Jesse Harris, Filmmaker: I think if you stop being creative and writing and using that muscle, you lose that muscle and I think that’s what happened. I wasn’t getting all these ideas anymore of what I was going to make…
Film Courage: And how long was the original script?
Jesse: The feature script? The feature script was I don’t know 100 pages or something? I think it’s turned into an hour and 40 minute movie.
Film Courage: Was it originally called Borrego?
Jesse: Yep, it’s always been called Borrego. I hate naming things. I’m actually horrible at picking titles and names for things so my names are never that original. Borrego is the name of the desert that the movie takes place in and then in Spanish it also means like lamb or sheep and that has a connection also to the character and some of the story. It made sense and in the end it became this word that not everyone even knows how to say. It’s confusing but it’s a little mysterious and I think it works for the film and draws people in I guess. Who knows, we’ll see?
Film Courage: I like it and the Anza-Borrego desert is right where San Diego and Baja California crossover?
Jesse: Exactly, Anza-Borrego desert is where the US-Mexico border meets on one side surrounded by the mountains next to San Diego on the other side and then the Salton Sea on the other side. It’s really this no man’s land of sorts in California where it’s this huge desert area that has very little population…(Watch the video interview on Youtube here).
BIO:
Jesse Harris started his filmmaking career early, writing and directing his first feature when he was 17. He opted against college and used the money to fund his feature that he wrote and directed, which was eventually picked up for US theatrical distribution and by HBO Europe. In 2007, to support other young filmmakers, Jesse founded NFFTY (National Film Festival for Talented Youth), which has grown into the largest and most prestigious youth film festival in the world. Jesse put his filmmaking career on hold for several years to support other young directors and build a premier showcase for aspiring directors. Variety named Jesse one of 25 talents who transformed youth entertainment and was named one of City Arts Magazine’s Top 50 Culture Makers. His feature was shortlisted for the 2004 Independent Spirit Awards ‘Someone to Watch’ Award and was one of 20 features invited to the 2004 IFP New York Film Market. Jesse’s recently been named a Global Shaper, an initiative of the World Economic Forum, built around young entrepreneurs and do-gooders. Jesse returned to filmmaking in the commercial world, now bringing years of experience crafting beautiful stories for brands. His commercial work has been seen on TV around the world, working with clients such as Volvo, Microsoft, Disney and more. His 2018 short film, Wind in the Night was one of seven films selected for the 2019 Prix SNCF du Polar in France and picked up for distribution in France, Asia, UK and USA. The film was a proof of concept for his next feature, Borrego (available January 14, 2022).
WATCH ‘WIND IN THE NIGHT’ (Proof Of Concept Short Film)
CONNECT WITH JESSE HARRIS
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