Telling True Stories about Immigrants as a Filmmaker – Jessica Dornbusch – Learning with Lowell 174

April 7, 2023

Jessica Dornbusch is a filmmaker, writer, and producer. We get into her life and work, and in particular discuss one of her films – Reefa, which is about a Colombian immigrant and talented artist, and involves police brutality and injustice.

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Jessica Dornbusch links

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1618150/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-kavana-dornbusch-227a4872/

PODCAST INFO:

The Learning With Lowell show is a series for the everyday mammal. In this show we’ll learn about leadership, science, and people building their change into the world. The goal is to dig deeply into people who most of us wouldn’t normally ever get to hear. The Host of the show – Lowell Thompson- is a lifelong autodidact, serial problem solver, and founder of startups.

LINKS

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/66eFLHQclKe5p3bMXsCTRH

RSS: https://www.learningwithlowell.com/feed/podcast/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzri06unR-lMXbl6sqWP_-Q

Youtube clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-B5x371AzTGgK-_q3U_KfA

Website: https://www.learningwithlowell.com/

Timestamps / chapter

00:00 Introducing Jessica Dornbusch

00:30 Holocaust impacting her work

05:00 Immigrants and police brutality 

06:50 Women and people who gain power oppressing others

08:30 Immigrant perception changes over Jessica’s life

10:10 Hamilton Musical and Reefa 

11:00 Being Latin and jewish  / expectations

13:15 Distrust of government / police / other countries 

14:30 Reefa Good cop / bad cop

16:11 Bad cop outside of the film

17:15 Police / problems / turning off being a police officer at home

19:45 Drama with local police officers trying to shut down the film

26:37 Women being bullied at school

27:33 Revoking film permits / blocking the film

30:15 Star wars and hiding films intention

32:00 Difficulty making a film of tragedy 

34:40 Tell stories keeps people alive

35:45 Resetting battery to go again

41:05 HBO finding Jessica

41:55 Process of selling the film when its done

42:50 Quentin Tarantino10 films and her goals for herself

44:30 Stories / translating life as a stay at home mom

46:15 Feminist static around making family your priority 

47:40 Supporting each other and children

48:44 Shrinking of area kids can play in

51:15 Networking tips  / Jamie Fox

53:31 Grants to make films in other countries

54:22 Roman history  / arts in school

55:45 Art as a way to communication 

56:35 Independent film and future projects (teaser)

01:00:05 Controlling distribution after selling

01:01:55 First movie experience

01:03:50 Austin Drive in theaters

01:04:15 Books!

01:06:40 Almost famous

01:07:45 New films 

01:08:25 Getting the best out of different types of actors

01:11:40 Jake Gyllenhall  / over emoting 

01:12:50 Average director, vs herself, vs great filmmakers 

01:15:30 Film vs digital 

01:16:00 Staying up to date with Jessica’s work

01:16:25 DB cooper joke about IMDB / instagram

01:17:40 Instagram / food

01:17:55 Newsletter

01:18:30 Thought to leave us with

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