Safe Place Short Film Released!

Safe Place | Short Film 

Two sisters who made it out of a challenging upbringing against all odds. One got through by survival mode, the other by holding on to her dreams. Now navigating life after their trauma, they will discover a safe place like they imagined as children is found through their bond. 

We shot this film last year and I wrote this scene from a bigger concept even longer ago but I’m so very thankful for the timing and the people I was able to create it with; Eliana and Marshal! Eliana is such an incredibly giving and encouraging actor and person, I’m so thankful that she pushed me in this scene and she inspires me every day. This character was very different from my personality and I loved that challenge. It means so much to me to see your support and how many of you were moved by this film! I’m so thankful I was able to be a part of creating something that inspires you all to pursue your dreams and never give up on them!

Written by Jennifer Joy O’Grady

Directed by Jennifer Joy O’Grady & Eliana Ghen

Edited by Jennifer Joy O’Grady


Interview with VoyageMIA Magazine

Thank you to VoyageMIA for the opportunity to share part of my story. While I’m still at the beginning of my journey in terms of what I want to accomplish, I’m grateful for everything that brought me here. If I can help or inspire someone through my story it’s all worth it and it motivates me to keep pushing harder.

There are always going to be obstacles when pursuing a dream. If it was easy, it would not be worth it. I’ve been pursuing this dream since I was 13. I am 31 now. The failures and setbacks have taught me the most vital lessons needed to survive and one day thrive through my craft. Most importantly, it’s the obstacles that made me who I am.

When creating my first major project, Saudade the Series, I faced many unforeseen and daunting obstacles. Having no budget, very little resources, and hardly any equipment but my camera and some borrowed lights at the time. There were many days I thought I failed my team as a leader. I’m enterally thankful to those who remained faithful to the vision and never gave up. I faced overcoming health challenges and had to learn many new roles in order to keep my word and finish the project. Due to the many obstacles, it took over eight years since I started writing the series to see it through to completion. It definitely wasn’t a smooth road; however, I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. If it wasn’t for this project, I wouldn’t have gained the experience needed in order to fulfill the position I have today and my goals for the future. Perhaps there is more to learn from what we perceive as a failure than success.

Even though I’m still at the starting point of what I have set out to accomplish in my career, I would attribute the victories to never giving up and faith. In order to achieve anything, I believe commitment and consistency is necessary. These are principles I’m still learning to fully implement.

You can read the full article in the link below. Thank you for reading 🥰

VoyageMIA Article

SAUDADE Season One Premiere Screening

Season One Premiere Screening on December 12th, 2019:

It was an honor for me to celebrate with you the cast, the crew, supporters, friends and family, and the very first audience to ever witness the Season One Premiere of Saudade.

This journey began for me nearly 9 years ago at a time in my life when I craved the opportunity to tell stories through writing, directing and acting with the intent to impact and inspire audiences through cinema and television. So I decided to take a leap and create my own work. But when I started this journey, I had no idea how many years this would take, the countless obstacles we would endure, but mostly how much I would learn and grow as an artist and definitely as a person. Most importantly, all the people that would make it possible and have been a part of my team along this way. You have impacted my life and this project more than you may know. I have had the privilege to work alongside, to direct and act with the most talented, amazing and supportive individuals I have ever met. I am so excited for you to witness our beginnings in this series.

As artist we are hard on ourselves and I honestly didn’t want to release it because I felt it didn’t live up to par for for me and for all the people who dedicated their time and work to this. But this year I discovered the importance of keeping my word and finishing what I started for you all. As I worked through post-production, witnessing the many pieces finally come together, I was absolutely amazed at what we accomplished with nothing but, heart, resilience, teamwork, and blood sweat and tears and many sleepless nights recently. I have so many people to thank for making this possible and for believing in me and this vision. Many of you who were a vital part of this series were unable to make it that night but I hope you feel my gratitude and you were certainly with us in spirit.

This is more than an indie project to me, every character and their story is a piece of my heart on screen. At its core Saudade is a story about individuals discovering who they truly are in a time when they’ve lost nearly everything. I hope that everyone who sees it can find yourself in one of these characters and stories and know that you are not alone and hope is never lost.

It’s crazy how after so many years of work it was over in a few short hours. But I hope the impact lasts for a lifetime, I know it has for me.

I will never forget this moment.

Thank you all for your support!!!

The Short Film "WAVE" inspired by a true story and created for the #MusicbedChallenge

This short film is inspired by a true story about friendship, youth and the fragility of it all. I poured my heart, soul and some tears fueled by my memories into this film. I filmed and edited this project in under 15 days, for the #musicbedchallenge. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to share this story cinematically on-screen. 
BUT it would not be possible without my amazing team who demonstrated how much they love and support me and I cannot thank you enough for that. Thank you Kevin, Steve, Kellianne, Tyler, and my girls who brought it to life Jade and Mia!

Lately I have felt in a stuck and restrained place because of the countless production and post-production hurdles with my series, which has caused me to not create much new work. There’s stories I’ve been wanting to film for so long now but I’ve been making the excuse of time. When I saw the Musicbed Film Challenge, immediately I knew I needed to take on this challenge and the story I needed to tell. I wanted to create a film that heavily relies on telling the story through it’s imagery and cinematography.

Written, Directed, and Produced by 
Jennifer Joy O'Grady
Director of Photography / Cinematographer Jennifer Joy O'Grady
1st Assistant Camera / 2nd Camera Operator Kevin Duplan
Location Manager Steve Alejos
Sound Mixer Tyler Jordan
Boom Operator Kellianne Jordan
CAST:
Nikki -- Jade Lee Yee
Jessie -- Mia Bella Nepola
Zac -- Rolando Romero Jr. 
Friend -- Jeremy Martinez
Doctor -- Steve Alejos
Music by:
Ryan Taubert
A LAMENT FOR PEACE
Track Available at musicbed.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voN7WotPEJg

Saudade Season One Post-Production Update

To everyone who has been involved and supported bringing this project to life, I want to say from my heart: Thank you for your patience, understanding, love, hard work, time, and most of all believing in this vision. I can't begin to express how muc…

To everyone who has been involved and supported bringing this project to life, I want to say from my heart: Thank you for your patience, understanding, love, hard work, time, and most of all believing in this vision. I can't begin to express how much that means to me. We are forever the Saudade Family ❤
With that being said, we are launching our crowd-funding campaign today! Yes, Saudade is almost at the finish line. We are in our final editing, sound engineering and coloring phase. We are currently seeking funds from our friends and love ones to help wrap the production as it cost for such post-production to be completed for our goal release/premiere date of the beginning of 2018.
We ask that you share on social media and pass the crowd-funding campaign along to friends and family who may be interested in contributing any type of donations to the series that we've all worked so hard to accomplish.  
Thank you for supporting the arts in South Florida through film and media!
The link for the crowd-funding is here: https://www.seedandspark.com/fund/saudade-the-series#story
We truly thank each and every one of you for donating, supporting and passing this along. We are closer to our dream.
Lets finish strong!!
-- Jennifer, Erica & Joey

©Jennifer Joy O'Grady 2024 | All Rights Reserved