"Train Dreams" is an indie period drama that somehow landed four Oscar nominations—including Best Picture—despite years of struggling to find a distributor.

A Dream Realized on the Big Screen

Actor Joel Edgerton, who stars in the film, recently reflected on its improbable path to Oscar contention. He described "Train Dreams" as an independent project made without any guarantee of a future, shot in the forests of Washington state with immense care and passion.

After years of pitching and studio rejections, it finally premiered at Sundance last year. It caught the eye of a major streamer, Netflix, which then picked it up for distribution. Netflix's backing gave the small film a global platform and suddenly it's competing with major studio releases.

Edgerton believes the film's success, regardless of whether it wins an Oscar, is a victory for independent cinema. "Netflix saw the power of the human story, as small as it may seem on an otherwise studio scale, and let it flourish," Edgerton said.

"Now, it’s really touched and moved people. It has struck a chord.”

The film earned nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Original Song (for Edgerton's fellow Australian, Nick Cave), and the coveted Best Picture award. Edgerton points out that smaller films rarely break through anymore, especially as technology keeps reshaping how stories get told.

Crafting Authenticity in the Pacific Northwest

Washington's forests, rivers, and rugged terrain are central to the film.

Daniel Schaefer, an IATSE Local 600 stills photographer, not only documented the production but also helped imbue the film with historical authenticity.

Schaefer, who also scouted locations, praised Washington's range. "Washington in general has this incredible depth to the locations," he explained, noting the state offers everything from woods and rivers to cities and streams. Eastern Washington, particularly around Spokane, provided many looks necessary to portray different eras across the film's decades-spanning narrative.

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He took period accuracy seriously—even sourcing vintage lenses. Schaefer sourced vintage lenses from the late 1800s, 1920s, 1940s, and 1960s to capture behind-the-scenes images.

"I’m photographing scenes set in the 1800s with glass from the 1800s, scenes from the ’20s with glass from the ’20s," he said. Those old lenses have their own history, which adds something real to the images.

Schaefer even took the actual photograph used as a prop in the film, depicting Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton) and his wife Gladys (Felicity Jones) sitting for a portrait. He shot this image using period-correct optics, ensuring it looked exactly as it would have if taken during that specific time. For Schaefer, photography preserves memory—and that's exactly what "Train Dreams" is about: a man remembering his life in the Pacific Northwest.

One dramatic sequence in the film features a massive forest fire. The production filmed this scene in an area near Medical Lake, outside Spokane, which had experienced a real wildfire just a year prior. Schaefer recalled scouting the location months later and still seeing smoke rise from the ground.

A Producer's Decade-Long Quest

Producer Ashley Schlaifer spent a decade trying to get "Train Dreams" made. The film, directed by Clint Bentley, is an adaptation of Denis Johnson's novella, a story Schlaifer felt compelled to bring to the screen despite its challenging, interior nature and minimal dialogue.

Schlaifer, a self-described bookworm, discovered Johnson's work through Kamala Films founder Marissa McMahon, who had previously optioned the novella. Though the rights had lapsed, Schlaifer's admiration for Johnson's other novels, like "Jesus' Son" and "Tree of Smoke," drove her to pursue "Train Dreams." She eventually zeroed in on Bentley, after seeing his film "Jockey," which he co-wrote with Greg Kwedar.

On indie films, you end up doing everything—Schlaifer went from CEO to assistant. She called the Oscar nomination "wild" and "a dream," acknowledging the film's long, independent production history before Netflix provided its significant support over the past year.

Before the Oscar nods, it already won Best Feature, Director, and Cinematography at the Independent Spirit Awards. Cinematographer Adolpho Veloso also earned a BAFTA and a Critics Choice Award for his work on the film.

Edgerton's Next Chapter

While "Train Dreams" heads to the Oscars, Edgerton's already working on his next film, "The Plague." He co-produced it, and while it's another art-house story, that's where the similarities stop.

Directed by Charlie Polinger, "The Plague" centers on a group of 12 and 13-year-old boys at a summer water polo camp in the United States. When new kid Ben (Everett Blunck) shows up, he's told about 'the plague'—supposedly contagious through touch.

The message to Ben is clear: alienate the afflicted, and gain acceptance; show sympathy, and face the consequences. It's basically a modern "Lord of the Flies"—exploring what happens when social acceptance clashes with ethics.

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The Oscar results for "Train Dreams" will be announced during the Academy Awards ceremony, marking the result of a decade-long effort for its creators and a big moment for independent cinema.

This article was created with AI assistance.