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READY ON THE SET: “ACTION”

COVER STORY

How would you describe your How do you choose your
directing/screening style? collaborators? Who are your biggest
influences and why?
As I stated earlier, my directing style I just said before I'm very blessed to My biggest influence is my
is very laid-back. I go off of what be able to do something that I love. family. Every time I take on a
people need. A helping hand to get And, I choose my collaborator the new project and I come home
the project done or whatever the same way. As Denzel, Washington to explain it, their eyes light up
actors need, time. Prep, prep prep said: "The difficulty of making a as if it's something grand. And
prep prep prep prep prep prep. I like movie, send your son to Iraq, that's I'm very blessed to be able to
to go over production at least thirty difficult. It's just a movie, relax. Your do what I do honestly.
times or more so that once we hit son got shot in the face, that's
the set, everything is smooth sailing. difficult. Making the movie is a But to hear my wife and my
We know marks, where the cameras luxury. It's a gift." kids delighted and tell people
are gonna be, what lenses we're that I'm a filmmaker is
gonna use, and the lighting setup. I like to work with people who are something very special to me.
grounded in reality and realism; the To see that they are proud of
Also, the actors know what emotions world around us. We have to make a me.
they have to bring to all of it. And the project that could sell and that could
ideas they might want to give to the be a wonder; emotionally to the How do you approach
project as well. masses. There are real-world casting and working with
problems out here. Art is supposed actors?
I like to write stories with heart at to be made to reflect the realism and
the center. I like to write stories our opinions of how we care about I look at casting as who could be
where two people who don't know the world. a direct fit for the role. I believe
each other and come from different that everybody can act with the
upbringings have to come together right push and the right nudge
and deal with the situation whether that comes from directing, but I
it be comedy, horror, or drama. also believe that everybody
cannot act. That it takes a

How do you choose your certain twinkle.
collaborators?
I've also learned that actors,
depending on how seasoned
I just said before I'm very blessed to be able to do something that I love. And, they are, the less you have to
I choose my collaborator the same way. As Denzel, Washington said: "The say. Most seasoned actors have
difficulty of making a movie, send your son to Iraq, that's difficult. It's just a studied the character and have
movie, relax. Your son got shot in the face, that's difficult. Making the movie is pretty much come with ideas.
a luxury. It's a gift." And, they convey those ideas to
you when they get to set or in
I like to work with people who are grounded in reality and realism; the preproduction that they could
world around us. We have to make a project that could sell and that could be possibly try out.
a wonder; emotionally to the masses. There are real-world problems out
here. Art is supposed to be made to reflect the realism and our opinions of What's your inspiration?
Family, mentors, etc.
how we care about the world.
How do you see yourself evolving in the next 5 years? Inspiration is always my wife
and my kids. The smiles and joy
In five years, I see myself directing and writing more projects. Possibly being on their faces, knowing that
able to give back my time to the community and find a diamond in the rough their husband and dad is
to mentor from the city of Cleveland working to provide from a
dream job of his.
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