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...
Tags:Case StudyScreenwritingFeature FilmsDirecting

Join the Discussion

Keep Exploring

Link
Link

Writer, Director Barry Jenkins on IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK

Video
Video

How to Collaborate: from the Team Behind SEARCHING

Director Aneesh Chaganty and Producer Sev Ohanian give look an inside their unique creative relationship.

Sev Ohanian

Producer, Writer

Video
Video

Making Your First Short: Top Tips

Short film ​d​irectors share their essential top tips for anyone ​who wants to make a short film​.​

Mariama Diallo

Filmmaker

Video
Video

Ryan Coogler & Jenna Wortham at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival

Ryan Coogler discusses clips of BLACK PANTHER & FRUITVALE STATION with culture reporter Jenna Wortham (NYT Magazine).