gratitude to MANNING FRANKS for featuring THE PROBLEM OF THE HERO on WFMY NEWS 2...
Filmmaking feat: David and Serena zum Brunnen's 12-year journey to 'The Problem of the Hero'
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Whoever told you filmmaking was easy as pie has never bitten off more than they could chew.
“Somebody said they encouraged us to the feature film. We're like, ok, sure, let's bite off this little elephant," joked David zum Brunnen, one of the creatives behind the film.
David and his wife, Serena Ebhart zum Brunnen, primarily act as touring artists of the theater for their own EbzB Productions. There, they took on the challenge of adapting their true-story play Native into a feature film.
“We started the whole conceptual work of the play itself in late 2012. So here we are in 2025, almost 12 years later," David added.
The story itself is based on the collaboration between playwright Paul Green and African American author Richard Wright, who wrote Native Son. Together, they worked to adapt it for the Broadway stage.
The second bite of the elephant? Filming and financing their first feature, The Problem of the Hero.
“Carolina Theater was the perfect setting for this," said Serena.
“Makes a great substitution for the Saint James Theater," joked David.
Once principal photography wrapped in 2020, it was on to the third bite on their plate -- the festival circuit.
“At the first film festival screening, my legs were practically shaking because we had no idea what the response would be. The reception was quite warm. I kept waiting for the walkouts to happen," said David.
With each bite, that filmmaking elephant kept getting closer to the end.
“We started to get inquiries from distributors and press reps," recalled Serena.
Until finally, seven years after the script was written, they reached the last bite.
“I kind of have to look at it as a ladder. You don't just jump up in the air and you're on the second floor. You have to take it one rung at a time," Serena said.
Making your first independent feature isn’t easy, but it’s fulfilling.
“Having those people guide us through this process and inform us is something that we'll always treasure," recounted David.
Down to the last bite.
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