Gemma Cross

Gemma Cross made Max and Noah to urge viewers to go out on a limb for love

Explore the Films Created by Seattle’s Next Generation of Talent

Through a creative partnership with Fujifilm, the Africatown Community Land Trust, and William Grose Center for Cultural Innovation, six young adults honed their hands-on filmmaking skills and strengthened their creative confidence as interns at All Is Well studios in Seattle. During their three-month paid internships, each wrote, directed, and produced a one-minute mock commercial for All Is Well.

The results were as unique and creative as the diverse roster of interns. In a largely white industry, this group of creatives included multiracial, Asian American, Black, Somali, Mexican-American, LGBTQ+, and refugee individuals with funny, silly, scary, sad, thoughtful, and heartfelt stories to tell.

Through this series, we hear from each intern as they reflect on their 60-second project and how the internship fueled their artistic ambitions.

Max and Noah

Max and Noah is about being secretly in love, but too scared to speak up. Worried that it might ruin an existing friendship, but still yearning to express yourself. Holding onto it until the very last moment, where you think it might slip away from you, and finally speaking your truth. I have been in situations in the past where I was too scared to confess love, and I let it pass by. I hope Max and Noah will inspire viewers to speak up on their true feelings, even when it’s scary and you might be heard by more people than intended. Regardless of your fears, it’s always worth going out on a limb when it comes to matters of the heart.

I make films both because of my innate need to create art and my love for creating stories. Stories tie the world together. I learned that storytelling is everywhere. In commercials, narrative films, documentaries; in places where you don’t notice it’s there. I hope to use my collective skillset to create boundless opportunities and art; to create forever, wherever, and however I please. Whether that be in film, music, writing, or whatever else I can put my mind to; I am an artist through and through. I had an amazing experience while at All Is Well. I felt nothing but support and encouragement while I was there, which launched me into the career I am in now.

Watch Max and Noah in full on the All Is Well website.

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