For a film documenting the personal coming-of-age experience in a young girl's life, not just any crew will do. Leah Meyerhoff, the director and writer of “Twitch,” a short film about her own story, searched long and hard for the perfect producer. She found him in SF State’s film department.

“Twitch” tells the true story of Meyerhoff, who spent her teenage years taking care of a disabled mother with multiple sclerosis. The film reveals the challenges Meyerhoff faced while caring for her ill mother as her own life blossomed. Unable to find emotional stability and come to grips with her mother’s illness, she confronts her fears and learns how to live with her mother and herself.

“It was a personal project that helped me reconnect with my mother and understand her illness,” said Meyerhoff.

Meyerhoff, a MFA film student at Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, explained that her intent was to look for a producer who could understand the personal as well as the sensitive nature of the film. She interviewed several highly qualified candidates, but none of them felt comfortable with an autobiographic film that required a personal focus.

She met Sean Warner in November of last year after she posted a flyer at several of the colleges. Immediately, Meyerhoff knew that he was the one who would produce her film.

“We connected immediately,” said Meyerhoff. “I got along with him from the beginning.”

She hired him as the West Coast producer, assisting her in making the film. Warner’s main responsibility was to manage a tight budget and a crew of 28 people.

Meyerhoff, who lives in New York, had a difficult time finding the appropriate crew. Warner assisted her in finding the crew, who were a mixture of film students and friends of Warner who worked long hours for little or no pay.

“It was a great script," said Warner. "I was very interested in working on this film."

Meyerhoff made the decision to cast her mother as herself in the film. She explained that because of the sensitive nature of her mother’s disability she did not want to subject an actor to play a difficult part or offend the audience. In order to give a true portrayal of her mother’s illness she was the best character, said Meyerhoff.

Warner worked well with Meyerhoff's mother, but because of her disability it took quite a bit of preparation and time to shoot scenes, Meyerhoff said.

“He had the patience, understanding, and commitment – he put his heart into this project,” said Meyerhoff.

Carlos Zerzen, an SF State senior majoring in liberal arts, was one of eight production assistants who worked on a pool scene where a group of small children reenacted a day in Meyerhoff’s life as a child. The scene was logistically challenging; it required skills in managing children and plenty of patience. The scene was shot at the same pool where Meyerhoff swam as a child in Berkeley.

Zerzen, who works as a teacher at the Early Childhood Education Center on the SF State campus, had lots of experience managing children. Warner gave him the task of keeping the children calm and quiet, feeding them, and making sure they were warm during the cold-weather shoot.

“There were longs waits between shoots but the children had a good time,” said Zerzen.

Meyerhoff explained that the pool scene was the most difficult to shoot because of the details involved. She said that without Warner’s help and Zeren’s experience it would have been impossible to shoot.

Warner and the rest of the cast and crew walked away with the experience of working on a real-life, personal film.

“Working with Leah was a good experience," said Warner. "It showed me how someone can put their heart into a project and turn out a great film."

Warner will complete his degree at SF State in film and move to Los Angeles in hopes of kicking off his own independent production company. He saw this project as great experience.

Meyerhoff is awaiting approval from the Sundance Film Festival to feature her film. She has worked on many films such as group and solo shows as well as featured many of her films at several festivals around the country.

“Filmmaking is not done until it is in the hands of everyone,” said Warner.

Meyerhoff’s website, which highlights her work, accomplishments, and links to her films, can be found at http://www.leahmeyerhoff.com