@SXSW2021
@SXSW2021 · 2:45

SXSW Filmmaker Jasmine Stodel

article image placeholderJasmine Stodel
I saw this film and I'm in love with Hayden, in love with Jasmine, in love with all of that whole world that she so skillfully led us into, along with her amazing cinematographer, Homer Selena Jr. Who I want to speak with at some point because he's amazing. Jasmine, welcome to this conversation

Her first feature is premiering at SXSW. How did she get here? Who’s Hayden? Is Democracy dead? Can we find it gasping for air in Amarillo, Texas?

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@jstodel
Jasmine Stodel 🌈
@jstodel · 1:43

#gunpowersky #judehopeharris #haydenpedigo #kidcandidatethemovie

Thank you so much, Deborah. I'm really honored to be at south by Southwest and thank you for your kind words. I really appreciate it. And I'm glad you enjoyed the movie. So I met Hayden through Jude Harris, who was an executive producer on this film and is an executive at Gunpowder and sky who has amazing taste, an insight
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@DBPardes
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardes · 0:31

The right fit

Jasmine, when you went to Amarillo and you realized this was gonna be a thing, can you tell us what experiences in your life do you feel prepared you for sort of really kicking a** as the creator and director of this? What parts of your life in your career, personal or professional actually prepared you for just being the person that was the right person to shepherd this project through to the end
@jstodel
Jasmine Stodel 🌈
@jstodel · 0:41
Firstly, I want to say that Amarillo is a very special place and it's kind of complex. It's not what you think it would be. There a lot of different cultures that live there many refugee communities. And it's just very interesting. I grew up in South Africa, where 90% of the population were not allowed to vote when I was growing up. That's a big motivation for me
@SXSW2021
@SXSW2021 · 1:26

Cast of Characters

But you see that there are people fighting for the rights of this town, and it's grown so much. And how did you decide to pick the characters? Did they kind of come into view and you pursued them, or did you spend a lot of time sort of researching the players and then going after them? I'm referring to Jeff, but I'm referring to a lot of other people, especially those we met in the Sudanese refugee community. Can you speak to a little bit?
@jstodel
Jasmine Stodel 🌈
@jstodel · 1:15
She's a South Sudanese refugee, a young woman in her early 20s, and she was all too happy to introduce us to all of her people. I mean, who would think that there's a South Sudanese community in Amarillo, Texas? It was pretty amazing
@SXSW2021
@SXSW2021 · 1:24

#impact

And I guess you share a vision with the good people at Gunpowder, like everybody there is like what's this film going to do, what's it going to trigger in people. Can you speak to? I know it's sort of good luck or bad luck. I don't know
@jstodel
Jasmine Stodel 🌈
@jstodel · 0:52

#everyvotecounts

When I close my eyes at night, what I wish for is that young people will watch this movie and Hayden will inspire them and they will see that even they can run for local politics or be more involved in their city. I hope that people in Amarillo watch this movie with an open mind and those who don't know see what their neighbors are going through. And I hope it does make a difference. And I hope it does change things. This movie isn't just about Amarillo
@DBPardes
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardes · 1:26

A story...

Can you tell us a story of a time before this project, when you were doing other stuff, maybe working with uprocks or maybe working on other projects when you're living in New York City, anything that can shed light on sort of your resilience, because that really will help burgeoning filmmakers and your peers as well, because we all need to relate and to connect to the humanity of our careers and stories usually help us do that
@jstodel
Jasmine Stodel 🌈
@jstodel · 1:15
For example, when a Prox was acquired by Warner Music, they canceled my show, and I thought it was all over, and it forced me to have to go out on my own. And that's how I met the people from Gunpowder. And that's how I got to make this movie. And so I guess the moral of the story is bad. Things happen for a reason. I don't know. My advice to myself is always to just do my best and do the work
@SXSW2021
@SXSW2021 · 0:43

So excited for more to come from you and Congratulates!!

And just best of luck. And anybody who has a question for Jasmine, here's the place to ask it. She'll have her ear out to listen. And just looking forward to more from you. Jazz. Thanks
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