Jocelyn and Todd Morris Of Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival On 5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Film Festival
Giving back is essential. Helping others, being a mentor is incredibly fulfilling and will feed your artist’s soul.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Todd and Jocelyn Morris.
Todd Morris is an award winning New York based commercial producer who has been working in the film business for nearly three decades. He has also written and directed several short films and two independent features. This includes the legendary 1996 cult film, “A Gun For Jennifer,” which has screened at dozens of festivals around the globe and can still be seen in Parisian art houses from time to time.
Jocelyn Morris is a founding member of the Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival, with almost two decades of experience as a classically trained actor and filmmaker in New York City. She has showcased her work in festivals nationwide, from performing Shakespeare with The Aquila Theatre Company to taking on lead roles in feature films, producing and writing short films, and appearing in national TV commercials. As the Director of Communications for JTIFF, Jocelyn now utilizes her expertise to manage the festival’s social media content and programming.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
Sure! Todd grew up in Pittsburgh, and I am from just outside of Chicago. We both ended up moving to New York City in our 20’s to chase our dreams in the arts — Todd in filmmaking, and myself in acting, which eventually led me to also making films. We both traveled extensively for our careers before we met, Todd showcasing his independent feature films worldwide, and me touring the country with my shorts. My roots are in classical theatre, while Todd has always been immersed in film. What really brought us together was our shared passion for great storytelling. After we met in New York, we moved to Jim Thorpe in 2014, started a family, and eventually launched the Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival in 2017. It has been an amazing journey, combining our skills. Further, Todd’s extensive experience as a producer in commercials really helps keep our festival running smoothly.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
Todd fell in love with the quaint charm and historic beauty of Jim Thorpe when he first visited the town back in 1991 and, even then, thought it would be the perfect place for a film festival. So once we settled here, it naturally progressed to us starting a festival, given our backgrounds and the wealth of contacts we had collected over decades working in the industry.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
It is funny how unpredictable content creation can be. I have spent days working on elaborate posts that ended up flopping, while a simple ten-second video of snowfall in our town might get thousands of views. It is really humbled me, but thankfully, I have gotten a lot better at predicting what our audience likes over the years.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
We are really excited about expanding the Grindhouse section of our festival, adding more of an event feel with the Eclectic Circus, light shows, and live music. We are also considering making our tenth year a five-day event instead of four, dedicating one of the days solely to student filmmakers from grade school to college. It is thrilling to think about how we can keep evolving the festival every year.
Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?
When I was an actress in NYC, I worked for years at The Blue Note Jazz Club. I met all the greats like Chick Corea, Ron Carter, Dee Bridgewater, Michel Camilo, McCoy Tyner, and even Sting, to name a few. The best thing about the greats is that they were, in fact, all-around impeccable professionals, always dressed sharp, on time, and so kind to the staff. They didn’t put up with the audience not paying attention. McCoy Tyner and Ron Carter would even stop a performance if someone was talking or taking too many photos, and remind them they are here to listen to jazz and to respect the music and the experience. That energy was so powerful. They are and were truly amazing people to be around, and I am so grateful that I got to experience their work not once but dozens of times.”
Where do you draw inspiration from? Can you share a story about that?
You know that buzz you get after seeing a great movie and you just want to talk about it? These days, everyone tries to dig into it online and then tries to have a discussion, but for me, it always felt lacking. What really keeps me going with the grind of the festival is knowing we are creating a place where art is a shared experience. It is a space where our audience and filmmakers can meet and have real conversations. Witnessing those moments of connection is truly inspiring and beautiful. Last year, there was a particular moment in the ending scene of “Ghostlight,” directed by Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson, that was incredibly moving. I was brought to audible tears. I could not wait to see the audience’s reaction. The night we showed it, I sat in on the ending to experience that part of the film with others. It was so beautiful to see them have the same experience and exactly the kind of collective experience I was talking about. Those are the moments that keep me inspired.
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
I think it’s the little local things locally that make a big difference. Currently, I am the acting coach for the high school play. A few years ago, I started a drama club at my kid’s school. This spring, my son’s team won the county little league baseball division and I wrote up and released a press release. Working with youth is incredibly rewarding. For example, a few years ago, we staged “Charlie Brown’s Christmas.” The kids gave a fantastic performance, and it’s a production we all still talk about with pride — especially my son. The moment they sang “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” at the end was truly magical. It’s moments like these that bring so much joy — not just to the kids, but to the entire community — and I feel very lucky to be a part of it.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why?
1 . The competition is incredibly talented. It is both humbling and inspiring to see the level of talent out there.
2. There is no perfect time to start. Time moves quickly, life flies by, and the best thing you can do is take action.
3. Leap, and the net really will appear. I have learned to trust that the right resources and people often show up once you commit to a project.
4. Protect your creative seeds. Early on, I learned the importance of nurturing my ideas quietly until they’re ready to be shared.
5. Giving back is essential. Helping others, being a mentor is incredibly fulfilling and will feed your artist’s soul.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 😊
It is important to have compassion for yourself and to deeply understand that you have the power to change your life. No one else will save you — it’s all up to you.
We have been blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she just might see this.
Jocelyn: I would love to have lunch with Dame Judi Dench. Given my background in classical theatre, she has been a huge inspiration. The stories she could tell about her experiences with the giants of British theatre would be incredible.
Todd: Although obviously impossible, I would love to have lunch with one of my favorite directors, Stanley Kubrick. He created some of the best films in the history of cinema and I’d love to hear him expound about his creative process and learn what truly inspired him, and…I want to know what motivated him to make “Eyes Wide Shut” and all the secrets behind it.
What is the best way our readers can follow you on social media?
You can follow us on our website at www.jimthorpeindiefilmfest.com. As to social media, see below:
TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@jimthorpeindiefilmfest
Instagram: https://www.instagram
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
Jocelyn and Todd Morris Of Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival On 5 Things You Need To Create A… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.