“This is just one story out of many stories, but that way maybe we can use it as a piece to start dialogue and really create empathy. I think that is a lot of what these organizations are saying, we’re lawyers and we can talk until we are we are blue in the face about policy, but people want to empathize and people want to understand. That’s what filmmaking and storytelling does.”
Welcome back to Nothing Shines Like Dirt Episode 30. Elise & Lesley sit down with the team behind THE LIGHT OF THE MOON, Writer/Director Jessica M. Thompson and Producer Carlo Velayo. They discuss winning their Audience Award at South by Southwest, how they prioritized diversity in front of and behind the camera, and GAME OF THRONES; does it wrong.
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THE LIGHT OF THE MOON
After her world is irrevocably changed, a successful New York City architect struggles to regain intimacy and control in her life.
You can see our cast and crew bios here.
Jessica M. Thompson
Jessica M. Thompson is an Emmy-nominated Australian filmmaker who lives in New York City. She studied acting at three major drama schools in Australia, before attending the University of Technology, Sydney for Film Production.
Thompson worked as a film editor in Sydney, Australia, before she moved to New York City in 2010, where she founded Stedfast Productions. Thompson edited Cheryl Furjanic's award-winning documentary, "Back on Board: Greg Louganis", which premiered on HBO in August 2015. Thompson has also worked as an editor with Academy Award-nominated filmmakers, Liz Garbus, and Edet Belzberg. Thompson has also written and directed several award-winning short films, including "Hike," "Percepio" and "Across the Pond."
Thompson made her feature directorial debut with "The Light of the Moon" (2017), starring Stephanie Beatriz. It had its world premiere at the South by Southwest film festival (SXSW) in March 2017, where it won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature Film. "The Light of the Moon" was acquired by Imagination Worldwide and will have its theatrical release in the Fall of 2017.
Carlo Velayo
Carlo Velayo is a Philippine-born, Australian-raised, NYC-based producer at Stedfast Productions. He was an Associate Producer on Cheryl Furjanic’s Emmy-nominated film, "Back on Board: Greg Louganis," and made his debut as a p.g.a. Producer with Jessica M. Thompson’s "The Light of The Moon," receiving the 2017 SXSW Audience Award for Narrative Feature Competition. Carlo recently spent two months at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), working as Line Producer on Emmy Award-winning, Filipina-American filmmaker, Michele Josue's forthcoming documentary project, "Happy Jail." He is proud to be a Producer on Isabel Sandoval’s third feature, “Lingua Franca.” Carlo double majored in Film and International Studies at the University of Technology, Sydney, and holds a Master of Liberal Arts (Cultural Heritage) from the Australian National University.