Learning Lighting the Right Way on The Enemy Within Me (2025)
- Evan Wilson
- Apr 24
- 3 min read
Working on The Enemy Within Me was one of those experiences where everything started to connect—real work, real relationships, and real understanding of the craft.
Before I even stepped on set in Philadelphia, I had already been building connections and studying filmmaking for years. But this project is where I got to apply that knowledge in a real production environment.
About the Film
The Enemy Within Me is a psychological drama centered around a woman dealing with internal struggles and betrayal, leading to a deeper mental and emotional conflict.
The film was written and directed by Tracey Parson, who also served as producer, with Don Roff as executive producer.
Being part of a project like this gave me a chance to see how a story like that is built visually from the ground up.
Performance That Stands Out
One of the standout performances in The Enemy Within Me comes from Shalèt Monique.
She brings a strong, natural presence to the screen, delivering emotion in a way that feels real without being overdone. The subtle moments in her performance add depth to the film and help carry the tone of the story.
Getting to Philly Before the Set
I arrived in Philadelphia a day early.
The Airbnb wasn’t ready yet, so I had to stay with a friend until everything opened up. No crew yet, no production schedule—just me waiting for the work to begin.
That moment reminded me:
Filmmaking starts before the set.
Real Connections in the City
While I was out there, I linked with Bleeddat Kash—someone I had known and talked to online for over 10 years about film and the grind.He wasn’t part of the production, but he was a real connection in the city. And that matters. Because when you travel for work, knowing people in different places changes everything.
Working as a Gaffer Under a Real DP
On set, I worked under Nasir Porter, serving as a gaffer and helping shape the lighting for scenes.
That’s where I really learned:
How lighting creates mood
How to work with a DP’s vision
How to move fast when production is moving
How to make limited gear look professional
There’s a big difference between placing lights… and understanding why they go where they go.
Real Indie Production
This wasn’t a big studio set.
This was real independent filmmaking:
Tight spaces
Fast setups
Problem-solving on the fly
Making things work with what you have
That’s where the real education happens.
Working in Sound Too
On some projects around this time, I also worked in sound, which helped me understand another critical side of production.
Lighting shapes what you see. Sound shapes how you feel.
You need both.
Behind the Scenes (Philadelphia Set)
More Than One City
Working with Nasir didn’t stop in Philly.
We worked across:
Philadelphia
Fayetteville
Atlanta
Dallas
Las Vegas
Each city added something different—but this project helped everything click.
What I Took From This Experience
Being part of The Enemy Within Me wasn’t about titles.
It was about learning:
How real sets operate
How important relationships are
How to grow by doing the work
A lot of people try to skip this part.
But this is the foundation.
Bringing That Into Vegas Stories TV
Now with Vegas Stories TV, I’m building a platform for creators who are actually putting in that kind of work.
Because I’ve been there.
I understand what it takes to bring a project from idea to screen.
Final Thought
Sometimes the biggest step isn’t getting on set.
It’s everything you did before you got there… that prepared you for it.
More from this series:
Watch independent films:
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