TDAY A Thanksgiving Short

TDAY (A Thanksgiving Short)

TDAY (A Thanksgiving Short)

Hollywood Reporter

Full length version coming soon.
I just had to share.

Hollywood Black Film Festival Update

The screening was a bonafide success.
We had a great turn out of over 200 people with awesome feed back.
It was well worth the effort to promote the screening through our network party.
As I thought, the event would be exactly what you make it.
There was very little help from staff to generate and manage the crowd but we were able to get everyone in just before the film began.
There were chuckles and laughter from beginning to end.
I stood in the back of the room mostly so I can see the audience's reaction to everything that was happening on screen and would honestly say people were fully engaged in the story and fate of our four main characters.
As the feeling of accomplishment began to subside towards the end of the evening, I realized that my work had just begun. Yes, we have proven that the film plays well to an audience but now we have to convince distributors that this film is a gamble worth taking.
One of the main problems we may face is that because there is not exactly a mold built for this type of film, we must create new marketing ideas to help in that process and thus grow an audience. The traditional title, style and marketing may not apply to this particular project (eg. they call African American films - Urban films).
So the question is, "What if my story has African American leads and is set in the suburbs. Is it still an Urban film?" I believe the audience will take to the notion that there is diversity in our lives therefore there should be diversity in our stories, ideas and films.


"15 Mins. Of Fame" is an Urban/Suburban comedy.

15 Mins. of Fame party. "Life is Good"

On May 20th, we had a kickoff party for our World Premiere of 15 Mins. Of Fame.

I also decided to include a few birthdays to spice up the night with a lot of love and good people to share in it.

"Shifty" performed as well as "Olamide Faison."
Hollywood Reporter arrived to cover the event, it was all good.

So today, it is time to cover a little marketing.
When I first heard news that we were accepted into the Hollywood Black Film Festival, of course, I was very excited. Then the excitement subsided and I began to think realistically as to what this really meant. I have been to film festivals before as an actor. Also, as a director in the Black Panther Film Festival at Yale, where I was able to tackle some social and human rights issues. I was also able to experience one as a producer, networking my next project as well as a pure audience member and each time feeling like a kid awaiting a big day. This festival has a similar feel. It reminds me of oh, (story time) "Field Day".

When I was a kid in fifth grade, one of the most exciting things about elementary school was that one day you would be a senior and you would get your chance to be crowned at Field Day designed to win some medals and to take joy in victory. For years, I waited in anticipation for this moment. The day finally arrived, Field Day was here and I was probably one of, if not the fastest kid in school. Oooh I was confident, over confident I was going to kick ass and take names but unbeknownst to me the higher being had other plans, she decided to teach, he is so hilarious sometimes!

On this day particular day my grandmother was appointed the task of taking me to Field Day and like most know Field Day is not as important as any adult activity. So little to say my anticipation of that day less than paled in comparison to my expectations. We were at last three hours late I MISSED EVERY SINGLE COMPETITION THAT DAY. I felt like I let myself down. I let the Blue Team down. The Red Team was ecstatic but for me while sitting on the sidelines only being able to take part in the 100 relay race which we won, could not help but cry thinking how cruel and insensitive grandma was not getting me there on time. In hindsight, while sitting with two friends Abbey and Mirielle Jacobson who consoled me in the bleachers with my first place relay metal hanging round my neck thinking about myself. I realized in that moment that life is clearly about everyone all the time, never just about you.

My expectations were high because they were focused on me and I am going off on a tagent here because I am having epiphanies as I am writing this. One of which being - If I was on time that day, would I be blogging using it as an example in indie-filmmaking? Well who knows but my point is - that day was about a whole lot more than me. Maybe it was for the guy that I would have beaten, maybe it was for grandma who accomplished something important that day. I will never know or maybe its simply for the joy of experiencing one competition with a team and not a solo competition which was really the essence of field day.

The real point that I was trying to make was that I was a selfish bastard. When I started telling this story, the question of the day is and will always remain "what was that day about?" and "What will my life and everything I do be about?" Also the question of "what could I have done that day to make it better?" "What I could have done instead of expecting the best out of the day?" "What could I have done to make the best of the day?" To help Grandma, to help my classmates celebrate their day of victory rejoicing regardless of the outcome.

Enjoying the essence!

The festival is just that - an opportunity that you must seize and prepare for with no expectations or thoughts of grandeur. The questions you ask yourself are important like "What can I do to make our time their fruitful, maximized and successful. How can I make it the best possible experience for everyone involved?

Happiness and simple things like a friend's smile and laughter is a big part of life.

Thanks Grandma, I never got a chance to tell you that day. Needless to say the party was AMAZING love, love, love. We all had fun at the party, we all had our 15 Mins of Fame. Happy birthday to Gigi & Nicki. Taurean power. 15 cast and crew, The buzz is on! We will be triumphant! Dream beautiful.

Jo D's Wardrobe: HaHa Wear

Looking Back on Good Friends

photograph by Gasuza media.
We are an official selection at the Hollywood Black Film Fest. And what that means to an indie filmmaker like myself is an incredible opportunity to showcase all of our hardwork. One key factor that you cannot do without in your trusty indie filmmaking kit is a good friend.

Let me explain, in the past I blogged about having trouble with the website on various levels but more specifically time. So I expressed this to my good friend Wendi (more on her later) who then told her good friend Brent who being a "good friend" note (Good friends know things) knew some things about building websites. so Brent steps in and Wendy quarterbacks the play while my best friend/partner and I were working on press kit materials and press releases, we could rest assured the job was being diligently handled by other good friends.

The reason I chose to blog on good friends is because we have reached a mile marker in our efforts to distribute this picture to the world. So, as we head off to our World premiere I can't help but reminisce on the journey. Although there were many obstacles, the power of a good friend always triumphed over the beast of doubt.

Everything is all good from the experience and memories that sparked the concept for this film with my three roommates years ago - Donald, Markee and Yemi. To my number one soldier Mikey who slept in a tent during filming so he would not miss a single moment. And of course I can not stress enough about my brotha Malik and grandma who gave everything and would still give more and my boy Shun who came through in the clutch when all was lost and to the cast who never gave up believing. Thanks. "Here's to good friends, tonight and every night IS kind of special."