In 2007 I co-wrote and directed "Silk Trees", a psychological thriller about an author who is haunted by the mystery surrounding his wife's death. The film was shot for very little money, but I'm quite pleased with it.

Making a great film in a frugal, responsible manor is important to me. It's impossible to get around spending money on the crucial areas of filmmaking... in many cases you really do get what you pay for. But I have found that with creative problem solving, much of the "bloated" spending that Hollywood is used to is not necessary.

After Silk Trees, my sons asked me why they were not allowed to watch. The easy answer was "because you are not old enough", but their second question was not quite as easy to answer... "why don't you make something we can watch?"

I have five boys. As much as we try to split them up to go sleep in their own rooms, they always seem to end up crashing in one room, which makes it easy for bedtime stories. These stories have become episodic, we pick up where we left off each night.

Many nights while telling their bedtime stories I am reminded of the times that I have spouted out a script idea to a friend. It's a funny thing (if you are a writer, you probably know it), when you tell the story out loud, you write half of it on the spot and it tends to lead toward good ideas that you wouldn't necessarily have reached if you were outlining silently alone.

So that's how The Legend of Oak Swamp was born.

Communicating with 5 boys under the age of 8 at once can be a challenge. It forces me to be energetic (and patient) but also to find creative ways of getting them to see my point of view and react accordingly.

Essentially, that describes directing children... and I thoughroughly enjoy it. I also have the privilege of seeing what makes them engage a story and what types of story elements (fantasy) take them away to another world.

They are probably as excited to see Oak Swamp as I am.

Silk Trees Trailer (Jed's First Feature)