–Who is Joseph Louis Booth?

I am a father of twin boys. At my core, I am a lover of people. I am also a lover of storytelling. They almost go hand in hand – learning people, loving them, then finding ways to tell their stories – real or imagined. I’m an Army brat from Hampton, Virginia who followed in my father’s and grandfather’s footsteps by joining the United States military. I served honorably in the United States Air Force for ten and a half years. I’m a fighter. By the grace of God, I was given the strength to wrestle with and ultimately win against cancer just this past year. I am grateful.

–What inspired you to become a filmmaker?

My older brother was so creative at such a young age. My parents would make him babysit me and two of my little sisters. He would take our parents’ old VCR camcorder and create movies with my siblings and me. I played a James Bond type ninja, if you can imagine that. That was the seed planted in the early 90’s. At the time, I thought we were having fun while our parents were out on a date. However, those times set me on the path I am on today.

–Do you think the cinema can bring a change in society?

Cinema has always documented the past and present or influenced the present and future. Audiences are often swayed because entertainment does not always feel like education. However, the impact that cinematic works can have on an audience is immeasurable. It has a way of illuminating issues that some audiences never even had to consider. It is truly a beautiful art form that can bring a change in society.

-What would you change in the world?

If I had the means and opportunity to make a change in the world, it would definitely be providing homes for unhoused people. There are so many reasons a person may end up without a home, and I desire to create programs that would support those people. While there are so many great organizations doing amazing work, the fact of the matter is there are always so many gaps in those programs. I know there are so many systems that make it difficult for folks to have their basic needs met in society, and I would like to help bridge that gap.

-Where do you see the film industry going in the next 100 years?

I would hope that in the next 100 years that the film industry would still largely be in the hands of human artists. With the continual emergence of artificial intelligence, I fear that the push to replicate human inspiration and creativity may force so many potential artists into another industry. While I understand that advancements in technology can help make bringing art to audiences easier, I never want the human touch to be lost in all of the advancements.