Producing Miracles in Detroit

films
Written By Derek Johnson

Narrated walk through of our set.

Free to Be Fathers marked Kai Films’ first international co-production and became a practical lesson in how strong producing can create scale from limited resources.

The production challenge

The film required a distinctive setting on a shoestring budget. The production secured an entire floor of a downtown Detroit skyscraper and transformed it into the environment the story needed.

Kai Films’ approach

Kai Films combined production planning, location strategy, and close crew collaboration to build production value without losing sight of the budget. Derek Johnson also served as Director of Photography, developing a visual approach that made use of the location, Detroit’s character, and the resources available to the team.

Outcome

The production completed an ambitious location build and created a cohesive visual world through resourcefulness and careful cinematography. The film is being prepared for audiences in 2027.

Project details

Production: Free to Be Fathers
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Kai Films roles: Co-production and Director of Photography

Planning a narrative production or co-production? Talk with Kai Films about building the right production plan.

Derek Johnson

I am a film producer, director, cinematographer, and sometimes writer.

I have a lifelong addiction to cameras, stories, and pizza. I am also known to go to unbelievable lengths to find a great cup of coffee.

I am known for creating powerful interviews that go really, really deep into storytelling and creative excellence in my cinematography. I am the founder of Kaifilms, a boutique film production company.

My first achievement in film production was documenting 9/11 in NYC, which led to 10 feature and 4 Emmy credits. I currently have several production films and an episodic true crime docuseries.

https://www.kaifilms.com