We had a visit from two young men in town scouting locations for a movie. They got Barb’s name through the garden club to which she belongs. If they decide to shoot here –we’ll know in a few days– at Rancho Barbara there would be a few exterior scenes. Not sure about interior. They told us a little about the storyline but I wasn’t paying close attention. Here’s the info provided by Gemini:

Mark Reichard has carved out a career in Hollywood working in production management, line producing, and assistant directing for prominent reality television, independent film, and streaming projects.

1. Television Production & Reality TV
Reichard has significant experience working behind the scenes on high-profile, intense unscripted and reality TV television series.

Key Work: He has been heavily involved in production work for major reality hits, most notably “Naked and Afraid” and its spin-off “Naked and Afraid XL” for the Discovery Channel. Producing and managing these types of shows involves massive logistical challenges, given the remote and extreme wilderness environments where they film.

2. Independent Film Production & Assistant Directing
In addition to unscripted television, Reichard works frequently in independent features and specialized streaming content, often stepping into roles as a producer or First Assistant Director (1st AD)—the person responsible for managing the daily shooting schedule, crew logistics, and on-set operations:

• Darkness Reigns (2017): He served as a producer on this meta-horror film alongside director Andrew P. Jones.
• The Mortuary Assistant: He worked as the First Assistant Director on the film adaptation of this popular horror concept.

Streaming & Comedy Production: He has lent his production expertise to major digital and streaming spaces, serving as a 1st AD for modern comedy platforms like Dropout (formerly CollegeHumor) on projects like Game Changer spin-offs.

3. Theatre Roots at SEMO
Before transitioning to the logistics of Hollywood sets, Reichard built his foundation on stage at SEMO. During his time at the Dobbins Conservatory, he was actively involved in both performing and the technical side of the theatre department, working on major university productions like the musicals Into the Woods and The Pajama Game. He effectively pivoted that classic theater training into a successful career keeping complex Hollywood and television sets running smoothly on schedule.

Ryan J. Sloan is an American independent filmmaker who transitioned from working as an electrician in New Jersey to directing.

Key Highlights & Background

• Education & Career Transition: Sloan attended William Paterson University. He spent years working as a licensed electrician before shifting his focus to filmmaking.
• Production Company: In 2021, he co-founded the New Jersey-based independent production company **Telstar Films** alongside creative partner and actress Ariella Mastroianni.

Directorial Debut: Gazer (2024/2025)

Sloan’s feature directorial debut is Gazer, a psychological mystery thriller/neo-noir shot on 16mm film. He self-funded the movie’s micro-budget of approximately $80,000, shooting on weekends over the course of two and a half years. Sloan took on multiple roles for the production, serving as director, co-writer, co-producer, and co-editor.

• Premise: The film follows a young mother suffering from dyschronometria (a condition that impairs the perception of time) who takes on a risky job to support her family.
• Release & Reception: Gazer premiered at the Cannes Film Festival (specifically in the Directors’ Fortnight section) on May 22, 2024. It was later distributed in the United States by Metrograph Pictures, releasing theatrically on April 4, 2025. The film received favorable reviews for its paranoid, Memento-style narrative and atmospheric, low-budget execution.