by John Wildman
AFI FEST Daily News

Moon Molson, director, POP FOUL, screening as part of Shorts Program Four.

Moon Molson's short film, POP FOUL begins innocently enough.

A life lesson is being handed down, father to son, after a bad showing at a baseball game. But the series of events that follow go inside a journey of hurt, frustration and flat-out anger, one family member to another.

Molson manages in very precise strokes to show the devastating, lasting effects of not being able to speak the truth, even a simple, emotional truth.

POP FOUL screens as part of Shorts Program Four at AFI FEST presented by Audi. Shorts Program Four screens Tuesday, November 7, 7:15 PM and Wednesday, November 8, 4:30 PM.

1. What is the story with your name?

It's a nickname my Great Uncle Aaron gave me when I was a toddler. He was basically making fun of me because I had an enormous head and a tiny body. All I can say is: thank god he didn't call me "lollipop." It is a little funny though, that before meeting me, everyone thinks I'm a Korean girl.

2. What was easiest - and most difficult - about directing a child in such an emotionally-charged piece?

The easiest thing about directing children is that they are still so connected to their imaginations. It's much easier for them to be real inside the context of a make-believe situation than adults. The hardest thing about directing children is that their energy and attention span varies. At the drop of a hat they can go from sluggish and irritable to full-blown laughing hysteria.

3. What is the best thing about having your film at AFI FEST?

That I get to see my film projected at the ArcLight with a film-savvy, industry-oriented LA audience. I used to see films at the ArcLight when I did my exchange year in Cinematography at the LA Film School and I think it's one of the poshest screening venues in the city.

4. Who or what inspired you to want to make films?

When I was kid I studied creative writing, painting and illustration because I wanted to be a graphic novelist. As a high school insomniac I kept stumbling across these weird films with subtitles on some late night art-house cable show.

Eventually my penchant for channel surfing gave way to my natural curiosity and I ended up watching the entirety of Ingmar Bergman's SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT.

The host of the show described Bergman as an artistic genius and right there I had an epiphany: film could be art. I began to watch the show religiously, seeing such films as Bergman's WILD STRAWBERRIES, Kobayashi's KWAIDAN, and Woody Allen's STARDUST MEMORIES.

One summer, while I was living in Detroit, my Uncle John took me to see DO THE RIGHT THING and it all came together for me. The strength of Spike Lee's cinematic voice showed me that film combined all the arts that I loved: storytelling, painting and music.

Most importantly, I came to the realization that "people" made films. Not gods, not magicians, but people. Black people.

5. Is film school worth it?

No. I'm starting to realize that due to the sheer monetary expense of it, it may be the biggest mistake I have ever made in my entire life! At least with law or business school you are kind of guaranteed a return on your investment.

6. Did you love or hate OLD YELLER?

Loved it. I saw it a bazillion years ago on TV, but I remember being moved by the ending.

7. What's the most underrated job on the set?

I don't know. But I know what the most underappreciated job on set is, and that's the AD [assistant director]. The AD is one of the toughest and most important jobs on set and they get absolutely no love.

8. Do you have a lucky item, a shirt, baseball cap, charm that you always bring with you to the set?

My shirts and baseball caps from film labs, rental houses and various other movie-related companies have all gained mystical powers over the years. During a shoot, I eventually wear all of my "film clothes" for good luck.

9. Location film permits or just steal the shot?

I do what I have to do. Period. It's really easy to get permits to shoot in New York, but some towns outside the city (in New Jersey, for instance) want a bunch of money to simply shoot on the sidewalk. That's when I get gangsta.

10. Popcorn or candy?

Popcorn. No question. Lots of butter and salt. Starches rock.