Global Impact Film Festival 2018 - Dovere for Camden
Viewers experience the shameful tragedy of US cities that have fallen from grace by focusing on one infamous city, the murder capital of America, Camden, NJ. With love and emotion, the documentary tells the story of two guys who moved away from Camden, then as adults decided to come back to heal their broken city by turning an abandoned bar into a professional theatre.
Interview with Writer/Director Douglas N. Clayton
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you. I got into the film industry to tell compelling stories that hopefully will inspire, expand knowledge, and make a difference. I grew up next to Camden and watched its downfall from a distance. Years later, from the same distance, I read about an ex Camden kid coming back to his beloved city to turn his grandfather's abandoned bar into the city's only live theatre. I thought, this is a story with heart that could inspire others.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
It’s a universal story that, although taking place in New Jersey, has been happening all over the world in cities that have been in decline. It will give the audience a sense of urban decay and ideas on how to make a difference by improving a neighborhood.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Personal and universal themes fit like a glove. Both US and European viewers have provided me with similar feedback: "Joe’s and Pepe’s stories are so personal, yet, it brings back memories of growing up in my town, or my city, and how they collapsed. Their personal stories inspire me to make a difference in my neighborhood.” I’ve heard this from folks who grew up in the area, outside the area, England, Luxembourg, Germany, Scotland, and the former Soviet Union.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I tried to always keep one eye on the obvious story that we set out to tell, and keep the other eye on the unexpected. When making Dovere for Camden, we created a framework for our initial story and were pleasantly surprised when the best stuff surfaced when least expected.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We won the Best Jersey Documentary at the Jersey Short FF; won Honorable Mention at the New Jersey FF; nominated for Jury Selection at the Global Impact FF in Washington, DC. So, formal feedback has been great. Consistent feedback from viewers has been, “it’s a story told with heart and emotion; it leaves me angry and inspired."
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback surprised me, but, strengthens my viewpoint in that we’re all in this together. Pepe says, “what have I done with MY life to make a difference. What is my dovere (Italian for responsibility) to make things a little better.” That resonated with me and I believe audiences.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Added visibility so the inspiring story of Joe and Pepe, two Camden kids who moved away only to return years later to heal their damaged neighborhood, continues to spread.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Ultimately, we would love to engage a distributor to place Dovere for Camden on Netflix or Amazon. Folks have suggested that PBS would be a natural place for this story. Finally, we would love to be picked up in more film festivals.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
To raise awareness that individuals are making a difference when it comes to urban renewal and social responsibility. As Pepe said to me, “if the film inspires just one person to make a difference, then it’s all worth it."
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Who makes the big difference when it comes to urban renewal - government or citizents? Government, who probably contributed to the downfall but certainly has the money to help fix a neighborhood; or private citizens, who have the passion, but perhaps not the funding, to fix a neighborhood?
Would you like to add anything else?
A big thanks to Raymond Padilla for his excellent post production and editing, Justin Clayton for his excellent camera work, and of course Joe Paprzycki and Pepe Piperino for their selfless availability and involvement with the make of Dovere for Camden.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
First, I'm interested in a story of a woman who's been incarcerated for 40 years for murder that she claims she did not commit. There are social elements such as her race (African American), her orientation (lesbian), incarceration. Plus, there is a beautiful artistic element (she was an aspiring singer in her teens and rare recordings exist). Second, I'm writing a book about the impact that film has on learning and inspiring called Total Recall. We plan to published it 2019.
Interview: August 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
Dovere for Camden
Viewers experience the shameful tragedy of US cities that have fallen from grace by focusing on one infamous city, the murder capital of America, Camden, NJ. With love and emotion, the documentary tells the story of two guys who moved away from Camden, then as adults decided to come back to heal their broken city by turning an abandoned bar into a professional theatre.
Length: 26 minutes and 38 seconds
Director: Douglas N. Clayton
Producer: Douglas N. Clayton and Raymond Padilla
Writer: Douglas N. Clayton
About the writer, director and producer: Douglas N. Clayton:
Douglas Clayton’s full time job is the SVP, Talent Management and Learning & Development at SES, the world’s leading provider of satellite services. Doug splits his time between SES’s Princeton location and the Luxembourg headquarters.
Doug’s passion is film and he recently directed his first film – an award winning short documentary “Dovere for Camden”. The film focuses on a small band of folks who came together to heal their broken, beloved city of Camden and has been accepted into the New Jersey International Film Festival and the Global Impact Film Festival (Washington, DC). Doug has also produced several parodies of mainstream movies such as James Bond, The Godfather, Star Trek and Mission Impossible for SES.
Doug earned his doctorate degree (dissertation on film and learning) from the U of Pennsylvania and is an alumnus of the Wharton Business School. Doug conducts ongoing research, has been published, and is a speaker on the topic of how film inspires people and helps us learn.
Key cast: Joseph M. Paprzycki and Adolfo “Pepe” Piperno - both play themselves
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
Social media handles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dovereforcamden/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheFilmDoc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/douglas.n.clayton/
Other: www.thefilmdoc.com
Hashtags you use: #dovereforcamden
Where was this filmed? Camden, NJ
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? This fall (dates are tbd) in Camden, NJ and Princeton, NJ - screenings combined with discussions on social responsibility and urban renewal.
If accepted, in several film festivals in the US and Europe.