A Police Encounter, an Acclaimed Film, and a Dream Realized

Jordan K. Paul ’13 grew up on the sunlit island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Raised in a close-knit, majority-Black community, his early life was, in his words, “carefree.” Those who know Paul describe him as upbeat with a persistent smile and easygoing laugh.

His journey to DeSales began with a TV/film scholarship, a testament to his early promise. It wasn’t long before he made his mark: his film won top honors at the 2012 Screendance Challenge, a 48-hour filmmaking event that challenges students’ creativity and resilience.

After graduation, Paul moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film and champion Caribbean representation in the industry. But a few months after arriving in the city, an unexpected encounter with an LAPD officer shifted his perspective and left a lasting impression.

Paul and his white roommate were riding their bicycles when the officer pulled them over. The officer focused on Paul, who hadn’t committed a crime, and asked, “Have you ever seen the inside of a jail?”

As Paul recounts, the officer went on to describe people as animals, speaking with a casual tone yet laden with prejudice. It wasn’t until nearly a decade later—motivated by the murder of George Floyd and broader discussions of police and the Black community—that Paul saw he had a story to tell.

“I realized coming up here that skin color mattered now,” Paul says. “And then being up here, I learned about the Black American struggle firsthand."

The officer’s chilling question—“Have you ever seen the inside of a jail?”—became the centerpiece of his short film “ANIMALS.” The film premiered at the Micheaux Film Festival in Los Angeles, earning a nomination for Outstanding Cinematography and Outstanding Short.

It was shown not only around the U.S., but also at festivals in Montreal, Turkey, and Trinidad and Tobago, where Paul’s father is from. The film has since been released on Vimeo and can also be viewed on Paul’s website, JKPaulProductions.com.

The success of “ANIMALS” brought Paul a renewed sense of confidence and hope, pushing him further in a decade-long quest to make meaningful films. Three other DeSales alumni worked with Paul on the film, all behind the camera. Joseph Warner ’13 as the cinematographer, JC Falcon ’18 as the gaffer, and his brother Angel Falcon ’21 worked as the grip.

JC Falcon first met Paul through a mutual DeSales connection. At the time, Falcon was growing his company, Tiny Machine, which rents lighting and grip equipment to film sets in Los Angeles. The two hit it off, and Falcon praised Paul’s approach to storytelling.

“He was very collaborative, listened to everybody,” Falcon says. “He took the time to set up things properly so they would look good on the first try rather than rushing through things.”

Paul’s career shows no signs of slowing down. He and Falcon have another project in the works. He’s also working on a television show with Darryl McDaniels of the iconic hip-hop group Run-DMC, who will be serving as executive producer.

Reflecting on his journey, Paul says, “I’ve jumped a couple more levels than I thought I was going to jump. Now, I’m even closer to where I’m supposed to go.”