Staunch Moderates Experience Live, Virtual Concert, 65min,. USA
Directed by Greg Simmons
Welcome to the Staunch Moderates Experience Live, Virtual concert. An entertaining live performance which takes us through the philosophy & history of the Staunch Moderates movement through music. This film presents a unique experience with its multi-genre compilation of music videos from the three albums & more released by the movement. Performed by Rapper Greg Simmons AKA "DJ Staunch", Rappers Kyle Knight & Casanova Ace, with Staunchette dancer Pearrie Hammie.

https://www.instagram.com/staunch_moderates/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1.What motivated you to make this film? – I will first note what we are and that is an Intellectual Movement for peace and a multi-genre hip-hop band, "DJ Staunch® & the Bigfoots.". From January of 2024 we were being booked for a college concert tour being scheduled to play at five major campuses: CU, ASU, USC, Missouri & Florida. We rehearsed for the concert series every day for six months or so. Anyways, due to the Israel/Palestine protests taking place at campuses cross the nation and the promoter and campuses of our concert series being terrified of exacerbating said situation, our concert series was canceled! Being that our Staunch Moderates® Entertainment Studio doesn't only produce music but also movies, with the know how to do so, we thought it wise to go ahead and produce our live concert virtually into this film and we were tickled pink about all the creative elements going into it and excited in thinking this is our best most engaging & entertaining film yet.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? – If we count from when our concert series got canceled, and we started production on our Live Concert Virtual Movie, mid-July 2024 to when we submitted it to Cannes in mid-April 2025, this is nine months.

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

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? – Effectively performing as DJ Staunch in the Bigfoot costume.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video? Relief and pleasure. You see, it's a very ambivalent or anxious time for me from when we complete a film until we have audience feedback. Even if I think the film is a great film and that it's our most engaging and entertaining film to date, it doesn't matter what I think. It matters what audiences think. We gather that information by how we do in film festivals and from reviews. Thanks in part to the award you gave us from your film festival, positive feedback from some other film festivals and the reviews that you and your audience provided from feedback (thank you), we have now gotten the essential positive feedback that endorses our film as a quality product. It is so meaningful to us!

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films? I started out wanting to make scripted comedy TV about 25 years ago, and through that process, we made our first documentary about trying to get that show off the ground, say 15 years ago. Then we started the Staunch Moderates Intellectual Movement 5 years ago. From the experience in the business and the know-how, it made sense to make a documentary film about the journey of starting and administering this movement, so it happened slowly over the years from a series of projects and experiences that came from those projects to where we were just doing it.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life? "Point Break" & "The Aviator."

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career? What you guys & gals at Toronto/LA Documentary, Features & Shorts are already doing: 1) running your festival, 2) screening our films, 3) providing audience video reviews, 4) providing written reviews, and then even providing a podcast audio or video review, I can't imagine what else you can do. Oh, I just figured it out, and that is to directly contact the major's: Cannes, Sundance, SXSW, TIFF, Berlinale, & Venice and then the next tier of festivals: Mill Valley, Newport Beach, Tribecca, Telluride, Aspen etc ... and directly recommend our film to those festivals. I plan not only on answering these interview questions but also on doing the podcast interview with you and sending you the money you charge for said services. I also thank you greatly for all that you do and commend you for the best festival experience that we've had in our two years and now over 30 awards that we've won. Thank you for your support!

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

It has been efficient & seamless for us with the exception saome festivals understandably give notices late. We do find it interesting how Notification seems to come in traunches. Do you know why that is?

10. What is your favorite meal? Wild duck. Do you know how to get any?

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

Yes, we are already deep into producing & editing "Mission Peace II," a continuation of our Docuseries from Mission Peace 1, covering the progress of our movement and how we went intro music & film after the 2020 Election to spread our message of Peace through Moderation.