Q&A with Filmmakers Jordan Aaron Hall

Sep 21

Jordan Aaron Hall

Jordan Aaron Hall, 22, is a multi-hyphenate creator from Harlem, NY. He began his career as a child actor, starring as Young Simba in the national tour of Disney’s The Lion King. Over the past 12 years, he has taken on leading and supporting roles in television and film, with credits including The Idea of You (Prime Video), POSE (FX/Hulu), The Equalizer (CBS), and Rustin (Netflix). A Boston Conservatory at Berklee graduate, he directed multiple stage productions. His filmmaking debut, Graduation Day, showcases him as Director, Writer, and Producer.

This Q&A is part of the Bushwick Film Fest Filmmaker Q&A series

What do you hope audiences will take away from watching your film?

I hope people walk away laughing, cringing, happy, emboldened, and curious. This film is a love letter to my high school experiences. I want this film to bring back those memories of being young, open, and all over the place… and for us to feel more open to connecting with our younger selves and leading with our passion, love and zest for life whether Black, White, Purple, Straight, Gay or Curious. There is indeed a place for us.

What was your favorite part of making your film? Memories from the process?

My favorite part of working on this film was getting to collaborate with so many friends both in front of and behind the camera. Most of the Cast/Crew I've known for several years so it was beautiful to get to work together in this way. I also loved getting to shoot in New York across both Brooklyn and Harlem. Two boroughs that I hold very dear to my heart.

What was a big challenge you faced while making this film?

One of the biggest challenges I faced making this film was wearing multiple hats. In addition to being the Director, I was also the Lead Actor, Writer, and Producer so this film was a strong exercise in multi-tasking and being self disciplined enough to get all aspects of the production done to the very best of my and my team’s ability.

Tell us an anecdote about casting or working with your actors

Casting was such a beautiful experience. I’ve known both of my co- stars since I was 10 years old, we all started our careers in Disney’s The Lion King together. So I called these two friends and asked “hey, read this for me!” and they both responded to the piece and were excited about it. We were all on the SAG strike in 2023 so we had the free time to dive in. I got on a Zoom Call to read the scenes with both Kaci and Nate… and from the end of those calls I knew I’d found my co-stars.

Were there any films or directors that influenced your approach to this project?

Being that I’m a New Yorker, Spike Lee was a HUGE influence on me and the style of the film. I wanted it to feel current but old school. From the music, costuming, locations, and the coloring. Rooted in the culture but also pushing it forward a bit and I’d like to think we achieved that!

What inspired you to pursue a career in filmmaking?

I pursued a career in filmmaking because I’d been acting for so long that I figured– why not! I started acting professionally at age ten and I thankfully have kept working through all this time. So I was curious about what I had to say in the space and I also wanted to see more work done that reflected the experiences of myself and my friends… and I figured I might as well be the one to do it. I’m grateful that as I stepped into this world, I’ve been embraced and I want to continue to make work that resonates with the experiences of myself and the community around me.

Early bird or night owl?

Night Owl. My best work gets done between the hours of 11pm and 2am lol.

What three things do you always have in your refrigerator?

Coconut Water, Uncrustables, and Pineapple Ice Pops.