Filmmaker Jesse Moss talks about juggling directing, cinematography and sound duties on his new documentary The Overnighters, which captures an intimate portrait of a North Dakota oil boom town that attracts residents seeking fortunes from black gold.
His main focus in the film is a local pastor named Jay Reinke, who opens the doors to his church to accommodate those not able to find affordable housing in the overpopulated town of Williston. But eventually, Reinke’s seemingly selfless pursuit to help local residents is vehemently resisted by locals, church members and his own family.
“When I first met Jay, one of the first things he told me was that no one has pure motives. And I liked that, I didn’t want Jay to hold himself up as a saint or a martyr in his act of charity.” Even though it was clear that the reason Reinke open his doors to anyone who needed it – in some cases even ex-convicts – was because of his Christian charity to love thy neighbor.
In fact, Reinke is seen in the film offering up nearly superhuman compassion – and in doing so, essentially turns his back on his neighbors, the congregation and his own family to help these desperate people seeking assistance.
“What motivates a person to do that?” Moss asks. “It’s not just charity, it’s something deep that’s driving him and that was what kept me coming back to Jay and kept me going in the story – what is it?”
He adds that eventually the documentary does get to the bottom of what was driving Reinke’s “deep psychological, emotional, need” for him to create a kind of alternative family of men and women he didn’t know.
Watch the full episode to see clips from the film and to also hear Moss discuss the personal inspiration he found filming The Overnighters despite the long shooting schedule and funding issues.
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