FIVE STARS, 23min., USA
Directed by Demetrius Joyette
A retired veteran finds transitioning into civilian life tough, when a woman with a big problem enters his RideShare begging the question, can you really escape fate?

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

During COVID I had a lot of time to reflect and invest in my creativity that I hadn't before. I started with small shorts and videos to get my feet wet, and when timing/personnel/script all came together at the right time; I pushed to get Five Stars made. It's truly a blessing that we were able to make it.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

From conception to final export, Five Stars took me about 1 ½ years. The original idea was an 11 minute short I had written, but shelved. I had worked on an indie show that really spun my gears to beef up the short, and give it more texture and depth. What was once 11 minutes, grew to about 23 minutes, with more story, action and locations.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Virtuous action.

4. What was the greatest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Actually completing it LOL. On another note, post-production and b-roll were the hardest. Post-production because of all the layers involved (sound design, music, VFX!!!!, and color). B-roll because all I had was a little DJI drone and an old Lumix GH5 to get all the missing shots. Principal photography was 5 days, B-roll another 14, and about 10 months of post.

5. There are 5 stages of the filmmaking process: Development. Pre-Production. Production. Post-Production. Distribution. What is your favorite stage of the filmmaking process?

Honestly, I think it depends on the film. Reason being, each one of those stages sets the next and can be painful or gracious. With Five Stars, I really enjoyed pre-production because it materialized all my ideas, and visuals together giving me foresight into the final stages of the film.I stayed true to my original blueprint from the beginning to the end.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Since I was little I always had an interest in creating films. The first student-type film I made was called "Absolute Madness" when I was in high school. It was really silly, but that was the point and it always stuck in the back of my mind. Acting gave me a very practical understanding of the logistics involved in filmmaking, and my creativity to develop the ideas. Putting them together helped tremendously in seeing the film through.

7. What film have you seen the most times in your life?

Blackhawk Down.

8. In a perfect world: Who would you like to work with/collaborate with on a film?

Sylvester Stallone. I really enjoyed Rocky, and the story behind it captivated/inspired me to write and pursue my own projects.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experience been working on the festival platform site?

FilmFreeway has been a breeze to use. Everything is easy to navigate, neat and digestable. I'm thankful that such a platform exists, and works as well as it does.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Pizza. My mom used to joke that I would turn into one when I was kid!

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Yes... hopefully! I'm currently working on the second draft of my screenplay called "Leadfoot". It's a heartfelt comeback story that I think many viewers could relate to. I have a full pitch deck on my website if anyone's curious about it. https://www.demetriusjoyettefilms.com/coming-soon