Source: GritDaily.com
The upcoming independent action-adventure film, The Queen’s Jewels, is directed by award-winning filmmaker Joshua Friedman and Executive Produced by Linda Duncombe.
Duncombe brings her extensive experience and industry recognition as a former leader in the finance world and a recent honoree on Variety’s “Most Powerful Women in Hollywood” list.
The film is loosely based on a true story that started with a chance encounter with Director Friedman during the pandemic. The film is set to thrill audiences with its tale of a young surfer’s quest to uncover a 300-year-old treasure in the Bahamas.
The movie follows Beau Holloway, a daring and adventurous surfer who, after the tragic murder of his father, sets sail in pursuit of a legendary treasure believed to be hidden in the wreckage of the 1715 Spanish Fleet. Along the way, Beau befriends locals Orion and Lala on Andros Island, who join him in his quest to decipher the 300-year-old puzzle. But they aren’t the only ones searching for the treasure — an ominous villain and her henchmen are hot on their trail, determined to claim the fortune for themselves.
The film stars a talented ensemble cast, including Carson Rowland, Katherine McNamara, Michael Evans Behling, Natalie Martinez, Michael Vogel, Tom Everett Scott, George Akram, and Marlon Aquino. Each bringing their unique talents to this gripping tale of adventure, friendship, and danger on the high seas.
We sat down with the Director and EP to learn more about this project.
Let’s start with the inspiration behind the film. How did the idea for The Queen’s Jewels come about?
Linda: I was a small investor; I saw the talent, commitment, and experience in Josh and the opportunity the film had to help address a current demand for pure family entertainment and there not being enough of those kinds of movies. People of all ages and all walks of life want family fun. This is an adventure for everyone to enjoy!
Josh: The ideation derived after I started doing some research on The Treasure Coast of Florida, where I was riding out the pandemic. Having bumped into a man metal detecting on the beach a few consecutive days in a row, I asked if he had ever found anything, and that conversation turned into an adventure of our own — we explored the sites of the sunken ships that had coined this little Florida town a part of The Treasure Coast, where millions of dollars of treasures washed ashore over 300 years ago and also let to conversations at his house where he’d shown me some of his findings. The more I learned about the history, the more comfortable I felt taking it into my own hands, ultimately creating a fictional story about a fictional missing ship originating from a very part of history.
So, you had the idea. What was the process from ideation to execution like? How long did it take to write the film and get the funding to make it?
Josh: The process is challenging, and if anyone were to tell you otherwise, don’t believe them. It entails dedication, passion, trial and error, and a lot of observation. It also has a lot of vulnerability. Getting a project written that you’re proud of and ready to share is obstacle one, and then finding the funding and building that trust and rapport with investors is an entirely different one that requires an entirely different skill set. You have to sell your business acumen as well as the material. This is where business meets personal, and that isn’t always easy. Hollywood is amazing; it’s the land of dreams, but it’s also a land of broken dreams. There is a side to this business (emphasis on business) that is not so pretty. It is not all glitz and glamour as much as it is about work ethic, tenacity, and determination.
Say your film achieves in finding its funding. Choosing the production company to properly execute your project is fundamental. You are trusting them with not only your livelihood but also with the money of your financiers. It’s a business decision.
This project has taken me from its conception as a short film (which I used as a pitch for the feature-length film) to the production of the feature film about two years. The feature film will be finished in post-production early 2025. This is a total of about 3.5 years from absolute conception to the final product.
What were some of the biggest challenges in making the film?
Linda: For me, it was proving to investors this was a smart decision. We raised the funds as an Indie, and that got a lot of attention. The multiple locations for principal photography that involved hundreds of people for the crew could have been a challenge, but Josh led the team with a clear focus and objective for all to follow. He has been terrific leading many aspects of this film, and seeing him in action as our director was one of my greatest professional and personal experiences. The cast is phenomenal. Josh wrote a great script, and the cast brought it to life in the most exciting and authentic way.
Josh: The biggest challenge for me was finding the right party to do the execution of the project. It’s imperative to make the right decision. They can be the make or break. Not everyone will have your best interests at heart. Greed can absolutely be a driving factor for many people — especially in the entertainment business, and I refuse to be a sellout.
How did you find your perfect cast and team for the film?
Linda: This is more of a Josh question, but I was looking for people who understood and were excited about the vision to make a family film that everyone could enjoy. The industry is struggling and it was great to be able to get some great talent in front and behind the camera that brought this story to life. It helped with the current difficulties in hardworking, talented people finding work.
Josh: I love this question. Each of the cast was chosen in their own unique way. I loved getting to meet them either in person before I asked them to be a part of this or in our Zoom interviews. I loved hearing their feedback and the questions they had for their characters. Some of the cast I had seen on TV before, and I was headstrong in going after them, and it was a success!
What do you hope audiences learn or take away from the film?
Linda: This film is entertaining. It’s an adventure that talks to the loyalty of family and friends. It’s a fast-paced adventure that allows each of us to escape into wanting Beau and his friends to find the treasure first!
Josh: This is an interesting question because, when I made this, I wrote it strictly for entertainment purposes. There are no politics, religion, or biases, and I’m not trying to impose an opinion on anyone. I wanted to pay homage to my childhood and the kind of movie I watched when I was a teenager, something I can watch and enjoy without thinking. It’s fun. I hope people find escape in the tropical beauty of the film, and I hope they feel like they went on an adventure.
It all sounds quite exciting. What are the release plans?
Linda: Josh is already looking at post, and editing has started. We wanted a version of the film for testing before the end of the year with a release date late spring/early summer for summer break of the school holidays. We are exploring different platform and distribution options and see this having global appeal. Super excited about it, and I can lean into my marketing background and contacts in the industry.
Josh: We would absolutely love to do a theatrical release, however I am completely open to submitting to some of the festivals, even if it’s just for fun.
Last question: Define what having grit means to you.
Linda: Most things in life don’t come to us served on a platter. We work hard and have highs and lows in achieving our goals and in life generally. Grit, for me, is about doubling down, knowing there will be obstacles, and in life, most of what I have achieved personally and professionally has come with hard work. It is being resilient and knowing it’s usually a marathon, not a sprint.
Something I always remember is when you come up against an obstacle, you may “hit the mat,” but you have to dust yourself off and keep going. Never will I push forward without learning from each experience, and I never ever want to lose my kindness and/or respect for others. The joy of curiosity that keeps me learning and asking “why” is part of my thinking to grit. That innocence we have as a child, I have nurtured and kept as an adult. It fuels me. I love diversity of thought but very much enjoy working with people who have the same work and personal ethic. It’s one of the many reasons why working with Josh is a privilege. He is phenomenal. He works incredibly hard and is very open to feedback. He wants to learn and share his experiences. Grit is about working hard and digging deep. If you can do those things and share the experiences and learnings with others, then grit becomes a superpower, and Josh has harnessed that.
Josh: Grit, to me, means authenticity, it means character, and it means fortitude. In this business, it takes grit to stay true to your integrity, morals, and ethics. People will tell you that their way is the right way, and it takes grit to make that decision for yourself. Nothing is impossible if you trust your person. If making movies was easy, everyone would do it — hang in there, fight the good fight, be smart and learn! There is so much out there if you pay attention.