If you would have asked me in January if I thought Ignite would be producing a movie—a movie where each performer is filmed separately; a movie where each performer is filmed separately, prerecorded, masked, and filmed outdoors—and that movie would be Shrek Jr., I would have thought you were crazy. I never could have imagined Shrek Jr. would look like this. I never thought I’d find myself at the age of 34 researching cinematography and filming techniques. I imagine if you asked Ms. Joy, she never would have imagined having to direct music through Zoom, or Mr. Keller become an audio engineer, or Ms. Kimberly freezing her fingers off running children dressed like ghosts between their parents’ car and the Compton Heights water tower on a late November evening. But life is funny like that, isn't it? One day you’re in a theatre preparing for tech week craziness and nine months later you're producing musical theatre, the likes of which the world has never known.
I’d be lying if I said in the beginning of planning this production, this turned out how I thought it would look. But just like Fiona says,” This is how I pictured it….more or less I must admit.” Fiona waitied in a tower for 20 years. She planned and pictured and imagined her future, and when that future arrived, green and self-admittedly flatulent, she didn’t falter. Instead, she fell in love. Not with the picture she had dreamt, but the kind, brave, silly future staring her in the face. I fell in love with this project in much the same way. Not quite how I pictured it, but the fact it exists is thanks to young performers with more tenacity in their young bodies than many adults, in addition to the perseverance and creativity of a staff who at times changed courses not only mid-stream but without paddles or a boat. I am blown away by my husband’s patience in cobbling together my first-time filming attempts into something that performers and their families could watch and be proud of. So while this isn’t how I pictured it, I like Fiona came to the realization, “I’ve read a book like this but fairy tales could really use updating.” Our updating of this story included additional safety and precautions, but the same love and dedication to detail on which we pride ourselves.
I hope you’ll watch this and see the creativity and perseverance in every shaking shot. Even though we are all masked, I can assure you there are lots of smiles.
And on a personal note—to my husband, Jørgen, who gave so freely of his time, patience, and creativity—I love you and am grateful for you everyday, and I promise to use the tripod more next time.
—Libby Pedersen
