Private Project

John Jones III – One Place in America (Previously: Oakland Originals – John Jones III)

John Jones III was a promising young student in East Oakland, California in the 1980s when his neighborhood was suddenly stripped of opportunity and beset by violence and crack cocaine. Lacking opportunities, he fell into trouble and was soon incarcerated as a teenager and as a young adult. Upon his release, John faced the world without housing, mentors or support. But while in prison, an unexpected message from home gave him a vision into a world where he could be an advocate and changemaker for not just himself but his entire community.

  • Jim McSilver
    Director
    Oakland Originals - Asiya Wadud, Tim Monroe, Michael Christian and DJ Agana
  • Jim McSilver
    Producer
    https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0574557/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
  • John Jones III
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 58 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 5, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Jim McSilver

Jim McSilver is a documentary director, producer, and editor whose work centers on artists and advocates working for social change and environmental justice. Since 2014, he has directed and produced six Oakland Originals short documentaries, spotlighting the voices and visionaries of Oakland, California. His directing credits also include the short comedy "Head to Head," as well as branded and nonprofit video work for USA Hockey, the Autism Society of the San Francisco Bay Area, the San Francisco Department of Public Works, East Bay Regional Parks Foundation, Intel, Oracle, CamelBak and others.

As an editor and co-producer, Jim’s credits include the NAACP Image Award finalist and Webby Honoree "Judging Juries" (Apple TV+), a searing look at racial bias in jury selection. He also edited "Weathering the Future" (PBS/NOVA), a feature documentary highlighting communities employing ancient wisdom and innovative solutions to climate resilience, and "Waging Change" (PBS/international), which focuses on the fight for a living wage for tipped restaurant workers. His editorial work includes multiple award-winning documentaries for PBS and global broadcast, including "Manifest Destiny," "The Split Horn," and films for CNBC, Lucasfilm, Smithsonian Network, and History Channel.

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