Director James Ward Byrkit on the Cult Classic Coherence

We welcome special guest and director James Ward Byrkit to OCAST. The James Ward Byrkit Coherence Film is the main focus of this conversation. We know him for his work as a creative consultant on Pirates of the Caribbean. Join us as he discusses the genesis of his low-budget 2013 sci-fi cult film, Coherence.

Making Coherence: No Script, No Crew, Five Nights

Jim Byrkit reveals how he created Coherence with next to no resources. For instance, he shot the film entirely at his house over just five nights. He explains his unique, stripped-down filmmaking theory. Consequently, this process involved having no script, no crew, and relying entirely on actors improvising the dialogue. Byrkit also shares the frantic timeline for the shoot, which his wife's impending due date compressed.

Quantum Physics, Improvisation, and Alternate Realities

The minimal-budget cosmic stories of The Twilight Zone inspired the idea for Coherence. He discusses the deep philosophical concepts at the heart of the movie, including quantum physics and the idea of decoherence. Furthermore, he talks about the complexity of editing the improvisational takes. James Ward Byrkit details how he managed eight powerful personalities without giving away the story's twists. We also analyze the film's fascinating use of alternate realities and the concept of Schrödinger's Cat in detail.

Impossible Odds and Legacy of the Film

Hear the unbelievable, freaky coincidence that occurred during the single night of exterior shooting. Byrkit had to film across the street from a gigantic Snickers commercial. He also shares the story of convincing the Screen Actors Guild that he was making a real film, despite having no crew, script, or schedule. Ultimately, the success of the Coherence Film showed that a micro-budget movie could reach a global audience.

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