Meet the Finalist: Jonathan Moss, "Bob Freeman"

Tell us about yourself, and about Bob Freeman.

My name is Jonathan Moss. I am just your average writer, director, actor, stuntman, lawyer, masters graduate, amateur professional scuba diver, Second City graduate, surfer, photographer and graphic designer who moonlights as a wannabe culinary chef. It is an honor to be a finalist in the “Best First Time Director” category in the New York Film Awards.

Share a memorable moment you experienced working on this project.

There was a night where we had been shooting for over ten hours. Practical special effects had an emergency and an actress, Leanna Vamp, was in the makeup chair for an extra four hours. While her monster silicone cast was being attached, we shot over the shoulder takes with another actor. The weather turned cold, and all the extras were given blankets between takes, along with hot chocolate to keep warm. Normally on other productions, these late nights would wear down the cast and crew. On Bob Freeman, the set was different. That night, everyone could not stop laughing. Take after take, people were smiling and giggling. By the time Leanna Vamp arrived, people were cheering and clapping. She was so energized by the group, we shot all the rest of her scenes in one to two takes before stopping for time.

Name 3 collaborators that you'd take with you to any other project.

This film was a blast to make and we had an incredible production team who were a joy to work with. I will take more than three collaborators with me from Bob Freeman on future projects, but a few people I worked with were beyond amazing. Our editor, Meagan Costello, took a break from her Marvel schedule to cut together sequences that were hilarious. One of our Producer’s, Drew Marvick, also acted in the film and was as incredible of an actor as he was creating call sheets and budget. Bennett Markoe and Jameson Moss teamed up to handle the sound editing, along with composing an awesome synth score.

3 tips you’d like to share with aspiring artists in your field:

First, Force yourself to creatively find a solution rather than spending more money. Some of the finest moments in film came from a director outthinking a dilemma. Second, treat every department as if they were the most important part of the project. Lastly, find a great producer who can figure out distribution before you shoot your first shot and your life becomes way easier.

What do you hope to achieve in your career in the next 5 years?

In the next five years, I hope to have a television show in production and another movie finished. I am working to build out our creative team, and streamline our production process. My goal is to create at least one other project that has an impact on a person's life.

Bob Freeman is nominated for Best Director of the Year at the New York Film Awards.