in 2013 I took my first-ever screenwriting class I was 36 years old
screenwriting class I was 36 years old
screenwriting class I was 36 years old the first day of my class I was
the first day of my class I was
the first day of my class I was terrified I was at least a decade older
terrified I was at least a decade older
terrified I was at least a decade older than all of my classmates and they all
than all of my classmates and they all
than all of my classmates and they all talked with this film slang that I
talked with this film slang that I
talked with this film slang that I didn’t understand the professor from my
didn’t understand the professor from my
didn’t understand the professor from my class was Tom Musca he did this little
class was Tom Musca he did this little
class was Tom Musca he did this little film call Stand and Deliver it was one
film call Stand and Deliver it was one
film call Stand and Deliver it was one of the classic films of my childhood he
of the classic films of my childhood he
of the classic films of my childhood he was boisterous and charismatic and he
was boisterous and charismatic and he
was boisterous and charismatic and he chided students for not paying attention
chided students for not paying attention
chided students for not paying attention to their characters and not fully
to their characters and not fully
to their characters and not fully committing to their stories the first
committing to their stories the first
committing to their stories the first script that I wrote for that class was
script that I wrote for that class was
script that I wrote for that class was trash because I had no idea what I was
trash because I had no idea what I was
trash because I had no idea what I was doing but Musca saw something in me and
doing but Musca saw something in me and
doing but Musca saw something in me and he encouraged me to keep edit so I did
he encouraged me to keep edit so I did
he encouraged me to keep edit so I did my life hasn’t really been the same
my life hasn’t really been the same
my life hasn’t really been the same since that first screenwriting class
since that first screenwriting class
since that first screenwriting class I’ve screened my films around the
I’ve screened my films around the
I’ve screened my films around the country and this year for the first time
country and this year for the first time
country and this year for the first time I was able to participate in the
I was able to participate in the
I was able to participate in the Sundance Film Festival as a Sundance
Sundance Film Festival as a Sundance
Sundance Film Festival as a Sundance night fellow I’m a filmmaker now
night fellow I’m a filmmaker now
night fellow I’m a filmmaker now filmmaking is at the center of
filmmaking is at the center of
filmmaking is at the center of everything that I do a little bit about
everything that I do a little bit about
everything that I do a little bit about making movies filmmaking is a
making movies filmmaking is a
making movies filmmaking is a collaborative effort when you’re working
collaborative effort when you’re working
collaborative effort when you’re working on a short film and you’re on set you’re
on a short film and you’re on set you’re
on a short film and you’re on set you’re working for 12 to 14 hour days up to 5
working for 12 to 14 hour days up to 5
working for 12 to 14 hour days up to 5 days in a row you’re under immense
days in a row you’re under immense
days in a row you’re under immense pressure and stress no one is eating
pressure and stress no one is eating
pressure and stress no one is eating sleeping or showering properly you have
sleeping or showering properly you have
sleeping or showering properly you have to make a film that you’re all proud of
to make a film that you’re all proud of
to make a film that you’re all proud of it’s a mammoth task but at the end of
it’s a mammoth task but at the end of
it’s a mammoth task but at the end of the day when you’re sitting in a theater
the day when you’re sitting in a theater
the day when you’re sitting in a theater in front of an audience it all feels
in front of an audience it all feels
in front of an audience it all feels worthwhile you can’t make a film without
worthwhile you can’t make a film without
worthwhile you can’t make a film without a dedicated crew one of the most
a dedicated crew one of the most
a dedicated crew one of the most important lessons that I’ve learned is
important lessons that I’ve learned is
important lessons that I’ve learned is when you’re making movies sometimes it’s
when you’re making movies sometimes it’s
when you’re making movies sometimes it’s those unexpected connections and those
those unexpected connections and those
those unexpected connections and those odd partnerships that are the best for
odd partnerships that are the best for
odd partnerships that are the best for the work that you’re doing the TA for
the work that you’re doing the TA for
the work that you’re doing the TA for that screenwriting class that I took
that screenwriting class that I took
that screenwriting class that I took with
with
with named Barry he had a southern accent and
named Barry he had a southern accent and
named Barry he had a southern accent and he wore red shoes I’d once read
he wore red shoes I’d once read
he wore red shoes I’d once read somewhere that red shoes signaled
somewhere that red shoes signaled
somewhere that red shoes signaled confidence in a person he loved the main
confidence in a person he loved the main
confidence in a person he loved the main character of my screenplay and he really
character of my screenplay and he really
character of my screenplay and he really wanted to help me with my film so after
wanted to help me with my film so after
wanted to help me with my film so after the class was over I asked him if he
the class was over I asked him if he
the class was over I asked him if he would shoot my first film and he obliged
would shoot my first film and he obliged
would shoot my first film and he obliged we’ve been working together ever since
we’ve been working together ever since
we’ve been working together ever since when I posted this photo on my Facebook
when I posted this photo on my Facebook
when I posted this photo on my Facebook page my friends and family were
page my friends and family were
page my friends and family were intrigued and perplexed how are we even
intrigued and perplexed how are we even
intrigued and perplexed how are we even friends what is the nature of this
friends what is the nature of this
friends what is the nature of this relationship
relationship
relationship I could literally sense the mushroom
I could literally sense the mushroom
I could literally sense the mushroom clouds going off in their heads to be
clouds going off in their heads to be
clouds going off in their heads to be perfectly honest with you we haven’t
perfectly honest with you we haven’t
perfectly honest with you we haven’t quite figured it out I’m 40 years old I
quite figured it out I’m 40 years old I
quite figured it out I’m 40 years old I work full-time I’m a single mother as a
work full-time I’m a single mother as a
work full-time I’m a single mother as a kid I lived in a single-wide trailer and
kid I lived in a single-wide trailer and
kid I lived in a single-wide trailer and one of the poorest counties in rural
one of the poorest counties in rural
one of the poorest counties in rural Alabama up until sixth grade the only
Alabama up until sixth grade the only
Alabama up until sixth grade the only white people that I knew were either my
white people that I knew were either my
white people that I knew were either my teachers or people that I saw at the
teachers or people that I saw at the
teachers or people that I saw at the supermarket Barret grew up in Kentucky
supermarket Barret grew up in Kentucky
supermarket Barret grew up in Kentucky he is 27 years old and he is living his
he is 27 years old and he is living his
he is 27 years old and he is living his single life in LA his parents were both
single life in LA his parents were both
single life in LA his parents were both doctors and he spent most of his time
doctors and he spent most of his time
doctors and he spent most of his time hanging out with his fraternity brothers
hanging out with his fraternity brothers
hanging out with his fraternity brothers before he came to the University of
before he came to the University of
before he came to the University of Miami to do film he was offered a job
Miami to do film he was offered a job
Miami to do film he was offered a job working on a Republican campaign and he
working on a Republican campaign and he
working on a Republican campaign and he almost took it so how are we even
almost took it so how are we even
almost took it so how are we even friends I don’t even know to tell you
friends I don’t even know to tell you
friends I don’t even know to tell you the truth last year I started production
the truth last year I started production
the truth last year I started production on my documentary film Alabama land
on my documentary film Alabama land
on my documentary film Alabama land alabama land is a story about my
alabama land is a story about my
alabama land is a story about my grandfather he’s 95 years old and he
grandfather he’s 95 years old and he
grandfather he’s 95 years old and he owned 688 a KERS of farmland in Alabama
owned 688 a KERS of farmland in Alabama
owned 688 a KERS of farmland in Alabama this land was part of the original
this land was part of the original
this land was part of the original plantation that my ancestors worked on
plantation that my ancestors worked on
plantation that my ancestors worked on as slaves and picking the crew for this
as slaves and picking the crew for this
as slaves and picking the crew for this film I had to not only pick people out
film I had to not only pick people out
film I had to not only pick people out who were really good at what they did
who were really good at what they did
who were really good at what they did but I also had to think about how they
but I also had to think about how they
but I also had to think about how they would fit in my family environment
would fit in my family environment
would fit in my family environment Barrett was one of my top picks but
Barrett was one of my top picks but
Barrett was one of my top picks but there are no white males in my intimate
there are no white males in my intimate
there are no white males in my intimate family spaces so in doing the dock
family spaces so in doing the dock
family spaces so in doing the dock Documentary I was worried that his
Documentary I was worried that his
Documentary I was worried that his presence would throw off the family
presence would throw off the family
presence would throw off the family dynamic
dynamic
dynamic on the contrary Barrett proved to be one
on the contrary Barrett proved to be one
on the contrary Barrett proved to be one of the biggest assets on my film as my
of the biggest assets on my film as my
of the biggest assets on my film as my director of photography he was sensitive
director of photography he was sensitive
director of photography he was sensitive in his portrayal of my family members he
in his portrayal of my family members he
in his portrayal of my family members he would sit on the porch with my grandad
would sit on the porch with my grandad
would sit on the porch with my grandad and they would talk about the weather
and they would talk about the weather
and they would talk about the weather and the world in the state of farming in
and the world in the state of farming in
and the world in the state of farming in Alabama here was this white southerner
Alabama here was this white southerner
Alabama here was this white southerner the type of person that black
the type of person that black
the type of person that black southerners had learned to be suspicious
southerners had learned to be suspicious
southerners had learned to be suspicious of sitting on the porch with my
of sitting on the porch with my
of sitting on the porch with my grandfather giving him his due it was
grandfather giving him his due it was
grandfather giving him his due it was amazing to see at times my relatives
amazing to see at times my relatives
amazing to see at times my relatives were as open with him as they were with
were as open with him as they were with
were as open with him as they were with me because they saw him as an extension
me because they saw him as an extension
me because they saw him as an extension of myself on set our communication was
of myself on set our communication was
of myself on set our communication was seamless sometimes he would say April
seamless sometimes he would say April
seamless sometimes he would say April come over here look at this shot tell me
come over here look at this shot tell me
come over here look at this shot tell me if this is what you want that’s how he
if this is what you want that’s how he
if this is what you want that’s how he talks and I would come over and look at
talks and I would come over and look at
talks and I would come over and look at the shot and I would pause for like a
the shot and I would pause for like a
the shot and I would pause for like a split second and just in that pause
split second and just in that pause
split second and just in that pause without me saying anything he knew it
without me saying anything he knew it
without me saying anything he knew it wasn’t what I wanted and he would say
wasn’t what I wanted and he would say
wasn’t what I wanted and he would say okay hold on hold on I know what you
okay hold on hold on I know what you
okay hold on hold on I know what you want I’m gonna fix it I’m gonna make it
want I’m gonna fix it I’m gonna make it
want I’m gonna fix it I’m gonna make it right and he would do it on set plenty
right and he would do it on set plenty
right and he would do it on set plenty of times we could communicate without
of times we could communicate without
of times we could communicate without speaking I can’t pretend that there
speaking I can’t pretend that there
speaking I can’t pretend that there haven’t been bumps in the road I can’t
haven’t been bumps in the road I can’t
haven’t been bumps in the road I can’t pretend that we don’t get on each
pretend that we don’t get on each
pretend that we don’t get on each other’s nerves I can’t pretend that we
other’s nerves I can’t pretend that we
other’s nerves I can’t pretend that we haven’t disappointed each other at some
haven’t disappointed each other at some
haven’t disappointed each other at some point in some way but that’s the nature
point in some way but that’s the nature
point in some way but that’s the nature of collaboration that’s the nature of
of collaboration that’s the nature of
of collaboration that’s the nature of the creative process
the creative process
the creative process Barrett cut the trailer that you’re
Barrett cut the trailer that you’re
Barrett cut the trailer that you’re going to see in the next few minutes
going to see in the next few minutes
going to see in the next few minutes whenever people watch this trailer they
whenever people watch this trailer they
whenever people watch this trailer they always say to me oh my gosh it’s the
always say to me oh my gosh it’s the
always say to me oh my gosh it’s the music it’s so great it’s so you or they
music it’s so great it’s so you or they
music it’s so great it’s so you or they say oh my gosh these shots are so great
say oh my gosh these shots are so great
say oh my gosh these shots are so great they have your fingerprints all over
they have your fingerprints all over
they have your fingerprints all over them and I directed it so it does have
them and I directed it so it does have
them and I directed it so it does have my fingerprints all over it but at the
my fingerprints all over it but at the
my fingerprints all over it but at the same time it has Barrett’s fingerprints
same time it has Barrett’s fingerprints
same time it has Barrett’s fingerprints on it too when I tell people
on it too when I tell people
on it too when I tell people Barrett selected the music that cuts to
Barrett selected the music that cuts to
Barrett selected the music that cuts to the core of how I feel about the place
the core of how I feel about the place
the core of how I feel about the place that I grew up
that I grew up
that I grew up or when I tell people that he chose
or when I tell people that he chose
or when I tell people that he chose these shots that really align perfectly
these shots that really align perfectly
these shots that really align perfectly with my creative vision people are
with my creative vision people are
with my creative vision people are floored so I’m going to show you the
floored so I’m going to show you the
floored so I’m going to show you the trailer now and I just want to say that
trailer now and I just want to say that
trailer now and I just want to say that this is the type of work that can happen
this is the type of work that can happen
this is the type of work that can happen when you layer diverse voices into your
when you layer diverse voices into your
when you layer diverse voices into your projects this is the magic that can
projects this is the magic that can
projects this is the magic that can occur when you open yourself up a little
occur when you open yourself up a little
occur when you open yourself up a little bit to new unusual peculiar
bit to new unusual peculiar
bit to new unusual peculiar collaborations thirty-three thousand
collaborations thirty-three thousand
collaborations thirty-three thousand farms in Alabama forty-three thousand
farms in Alabama forty-three thousand
farms in Alabama forty-three thousand Alabama about 2800 farms are black farms
Alabama about 2800 farms are black farms
Alabama about 2800 farms are black farms [Music]
one day I’m sitting on that porch with
one day I’m sitting on that porch with my grandma and I said when I get famous
my grandma and I said when I get famous
my grandma and I said when I get famous and people ask me where I’m from I’m not
and people ask me where I’m from I’m not
and people ask me where I’m from I’m not gonna say up from here and she just
gonna say up from here and she just
gonna say up from here and she just looked at me and she said I have no love
looked at me and she said I have no love
looked at me and she said I have no love for people who deny where they come from
for people who deny where they come from
for people who deny where they come from if you deny where you come from you’re
if you deny where you come from you’re
if you deny where you come from you’re denied all the people who came before
denied all the people who came before
denied all the people who came before you you’re denying everything that made
you you’re denying everything that made
you you’re denying everything that made you what you are I have no respect the
you what you are I have no respect the
you what you are I have no respect the land came from the slave home that’s
land came from the slave home that’s
land came from the slave home that’s just a part of us that’s a part of the
just a part of us that’s a part of the
just a part of us that’s a part of the Jones heritage so we can today
Jones heritage so we can today
Jones heritage so we can today now his vision was to to have it and to
now his vision was to to have it and to
now his vision was to to have it and to see it and to keep it it’s up to us how
see it and to keep it it’s up to us how
see it and to keep it it’s up to us how we care for that list there’s a stigma
we care for that list there’s a stigma
we care for that list there’s a stigma where you don’t want to really discuss
where you don’t want to really discuss
where you don’t want to really discuss the passing of a loved one and I think
the passing of a loved one and I think
the passing of a loved one and I think that is more pervasive in the African
that is more pervasive in the African
that is more pervasive in the African nudity and others there was these guys
nudity and others there was these guys
nudity and others there was these guys and the clueless fans are gonna come get
and the clueless fans are gonna come get
and the clueless fans are gonna come get my dad they went we ready we’re all
my dad they went we ready we’re all
my dad they went we ready we’re all experts shots and can you imagine a 10
experts shots and can you imagine a 10
experts shots and can you imagine a 10 or 12 13 year-old boy handler think
or 12 13 year-old boy handler think
or 12 13 year-old boy handler think about okay I’m gonna kill these people
about okay I’m gonna kill these people
about okay I’m gonna kill these people no amount of money in the world that you
no amount of money in the world that you
no amount of money in the world that you can give me to make me part with this
can give me to make me part with this
can give me to make me part with this lame I think people need to be
lame I think people need to be
lame I think people need to be optimistic like they need like they need
optimistic like they need like they need
optimistic like they need like they need to feel like oh yes it’ll go on and
to feel like oh yes it’ll go on and
to feel like oh yes it’ll go on and it’ll be a farm and oh keep going but
it’ll be a farm and oh keep going but
it’ll be a farm and oh keep going but the reality of it is no one wants to
the reality of it is no one wants to
the reality of it is no one wants to take on the burden of this life
take on the burden of this life
take on the burden of this life full-time there’s no place I call my my
full-time there’s no place I call my my
full-time there’s no place I call my my way more than two weeks that I just get
way more than two weeks that I just get
way more than two weeks that I just get it itching my soul to come back to just
it itching my soul to come back to just
it itching my soul to come back to just just to be able for
just to be able for
just to be able for [Music]
”
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