SCAD Savannah Film Festival 2022: J.D. Dillard, Jonathan Majors Red Carpet Interviews
The SCAD Savannah Film Festival 25th-Anniversary was in full swing with days 5 and 6 with an abundance of thrilling programming and screening. even more exciting programming and screenings.
Jalyn Hall and Keith Beauchamp accepted the Socially Conscious Cinema Award following the screening of Till, Nicholas Hoult accepted the Vanguard Award following the screening of The Menu, Jonathan Majors accepted the Spotlight Award and J.D. Dillard accepted the Rising Star Director Award following the screening of Devotion, and Colson Baker accepted the Discovery Award following the screening of Taurus.
Blackfilmandtv.com spoke with director J.D. Dillard on his film Devotion.
Set in 1950, as the Cold War looms, Majors and Powell play Jesse L. Brown and Tom Hudner, elite U.S. Navy fighter pilots who form a firm friendship that is tested on the battlefield when one of them is shot down behind enemy lines. Their heroic sacrifices would ultimately make them the Navy's most celebrated wingmen.
How much of a challenge was it stepping up from the independent world to something bigger?
J.D. Dillard: Dude, in a weird way, for me at least, it was no difference. Because all it is, is just telling a story that I'm sure on a bigger movie, you have a lot more help. But somehow, and I think this is sort of the magic and curse of filmmaking, there's never enough time, there's never enough money. So that stress was exactly the same with $4 million, as it was with a lot more of a budget. So it felt it felt good. I had what I needed to tell this story. And it wasn't overwhelming in that sense. But the goal was just to tell the story as well as we can.
What can you talk about your lead stars Glenn Powell and Jonathan Majors?
J.D. Dillard: It’s nice to just have two of the fastest growing movie stars right now in the same film. Jonathan and Glenn are just on such insane meteoric rises, and it's so deserved, and in them I have found collaborators that I want for the rest of my life. And that I'm really grateful for that's one of the best things that Devotion has given me.
You've done other project but how much of a challenge was it doing this role?
Jonathan Majors: Every role is difficult. This wasn't lifting weights. This wasn't gaining weight. This was mental and physical fortitude. You get up in those planes to do what those guys were doing was tough, is tough, and hats off to them. And also the level of just downright, doggone ambition and drive that Jesse had. Like the character. We're telling the story of Jesse Brown. He required and he asked for the level of respect his mates got and he demanded that every day. So it was just like that.
Did you talk with the family about playing this role?
Jonathan Majors: Yes I did. I got to speak to his daughter, Pam. I also got to speak to his younger brother. And that was probably the most implicated I've felt in stepping into a role. When someone's brother says, “You're playing my brother,” You gotta look him in the eye and say, “I got you back.” The thing that rocked me the most was we were sitting there, right there towards the end, and Pam said “I felt like I met my father for the first time.” That would make you bring it.
