His thoughts turned to directing, and in the midst of the milkshake madness he finished production on Local Air<\/strong><\/em>, a digital series about a cable access television host propelled into a midlife crisis by a sudden divorce.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t his proximity to Hollywood that provided Josh with the funding or the wherewithal to produce and direct his own television series, it was something most film meccas lose in trade for their access: enthusiasm.<\/p>\n \u201cIn L.A. you can throw a rock and hit six people who make movies,\u201d Raby explains. \u201cIn Clarksville it’s harder because the pool isn\u2019t as deep, but if you have something that\u2019s good and connects with the people around here, then they’ll do anything for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Authenticity is a theme that comes up frequently with Raby. After the milkshake incident, he quit a well-paying sales job to try his hand at writing and directing a film. He raised $60,000 on sheer force of personality, then suddenly realized he no longer believed in his own project. \u201cI came to a moment where I realized I’d put all this effort into making a thing that no longer represented me,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Raby returned all of the money he’d raised and went to work on the concept that would become Local Air<\/strong><\/em>, but many of his personal contacts were burned by the change of direction and not nearly as interested in backing a digital series with seemingly limited earning potential.<\/p>\n Despite the financial setbacks, the intimate Tennessee film community wrought a minor miracle for Raby: the script for Local Air<\/strong><\/em> moved through a network of mutual contacts to reach David Alford, a Tennessee native with a lengthy theater and film resume, including a recurring role on the popular CW show Nashville<\/strong><\/em>. Alford was intrigued by Local Air<\/strong><\/em>\u2019s lead, Gil Cotton.<\/p>\n \u201cDavid is an institution,\u201d Raby says. He only had to watch 15 seconds of Alford on Nashville before realizing he was perfect for the part. Alford drove to Clarksville to meet Raby at the restaurant where he worked, and the aspiring filmmaker\u2019s ambitious nature outshone his virtually blank production CV. Alford believed in him and accepted the part, giving Local Air<\/em><\/strong> a lead with some heft. For Raby, moments like this are one of the benefits of living far from the glitz and cutthroat deals of L.A. and New York. \u201cIt’s such a small group, once you meet one or two people, in short order you\u2019ll meet everyone, and then you have better access to the bigger local people,\u201d he remarks.<\/p>\n Which isn’t to say that being a filmmaker in Tennessee is the easiest endeavor in the world. Raby laughs off a question about the Clarksville city homepage calling itself one of the best up-and-coming areas for creative jobs. Georgia\u2019s appealing tax credits take a lot of production away from Tennessee. \u201cIf I could do anything about it, there would just be more work for all the people around here, as far as writers and directors creating an authentic Tennessee vibe,\u201d Raby insists. \u201cI wish there was more of that, but I’m not sure there’s the will for it.\u201d<\/p>\n The intimacy of the Clarksville film community does have one major advantage, Raby believes. \u201cIf you’ve got the gear, the voice, a couple dollars and some sandwiches, you can get something made.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/endcrawl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/local-air_S1-200x300.jpg\")
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