Q&A with Filmmaker Grant Davis, Writer-Director-Actor of Jerry
Jerry I New York Premiere I BFF 2026
In Grant Davis’s New York Premiere comedy Jerry, two roommates agree to pet sit for their neighbor—only to discover, too late, that they have profoundly misunderstood which pet they were meant to protect. Set entirely in Davis’s Bushwick apartment, the 12-minute short finds escalating stakes in a distinctly local, smoke-hazed domestic predicament.
Davis, a New York City-based writer, director, and actor, made Jerry as his first film with collaborators from his SCAD network. In the conversation below, he reflects on creative fear, the value of friendship and collaboration, and making room for a dream before the timing feels perfect.
Tell us about the moment this film began for you.
I have always wanted to challenge myself and dip my toe into filmmaking, but this particular project began when my friends, Mac and Swen, wanted to collaborate together to make a short film. I took this as my opportunity to dive head first and explore my voice as a writer, actor, and director.
What scene, character, image, or idea was the key that unlocked the film for you?
When figuring out what to make our short film about, my co-writer, Mac, and I started with simple one-liners of different high-level concepts. She mentioned something about pet sitting, which I thought was an interesting route, because naturally, people care about two things: babies and pets. So that idea unlocked the entire concept for our short film. Once she said that, literally the full story synopsis fell out of us in the next 10 minutes. It was one of those creative moments that feels like lightning in a bottle.
Jerry Trailer
Why did this story feel important for you to tell now?
This story feels important to tell now because the world feels so, so utterly dark. My only hope was to tell a story that can make someone laugh. On the surface, it does just that, but look a layer deeper, there are themes of friendship, misunderstandings, and forgiveness that I think is a good takeaway for us all.
What was the biggest creative challenge or risk you took in making the film?
"Jerry" is my first film, so everything was a challenge and a risk. There was never a moment when I wasn't terrified of the unknown throughout this process, but I kept pushing because I knew I'd learn so much and that reward would be greater than the risk. And it certainly has been. This has been the most challenging, yet rewarding creative experience I've ever done.
Was there a point when you weren’t sure you would finish the film? What kept you going?
There were plenty of times when I questioned "what am I even doing?" "why am I making this?" "who even cares?"—what kept me going was the fear of being 80 years old someday, sitting in my rocker, regretting not giving it a shot. That and the fact that we had already fundraised the project. Those two things were a pretty effective combo.
What surprised you most about the film as it evolved from the original idea to the finished work?
A film is made in 3 parts: pre-production, production, and post-production. Watching the film evolve between the 3 stages was scary and exciting all at the same time. Certain things you loved in the script would land better a different way during rehearsals or on shoot day, then wouldn't be as funny when strung together in post, so every stage took careful consideration in its own way. What surprised me the most was how much color and sound makes everything come together. Post artists are truly wizards.
What do you hope audiences take away from experiencing the film?
I hope audiences watch "Jerry" and feel a bit lighter from laughing and truly hope they feel like a fly on the wall, watching our two characters living naturally in the world in an authentic Gen Z depiction.
Is there a particular scene or moment you’re especially excited for audiences to experience at BFF?
We have a pretty fun plot twist that I'm excited for audiences to experience. And by that I mean I'm excited to watch them experience it.
Has showing the film to audiences changed the way you understand it? If so, how?
Bushwick Film Festival will be our first audience to ever watch "Jerry." Literally counting down the days to be able to see and hear how people react.
Is there anything about this film, its inspiration, production, or your own journey that you think audiences should know?
There are a few things that I think make "Jerry" special. As for my own journey, I work full-time as a writer for an advertising agency, called Ogilvy, where I have gained amazing experience writing on projects like a short film, "The Nice Guys," for Sanpellegrino, which won awards like a Cannes Lion, CLIO, and more. Also, my educational background is in ad, not film. However, I have always wanted to be involved in film. I've taken multiple acting classes over the years, devour movies like I'm on a stranded island, and need to write like I need air. My path hasn't been linear, but it does add up.
I couldn't have made this project, my first short film, without collaborators. I relied on my friends and network from my alma mater, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), to team up and make something fun come to life. In fact, only 3 of the 23 total crew members were non-SCAD friends. I think that goes to show the value of your network and power of your friendships.
As for inspiration, we really wanted to make a film that authentically captures the essence of gay Gen Z humor. And not a boomer writing for Gen Z, something from actual Gen Z creatives. For example, I love Rachel Sennott so much. She heavily inspired me and her show "I Love LA" was pretty much our north star when making this film.
Based on your experience, what advice would you give to filmmakers just starting out?
I myself am a filmmaker just starting out, so I'm all ears to seasoned creatives with a better response. But I will say: nothing will ever get made without collaboration. Be a people person. Be kind. Know you are never the smartest person in the room. Keep tabs on the people you want to work with. They will make you better.
What are you working on or developing next?
Following the creation of my first short film, I'm excited to keep exploring myself as a writer. We also wrote an original song for "Jerry," which was one of my favorite parts in the filmmaking process. I'm excited to continue songwriting, whether for screen or not, and am hoping to gain more experience as an actor and director down the line too.
What film, TV show, or other piece of storytelling did you see this year that you absolutely loved?
I absolutely loved the TV show "I Love LA," and it heavily inspired me throughout this project. Same goes for "The Invite" (fellow apartment movie, shout out) and Olivia Wilde in general. I also loved the big wave of horror from Gen Z filmmakers this year. It was super encouraging to see studios finally listening to young creatives and put that trust in them. Hopefully they learned a lesson following those successes and will open the doors for more Gen Z-led projects.
If you’ve been to Bushwick the neighborhood, what do you love most about it?
This festival selection means a lot to me, because I live here in Bushwick, where we shot this project entirely in my apartment. But what I love most about living here is the community. I love that my barista remembers my order, I love that I can throw a stone and hit 3 options to grab a drink at, I love that creativity feels so immersive here. Everyone's a character, so there's constant inspiration.
What does “Make Time for Your Dreams” mean to you at this point in your creative life?
This theme resonates with me very personally. I am 2 years post graduation from college. I graduated in June 2024, and immediately moved from Savannah, GA to NYC for a summer internship where I was then hired full-time as a writer at an ad agency, where I have been working since. Life has never slowed down. Nothing gave me enough pause to feel like "the time was right" to chase my dreams and make a film. There will never be the right time. But I decided that the right time is right now.
You just have to dream big and work backwards from there. Once you believe something is possible, you become unstoppable. I was determined to make my short film come to life just to prove to myself that I could do it. Be delusional in your dreams, then be realistic when planning the map to get there. I've learned that anything is possible when you make time for your dreams, and it's truly an investment worth taking, even if it's just for your own self satisfaction.
See Jerry at BFF 2026
NEW YORK PREMIERE
Friday • October 9, 2026 • 8:00 PM
It Seemed Like A Good Idea
Williamsburg Cinemas
Two roommates pet sit for their neighbor's bearded dragon when an honest mistake turns deadly.
GET TICKETS → https://www.bushwickfilmfestival.com/tickets
The 19th Annual Bushwick Film Festival returns October 7–11, 2026, bringing filmmakers and audiences together for five days of independent film, conversation, and community across Brooklyn
Grant Davis is a writer, director, and actor based in New York City. Originally from Nashville, he is a graduate of Savannah College of Art & Design and an award-winning copywriter at Ogilvy.
SEE IT AT BFF 2026
JERRY
NEW YORK PREMIERE
Friday, October 9
8:00 PM
It Seemed Like A Good Idea
Williamsburg Cinemas
GET TICKETS
8:00 PM
It Seemed Like A Good Idea
Williamsburg Cinemas