Filmmaker of the Month - February 2024 - Harriet Marin Jones

Harriet Marin Jones

Director of King of Kings, Winner of the Best Documentary Award at Breck Film Fest 2023

Award-winner director and producer, Harriet Marin Jones grew up in different countries in Europe. After studying at Loyola University in Chicago and American University in Washington, D.C. where she received a BA in visual media and was voted Best student in the department, she pursued her Masters in Cinema Studies at New York University. During her studies, she wrote and directed a dozen short films that won numerous awards. She started her career as assistant director on feature films in the US and France, while evaluating scripts for two major French broadcasters. Through the years, she wrote and directed two high budgets short films, followed by her first feature film, “Epouse-Moi” distributed by Gaumont. In parallel, she has worked as a script doctor, directed a play by Ray Cooney, and co-produced and directed the pilot for a shortcom for France 2. In 2008, she started her own film and TV company, Abelart Productions. In 2017, she created and launched in Paris two online-course platforms that now totalize over 70 000 students. Harriet has two children, lives in Paris, has traveled to a 110 countries and has just finished her third novel. “King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones,” her first documentary, has won 18 awards.

Filmmaker Interview

Tell us your backstory. How and why did you get into filmmaking? 

When I graduated from high school, my mother asked me what I wanted to study. I had just turned 17 and had no clue. She continued with a simple question: what did I like? Without hesitating, I answered films and this is how it all started. I’ll be forever grateful to my mother for having given me that opportunity as neither of my parents worked in the film business, nor anyone I knew. So I moved to the United States to start a Bachelor in Visual Media even though my English was very poor. (My first language was Spanish, but I had lived until then in mostly French-speaking countries and had only studied in French). Anyway, from the moment I started studying filmmaking, it became my passion and my obsession. By the time I got my Masters, I had written and directed many short films. After NYU, I started working as a production assistant on feature films in the US before moving to Paris where I directed other short films, while being paid for reading scripts for big broadcasters and working as a 2nd Assistant Director. After a few years, I finally directed my first feature film. 

What films have been the most inspiring or influential to you and why? 

The first film I saw that changed my entire world was Alain Renais “Hiroshima, mon amour.” I was 11 years old and it really blew my mind. (It is a masterpiece in black & white that had such an impact on me that I still remember the emotion I felt in that theater). After that I fell in love with many other films such as “Citizen Kane,” “The Graduate,” “Festen,” “The Piano” or “American Beauty” just to mention a few. They are all very different and I like the diversity. Their only common point is that the content and the form are incredibly powerful. Each time, it is pure genius for me and it makes me happy to know that genius is possible. When I became interested in documentaries, I was really impressed by films like “Man on a Wire” or “13.” Once again, the content and the form were audacious and gave me wings. 

Where do you get your inspiration from? 

I get my inspiration from so many things. Life, of course, what is going on in the world, my family, my relationships, history, books (I read a lot), different cultures (I’ve traveled to 110 countries), what makes me outraged, what enchants me or what I become obsessed with (an injustice, something I don’t fully understand so I try to get to the core of it behind the common narrative, etc.). Frankly, everything can be a source of inspiration as long as it wakes up an emotion inside of me and it is strong enough to keep me going no matter what. 

What’s harder? Getting started or being able to keep going? And what drives you to continue making films?

The hardest thing is not getting started for me, it is being able to continue despite everything that is trying to stop you when you make a film! Not only all the obvious obstacles, and there are many (money, convincing the people with power, timing, etc.), but also your entourage and your own doubts (am I good enough, am I still on the right track, etc.). I continue making films because that’s all I have wanted to do since the age of 17. It is my life. I don’t think I’ll ever stop trying. 

How do you know when your story’s finished when to walk away? 

If it was up to me, I would continue working on a story or a film forever as it is never good enough in my eyes, but I know at one point I need to stop and move on or I’ll drive everyone crazy, including myself! So to answer your question it is “finished” for me when it is as close as possible to what I had envisioned when I first started. 

What is your favorite aspect of film production? 

Definitely being on set. I love the action, whether it is with actors and a crew, or on a documentary digging for the truth and seeing it unfold before my eyes. It is always a little miracle. I also like editing as the craziness is behind you and magic can still happen in the editing room if you are ruthless and pick the very best sequences, add music and all the effects. It’s really amazing, but nothing comes close to directing. It is the best job in the world! If I won the lottery, I would give part of the money away and use the rest just to make movies! 

How many films have you completed? What is your favorite project you have worked on and why? 

I have done a dozen short films, one feature film and one feature documentary. It is so little… Anyway, my favorite one is definitely King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones as I wrote it, directed it, and produced it myself, following my vision from beginning to end, and seeing the audience getting what I was aiming for. There is nothing more incredible and gratifying for a filmmaker than seeing a standing ovation in a packed theater after everything he or she has gone through. And I was lucky enough to experience this with my film in so many places. Winning 18 awards with this film was the icing on the cake. I’m so very grateful. 

What are the next project or projects you are beginning work on? 

Even though I have been offered to direct a couple of documentaries, I’m going back to directing a feature film for my next project. (I also finished writing my third book. It is in French, I need to translate it into English. If everything goes well, it should come out this year.)

Why did you choose to submit to the Breckenridge Film Festival?

A filmmaker I met at a festival told me some great things about the Breckenridge Film Festival and I immediately submitted my film. I was thrilled when my film was selected, and exchanging after with Dianna and the rest of the festival team was just fabulous as they are just as passionate as we are. I couldn’t have been happier when King of Kings won Best Documentary and I can’t wait to submit another film to this wonderful festival as they do a magnificent job!