MOONLIGHT director Barry Jenkins talks about key scenes in his Oscar-winning film and an artist's essential need to take risks.

Key Insights

Find the films that resonate for you, that can unlock your unique voice and experience of the world.
Often budget constraints can help you in finding a visual aesthetic that distills the essential components and qualities of your film
The light and sound of a place is an asset to be used in writing and directing
Create moments for your characters to authentically explore their physicality, gestures and emotional truth
Draw from your own experiences to shape the story on the page and guide performances
Your shoot will not go according to plan - adapt and be open to change so you can harness the elements that you have
Creation lives at the edge of risk, the work is more potent when something is at stake

Barry Jenkins

Director

Academy Award winner Barry Jenkins was born and raised in Miami, FL. A Florida State University graduate, Jenkins’ feature film debut, MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY, was hailed as one of the best films of 2009 by The New York Times and received several Independent Spirit and Gotham Award nominations. Jenkins along with playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney received an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for his second feature MOONLIGHT, which won Best Picture at both the Oscars and the Golden Globes (Drama). more...