Putting the Pieces Together

Want to see what do-it-yourself filmmaking is all about?

Benjamin Morgan did, so he made the low-budget, scraped together film Quality of Life. Shot on location in San Francisco's Mission District, the movie sheds light on a clandestine graffiti subculture, telling an authentic and gripping story of two young graffiti writers whose friendship and lives unravel after they get arrested. Morgan's book delves into how he and his crew were able to build their movie out of nothing, get it screened to sold-out audiences at film festivals nationwide, and even take home a couple awards. Both a compelling story and an intriguing behind-the-scenes look at underground film, Putting the Pieces Together explores a burgeoning field in the evolving world of cinema.Benjamin Morgan’s debut feature, Quality of Life, premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival where it won a Jury Award. The film went on to play festivals around the world, winning more awards along the way. Morgan is a co-founder of the Eastern Oregon Film Festival, which was voted as “One of the 25 Coolest Festivals in the World” by Moviemaker magazine. Morgan is also the founder of Filmfort in Boise, the film component of Boise’s burgeoning Treefort Music Festival.