Archive for April, 2010

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Check out this profile on me.  It was directed by Will Shipley of 1308 Films and features me discussing my work, and also shows the making of my latest short Katrina’s Son. If you like what you see, then head over to the “Film Projects” section of the site and check out trailers and clips from my full body of work.

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Let me start off by saying that this film is not a Hurricane Katrina movie. I know when you hear Hurricane Katrina, you automatically tune out, because for the last five-years, we’ve been bombarded with images of the devastation and heard countless theories about who was, or wasn’t at fault for the levee break. And although, those are important issues that need to be addressed, this film is about people, not politics.  It’s about how a natural disaster forces one boy from the only home he knows, pushes him to a place that he doesn’t know and then leaves him searching for a woman that he knows even less.

I think the storm was tragic, not only for what it destroyed, but also for what it unearthed. It brought to the forefront a city that was mired in poverty, poor education systems and just plain old social deterioration. And showed once again how underrepresented communities have slipped through the cracks for years and have been left to fend for themselves without the proper tools to do so.

The young boy in my film totally slips through. No one pays attention to him, because he’s invisible. It’s almost as though he was washed away in the floodwaters. He was talked about for a few weeks, given a few rations and then left to his own devices.

If this film makes you ask one thing, I hope it is the question…where are they now? Five years later, how are they surviving? And more importantly did that storm happen or is it still happening.

“An emblem of forgotten children everywhere.”
-Tessa Moran, The Washington City Paper

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A Trojan Condom spec commercial I wrote and directed, starring three lovely ladies…one of whom I am married to. They are Aisa Palomares, Mikala Gibson and Chloe Warnock. Enjoy!!

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According to a U.S. Census Bureau, 1 out of every 3 children grow up without their fathers in the home.  And for African-American children that number is even higher. 65% of African-American children don’t have their father’s in the home… I  WAS ONE OF THEM.

Growing up, I don’t really remember many of my friends having their dads in the house, so I knew the number was high…but this even shocked me. Statistically speaking, most children (male or female) who grow up without their fathers wind up getting into all kinds of trouble.  Because they are searching for a male role model, they end up getting “fathered” by someone who themselves had no father.  They have children to early. Don’t complete college. Wind up in jail. And in many ways end up just like the man they resent. Now of course, I’m not  suggesting that is everyone. I grew up without my dad and I turned out OK…(but not without my share of stupid mistakes…LOL.) A lot of that had to do with having a mom who stayed on me (love you MAMA), and actually having positive males to look up to. Now not all of them were positive. I had some fools around..but they to were misguided.

When I sat out to make this film, I really didn’t know what I was looking for…if anything. I just wanted to hear the stories of the people like me, that didn’t have that male presence in the home. And the stories I heard were startling, scary and tragic. But at the same time hopeful, revelatory, moving and all too familiar.

Every month I am going to feature clips from the film and I want to know what you think. Not only do I want to hear your thoughts about the film…but your own personal experiences. Tell me how great your dad was if he was there. Or how not having your dad around affected the person who you are today….good or bad. Don’t hold back…because what you say will help the next person.

And to the five people that sat down and spoke to me. Paris, Sonny, Lawrence, Ahmad and Andre. Thank you all for letting me dig into your life for a few hours. I promise it was not in vain. Your stories are going to inspire someone.

Well, now to the film. Enjoy. FATHER

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