Private Project

Peace by Piece

Jeremy’s quiet day in the park is interrupted when Martin, a strange and enigmatic man, approaches him claiming to be an actor from the future preparing to play Jeremy in a film. Over the course of their conversation, Martin hints at events in Jeremy’s life, leaving him to interpret what is real and what may be imagined. Clues are dropped, questions are raised, and Jeremy begins to realize that his own story may be more complicated than he ever expected. Shot in a single unbroken take through the perspective of an autonomous drone, Peace by Piece follows one conversation that slowly reveals Jeremy’s life, choices, and the consequences he may one day face. The audience, like Jeremy, pieces together the truth, moment by moment, until the final revelation.

  • Jordan K Paul
    Director
    ANIMALS
  • Jordan K Paul
    Writer
    ANIMALS
  • Sam Van Dyke
    Producer
    In The Valley, Paradise, Doctor Odyssey
  • Bria O'Brien
    Producer
    In The Valley, All's Fair, Doctor Odyssey
  • Jordan K. Paul
    Producer
    ANIMALS
  • Jordan K Paul
    Key Cast
    "Jeremy Fredericks"
  • Dante Rossi
    Key Cast
    "Martin "Smith""
  • John T Connor
    Director of Photography
    Doctor Odyssey, Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Jack Ryan, Seal Team
  • Reid Murphy
    Camera Operator
    Skeleton Crew, Obi Wan Kenobi, The Adam Project
  • Johnny Lomeli
    Hair/Makeup
    Abbott Elementary, Doctor Odyssey, The Fablemans
  • Tanner Buschman
    Colorist
    American Horror Story, Sugar, Deli Boys
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Sci-Fi, Political Thriller
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 55 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 5, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    3,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Virgin Islands, U.S.
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Alexa 35
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • American Black Film Festival
    Miami Beach
    United States
    May 29, 2026
    World Premiere
Director Biography - Jordan K Paul

Jordan K. Paul is a Writer/Director from St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands whose work explores moral conflict and human responsibility. After earning his BA in TV/Film Production from DeSales University, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his craft. His debut short ANIMALS premiered at the Micheaux Film Festival and screened at prestigious festivals internationally. This year, he’s premiering Peace by Piece, a bold one-take short film examining complicity and the choices that define our humanity.

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Director Statement

Peace by Piece began as a simple idea: an actor from the future travels back in time to study the man he’ll one day portray. But then I asked myself "why him? Why is this ordinary man worth remembering?"

The lyric from Hamilton kept echoing in my mind: “And when my time is up, have I done enough? Will they tell your story?” I think about that all the time. Looking back at the past decade of my life, I’ve changed from someone who stayed quiet in the face of injustice to someone who can’t anymore. Whether it’s standing up for Black Lives Matter, Palestine, or immigrant rights, I’ve become someone my younger self might finally be proud of.

Jeremy, the protagonist, was born from that reflection. When do we become activists? Is it always inside us, waiting for the moment we can’t stay silent? He represents those who stand on the sidelines saying, “It’s not affecting me, so why should I interfere?”, until the weight of inaction becomes too much to bear. But when that weight finally breaks us, is it already too late? Can we still make a difference after letting so much happen? Do we deserve praise now, when we were silent before?

To make that experience visceral, I told Peace by Piece as a one-take film, unfolding in real time through the POV of a futuristic drone named 0-V. I wanted the audience to feel like participants—unable to cut away, unable to look elsewhere. The antagonist, Martin, often looks directly into the lens, implicating us. He embodies distraction, judgment, and complicity, confronting us with our own role in the story.

This film wouldn’t exist without the extraordinary support of Panavision, MTI Film, and Formosa Group. Through the Panavision New Filmmaker Grant, and the generosity of MTI’s colorists and Formosa’s sound team, we created something far beyond what we could have achieved alone. Their belief in the project reaffirmed my hope that storytelling can still inspire action.

My hope is that when the credits roll, viewers ask themselves: Have I done enough? Will they tell my story?

Jordan K. Paul
Director, Peace by Piece