A couple of months before the production, my good friend Phil Donlon told me he would be directing a short film and would like to have me play the Homeless Man. I almost committed right then and there because I would jump in front of a train if Phil asked me to. But after reading Sun Kim's evocative story, beautifully scripted by Larry Wilson, and really connecting with the Homeless Man character myself, I fell madly in love with this project. I met with Phil again before flying to the shoot in Chicago to discuss my character further. Phil Donlon is a director with such artistically detailed vision. I trusted that vision for the film and for my character from the start.

Once I arrived in Chicago, the real fun began. All us out-of-towners piled into Producer Steve Ordower's house for a week long slumber party with some filming involved. It was a very efficient production set up with each of the three producers having a specific expertise to bring to the film - Phil as director/lead actor, Steve as sound designer, and Jim Andre as director of photography. All of them are very good at what they do.

Phil Donlon had such a task ahead of him directing and acting in the lead role, but I watched with amazement as he tirelessly devoted himself 100 percent to both. Working with him as an actor and a director were both equal delights. Even though I had no scenes with her, our lead actress, Jennifer Pae, also brought such a face of understanding light to the production.

As with any film shoot, we did endure some long days and some cold, windy weather on the pier, but when working on a story with such brutal reality, inner turmoil, and a voice of reason that leads one home to the redemption through Jesus Christ, it was easy to forget any physical discomfort along the way. On the plane ride home, I remember feeling satisfied that we had captured an important and well crafted story on film.

Doug Jones

Los Angeles, 2004