From Writer to Filmmaker and Back Again

A discarded sign for help left on the streets of Nashville Photo © 2016 Jeb Johnson

Just before midnight on November 18, 2016, Howard Allen, our unofficial guide to Nashville’s homeless community, takes us to a dark and secluded park. Since early morning, my director of photography, Jeb Johnson, and I have been filming Howard at several locations throughout the city. This is our last stop of the day. The park, located somewhere near the banks of the Cumberland River, is where Howard has been sleeping when weather permits. On the opposite shore, I can see the city’s far distant skyline shining like a glittering and unattainable Oz. In the park, there are no lights, only moving shadows. The scene feels surreal.

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