Life is full of ups and downs and tears and laughter. All of my favorite films have either made me laugh, cry, or left me thinking about it afterwards. So if it does one of those things, it's great to me.
Evan Elise Owens
Linda Gets Justice touches on several themes that you've discussed previously, but above all, its most notably a story that you felt compelled to tell. When did you consider turning it into a movie?
Evan:
I have recently developed a newfound love for comic books. I love the art in them and they basically read like a storyboard for a film. I think I just took that comic book theme and ran with it.
Unfairness in the justice system is one of the many discussion topics that can be ignited by watching Linda Gets Justice. What can we as viewers learn and take away from noticing some of the injustices depicted in the film?
Evan:
Just that; noticing the injustices. Injustices happen every day all around us unfortunately and they go unnoticed far too often. Say something about them. They could change someone’s life.
What was the most challenging obstacle you and your team had to overcome during production?
Evan:
I’d say the audio post production. The actual filming process and shooting days were really great. I’m still in amazement of the crew and cast and their talent. Kind of can’t believe I had them all together in the same place at the same time. Truly got lucky with them. One monsoon kind of slowed us down one day but besides that, the audio in post was the biggest challenge to fix.
As the glue that holds everything together, being the director entails becoming the leader and ensuring that everything is done correctly. How did you feel the rst time you had to begin giving raw feedback to your cast and crew, and was it dicult at all?
Evan:
Let me say first our crew was SMALL. And the crew was carefully selected. Going into it I wanted them all to know I trusted them to do their jobs and that I was thankful they were there. I wanted the atmosphere on set to be calm. Kyle Roberts was our Director of Photography and Kyle is an artist. He gets it. He got me and he got the story. Any idea I wanted to try he did it, no questions, made it work. We have been long time friends and there's a trust there that we know we can speak openly and honestly and we did. No biggie. We also understand and respect each other's jobs. I don’t do his and he doesn’t do mine. He handles lighting and camera and assembled an excellent crew of grips and gaffers and A.C.s. Hair and Makeup was done by Alex Smith and she just blows my mind. She researched and studied what needed to be done and she did it. 6 days in a row on 5 actors single handedly. And the actors made my job easy. They truly went above and beyond for their roles and I’ll forever be grateful to them. I think being clear and thorough in pre-production with cast and crew and having people on board that were in it to tell the story and believed in it made all the difference in the world. Being an actor myself I knew what kind of feedback I liked to receive and I also know that actors are artists and I wanted their creativity to flow and not be stifled. I wanted them completely comfortable and to feel safe to play. I never had to give negative feedback to these actors. Only suggestions of trying a different way sometimes just for variety.
In your opinion as a moviegoer, what qualities are essential to a great film?
Evan:
To me, films that tell the truth and make you laugh, cry, or just feel something. I tried to incorporate some humor within Linda’s story. Life is full of ups and downs and tears and laughter. All of my favorite films have either made me laugh, cry, or left me thinking about it afterwards. So if it does one of those things, it's great to me.
What is your overall message that you hope your audience and viewers will take away from watching Linda Gets Justice?
Evan:
Don’t do meth. (Kidding, kind of.) But really Linda trusted Justice, she considered him a friend. He took advantage of that. He took advantage of his skin color and used it against Gus. The law firm took advantage of Linda after she died. Just stand up for people if you see them being mistreated. Don’t be afraid to say something. Adopt, don't shop! Linda was a volunteer at the humane society and she took care of the feral cats around Birmingham. And to anyone who does watch, know that I am grateful that you’ve taken the time to do so!
Are there any directors or other filmmakers that have influenced you throughout your career thus far?
Evan:
Yes! One of them is Fredgy Noel. She was the first female director I ever had the pleasure to work with in 2014. Her work ethic and drive has influenced me ever since. She creates her films in a way that's truthful to her artistry and to the story. Another is a friend of mine, Matthew Lincoln. He’s an awesome actor’s director. He knows how to pinpoint exactly what needs to be said, he’s an excellent communicator. Ethan Milner is another. He’s focused, kind, prepared, and knows exactly what he wants. Being an actor for them helped me more as a director. Just by watching them, I learned so much about the qualities I wanted to embody as a director.