If there’s one universal truth in filmmaking, it’s this: things rarely go exactly as planned.

While filming the pilot episode of Word and Deed, we had a very specific vision in mind,—a black tactical van, slick and intimidating, perfect for a high-stakes scene. It was written into the script, imagined in the blocking, and fully baked into the shot list.

But when production day came… all we had was a white van.

It could have been a setback. But instead of panicking, we did what every filmmaker has to do at some point: we improvised.

Rather than trying to ignore it or pretend the white van was something it wasn’t, I decided to lean into the moment. I rewrote the scene on the spot to include a playful exchange between characters that called attention to the unexpected vehicle. It not only explained the change, it made fun of it. And to our surprise, that little improv became one of the most memorable beats in the episode.

The added dialogue gave the actors more lines, more chemistry, and more personality to work with. What started as a production headache turned into a creative highlight.

I put together a behind-the-scenes video to show how it all unfolded. Click below to watch how a white van became a comedy win:

White Van Improvising – Thompson Productions

This kind of pivot is what I love most about creating independent projects like Word and Deed. There’s freedom in the unexpected, and sometimes, those forced changes turn into fan-favorite moments.

At Thompson Productions, we embrace the chaos, rewrite the scene, and keep the story rolling.

Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes stories from the Word and Deed set. And as always, thank you for supporting faith-based and family-friendly filmmaking on Thompson Productions.