Exclusive Interview for “The Department of Close Enough” With Dr. Keyonda Smith
- Madrid Film Awards
- 6 days ago
- 7 min read
Originally from Camden, New Jersey, and now residing in the D.C. Metro area, I am an accessibility advocate having earned a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Doctor of Naturopathy (Health & Wellness), Masters in Higher Education, Bachelor’s of Science in Health Education, and several industry certifications.
With over 14 years of experience serving healthcare-focused adult learners, I have gained intensive knowledge of the inner workings of higher education institutions, the culture, and as an overall expert. In my current and previously held positions, as Director of Online Course Design, Online Instructional Systems Designer, Adjunct Faculty, University Learning Specialist, and Director of Curriculum Content (Continuing Education), effective collaboration among healthcare on-campus learners, online learners, as well as staff and faculty were integral.
My initial career explorations provided me the opportunity to instruct allied health students in a blended & hybrid environment. This experience incepted my passion for adult learning and my professional career in higher education. In addition to obtaining faculty and clinical experience, my former and current higher education leadership positions provided me with a solid foundation supporting my in-depth understanding of education's institutional culture, learning management systems, educational technology, evidence-based instructional practices, andragogic techniques, and digital accessibility.
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Your film has a solid and ingenious story, combining entertainment, comedy, morality, and very distinct characters. How did the idea come about?
The idea came from my own experiences observing systems, people, and institutions that often mean well but sometimes settle for what I call “close enough.” As someone who has worked in education, healthcare learning environments, instructional design, digital accessibility, and leadership, I have seen how small decisions can affect people in very real ways. I wanted to take those serious ideas and place them inside a comedic story that people could enjoy while still recognizing the truth underneath it.
For me, comedy made the message more approachable. The story allowed me to exaggerate certain behaviors, personalities, and institutional habits in a way that was entertaining, but still grounded in real life. I wanted the audience to laugh, but I also wanted them to think about responsibility, inclusion, access, popularity, and the consequences of doing only the minimum.
We believe that the story, beyond the comedy, contains a profound message. We could say that its structure resonates with the conflicts many people face today regarding politics, indigenous peoples, and the pursuit of popularity.
How has your team’s synergy influenced the project’s outcome?
The team’s synergy was essential because this kind of story requires trust, creativity, and a shared understanding of the larger message. Although the film uses comedy, it deals with meaningful themes such as power, identity, visibility, fairness, and how people are treated when systems overlook them.
My background has taught me the value of collaboration. In higher education and healthcare learning environments, I have worked closely with faculty, staff, students, and adult learners. That experience shaped how I approach creative work. I believe every voice on a team brings something important. When people feel respected, they contribute more honestly and more courageously.
The project benefited from that shared energy. The comedy became stronger because the team understood the seriousness beneath it. The moral message became clearer because we were not simply trying to entertain. We were trying to say something about people, systems, and the way society sometimes chooses popularity over accountability.
In order to understand the value of your piece, we would like to know more about the mind behind the process. How would you define your personal experience with cinema as a director? Could you tell us an experience or moment that changed or challenged you?
My experience with cinema as a director is deeply connected to observation. I have always been interested in people, behavior, learning, communication, and the way stories can reveal truth. My academic and professional background gave me the tools to analyze systems, but cinema gives me the space to translate those observations into emotion, humor, character, and visual storytelling.
One challenge for me was trusting the creative process in a different way. In education and accessibility work, there are standards, outcomes, compliance expectations, and measurable goals. Film has structure too, but it also requires flexibility. You have to allow the story, the characters, and the production process to breathe.
That challenged me in a good way. It reminded me that art can teach without feeling like a lecture. It can challenge people while still inviting them in. That realization strengthened me as a director and as a storyteller.
Can you tell us any difficulties you had during the filming and animation?
One difficulty was balancing the comedy with the message. I did not want the film to become so funny that the audience missed the deeper meaning, but I also did not want the message to feel too heavy. Finding that balance required careful choices in tone, pacing, character development, and visual style.
Another challenge was translating real world ideas into animated or filmed moments that felt clear and engaging. When a story deals with systems, morality, popularity, and social issues, the challenge is making those themes feel human. The audience has to connect with the characters first. Once they care about the characters, they are more open to the message.
The production process also required patience. Filming and animation both demand attention to detail. As someone who works in accessibility and instructional design, I naturally think about clarity, usability, and audience experience. That helped me, but it also made me very aware of how many small details matter.
We would like to know more about the how and why of this interesting and comedy approach for this docufiction. If you had to name three key concepts to help everyone understand and enjoy this film more, what would they be?
The first concept is accountability. The film asks what happens when people, organizations, or leaders choose convenience over doing what is right.
The second concept is visibility. Many people are affected by decisions made by systems that do not fully see them. That connects strongly to my work in accessibility, because accessibility is not only about technology. It is about whether people are considered from the beginning.
The third concept is satire. Comedy allows us to examine uncomfortable truths without immediately becoming defensive. The humor gives the audience permission to laugh, but the story still asks them to reflect.
How has the process of creating the characters been? Fellini once said that “all art is autobiographical,” is there a personal story behind this work? And what was the most valuable thing you learned making this movie?
Creating the characters was one of the most meaningful parts of the process. Each character represents a different kind of attitude, decision, or contradiction that I have observed in life. Some characters are exaggerated for comedy, but they are still rooted in real human behavior.
There is definitely a personal connection behind the work. My life and career have placed me in spaces where I have had to study how people learn, how institutions function, how access is created or denied, and how leadership affects others. As an accessibility advocate and educator, I have seen how “close enough” is often not enough. That idea became personal because I know the impact of being thoughtful, inclusive, and intentional.
The most valuable thing I learned is that storytelling can hold both humor and truth at the same time. A film can be playful and still be serious. It can be entertaining and still ask the audience to examine themselves.
Could you tell us more about your cinema experience? You have an amazing academic background. How do you connect with film and how have you come to explore art?
My connection with film comes from my love of storytelling, education, art, and human experience. My academic background taught me how to research, analyze, organize ideas, and understand people as learners. My creative side helps me transform those ideas into something visual and emotional.
I have always been drawn to art in many forms. Painting, drawing, documentary, beauty, movement, and creative expression all interest me because they allow people to communicate what words alone cannot always capture. Film brings many of those interests together. It allows me to combine education, social commentary, visual design, humor, and emotion.
For me, cinema is another classroom, but a more imaginative one. It gives me the opportunity to reach people in a way that feels personal and memorable.
Did the film meet your expectations? Share your thoughts on the production, the competition area, their reach, and how you achieved them.
Yes, the film met my expectations, and in some ways it exceeded them. I am proud that the project was able to communicate a meaningful message while still allowing room for humor and entertainment. That was one of my major goals from the beginning.
The production process affirmed the importance of preparation, collaboration, and creative flexibility. My experience in instructional design and leadership helped me think carefully about structure, audience, pacing, and impact. At the same time, the creative process reminded me to stay open to discovery.
Being connected to a competition platform also gives the film a broader reach. It allows the story to move beyond the people who created it and into conversations with new audiences. That matters to me because the themes in the film are not limited to one place or one profession. They are connected to larger questions about responsibility, inclusion, and how people use power.
Can you tell us something about your next job?
My next work will continue exploring the relationship between art, education, accessibility, and social awareness. I am interested in creating stories that entertain people while also inviting them to think more deeply about the world around them.
I want to continue developing projects that reflect my background as an educator, accessibility advocate, researcher, and artist. Whether through film, documentary, animation, or another creative format, my goal is to keep telling stories that are thoughtful, human, and honest.
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MADFA® I Press Team
Madrid Film Awards®
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