Meet Justin Moodie | Screenwriter & Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Justin Moodie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Justin, what principle do you value most?
Without a doubt, kindness. It was reiterated to me recently watching the film “Everything, Everywhere All at Once” — kindness is an absolute superpower and the ability to deal with others within the realm of kindness is underrated. There seems to be a resurgence of wanting to just be rough and wanting to ensure that you “get yours” and I respect that in a sense, but what gets lost within that I’m finding more and more is people tend to lose their humanity. They see people more as “in the way” as opposed to “walking the path” with them, albeit a different one. When we are able to see that, and handle people more gently and with kindness, a whole new world opens up.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My excitement! I feel like my, at times annoying, excitement is what I selfishly want to share with every person a part of this community. What excites me the most is the ability to create and immerse myself in a world that’s entirely made up. I guess I would say I play the most intense version of make believe you can ha ha. That is a daunting and exciting prospect. There is nothing that’s off the table, which as a creative, can put you in a coma for an overload of potential, but I feel like that’s a good thing! Well, it can be sometimes. Sometimes it feels debilitating, but even then, it’s not because there are any lack of ideas… it’s more of, where do I start?!

A lesson I’ll always run back to, that really helps me move through this composition of emotion, is allow each story and character to speak to you. Time is anything but linear, and so are people. There are moments of your life that stick out a little more than others, events that take up HUGE mental strain in the moment but later on are fleeting.

When writing a character meant to be seen on screen, I like to have an outline of who I want the character to be, and again back to that make believe part, I just kind of sit with them… Allow them to just exist in my head and heart. I even talk to them sometimes. They will either tell me what their stories are or I’ll see them interact with someone or something and I’ll think “There! There it is!”

I think what I’ll say about how I got to where I am professionally today, was just a decision. I decided to allow myself to be completely vulnerable and submit a screenplay to a competition, even though I had no experience. That one decision has compounded further and further to allow for more vulnerability and in turn that vulnerability turned into opportunity. Like this one here! That’s a lesson I’ll forever be grateful for — never shy away from what makes you uncomfortable. It’s often times there, where you’ll find growth.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Great question! I don’t currently live in LA, but we are looking to make a move here hopefully within the next few years. I don’t know that I would be the best to speak to the food out there… but having visited a few times and with family living out in Southern California, I would say to make sure on this trip we would take a few hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains, visit some beach spots in Malibu, and of course take a trip around Hollywood. That is always on the itinerary!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I feel like my circle deserves a massive shoutout. In any endeavor it is extremely difficult to move forward or excel when the circle of influence around you may not be ideal to that movement. It’s not necessarily that anything is bad, but I noticed such a MASSIVE elevation in my life, esteem, and overall mental state when I did a check of who I interacted with and was around me. I’m really grateful to the ‘me’ of just about a year ago, who had the sense and the understanding to adjust that circle — I’ll be grateful for the remainder of my life for that decision. Within that circle I’ll include my number one support and angel of a wife Rachel. She astounds me with her support, love, and value. There aren’t enough words or time to share about her, but she is a key to not only my circle, but my stability.

Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12755840/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jmoooodz/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-moodie-557018116/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmoooodz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justin.moodie.52