Q: What inspired the story behind your short film?
A: I was inspired by the unique history of the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra and the intergenerational challenges they face. I wanted to write a narrative film informed by the personal lives of band members because most of what is known about the band has been presented in documentaries. I aimed to elevate their story to a cinematic scale.

Q: Can you discuss any unique challenges you faced during production?
A: Our cast consisted mostly of non-professional actors who had never acted in a film before, so it was crucial to create a safe and relaxed environment for them. We filmed in locations familiar to the band and staged scenes around situations that actually happened, allowing them to play versions of themselves in spaces they frequently attended.

Q: How did you approach character development within the limited runtime of a short film?
A: I wrote the screenplay based on conversations with Mekala and what I read about the band. Then, I had intimate one-on-one sessions with each main cast member to transform my words into their voices and add layers to their characters in an authentic and honest way. I also utilised archival audio and sound design to deepen our overall story and provide nuance and insights to characters.

Q: What message or emotion do you hope the audience takes away from your film?
A: I don’t want to be prescriptive. I just hope people open themselves to the story and are moved in some way.

Q: How do you see your short film fitting into your broader body of work or future projects?
A: Keeping Time is an extension of my previous work and anticipates my debut feature, Without a Song, which continues my engagement with the Black art form known as jazz and Los Angeles, but grounds itself in the subjectivity of an aging musician nearing the end of his life.

Q: If you could cast any actor, living or dead, in your next project, who would it be and why?
A: Ron Cephas Jones. He was an exceptional actor whose face carried so much emotional weight and expressive power.

Q: Why are festivals like the FAME Shorts Film Festival so important?
A: They broaden the film’s audience and connect filmmakers to a wider community.