We had the good fortune of connecting with DeVon Moore and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi DeVon, what do you attribute your success to?
Living in the moment. It’s that simple. I’m not trying to stress about the future or the past. When you live in the present, everything unfolds perfectly and the past is always provided closure.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I express my art through the medium of film, I am a filmmaker. My films always have a perspective of my life intertwined within it, it could be the experience, the music I’m listening to, the conversations or thoughts that I’ve had. There’s so many influences and processes that flow into the creation of my films, it’s hard to pinpoint the start of it. It’s like a tree, we always see the actual tree and branches, but there’s so many roots underground that keep the tree alive and provide its strength. I’m able to tell the stories that interest me, that’s the most satisfying, I feel like an artist who write lyrics for their album, then release their album, then tour their album. It all comes from me, and I allow others to experience it and that makes everything so much better and enjoyable. I feel like a lot of things separate me from others, and I hope I don’t sound cliche. I’m resourceful when I create films from beginning to end. There’s a lot of directors, filmmakers, creatives I feel as though always have really high expectations for their projects despite the situation not being sufficient enough to create that quality product they want. I feel as though for myself, I am using the environment around that I know tremendously, the equipment I know that is feasible for the project, people who I know are reliable and understanding of the process. I think being resourceful is not taking advantages of the things that you want, but of the things that you have. Currently, I am most proud of my release of Golden Hour, my fifth film. We put together a great film with a great collection of people, music, and visuals, The promotion has been outstanding in my opinion, and although it’s a niche project I feel as though it still has room to grow and develop as all art does. I’m also proud of the movie poster for Golden Hour, it’s a sunset on Tybee Island and it captures everything the film is about. The purpose of this film was to tell the stories of young black men and women who are proud of being black and being comfortable in their skin as well as confronting the traumas and hardships they have had while being Black. This fifth film also serves as the step-stool into entering a new era for myself as a filmmaker, realizing that I can do so much more with larger scales, larger ideas and envelope them into great experiences. I’m excited for my sixth film which I want to premiere in the Tybee Post Theater, I’m still figuring out what the subject, aesthetic, and all of the gears of the film will be about but I have a pretty clear idea on where I’m heading. I’m always excited about how my new projects will sound and look like and there’s no doubt that eventually we’ll run into one of my films being filled with flashing lights, 80s synthwave, groovy bass lines, uncomfortable close-ups, it’ll feel like a disco club on steroids. Before I get to that project, I still have a couple of more steps that I must accomplish and master. It’ll be a great experience! I feel like I’ve on scratched the surface of my professionalism, I’m still a sophomore in college and I’m only 19…so I still have so much to learn and experience. That’s not mistake that I’m not professional, being creative is one aspect. I am extremely concerned on how I conduct myself through this industry’s business, and taking the opportunities that are right for me and that are mutually beneficial. There’s so many challenges at every step, the best lesson is to keep going and you’ll become more experienced and learn how to deal with those challenges in the future and even prevent them.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ll give you two cities since I’m from Savannah, but I live in Atlanta for college. In Atlanta, the first thing would be going to Atlanta Breakfast Club down the street from the Mercedes Benz Stadium. It’s some of the best breakfast I’ve ever had and depending on the weather I would drive down to the Benz and eat on the grass in between the stadium and State Farm Arena. I would also take them to JR Crickets as well, the wings never let you down and it’s on a way better scale than any wings in Savannah. Sweet BBQ and Lemon Pepper are my to-go flavors as well. Slutty Vegan is a place that is a must go, if you haven’t been before. I went there one time on a Bird Scooter, I ended up falling off the scooter and wasting all of my food. I DM’d them in distraught, and they found it in their heart to supply me with the goods for free. Farm Burger is a classic as well in the Atlanta area as well. 100% grass-fed beef, where can you go wrong. They also provide vegetarian options as well. Stone Mountain and Kennessaw Mountain are a great opportunity to see the nature of the Atlanta area and they also have some great views. Piedmont Park is a great area, I just wish more of the area was basketball courts. I would try to go a game or a concert in the nearby arenas or stadiums, I recently went to a Tame Impala concert in the State Farm Arena and it blew my mind. In Savannah, one morning we are going to see the sunrise at Tybee Island and grab some breakfast. There are some great breakfast spots in Savannah like Little Duck Diner or Rise Biscuits and Donuts, but those aren’t really my to-go options. I’m more of a ‘the food isn’t great, but it’s good resturant’. The list includes Locs Chicken & Waffles in Sandly (the best location), The Breakfast Place (on Victory Drive) or Sunny Side Up (on DeRenne Ave also the best location). Savannah has really great lunch resturants, The 5 Spot on Habersham and Sweet Potatoes are top tier. Savannah Fried Chicken is absolutely crazy, their chicken sandwiches got through me a lot of days. B&D Burgers on Abercorn is a great spot too. For dinner Cha-Bella has some of the best filet mignon I’ve ever tasted. There’s some great parks such as Forsyth or Daffin Park. Tiedeman and Guckenheimer Park are great parks that are never crowded, and are a great get-away area. There’s some other areas with rivers, and creeks that I’ll keep a secret because they’re too amazing for everyone to know. I feel like there’s always something to do as long as you think outside the box.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m inspired by so many people and their aspects of life; their presence in my life allow me to continue to dive into new parts of my brain and gain new perspectives and experiences. First and foremost, my friends, family and God are definitely the sole proprieties of my inspiration. These are people who I can actually empathize, experience, and learn with it. These are all entirely different people and they have all these experiences that I get to witness and be apart of and they share their wisdom with me. My friends at Georgia State University, Jeremiah, Nehemiah, Kwan, Madi & Joseph, we’re all experiencing Atlanta together so that’s a story in its own. My friend Abigail is always introducing me to new music and new ideas. It’s crazy. I’m always inspired by a lot of music, I feel like its more digestible than films, so artists like The Weeknd, Tyler, The Creator, Tame Impala, Snoh Aalegra, Kanye they’re all current and future influences of my films. There’s this one group who deserves the credit for sure they’re 4ye Media with Jae and Trey Richards. Their vlogs, skits, podcasts are crazy, it’s funny, authentic, it’s hard to explain. They inspire me on every aspect of film-making, its crazy they’re GOATS.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devonthedirector/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-VQGdDsmRGo_0gQPOfo7JA
Image Credits
Personal Photo, Donna Von Bruening Other Images