Baltimore International Film Festival / San Diego Black Film Festival 2020 – Awaken
A famous musician struggling with the suicide of his wife, turns to drugs & alcohol for healing, but he ends up trying to take his own life instead.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer/Actor Richard Moore
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
My dream was to star in films that I write and produce on the big screen. I was going back and forth to NY in 2018 for pilot season and decided that I was tired of auditioning and needed to get back to doing my own projects. So in Jan 2019 I officially started Judah Productions LLC. I wanted to write a short so I can attract distributors or investors to produce a feature. I wrote the film centered around mental illness, specifically with black characters involved to bring awareness to the issue in our community. So many people struggle with these issues but never seek help or are afraid to. My hope is to bring light to Mental Illness and Suicide Prevention.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
It is a riveting tale of someone who has ups and downs. It will have you on a roller coaster of emotions where you may root for or hate the protagonist. In the end, you will leave feeling like you just watched a feature even though it's really a short film.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I try to intertwine different themes into my films. Movies are a way to introduce the audience to new ideas and ways of thinking. The idea is to get them thinking about an issue while watching the characters as the story unfolds, without the browbeating. Story arcs and great dialogue are the best way to work in any themes the movie will convey.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The story went from focusing on a famous musician who falls on hard times because his wife died, to a famous musician who falls on hard times because his wife committed suicide. It gave the story more depth and introduced a great love story. Adding those theme gave the story a cause to champion and bring light to mental illness and suicide prevention.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I've received great feedback so far. Awaken won Best Baltimore Film @ 2019 Baltimore Int Black Film Festival, and Best Feature Short @ 2020 San Diego Black Film Festival. The audience members and other filmmakers really liked the film. They are happy that a film is bringing light to those issues in the black community.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Neither. It is exactly what I was hoping to hear.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
First, I'm hoping to get a production and distribution deal to turn it into a feature film. There are other options to get distribution as a short as well.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Distributors, buyers, sales agents, producers.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would like this film to help people in the black community and every other community, to understand that it's okay to seek help to deal with mental issues or if they just need to talk.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Do you know anyone who may need help with a mental illness?
Would you seek help if you needed to talk to someone about an emotional or mental issue that you can't solve on your own?
Would you like to add anything else?
I am grateful to everyone that has helped me make this film possible, and all the hard work they put in.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Still working on the film festival circuit and writing more scripts.
Interview: March 2020
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Awaken
A famous musician struggling with the suicide of his wife, turns to drugs & alcohol for healing, but he ends up trying to take his own life instead.
Length: 25:00
Director: Richard Moore
Producer: Richard Moore
Writer: Richard T. Moore II
About the writer, director and producer:
RICHARD T. MOORE II, CEO of Judah Productions and a member of SAG-AFTRA, was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. He began his theater and film career at Towson University. He entered Spades, a short film he wrote and co-produced into the American Black Film Festival. After receiving great feedback from HBO executives, he then decided to move to LA. While living in LA, he positioned himself into a class with eight working television and feature film writers. Being around so many talented writers pushed him to really focus more on the craft of writing scripts. He learned so much that it prompted him to move back east and begin filming more of his own projects. He became a studio and field producer at Channel 10 in Fairfax, VA. He then entered The Papermill, a television pilot that he wrote and executive produced, into the ITV Fest and NYTVF. Soon after he produced, directed, and starred in the play The Champ during the ArtScape Festival in Baltimore. The festival draws in thousands of people over a summer weekend, and the play had great reviews. Awaken is his latest and best project that he has taken on. It is also the first project under Judah Productions LLC.
Key cast: Celestine Rae (Maria), Johnny Ramey (Daniel), Jamal Thomas (Tom-tom), Richard Moore (RichMo)
Looking for: distributors, buyers, sales agents, journalists
Facebook: Judah Productions
Instagram: @judahproductions1
Hashtags used: #AWAKEN
Website: www.judahproductions.com
Other: IMDb
Made in association with: Judah Productions
Funders: Self-funded
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Still in the Film Festival Circuit.