NYFA Alum Joshua Porter on Directing "No Evidence of Man" and the Road to Feature Filmmaking

NYFA alum Joshua Porter is an independent filmmaker, writer, and director. After discovering his passion for storytelling through acting, he transitioned behind the camera to create his own films and build a career in independent cinema. Since graduating from NYFA's Los Angeles Filmmaking program in 2004, Porter has directed award-winning short films, produced and co-written feature projects, and made his feature directorial debut with No Evidence of Man, an acclaimed independent drama that earned festival recognition and international distribution. Read more about Joshua's career and creative journey in the Q&A below.

NYFA Alumni Network:  Can you tell us a bit about yourself, where you're from, and what brought you to the New York Film Academy? 

Joshua Porter (J.P.): I'm a San Francisco Bay Area native who moved up to rural gold country/El Dorado County at age 10, which probably explains why my first two features highlight the dichotomy between both city and country life so much. Soon after moving to such a small town my sixth grade teacher, Mr. Franks, cast me in the school Christmas play. That gave me "the bug" for acting, which I did all through High School and some college years in local theater, commercials and indie-films. At about 22, though, I realized I wanted to be behind the camera creating my own worlds. A friend passed along information about NYFA. Once I visited I knew that was where I wanted to learn and what I wanted to do.

NYFA Alumni Network: What projects have you worked on since graduating? Have any of them won awards or been featured in festivals or competitions? 

J.P.: While the goal was always to direct, my journey to directing my first feature was not exactly a straight trajectory. I directed my first "short film" (I put that in quotes because at almost 30 minutes it wasn't that short) Hatched which that film, along with another short, Yeller, won some awards at some small film festivals. From there I co-produced the feature Road to Red with former NYFA directing instructor Larry Leahy. It was a great experience; it was invaluable in teaching me certain lessons about indie-film feature production in the trenches. From there I co-wrote a couple of screenplays and directed some music videos. 

My first feature - which obtained distribution in the United States and several other territoires and released exclusively on Amazon in April - No Evidence of Man, was featured at the Madrid International Film Festival. It was nominated for five awards (including Best English Language Film) and won one (Best English Language Screenplay). It also was accepted in the Golden State Film Festival before landing distribution, where it won Best Cinematography. 

NYFA Alumni Network: Congratulations on securing distribution for No Evidence of Man! How does it feel to have your film officially out in the world? 

J.P.: It's a strange feeling! Not only has it been a wild 20+ year journey since graduating from NYFA and climbing the mountain toward that elusive first feature, but now after almost 11 years of work on this project, it's humbling to have it out there and see people reacting to it. As other artists and filmmakers have said before; it's now in the audiences hands to do what they will with it.

NYFA Alumni Network:  Can you tell us a bit about the journey from festival to distribution? 

J.P.: Ironically even when we were submitting to festivals, a contact had already introduced us to Scantena and Rosner Films—a respected distributor and sales agent recommended for this type of smaller indie film. While we weren't officially signed and they made it clear we still had a lot of work left to get it across the post-production finish line, that relationship was developing and evolving. That took the pressure off of some of those tough disappointments of not getting into certain festivals. We had a path for people to eventually see the film so we were lucky in that way.

NYFA Alumni Network: What inspired the story of No Evidence of Man? 

J.P.: After a larger previous project of ours fell through, my creative partner Matthew Donaldson (co-writer and lead actor) and I decided to sit down and discuss what we could achieve with our meager means and make a film exactly how we wanted, even if it took a long time and there was next to no money. In March 2015, we sat down at a café called The Creamery in San Francisco and shared what we both had individually, ideas-wise. Think of it like band members getting together and sharing riffs or song ideas for a new record. Matthew came with the title and the idea of getting away for a spiritual cleansing, so to speak. I came with the idea of the sensory overload of modern technology affecting our lives. We quickly realized these two seperate ideas fit together into one cohesive story perfectly. By July we were shooting both in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as the foothills and mountains of El Dorado County. Crazy. It was certainly a whirlwind! 

After a few days of pick-ups and several years later, the film was finally completed and is out in the world. It was one hell of a long process but ultimately rewarding. We made the film we set out to make and said what we wanted to say with it. As anyone who has done it knows, that's no small feat.

NYFA Alumni Network: What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while making the film?

 J.P: Well, it's unfortunate but common for a small indie film like this to essentially have no money. In a weird way it's also a blessing in disguise; it requires you to use every tool in your filmmaker tool-belt to get as creative as you can. Still, lacking some essentials can be very trying, especially for our amazing cast and crew who were working in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the summer. I make no bones about it; it was hard, physically and emotionally. For me, shooting my first feature in those environments adds to the already tough mental toll that shooting a movie takes on all of us. You sort of question everything afterwards. I remember talking to our Cinematographer Paul Nordin after we finished, thinking we didn't have the story or a complete film.  I now laugh at footage of Martin Scorsese as editor Thelma Schoonmaker shows him footage and he paces back and forth lamenting "I don't have it!" I get it now. Paul was always consistent though, saying, "You have more than you think, Josh." We had a few days of pick-ups a bit of time later but the core of the film and its story were there. He was right. 

NYFA Alumni Network: How did your time at NYFA influence the way you approached this project, both creatively and practically? 

J.P.: One of the things I appreciate about the New York Film Academy and something I always preach to people who ask my advice about learning how to be a filmmaker or going to school for it; always find a school or organization that hands you a camera on day one and has you constantly shooting projects. Film theory is important, but it's filmmaking. I look back and laugh that my first project at NYFA was the very first weekend my program started. We shot with the old Arriflex 16mm cameras with black & white film stock and when I saw the footage, it was lit far too dark and we couldn't see a damn thing! I was horrified back then but I chuckle now. Regardless, having a camera handed to us on week one and completing dozens of projects with your team the first few months taught me collaboration and how to manage the chaos. My first projects out of school might have been rough around the edges but I always kept my cool and managed the chaos because it wasn't the first time I had been on a set. It was probably the 100th time I had stepped on set for both my films and the films my classmates and I crewed on for each other. Invaluable. 

NYFA Alumni Network: You're now in development for your next feature, the romantic drama I’ve Got You, starring Aaron Dominguez and Nicholas Cirillo. What can you share about the film at this stage? 

J.P: I'm happy to say I've Got You not only shot back in September and October but we will be completely finished with post this summer and with a little luck, everyone will see it sometime this year. It was an amazing experience working with this cast and crew! Producers Karyn and Kevin Yarris (who also penned the screenplay) and I made a film that we are extremely proud of. 

NYFA Alumni Network: How did you go about casting for I’ve Got You? What drew you to Aaron Dominguez and Nicholas Cirillo for the lead roles? 

J.P.: Unlike my first feature, I've Got You had the means to actually bring on a wonderful Casting Director by the name of Farrah West. Through Farrah, Nick really took to the material and was perfect for one of the brothers the film is based around. The other was Aaron Dominguez, who plays the older brother and the film centers around his perspective. The fire they both possess individually as actors and together on-screen is hard to find and they absolutely nailed it. I'm really proud of the performances they - as well as Madeline Popovich (who plays the female lead) - give in this film. I know the performances are going to be talked about!

NYFA Alumni Network:  What advice would you give to emerging filmmakers—especially those trying to get their work seen or distributed? 

J.P.: Every filmmaker's journey is a bit different. After attending NYFA, I directed short films and music videos, and I produced and co-wrote a couple of features, but it took me almost 20 years to finally direct my first feature. Now within the same calendar year, I have two being distributed and released. The point is, accomplishing your ultimate goals isn't always linear. You have to remember that being a filmmaker is a long marathon, not a sprint. Keep your eye on the prize, even if obstacles like money or time get in your way. 

Remember what Steve Martin said: "Be so good they can't ignore you." Make every project better than the last. Make as many connections as you can and nurture the relationships you make in this industry, regardless of who they are or what their experience is. And shoot! Shoot footage and material with your friends, shoot with anyone who wants to make a movie!

NYFA Alumni Network: What’s next after I’ve Got You? Are there any dream projects or genres you'd love to explore? 

J.P.: Between No Evidence of Man and I've Got You I've shot two dramas in a row. I've had a hankering to go the genre route for a couple of years now. We're looking at a couple of things. Maybe a good thriller/horror film will be in the cards! 

NYFA Alumni Network congratulates Joshua on all his success!