EXCLUSIVE: Kent Moran Talks Writing 'The Challenger' Feature Debut, Directing Michael Clarke Duncan's Last Film and Why He's Always Prepared

Tonight, Kent Moran's much anticipated feature debut, The Challenger, will open night one of the Dances with Films Festival in Los Angeles. Mark it as the film's proper West Coast premiere. With press and publicity intentionally sparse, here, then, is Classicalite's brief synopsis: Moran plays the lead, Jaden Miller, a struggling mechanic who turns to boxing in the Bronx to save him and his mother (S. Epatha Merkerson) from a life out on those mean streets. As for Miller's boxing trainer, the bruising Duane Taylor? Well, he's none other than the late Michael Clarke Duncan in his penultimate role.

This is all something Moran first dreamed up some eight years ago. Even back then, the plot had legs. If it didn't, if his story were too easy to dismiss, he, himself, reckons he wouldn't have carried it for so long.

"[The Challenger] was born out of an idea I had," says Moran. "I wanted to write it down but, at that time, I didn't know anything about formatting. Over the years, it's gone through a bunch of rewrites, and I took a class on screenwriting."

He continues, "Challenger became the second script I put into production."

Most of the time, a writer or director's true story isn't found in the fragmented bits of celluloid spliced together by a third, all too often digital party--a fact Moran, the erstwhile actor-slash-composer, learned all too quickly after 2010's Listen to Your Heart.

"Yeah, I like the storytelling aspect. That part of directing is fun," he admits. "Making this movie has definitely made me appreciate my previous directors a little more. That's for sure."

Nowadays, the writer-cum-director is still a multi-tasker; it's his perspective that has changed. As he tells me over the phone, "I wore a lot of hats on this project, and I came away with a appreciation of all the different aspects that go into making a film."

Truly, as the little bit of info I was sent prior to this evening's L.A. screening attests, The Challenger has been a labor of love for Moran, made especially poignant because it's one of the last times we'll ever see the sublimely talented Michael Clarke Duncan on screen.

"Michael was such a caring and generous man," Moran answers about his co-star.

As for directing the larger-than-life veteran, this first-time director duly notes, "[Michael] was an absolute pleasure to work with."

It helps, of course, that Moran always comes prepared: "When it comes to the crew and setting up the shots, I am very focused and detail-oriented. I like to have everything planned out before we come to set so we don't have to worry about it."

Not that he's some anal-retentive auteur, though: "I like to create a comfortable working environment. When it comes to handling the actors, I am very laid back as a director. I give them a chance to create, as long as it remains true to the story."

According to Moran, the "instant gratification of acting" will probably prevent him from ever fully giving into life behind the scenes. With The Challenger, however, Kent Moran--director--sure looks to be one of Hollywood's most promising contenders, indeed.