“Finding Neighbors” Screening and Q&A

On Wednesday June 11, The Los Angeles Film School hosted a screening of Finding Neighbors, a comedic drama about a middle-aged, once successful graphic-novelist who struggles to cope with his seemingly stand-still existence.

Following the screening, the film’s Writer/Director, Ronald Judkins along with the film’s producers, spoke to Joe Byron about the challenges they faced with the project, as well as its origins.

Judkins, a two-time Academy-Award winner for Best Sound (Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan, both directed by Steven Spielberg), said his decision to transition to other parts of filmmaking wasn’t easy, but was always a goal of his.

“I have always wanted to tell stories, but I’m so lucky to have had success in sound first. It gave me a foundation.”

The film is set in Los Angeles, and its protagonist is someone who has experienced success in his career, though at the time of his introduction to the Finding Neighbors audience, he has clearly hit a plateau of sorts.

Judkins said he can relate to that creative struggle and says it’s probably going to happen at every stage of your career in the Entertainment Industry. He encouraged aspiring filmmakers to seek out any networking opportunity available to them, even inviting the whole theater to join him after the Q&A at a local Hollywood bar to pick his brain about the industry.

“You have to be bold…go out there and network. Pick up the phone. Ask for help.”