Geraldine Moriba

directors q&a - Geraldine Moriba & Jamila Paksima

Until 20 documentary

Discussion questions:


Jamila Paksima

Questions for Students:

  • While receiving treatment for cancer James continued to attend classes and compete in sports. What are some ways that he managed the heightened stress in his life?
  • The opening sequence of the documentary shows James swimming to the bottom of the ocean. What do you think this represents?
  • How did cancer impact the people in James's life? What are some of the ways they coped? What are other ways to cope?
  • What are some ways you can help make a difference for kids with cancer?
  • Optimism encourages persistence in the face of obstacles. What can we learn from James's positive outlook on life?
  • James's friendships were broad and loyal. Why is it important to have quality friendships?
  • James seems to have endless gratitude. What in your life do you feel most grateful for?


Questions for Coaches and Athletes:

  • James said that “you can hit three bad shots and still make par.” That’s how he lived his life. What does that mean? What sports metaphors reflect the way you live your life?
  • While fighting for his life James manages to rank as a top division one golfer. How does remaining in a competitive sport help James stay motivated and cope with having a deadly disease?
  • Who is in your personal support network? How do you nurture a support group of people who care about you?
  • James seems to know his own limitations. What can you learn from the way that he lived his life?
  • James had an abundance of love and affection in his life? How can these emotions be transformative?
  • James embraced challenges. Following his first operation James had to give up tennis and learn to play another sport. How can embracing difficult circumstances help us be stronger?
  • How do you measure a good life? 

1. What inspired you to make Until 20?

Moriba: I was diagnosed with sarcoma and told that I had six months to live. But I had chemo, radiation, and surgery and I survived. Research and funding go towards the biggest cancers, like breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer. Rare cancers, like sarcoma, are the ones that get the least funding. There must be meaning in my survival. I believe that I’m here to create awareness and to use the skills that I have to help others. I wanted to create a film that dares to ask the question, how to measure a good life.

2. How did you know people would want to watch this film?

Moriba: James Ragan supporters funded the Until 20 Kickstarter campaign in an astounding five days, with an average donation of $240 per person. Young adults and parents relate to James’s story because they believe in his wish of finding treatment for the forgotten pediatric cancers. Until 20 also received remarkable press coverage during the Kickstarter campaign in media outlets like CNN and The Huffington Post UK and in Texas where James is a beloved local public figure.

Paksima: As we created this film and especially now that we have started to share it, we continue to receive letters from medical professionals and parents of children with cancer all saying how a film like Until 20 will help improve lives of people and families living with rare cancers.

3. What was it like to follow James and his family with cameras everywhere during his last year of life?

Paksima: James was a fun, courageous, and charismatic young man. He rarely seemed to buckle under pressure and he was seriously funny. James was one of those individuals that saw sunshine and optimism in any situation. I also found I could really identify with Gloria, James’s mother. Her honesty and vulnerability are inspiring and give me strength as parent.

4. What was the hardest part about filming Until 20?

Moriba: The biggest challenge was building trust with James and his family. To make Until 20 meaningful, we needed to be with the Ragans at their most difficult moments. They had to accept that we would treat his story with truth, even when it was painful, and with dignity. In the end, this film is an extension of James’s legacy. 


5. How did you film the opening scene in the ocean?

Moriba: The inspiration for the opening sequence is an African fable about a man who tries to swim to the bottom of the ocean. He believes that by finding out the depth of the ocean he can save his village. As he descends, the answers become clearer. Tragically, this man was made of salt and he melts away slowly as he swims down to the ocean floor.

Paksima: Our opening scene was perhaps one of the most challenging shoots that I have ever planned or directed. We had a crazy vision to not only have James seek his answers at the depths of the ocean, but also watch his life pass him by as he swims deeper into the darkness of an unknown underwater world. After several test runs, we figured out how to get a lifetime of photographs and memories to float upright toward the surface as we see James dive deeper and deeper into his life history.

6. How long did this project take?

Moriba:  We worked on this project for about two years.


7. What impact would you like to make with this film?

Paksima:  James stood up for other kids with cancer when he didn’t have time. He fought for cures and treatments for diseases like sarcoma and pediatric cancers so that the disease would stop with him. There is strength in numbers. We hope that our film will help the thousands of small organizations around the nation join forces to find cures for childhood cancers. If James’ story encourages researchers, oncologists and families to slay the cancer monsters, our mission will be accomplished.

8. What did you learn from meeting James and making this film?

Moriba: James also taught us that when you fight for the impossible and advocate for others instead of yourself, life is better. We can make courageous choices every day no matter how difficult our circumstances. We also learned that there is always time in life for love.