WEST STOCKBRIDGE — Mischa Dani Goodman’s unbridled love for the 413 spans nearly two decades and might very well be contagious. She grew up visiting the region — the draw being her aunt and James Taylor, in no particular order — where summertime trips to Tanglewood ranked high on her to-do list. When she met Caitlin Simpson at Michael Howard Studios, New York City’s premiere professional acting school, the pair of driven, self-motivated actors became fast friends. Fast forward quite a bit to the point where Goodman and Simpson — co-creators, co-producers and lead actors in a new indie short film — are headed to LA for the June 12 world premiere of “UNBRIDALED,” a WO-mance comedy inspired by (and entirely shot in) the Berkshires.
“Early one summer, at the beginning of wedding season… [Mischa and I] started talking about the pressure put on young women to have it all figured out,” Simpson told The Edge, pointing to the conundrum they shared: auditioning and auditioning while gaining some success, but not landing the parts they wanted — a problem they vowed to solve by shooting their own film. The logline is amusing: After a bachelorette party gone wrong, a buttoned-up bride and her party-girl sister find themselves lost in the woods on the day of the wedding. That said, the process Goodman and Simpson embarked upon to bring the film to fruition (and capture a coveted spot at the world famous Dances With Films festival) was rooted in collaboration and community.
“It just made a lot of sense to shoot it [in West Stockbridge],” said Goodman, calling the location a no-brainer. Her late aunt, Carole Goodman, sought refuge from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan in West Stockbridge, where she built a second home. Following her death 15 years ago, the house passed to her now late husband and Goodman’s father.
“We have grown to cherish the place, because it was always so special to [Carole],” said Goodman who — after years of making weekend trips north — counts the Berkshires her unofficial home-away-from-home. When the time came to shoot, Moo Heaven (the moniker given to Carole’s home, a nod to her affinity for all things bovine), fit the bill: the filmmakers had control over the environment (thanks to a very accommodating neighbor) and a stunning pastoral backdrop. The film, set in an undisclosed location in New York, dips into Vermont (thanks to actual signage situated on the aforementioned neighbor’s driveway).
“It’s been a really long journey,” said Goodman of getting the film — pitched as “Bridesmaids” meets “The Hangover” — knit up and screen ready in the wake of a global pandemic. The pair, who spent weeks preparing for and shooting the film in West Stockbridge last year, had what Goodman calls “an amazing experience,” in large part due to their being part of the local community, albeit for a short time. Local businesses — including Guido’s, Haven, SoCo Creamery, Baba Louie’s and Naji’s Mediterranean Cuisine — stepped up to sponsor their efforts, donating services in the guise of sustenance and connection to year-round residents.
“By the time we were finally done and able to submit, it was huge,” said Goodman, of the months-long effort required when submitting to festivals across the country. “UNBRIDALED,” a commercial short (trailer here), was shot on a limited budget, which makes for a “stressful, time-consuming and [ultimately] rewarding” experience — which is far from over. At present, Goodman and Simpson are working on creating their future version of the film, a full-length feature.
The pair pointed to Diane Pearlman, of the Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative, as being a huge help in the process — offering suggestions and guidance at every turn. And serendipity played a supporting role. The Berkshires have long been touted as a haven for New Yorkers, a premiere wedding destination, and most recently an enclave for second-home owners seeking solace during the pandemic — a trio of factors the “UNBRIDALED” filmmakers took full advantage of, wrapping them up into a single, neat package.
“This movie has been a big part of our lives for so long, and [the Berkshires] are now very important to me, as well,” said Simpson of a locale she only recently discovered.
“Everyone really welcomed us with open arms,” said Goodman of her second-home town. “And it was just a wonderful experience.”
