“Due to creative differences I am no longer Executive Producer of FRUITION HARD LINE.”

For most of you you’re probably pretty shocked, considering all the time and energy I’ve devoted in the past 6 months to the project. Couple things I want to clarify before I go on. The film as is is still a go, the storyline is killer and really has a lot going for it. I suspect the creative team will go for a re-brand including a new title which for where the production is at this point would be a great move and I support anything the Director Timi Brennan goes forward with for his production. I do this now from the sidelines as merely a bystander. Its a HUGE transition, for both myself and everyone else tied to the project. I spent much of this morning stripping my name from all our social media outlets,off my blog and references in my bio posted God knows all over the place. I managed to watch the trailer and my breath caught in my chest after the words “Produced by Mahogany Slide” came up on screen. Its weird. I don’t even really know how to begin to explain why I felt it was necessary for me to leave the film. I have my reasons, most of which I don’t really feel like making public because I respect the people I worked with and there’s no call for me to go into mass amounts of detail. Things are still being sorted out. Like the title line says creative differences had a lot to do with it. Its safe to say I found myself more attached to the project because I personally care about all the people involved instead of the actual content of the film. The thing is, its a rock and a hard place situation because the film itself is quality, I would never be associated with anything that I felt was anything less, but it was sorta like waking up one day and realizing your head was totally in the game and then finding out your heart wasn’t even close to being there.

Again, an incredibly tough situation because I could have just sucked it up and done what was best for the production, but I honestly believe departing was and is the best move. I think both myself and Timi will continue grow as filmmakers. We both have a lot going for us. If that means we work on separate projects for a while and reunite further down the road, I welcome it. I’m confident whatever FRUITION HARD LINE ends up being called its gonna rock some serious socks.

And I’ve got other things brewing so in no way am I left high and dry. You’ll be hearing loads about several projects including a rom-com short I wrote and will be producing (working title MEMORY LANE GOES WALKING) and I’ll be directing a 1980s short entitled BURNOUT. And (yes there’s more!) I’m wholeheartedly pursuing the concept of getting my feature screenplay JERSEY NOISE produced in a proper manner. Like “Not indie budget” proper manner. Call me crazy, it won’t be the first time and I highly doubt the last. Film related antics aren’t the only thing I’m involved in right now. Teamed up with an amazing woman named Kara Russo to start banging out a underground zine “Copy Break” is coming Greenville peeps and its gonna be FABULOUS.

So yeah, sh*t happens, “Making It” comes and goes, and lots of stuff and things have to be addressed but when it comes down to it, I’m still a filmmaker. I’m still that upstart punk arse kid that confuses people, intrigues others, and hopefully inspires people on some level to continue to pursue their dreams even when the going gets rough and you don’t feel like you have all the answers. I know I don’t. But being cool with that is pretty much just like learning to be cool with yourself. Its not easy but the way I look at it, I’ve already learned a great deal and will continue to do so. You can’t pay for this sorta life experience, you just have to grin, bare it, and make sure you make whatever frustration, misunderstanding, and possible hurt that stemmed from a situation worth it. Cause the thing is, the sun still coming up tomorrow and movies are still getting made. And for that I am grateful.