DC Shorts - The Late Show
55-year-old Morgan Jones is on a quest to become an intern on the Late Show in David Letterman’s last season on air, a bold effort by a hospitality management student to extricate himself from two decades stuck in transitional housing.
Interview with Writer/Director Morgan Jones
Watch The Late Show here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I made my film because I was in college and was looking for an internship. I went to UDC’s main campus and they had a poster on the board advertising for an internship with David Letterman. I thought it was a joke at first but I ended up applying. The film ended up being about my attempt to land that internship.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
You should watch this film because it’s a story of one man’s attempt to get out of poverty. I was trying to do something I’d never done in my life. I was trying to move up.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The theme of the film is that you should never give up. You should always go for something you believe in. It’s about chasing your dreams.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I found out before the film was finished that I hadn’t gotten the internship with David Letterman. That really didn’t change anything though. I didn’t get the internship but the story is about me chasing my dream.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
There’s been a lot of positive. I haven’t had any negative feedback. People say it’s funny and entertaining. People appreciate that I went after my dream, even if it didn’t come true.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Nope, all of the feedback has been positive.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I hope that it inspires other people. Don’t let other people tell you what you can’t do. You’re doing it because it’s your dream. I hope this film inspires people to climb out of poverty.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I need a banker, a sponsor and a producer! I need people to believe in me. I want to have my film shown in more film festivals in D.C. and around the country.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I’m a little bit older at my age. I want younger people to be inspired to pull themselves out of poverty. I want it to have a positive impact. I want people to find out what they want to do and how to do it. I want people to achieve the goals they want to achieve in life.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What do you really want to achieve in your life? What is your dream? What’s your plan to realize your dream?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I’m working on producing TV shows for DCTV, Washington D.C.’s public access station. I’m working on a show about homelessness that would screen films of other homeless filmmakers. It’s main goal is to help end homelessness.
Interview: September 2017
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. 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
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Late Show
55-year-old Morgan Jones is on a quest to become an intern on the Late Show in David Letterman’s last season on air, a bold effort by a hospitality management student to extricate himself from two decades stuck in transitional housing.
Length: 21 minutes
Director: Morgan Jones
Producer: The Homeless Filmmakers Cooperative
Writer: Morgan Jones
About the writer, director and producer: We are advocates who believe that housing is a human right and are committed to using media to spread that message.
Key cast: Morgan Jones, Reginald Black, Robert Warren, Chon Gotti
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): All of the above
Social media handles
Facebook: @streetsensedc
Twitter: @streetsensedc
Instagram: streetsensedc
Other:
Funders: The Reva and David Logan Foundation
Made in association with: The Homeless Filmmakers Cooperative
Where can I see it in the next month? This film will screen at the DC Shorts Film Festival: 1 p.m., Sept. 12 at E St. Cinema in downtown Washington, D.C. You can also set up your own screening by contacting Street Sense Event Coordinator Dani Gilmour (dani@streetsense.org).