The Final Day

This is the blog post where I'm supposed to get all teary-eyed and profound. Or, where I wow you with "One More Thing...". But I don't have any of that right now. There's no big, epic, raging party at the finish line, no balloons falling from the ceiling, no confetti, nothing grand at all. At least, not that I know of.

And that's totally fine.

I'm not even on a set today. I'm going to go down to Santa Monica and hang out with Dustin Pearlman and his couch will be the final AYWR couch. Simple as that.

But I think what gets lost a lot in talking about AYWR is how important the community has been in quite literally keeping this thing afloat. Ultimately, this is your project and a document of how you collectively operate. I'm just the guy going from place to place to see it first-hand.

So on this, the final day, I think it'd be better to hear from you. AYWR kind of lives on Twitter, so I'd love if you could tweet your reaction to the end of AYWR--good, bad, whatever. I'll collect as many as I can and add them to the bottom of this post.

Without you, AYWR doesn't work. Without you, it's nothing.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. It's been a hell of a year.

Tweet #AYWRfeb18

@lmcnelly's year has been an amazing achievement and a wonderful exhibition of independent filmmaking spirit at its best. #AYWRfeb18

— TheClapperBored (@TheClapperBored) February 18, 2012

I think AYWR has created connective tissue between all us #indiefilm makers around the world. We have a common thread now. #AYWRfeb18

— Marty Lang (@marty_lang) February 18, 2012

I also think AYWR has showed that it's not as hard as people think to help others make their films - and for them to help you. #AYWRfeb18

— Marty Lang (@marty_lang) February 18, 2012

But mostly, AYWR has conditioned me to accept random texts/phone calls from Lucas - and to keep my spare bedroom open. :) #AYWRfeb18

— Marty Lang (@marty_lang) February 18, 2012

AYWR is indeed a strange beast. Happy to have been part of it, happier I'm not @lmcnelly - he *must* be wrecked! Well done mate! #AYWRfeb18

— zahra (@fnafilms) February 18, 2012

There was something beautifully polarizing about #AYWRfeb18 seeing what floated what sank and why was better than film skool Thnx @lmcnelly

— Stefan Wrenshall (@IndieJoneser) February 18, 2012

I just clicked #AYWRfeb18 to see what'd happen. Now I'm embarrassed. Um YAY @lmcnelly - well done, good job. Santa Monica is my fave place.

— zahra (@fnafilms) February 18, 2012

@lmcnelly Thank you for connecting filmmakers throughout the world and sharing your experiences #AYWRfeb18

— Wolfgang Gumpelmaier (@gumpelmaier) February 18, 2012

If I am ever forced to trade or sell my futon for food, I will use the fact that "Lucas McNelly slept here" to try to get more $. #AYWRFeb18

— CaptainAwkwardDotCom (@CAwkward) February 18, 2012

I can't wait to see Lucas' IMDB page and all the credits therein! #AYWRfeb18

— Paul Osborne (@PaulMakesMovies) February 18, 2012

Well done! What a great place to end it. Santa Monica, where I met @fnafilms No regrets. #AYWRfeb18

— James DeMarco (@jazadal) February 18, 2012

Congrats to Lucas McNelly for wrapping #AYWRfeb18. Happy that FM was part of it. Was cool to watch the way it bobbed and weaved.

— Scott Macaulay (@FilmmakerMag) February 18, 2012

Sorta don't believe Lucas McNelly is already done with #AYWRfeb18. Where did my own year go?

— David Lowery (@davidlowery) February 18, 2012

I cannot believe @lmcnelly completed #AYWRfeb18today. I have at least two more films for him to work on for free.

— Wonder Russell (@bellawonder) February 18, 2012

We've had an incredibly honest look at the realities behind independent film, which will reveal more as information is collated. #AYWRfeb18

— Leilani Holmes (@momentsoffilm) February 18, 2012

Learned alot watching from the sidelines & frontlines @FlywayFilmFest & @filmcourage. Your journey's just begun. #whataride #AYWRfeb18

— Elizabeth Karr (@elizabethkarr) February 18, 2012

. @lmcnelly's social media film experiment was the best glimpse into the changing landscape of DIY film we've had. #AYWRfeb18

— Wonder Russell (@bellawonder) February 18, 2012

I am now two degrees away from an international community of filmmakers simply because I bought @lmcnelly a burger. #AYWRfeb18

— Curt Hendley (@chendle) February 18, 2012

also, I have a T-shirt with a Sasquatch on it that I wear at least once a week no matter what the weather's like. #AYWRfeb18

— Curt Hendley (@chendle) February 18, 2012

Give myself and @lmcnelly about two years, and perhaps we'll both have correlating sequels. #AYWRfeb18

— mattson tomlin (@mattsontomlin) February 19, 2012

@lmcnelly killed it, connecting filmmakers far and wide.What a trip it was to follow it online, then have him show up at my door #AYWRfeb18

— Michael Babiarz (@mikebabz) February 19, 2012

Congrats to @lmcnelly for surviving a year of being a professional indie film hobo! May your bindle always be well tied. #AYWRfeb18

— Noah J Nelson (@areyouthatguy) February 19, 2012

@lmcnelly met and got to work with @breagrant.Do I really have to say anything else? :-) #AYWRfeb18Seriously tho, what an achievement!

— Tzuriel Kastel (@audiowizard25) February 19, 2012

With @lmcnelly travelling, the global world of #indie #filmmaking has become as flat as never before #AYWRfeb18

— spoxx (@spoxx) February 19, 2012

Doing #AYWR and not just talking about it encapsulates the spirit of true indie film.Excited to see what @lmcnelly does next #AYWRfeb18

— Richard C Jones (@richardo) February 19, 2012

Cant believe #AYWRfeb18 is over... Congrats @lmcnelly for surviving, hope you can adapt back to normal life now lol

— Tina Frank (@Art_Dept_Tina) February 19, 2012

Filmmaker Lucas McNelly is spending a year on the road, volunteering on indie film projects around the country, documenting the process and the exploring the idea of a mobile creative professional. You can see more from A Year Without Rent at the webpage. His feature-length debut is now available to rent on VOD. Follow him on Twitter: @lmcnelly.