Joshua's short, When the Dust Clears, screens at the Churches Making Movies Christian Film Festival in October. The film is about a 9/11 survivor who struggles living everyday life 15 years after that day. While battling health and depression, she tries to find ways to cope but still finds herself reliving that tragic day again and again.
Q. What is your film background?
A. I started creating and telling stories at the age of 3. I fell into 3D
animations at the age of 8 and haven't stopped since. A few years later, I
began to realize that I could take this same creativity to a real camera.
Since then, I have continued to build upon my skills as a 3D animator,
director, and filmmaker.
Q. As a Christian, how do you see yourself impacting the film industry?
A. I want to help inspire, bring unity, and help struggling communities. I
want to make films that are only meant to inspire, spread God's wisdom, and
uplift. I also want to make films that educate. I don't want my content to
be influenced by worldly mega studios; I only want God to influence my
content.
Q. What was the biggest challenge you overcame to make your film?
A. The biggest challenge I overcame was vulnerability. It was hard hearing
the true stories and connecting to so many people's tragedies. I stopped
writing the script for a quite a few months because I felt I wasn't
emotionally ready and maybe I wasn't the man for the job. But God put the
passion to tell this story in my heart since the beginning and he drew me
back to it months later. I use to tell myself maybe when I'm in Hollywood
or have lots of money, I can tell this story down the road. But, a friend
encouraged me and said, " you don't need all that right now. You're good
enough to tell this story now. Why wait?" And that's when it really clicked
that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Even with a
budge of $2,500 out of pocket.
Q. Who are your biggest influences in film and why?
A. Mel Gibson is my favorite film director. I love his passion for telling
raw honest genuine stories. You can tell he's very involved in his work.
Q. What is the funniest or weirdest thing that has ever happened to you
on set?
A. 2 years ago, I was filming a scene in Philadelphia for another short
film I made. I was in the middle of filming a dramatic scene under a bridge
in an alley at night with my now wife, sister, and two other friends. Out
of no where, a dozen police cars just rushed and swarmed into the alleyway
surrounding all of us with lights flashing, sirens blaring, and preparing
for the worst. We just stood there frozen and confused with our film
equipment in our hands. Apparently someone called the cops because they
hear my, now wife, screaming thinking something serious was happening. At
that moment, we knew she was a really good actress and I realized how
important film permits were to have.
Q. What is your favorite Bible verse? And how does this influence your filmmaking?
A. "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good
stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles
of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God
supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus
Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." - 1 Peter
4:10-11
What inspires me to tell passionate stories and work hard with my films is
knowing that I'm not doing it for just my own self pleasure, but I'm
working hard for others. I'm working hard to give something to others, for
them to experience something. Thinking about how hard my team works to help
me with the film also drives me. They deserve to see the project fully
through completion. Also, thinking about how the viewers are gonna react
and feel while watching my work. I want the viewers to have emotional
connection and experience watching my work. But most of all, I want to
people to see Christ through me and my work. He's the reason I put so much
effort in storytelling and my visual work.
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