Five by Five: Children’s book gets the big screen treatment

By Max Bowen 

When debut author, director and screenwriter B.R. Duray first wrote “The Mood Swing,” the idea was for it to be an animated film, but instead it came to be a children’s illustrated book. Now, the tale has made the move to animation and honored at the San Diego International Kids’ Film Festival.

In this Five by Five, B.R. Talks about the jump to the big screen, which he did himself, and the different form the story it took in the process. He talks about the illustrator for the book, how it honors his late father, and the message he hopes to impart.

Let’s begin with the news about the book’s film premiere. How did this come about?
“The Mood Swing” actually began as a short animated film idea before it became a book. I’ve worked as a screenwriter and director for years, so adapting it back to film felt like a full-circle moment—seven years in the making. The picture book became the emotional heart of a live-action/animated hybrid film, which recently won the Jury Prize at the San Diego International Kids’ Film Festival and will premiere in Los Angeles this summer at LA Shorts Fest.*

How does it feel to see your book adapted into a film?
It’s been surreal—in the best way. I wrote the book under the pen name B.R. Duray, as a tribute to my dad, who passed away when I was 10. Then I adapted and directed the film as Matthew Thompson. In a way, it allowed me to step into both parts of myself: the child who needed this story, and the adult creator helping bring it to life. It’s rare to be able to honor something so personal through both literature and film, and this project let me do exactly that.

I love the cover! Who did the work?
Momo Enokida—aka Momes! She’s an incredible illustrator who created every image in the book by hand on her iPad using ProCreate and Photoshop. Her art is filled with emotion and subtle detail, and she brought the heart of the story to life visually. Every page feels like its own portal. Kids are smart—they can feel when something was made with intention, and I think they’ll feel the love she poured into each drawing.

How would you say this book can help people?
“The Mood Swing” is a love letter to families, especially those experiencing loss. It helps kids see that grief comes in waves—but balance does return. The story centers on a mother and son navigating big emotions together, reminding us that we’re not alone, even when someone we love is no longer here. I hope the book brings comfort, connection, and maybe even a little magic to those going through something heavy. If it helps one child feel seen or supported, then I’ve done my job.

I read that the book was inspired by the passing of your father. How did this shape the story?
My dad was a decorated Special Forces veteran—Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts—and he used the pen name B.R. Duray when he began writing about his life, though he never got the chance to publish. I adopted that name as a way to carry his spirit forward. He died when I was 10, and I remember the sadness, the fear, the anxiety that came in waves. I wrote “The Mood Swing” as the story I wish I’d had back then—a gentle guide through grief, and a reminder that love can take new forms, even after loss.