Congrats on picking up the “Best First Time Filmmaker Feature”, “Best Producer” and “Best Action Film” awards. Can you tell us more about how you two have achieved the enviable state of being the happiest filmmakers in all the land?!
We absolutely love this question, thank you! We are the happiest filmmakers in all the land! Why? When your whole life has been a dream to work in the entertainment industry and make movies and those dreams start to come true, it’s hard not to look back and be like “wow, we are doing it,” and it’s an incredible feeling. We are happy, grateful and excited that we now have The Queen’s Jewels completed and audiences are loving it as much as we loved doing it. To be making films together is incredibly special.
Josh: I have only ever known a life where my life’s work is to make films. This was something I believed in every part of my fiber and now I get to share my work with the world. What made this so special is that I now get to share this dream with Linda! We are family and we get to do this together. That’s special.
Linda: I have always loved movies and have worked in parallel industries helping the entertainment industry and the people that make the magic happen. Now I am one of those people and I get to do it with Josh. He’s so talented and I always saw this and it makes me so happy that you are all recognizing what I know to be true. Josh is a phenomenal storyteller and this movie takes you on an adventure. It is his first feature but it will definitely not be his last.
Wow, this is the perfect feel-good epic! And a nice exploration of the often-combined topics of the coming-of-age of a son, brutally brought about in this case and the father-son relationship, with a moving tribute to the father in the closing scene.
Thank you.
Your movie certainly has all the trappings of a blockbuster. We saw a cross between an extended version of the Magnum PI series, Treasure Island, Baywatch at times (!), even Neighbours, and of course Jumanji, and finally, Indiana Jones — cue the father-son relationship. Would you tell us more about your filmmaking influences?
Josh: I wanted to pay homage to movies I watched as a teenager in the early 2000’s. Movies like Jumanji (good call out, thank you!) and National Treasure played parts in my interest in filmmaking and what helped grow my passion to entertain audiences and take them on a journey.
Linda: My earliest memory is as a very young girl seeing Star Wars and Grease. I was enthralled with seeing films on a big screen and loved how I escaped into the stories being told. Movies that entertain the family are something I still very much enjoy.
The Queen’s Jewels has got this great upbeat atmosphere and score all along; an awesome pace in the narrative, and a slowly mounting cliffhanger build-up, with James Bond accents at times. How did your choice of story and film genre/format come about? Was the end-result faithful to the initial plan?
Josh: When I was making the short film, it was with the specific purpose of creating excitement for a feature film (a proof of concept). The movie’s purpose was to entertain and take the audience on an adventure, because at that time, I so badly wanted one for myself. Music will always play a big role in every project I make, it is the heart and the emotion behind the visuals. Being able to get a song from the band East Harbor, locals from Vero Beach in the end credits and of course getting our good friends, Blimes and the Bando’s song “Pineapple Sunshine” in our film was incredible. I am so proud of them, their songs are amazing and we love being able to support our talented friends! The composer was Roman Milano Dunn, who is exceptional. His resume is impressive and we worked incredibly well together on a tight timeline. We loved it! The Queen’s Jewels is a community of people that all worked hard to bring the magic to life and again I’m so happy you brought up the music, because there’s so much heart in it for me, especially in filmmaking.
Let’s chat about the making of the project. How did you manage to juggle working on location across four countries on a tight schedule for governmental incentives?
Linda: As independent filmmakers, the incentives we were entitled to were critical in funding the film and making the returns more attractive for our investors. While Josh is an incredible creative, he is also an excellent businessman and understands both sides of making a movie. I have experience in creative and deep experience in funding together with multi-currency transactions. I understand the important differences between the budget and cash flow. We made sure our choices on the business side of the equation did not compromise the film. Working in four countries across three different currencies and making sure we managed the risk and maximized the entitlements was something I take enormous pride in for Josh, myself and the whole team and it was also appreciated by our investors.
Joshua Friedman, you said, “vibrant storytelling style and relentless work ethic and are pouring ten years of deep creativity and business know-how into bringing this magical epic to life”. Would you say that this feature is a mature work?
Josh: Yes, this film makes no political and/or religious statements and is made so really anyone can enjoy it. If you double click on the varying demographics, this movie will especially resonate with the YA (young adult) audience. We have already put extensive time and effort into building an audience for this film across social platforms. We know where the YA audience goes to make choices and social plays a huge role. We wanted to be respectful to that. This is a very mature piece of work that was underpinned with knowing the audience/s and also aligned very much with what I wanted to make.
As it pertains to the actual making of the movie. We worked with over 400 people across the four countries. We had challenges with the weather and I led the team through it to ensure we stayed on time. Linda and I were across all aspects of the movie, and there are a lot of aspects! We wanted to create a culture that was collaborative and supported the cast and crew. The cast have been quoted stating this was one of the best sets they have ever worked on and that we created one of the best environments to work in. We are so proud of this.
The film is fun but the work and scope was enormous. We embraced the challenge, we were ready for it and we are ready to do it again.
Linda Duncombe, as a producer, would you say that Los Angeles remains the primary location for film production today? Your bio says that “(you) bring a wealth of knowledge around financing, the specific needs of media businesses and markets, along with an extensive network”. How important is playing a part in cinema financing for you?
Linda: I wish I could say that LA is the production capital for making content in the world. The data tells a very different story.
My personal view is that many of us have a bunch of competing needs and with my point of view being to preserve what the audience will see on screen, that means I may need to make decisions to maximize incentives and returns that have me working outside of LA. With current changes to incentives and tax credits in California, this may change.
Theatrical is nice to have but not a must. If the numbers don’t work when you factor an “all in” view, including P&A, it may not be viable. I personally still love the idea of the option of seeing a film on the big screen. It’s the little girl in me who wanted to be Princess Leia from Star Wars and still likes to braid her hair…
Linda and Joshua, this is a question for the two of you. How did the perfect casting of Carson Rowland happen for the Key Cast “Beau Holloway”?
Josh: The role for Beau was so important to me. Carson had been on my radar for a long time and our casting director had also raised him as an option and I felt that was a sign. It was important for me to meet him (all the key cast roles) before any negotiations took place. He showed up with his script in a binder and came with some incredible and thoughtful questions about the character. To be honest he is as charming as hell, and we instantly clicked as humans and both understand the importance of Beau. My instincts were right, Carson was “the” Beau and we were so proud of him and the performance.
Linda: I liked Carson because Josh liked him and the selection of the cast is critical for our Director. I liked his resume, he was in the right price point and after Josh met with him, he was full of energy and that was it for me. Carson was our Beau.
Joshua, can you tell us more about Habitat For Humanity Greater LA?
Josh: Habitat for Humanity (H4H) for Greater LA. Linda actually sits on the board and it is core to both of us to give back to our communities. For me, I am at a point in my life and career where I can give back in a more meaningful and impactful way. Whether that is by donations of money or donating my time. With H4H I got involved by building houses, attending events and spreading the word of the important work that they do. It is one of the charities I support and while I am helping them to fulfill a need to help others, I get immense joy from playing a role in helping others.
What is your post-Covid cinema vision?
Josh: While behaviour changed during the tragedy that was Covid, this was due to the mandate to stay indoors. What we are seeing as years have gone by is that there is a return to the theater in most markets. There is room for the streamers and cinemas and many platforms that now offer entertainment. The consumer demand for content in all forms has increased and it’s exciting to be a filmmaker who has been working in the industry for over ten years and see the evolution. I am excited to continue to entertain audiences for many more years to come.
BIO
Biography – Joshua Friedman
Joshua Friedman is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker, recognized for his vibrant storytelling style and relentless work ethic. With more than ten films completed over the last decade, he has already earned over 25 awards and honors in the international festival circuit for his short-form work, most of which he wrote, directed, and produced himself.
His first feature, The Queen’s Jewels, has only recently been completed and is already celebrated at film festivals worldwide, earning distinctions such as “Best Director” and “Best Drama Feature.” Shot across three countries with over 400 cast and crew members, the film demonstrates Friedman’s ability to lead complex productions while respecting cultural nuances and championing local talent. His leadership on set has often been praised as collaborative, respectful, and inspiring.
Before embarking on this ambitious feature, Friedman gained recognition with projects such as Sophia’s Song (2016) and his contribution to The Disaster Artist (2017). His creative choices span genres and styles, but a constant hallmark remains: highlighting humanity at the core of his characters and transporting audiences into stories filled with wonder, emotion, and cinematic adventure.
Friedman’s passion for storytelling emerged early. During high school, a teacher singled out his short story and had him read it to the class—a formative moment that reinforced his artistic confidence. At only 18, he interned for a New York City production company, later moving to Los Angeles to join Rabbit Bandini Productions, where he studied under James Franco and Vince Jolivette at Studio 4, honing his craft on film sets from the ground up.
Over the years, Friedman has built a global network in the entertainment industry, balancing artistic vision with a sharp understanding of the business side of filmmaking. He has received accolades from festivals such as FilmGate, Hollywood Florida Film Festival, Jacksonville Film Festival, and Vero Beach Film Festival, further cementing his international recognition.
In addition to filmmaking, Joshua is a respected public speaker and an active supporter of community causes, most notably Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles. His career reflects both ambition and generosity, combining creativity with a commitment to giving back.
BIO
Biography – Linda Duncombe
Linda Duncombe is a producer who recently completed her first feature film, The Queen’s Jewels, which has already been honored with multiple international awards, including “Best Drama Feature” and “Best Director.” Her expertise in financing, strategy, and business operations was instrumental in bringing the large-scale project to life across multiple countries and currencies, ensuring both artistic integrity and investor confidence.
Before moving into film production, Linda built an impressive career in international banking. She served as Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing, Data and Digital Officer at City National Bank in Los Angeles, also known as “Bank to the Stars.” Prior to that, she was a founding member of Citi FinTech in New York, after holding leadership roles at Citibank in Australia, where she successfully scaled digital innovation into global markets. Her career has involved managing high-value, complex transactions across diverse industries.
Linda is widely recognized for her leadership and has been named one of Variety’s “Most Powerful Women in Hollywood” five times. In 2024, she was awarded the prestigious Order of Australia Medal for her contributions to business and community, presented at the Australian Embassy in Washington, D.C. by Ambassador Kevin Rudd. She has also been honored by the Los Angeles Times, the LA Business Journal, and Salesforce, among others.
Her commitment to the entertainment and media ecosystem extends beyond film production. She serves on the boards of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation (Audit and Business Development Committees), the Grammy Museum (Nomination and Educator of the Year Committees), Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles, EnCorps (founded by Sherry Lansing), the C-Suite Network, and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy USA Board. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led the development of critical funding technology that delivered over $1.8 billion in PPP loans to support entertainment and media-related businesses.
Linda is also an in-demand public speaker, having shared her expertise at Harvard Business School, the World Economic Forum, the Grammy Awards opening events, and numerous industry conferences. Her career bridges finance and creativity, giving her a unique perspective that makes her an invaluable figure in both business and the arts.
With The Queen’s Jewels, she combines her deep financial expertise with her passion for cinema, helping to create a feature that resonates with audiences while demonstrating the power of independent filmmaking.
©2025 Isabelle Rouault-Röhlich
