Culver City Film Festival 2018 - Living
An award-winning drama short about an Angel's descent from Heaven to Brooklyn looking to clear the air, bridging a gap, finding common ground: addressing an important key of life between law enforcement and minorities.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Marcellus Cox
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you. I made this film because I wanted to have a serious discussion about race issues in America, mainly between the two main vocal points of Law Enforcement Vs Black America. I wanted to look at the situation from both points of views and address it head on and showcase that they have more in common with each other than expected.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
To further our education and understanding of each other, regardless of how some of us might feel towards one another. We only have one life to live and, with that notion, why would you waste it hating one another? If you take the time to understand other backgrounds and cultures it would give you a much deeper and more grateful understanding of human society and why we all need each other.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Personal themes work for me because I know what it's like to deal with both law enforcement and the African-American community, and knowing that they are both getting a horrible rep on a daily basis. On some degree, I get it, but most officers are really good, kind-hearted people that just want to protect their city, and most black men and women are great, talented, educated people looking to live their dreams in the same manner as any other group of people in the world.
In a way, my personal theme is the universal theme as well and what we all want in this current situation. That was my main focus. No matter how different we might be we’re still the same.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The script changed so much. I wrote it back in 2005, my freshman year of film school at 17, and didn't touch it again until I was 29. I just felt I wasn't ready to make it. I could talk about it all day but I wasn't mature enough to take the material seriously. Once I did and I saw what was going on with the deaths of innocent people at the hands of the police, it set into motion the events of how the script evolved, which is reflected in film shown at the festival.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback for the film has been amazing. When you’re dealing with a subject matter such as this, you don't know what the feeling in the room is going to be at all, but once you’re up for the Q&A's and afterwards, the folks adore the story and message, and that's the greatest feeling in the world.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Changed my point of view? No, it hasn't at all! If anything, it's made it stronger and made me realize (not to be cocky) that I was on the right track with my feelings and how I see things. If anything, I'm more surprised by the feedback I've gotten from actual officers of the law and their view of the story, and from both younger and older African-American men and women. Again, it's a subject matter that no one wants to discuss on screen, but once it is and it's made in a honest but respectable manner – out of love – the folks will not only accept it but respect it. The conversation really begins outside the theater into real life, which is what we want to bring awareness to the situation.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
All I want to achieve is to get people to know that we have real issues out here in the world, and it's not a black-and-white problem, it's a people problem. We all just need to be aware of the current issues in our world. We need to open our eyes and minds and use any resources we can to solve these problems.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
As of now, Living has played in 77 Film Festivals, winning 31 Awards. It had a great festival run in 2018 and its run is completely over. I want to move the film forward as a feature and I would love to make it my feature film debut. I would love to work with a great producer who can help me take it to the next level. I would also love to pitch it to Investors who might be interested and anybody who loves telling great original stories on a great cinematic level.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
In terms of impact and reception, I want it to be a truthful testament that we can overcome anything as a society if we’re willing to do so, and not sweep issues under the rug as so many do.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What is the Key of Life? That's the question that I would use to begin a conversation or spark a debate. It's the one common thing I feel we all have on our minds, even if it's not the first thing. To me, it's Living, because how can we live to achieve anything in life if our lives don't matter.
Would you like to add anything else?
Thank you for giving me this platform to discuss this film and the message behind it. It means the world to me and I am forever grateful. I don't get interviewed a lot so when I do and it allows me to discuss topics like this. It's always a rewarding feeling.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Marcellus Cox stays working – that's one thing I do. My current short, Rolling in the Deep, just finished its Festival Run as well, playing in over 85 Festivals winning 22 Awards. It will be making its way on television in January 2019 on the television series, African American Short Films, and in February, on PBS for Black History Month.
I also just finished production on my newest short, I'M SORRY, which will be making its world premiere screening on the festival circuit in February 2019. I am currently in post-production on my last short film, Part Of Me, which will be released as well on the festival circuit in the Summer of 2019.
I am also working on two feature film scripts that I hope will be produced in the near future, so I am working my ass off. But I love it! Making and telling stories is my passion, and I hope to have the chance to further my dreams in the near future.
Interview: December 2018
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
Living
An award-winning drama short about an Angel's descent from Heaven to Brooklyn looking to clear the air, bridging a gap, finding common ground: addressing an important key of life between law enforcement and minorities.
Length: 13:41
Director: Marcellus Cox
Producer: Marcellus Cox & Toni Parker
Writer: Marcellus Cox
About the writer, director and producer:
MARCELLUS COX is an award-winning Writer/Director hailing from Los Angeles, California. Marcellus Cox has always had a passion for movies and filmmaking. As a true auteur, his style of cinematic storytelling embossed with dark and edgy themes that is engaging and enlightening, delivering his audience to a place of understanding and compassion for social issues and objectivity, as he Pushes the boundaries of controversial storytelling, touching on subjects such as Race, Religion, Social & Political issues.
Key cast: Skyler James, Tim Farley, Mark Anthony Taylor, Stephen Cofield Jr, Swins Jean-Charles
Looking for: producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors
Facebook: Marcellus Cox
Funders: Toni Parker, Indiegogo
Made in association with: Marcellus Cox Productions, 15L Productions
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? You can watch the TV version on the TV series, African American Short Films, in April 2019. You can also reach out to writer/director Marellus Cox personally at coxmarcellus@gmail.com for a private link to it. His other films can be seen at vimeo.com/cellus24.