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front seat chronicles

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    • INside Scoop: a conversation with writer/actor Monique Carmona
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Category Archives: Filmmaker Interviews

blog post, Filmmaker Interviews |

February 21, 2015

| Sowelle

The Inside Scoop: Writer-Director Carl Seaton

Carl Seaton III

When you first meet writer/director Carl Seaton, the word solid comes to mind – both in presence and in essence.  Dude is serious.  An auteur rooted in his craft, and point of view, a Brother with a purpose.   We took a moment to discuss his latest offering to our series with Turn Down For What.

Tell me about the concept for your second hard-hitting FSC episode, Turn Down For What?

The idea came up after I heard Mr. Stand your ground was going to do a celebrity boxing match where he would fight DMX. The fact that he is viewed as a celebrity didn’t sit well with me so I started bouncing around various scenarios. I’m also a student of history and when I read about the historical reference I mentioned in the piece it affected me deeply on multiple levels.

This was also written and shot months before Ferguson occurred and the #blacklivesmatter movement began. In this social media age things get a lot of attention then everyone moves on to the next sensationalized topic. I didn’t want the senseless murder of Trayvon to fade in to obscurity ever.

It was also done to reflect the frustration that a lot of men feel about the depiction black men and boys in the country. That is why I felt it would resonate when we find out there professions.

What would you say to those who find the subject matter controversial?

It is meant to be controversial as well as polarizing but more importantly I hope that it provokes discussion and gives insight in to the intellect, frustration, and sensitivity of African American men.

What is the most important thing for you as an artist, as a filmmaker?  What inspires you?

The mantra that I live by is “Art is the lie that allows us to see the truth.” As an artist the most important thing to me is telling authentic stories that elevate, inspire, and effect the audience. Great storytelling inspires me. A film like #whiplash which is a small film about a drummer is an amazing story with a great theme that inspired me recently. Game changing content inspires me as well but it’s not just film or TV, it can be music, a photo, or even a quote.

When casting for your FSC episodes,  what is your process for selecting the right actors?   What do you look for?

I am fortunate to know so many extremely talented actors personally that I have seen in other films, web series, and in the theater. I look at a lot of things and make mental notes on people to watch. What I look for is an actors investment in the performance. I’ve seen very bad films with great performances by actors.

Some would say this is an opportune time for Black cinema and television, while others point to the lack of diversity at award shows as an indicator of how far we are from full representation.  Is there anything in particular you would you like to see going forward in regards to african american filmmakers?

Yes diversity is a huge topic of discussion right now but more importantly the industry is shifting away from the the normal distribution outlets. The millennials are showing us all how to generate content while building Your audience that will follow you wherever you go. This ideology of self empowerment is the kind of thing that will shift the standard way of how things have gone before.

Any upcoming projects you can share with our viewers?  

I’m currently working on two different features LINE, a dramedy about brotherhood and W4M, an erotic thriller.

 

Dig it.

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Filmmaker Interviews |

October 29, 2012

| Sowelle

An FSC Interview with writer/director Teddy Gyi

Teddy Gyi, wassup man? How you living?


I’m good! Always savoring life. Thanks for having me on the program!

We’ve known each other a while, but it’s the first time we’ve ever collaborated on anything. For those who don’t know, share how you got involved with FSC, and how you came about the topic.


When I first saw “FSC,” I instantly fell in love with it. All of us have experienced those life-defining moments while conversing in a car, so it’s easily relatable for the audience. It also reminded me of all the great car moments in cinema history, like Brando in “On The Waterfront.” I’m a huge fan of those types of scenes. No tricks to fall back on – just pure, raw dialogue between human beings. It’s a true writer’s arena. So when “FSC” approached me to write an episode, I jumped at the opportunity.
 I originally came up with about a dozen plot ideas and submitted them to the producers. Of all the ones I came up with, they asked me to go ahead with “Not a Mistake.” I was a bit nervous about writing this scene because I knew I’d have to really dig deep into my imagination to come up with character cores and a dialogue that was both interesting and believable. But it all worked out, and you guys did an amazing job filming it.

Growing up with a lot of sisters, do you think parents have an easier time having “ the sex talk” with girls than they do boys? Or is it just a difficult conversation for a lot of people period?


It becomes a difficult conversation when no forum of truly open communication exists between parent & child. Unfortunately, culture and religion can sometimes create serious roadblocks to honest communication. “Not a Mistake” is the conversation I wish my mother or father would have had with me when I was a teen. But my parents’ cultural and religious background made any sort of open, candid conversation about sex virtually impossible. It was basically boiled down to “don’t have sex until you’re married, because it’s bad.” And that was the end of it. In my opinion, this is the most ineffective stance in existence. I never really understood the approach of criminalizing sex. Good people have sex every day. It’s a normal function of nature.

Instead of pointing fingers and preaching orders, we should really focus on teaching young people to respect both themselves and their partners. In my opinion, this is what matters most. In “Not a Mistake,” Claire has had her fair share of bad experiences and bad relationships. Marvin’s father is an absentee. He should take these kinds of things into consideration in handling his relationship with Shelly. When Marvin finally understands that his mother was also once that girl, going to her first dance, that’s where a mutual understanding is reached.

I know you’re not an expert on the subject, but you do have experiences. when you were growing up where did guys get information around dating?


In school, they taught us the pure biological aspects of “reproduction.” I don’t remember being taught anything beyond that, such as how sex applies to dating and the dynamics of interpersonal relationships. Nobody wanted to honestly address the fact that teens have sex. Teens have had sex since the beginning of time. But the topic was swept under the rug. 
So growing up, we got most of our information from our own experiences and from our peers. We were all left to our own devices. We had to learn on our own, like so many generations before us, clumsily experimenting and fumbling our way through the process until we felt we had some sort of handle on dating and sex. 
Nowadays, it’s a lot different. There is so more information available to young people. They’re more willing to talk. And they’re much smarter and savvier then we were at their age. If they need information, they can just Google it. But I don’t think that’s enough. As adults, we have wisdom to offer as a result of our experiences and the mistakes we made when we were younger. All we need to do is communicate.

You’ve worn many hats throughout your adulthood, how did you arrive at filmmaking?


My “arrival” at filmmaking was actually a return to my beginning. As a child, I wrote a lot of novels and books. My older siblings all moved out of the house when I was still very young, so I basically grew up as an only child. As an only child, your imagination becomes your best friend by default. You end up inventing and playing with these “imaginary friends.” Luckily for me, I got into the early habit of putting those adventures down on paper.
At age 12, my father bought me my first VHS camcorder. I immediately applied my imagination to the camera. I’d get all my friends together in my backyard, and we’d make all kinds of movies: martial arts, action, Shakespeare…you name it. This continued on throughout my middle school and high school years. I had so much fun during that time. I got more equipment and studied drama and acting. Those were golden years for me.
But my life took a terrible turn when I hit my 20s. I became addicted to drugs, and seriously lost myself for many years. I sold all of my gear for dope…it was a very dark period in my life. Thankfully, I was able to eventually recover from that lifestyle. Afterwards, I pursued a career in music for several years. Then, one day, I started writing fiction again. It was the best feeling I had felt in a long time. I managed to re-tap into a part of my brain that I thought was lost forever. I wrote my first feature-length screenplay, “Refuge,” and decided to abandon all other pursuits to turn my filmmaking vision into a reality.
I finally came to the realization that writing and directing was where I needed to be. It’s a very fulfilling experience, and I’m quite fortunate to be able to do what I do. I sit in front of my computer, let my imagination run wild, and let the words flow. I’m still that same little kid, playing with my imaginary friends and putting our adventures down on paper. I think all writers are, to some degree.

Well let me congratulate you Teddy on doing the thing – getting “Refuge,” your insightful first feature shot by any means necessary. It’s inspiring to a lot of young artist. What else we can look for in the coming year?


Thank you so much! It’s been a harrowing journey, but I’ve been blessed with the most talented and dedicated team. We’re very excited about this picture. “Refuge” will continue to be my main focus through 2014. Most people don’t realize when you make a feature film, you’re usually signing 2-3 years of your life away.
But I always manage to find time to work on new and interesting projects. In addition to “Refuge,” you’ll see some music videos, narrative shorts, and high-concept pieces from me. I also have half a dozen new scripts in development, and I’d definitely look forward to writing/directing for “FSC,” if you guys would have me again!

dig it. Thanks brother.


Thank you. Peace and blessings!

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allen l. sowelle, front seat chronicles, frontseatchronicles, fsc, josh feinman, one economy, pic, teddy gyi, teen pregnancy | 1 Comment
blog post, Filmmaker Interviews |

April 27, 2012

| Sowelle

Inside Scoop: A conversation with writer Cassandra Cooper

It would take a while to cover Cassandra’s bio, so let me get to the crux.  Cassandra Cooper is quietly on the verge of becoming a force, a major player in the industry.  They’ll be much more about this later.  For now, we are so fortunate to have her display her writing chops for this episode of Front Seat Chronicles.  I recently caught up with her about her intense episode, “If I Tell U.”

Hey Cassandra, I know you’re incredibly busy, so thanks for taking time for this.

No problem, I’m very excited about this project so I will find the time for it, and you.
Among the many things you’re doing, how did you come to be involved with Front Seat Chronicles?
Well I initially  pitched an idea for a webseries to PIC.TV on the topic of HIV/AIDS. When series creator Allen Sowelle  showed me a few episodes of the series I thought this was a good way to get the conversation going.
****SPOILER ALERT****When I was editing this episode, most of the feedback could be summed up in one word – “damn.”  It’s that impactful.  How did you come to choose this topic?
LOL. I love to hear it has the “Damn” factor because that is what is needed sometimes to get people’s attention and that was exactly the point of the piece.  The topic was natural choice for me as it’s a lifelong cause of mine. When I was 13 years of age, I had a moped accident, was pronounced dead. Well obviously I survived , when i awoke, I was informed I had,  received a blood transfusion. Nearly a year later I was notified the blood may have been tainted. Out of 100 recipients in that time frame I was the only one who WAS NOT positive. The angst I felt waiting on those results , and then the relief when I got the “All clear” lead me to be a proponent very early on. My passion for spreading awareness is as strong today as it has ever was, because i knew it would not be limited to the gay community as most originally thought. My best friend is also living with HIV and has for the past 20 years so I get an up close and personal view of what that’s like also.
With nearly 90% of HIV transmissions due to heterosexual contact,  in 2010 alone, according to the CDC, African-American women accounted for over 33% of all female AIDS diagnoses in the US.  Five times more that Latinas, nearly 23 times more than White women.  What do you see as the number one cause, and where do you see the biggest disconnect?
We do not have open dialog in our homes, churches and the like and sadly many still operate under the he looks clean, she looks clean mentality. They don’t recognize the face of HIV/AIDS is one that looks very much like their own. Many of our men, populate the prison system and some sadly lead alternate down low lifestyles so a good many women do not even know they are at putting themselves at risk, because again we are basing sexual relationships off of appearances alone.
In increasing awareness around prevention in the African-American community, where should it start?  Or where should the emphasis be placed?
IT starts in the home, at the schools, at the churches. wherever the nucleus of your community is. They have  an obligation to encourage women to be proactive when it comes to SAFER SEX.
When I was directing this episode, I mentioned if I could just work with Walter and Patrice over and over, I will have had a career fulfilled.   What do you think about their portrayals of your words?
 Walter brought it home for me. I could see his fear and his hopes all slip away at the prospect of the unknown. I am already writing something else with him in mind. He is the next coming. I thought Patrice was credible as well, but Walter really sucked me in. I got goosebumps.
What do you hope is the main takeaway from this episode?
 Get tested, Have safer sex.
Cassandra, thank you for enriching our series with your script.  I hope we did it justice.
It was my pleasure, I’m working on the next installment for those two. I think we all want to know what happens next, right?

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blog post, Filmmaker Interviews |

February 29, 2012

| Alley Pezanoski-Browne

Inside Scoop: A Conversation with Writer Bradd Bowden and Director Josh Feinman

This week we get a twofer: writer of What now? Bradd Bowden, and his childhood friend, producer of Front Seat Chronicles, Josh Feinman, who also directed this week’s episode.

So let me start with you, Bradd.  One of the things I appreciate about this series is that it started out by friends reaching out to friends to share stories and resources that are familiar, and supportive.   How did you come up with the concept about two brothers trying to find affordable, long-term care for an ailing parent?

Bradd: About a year and a half ago, well after Alzheimer’s Disease took away my father’s mind, I really began to process his absence. In a Front Seat Chronicles type of moment, albeit by phone some 3,000 miles away. Josh suggested that I write about my experience.

Josh, from growing up with Bradd in New York, when you read his piece, listened to the dialogue, can you describe the various ways the story resonated with you?

Josh: My parents cared for my grandmother for many years. It was very hard, very emotional and took a lot of time. But they did it because we loved her and she deserved it. I’m not sure what advice to give because I think you are never really prepared no matter what you plan.

Since so much of this is based on a real life story, what do you guys think people miss or are ill-prepared for when it comes to taking care of our parents?

Bradd: The idea to plan ahead for taking care of elderly or infirm loved ones is crucial and very easy to conceive. What’s tough, and I think what some people are most ill-prepared for, is that it’s not an easy topic to discuss. We all handle difficult moments differently.

Josh: Good Question. Make every minute count. I know it sounds cliche’ and it’s probably not realistic. When someone is gone forever all you’ll want is more time with them. Little kids don’t realize that so parents have to. Life is short (again cliche’). If you can afford life insurance get that too.

I’ve known Josh for a number of years now.  And it’s always special to work on stories with your friends. What about, you two?  After all these years – familiar emotional and physical territory – what do you take away most for this project?

Bradd: To the end of days I’ll have a great admiration for Josh. He is so passionate about his beliefs and has an insane work ethic. What I take away most from Front Seat Chronicles is how special all these relationships are, be them that of brothers, lovers, or friends.

Josh: Bradd and I grew up with a bunch of guys from the neighborhood. Each one of us is a character in a script waiting to be written. Of all those guys and all the memories, Bradd is by far the most interesting when it comes to character. I think Bradd and I are just getting started. Looking forward to telling more stories with him.

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blog post, Filmmaker Interviews |

February 15, 2012

| Alley Pezanoski-Browne

Inside Scoop: A conversation with Writer/Director Nikol Hasler

Photo courtesy of Josh MacLeod

 

Days before the premiere of her, what has been described as, gritty episode Salvation Released, executive producer Allen Sowelle reached out to writer and director Nikol Hasler.

 

So hey Nikol, first, how did you become involved with FSC? And second, how did you arrive at this topic?

I had the pleasure of being employed by One Economy when the project was green lit. In those earlier days, when we were conceptualizing scripts, I had an idea for one about a young man being released from prison and trying to return to his life without returning to the things in his life that landed him in prison. As I was writing, I realized that my authenticity would be best used if I wrote about what I knew instead. Having grown up poor, in the Midwest, these characters are very true to the people I used to run with.

We often hear that crystal meth is a poor man’s cocaine. But there is something far more insidious about this particular drug, isn’t there?

It’s easy to make meth. It’s inexpensive. And it keeps you high for a long time.

But there is also something inherently different about the person who finds themselves addicted to meth than the person who uses cocaine. The willing acceptance of the rapid physical effects of meth, the ease of the lifestyle of isolation, and the need for the drug are not commonly seen in people with resources, money, and education.

 

What would you suggest to someone who might find themselves in Sharon’s situation?

It was important to me to show the deepness of the love that the Sharon and Terry have for each other, and I needed to show that it is two sided. Sharon isn’t wrong to love him, and the most likely outcome in relationships like theirs is that they will continue to enable each other, use drugs together, and end up back in jail. I could say that they’ll die from it, but for the sake of honesty, I need to say that it’s highly unlikely. But there are worse things than death, specifically the slow disintegration of quality of life that goes hand in hand with addictions.

People who find themselves in the situation of leaving a jail or prison to return to their community should be sure that they put a support network in place before they are released. That’s easier said than done, and all to often jail is just a natural part of life. Unless people somehow become aware not only that their current lives are crap, but also that there is a better life available, they will continue to do what they have always done. What we need to do is find a better way to lead them to that conclusion and support them once they reach out.

Some would say the so-called War on Drugs has only perpetuated drug use in the US. And that in essence it’s been a War on the Poor and the most disenfranchised. What do you think needs to change in the conventional wisdom around drug use?

There’s not enough honesty, and once people find out that they’ve been lied to, they don’t trust anything they hear. Think of the kid who is told that if he has unprotected sex, he’s going to immediately get a girl pregnant or get an STI. Then he does it, and she doesn’t get pregnant, and he doesn’t catch anything. All of a sudden, he’s pretty convinced that adults are full of crap. Well, the government and the media need to be accountable to us when it comes to providing us with accurate, comprehensive drug information.

As a mother of three incredibly bright young boys, what do you communicate to them about avoiding the perils that seem to plague so many kids today in our overly stimulated society?

I don’t talk to my kids. Ever. It’s for the best.

But, if I did, I’d be completely honest with them.

 

It’s been several months since production, how does it feel looking back at these well-crafted performances?

The experience of working with Stefan and Brandice was really inspiring. They were both able to take pieces of themselves, albeit dark or difficult pieces, and bring those forward for these roles. I’ll never forget, during casting, when Stefan came in and absolutely nailed Terry’s character. He was even wearing sweat pants and looking pretty rough. I had this moment where I thought, “Either he’s a really good actor, or this dude is an actual tweaker.” And Brandice, coming from the midwest, was able to understand the small town mentality that leads to the kinds of situations Sharon would find herself in.

 

Anything new you’re working on, that you’re excited about, that we can look forward to?

Right now most of my focus is on finding funding for my documentary, Age Out. The doc is about the process of aging out of the foster care system, and our talented team has put together a solid treatment. Now, we just need to find people who can fund us. Other than that, I’m constantly dreaming up new projects and ideas.

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  • Home
  • Filmmaker Interviews
    • INside Scoop: a conversation with writer/actor Monique Carmona
    • An Interview with uber-producer Cassandra Cooper
    • The Inside Scoop: Writer-Director Carl Seaton
    • An FSC interview with “Friend Me” actor Kaci Hinds
    • A conversation with “Back to the Front” writer Jason Lambert
    • Filmmakers and Yankee die-hards – Bradd Bowden and Josh Feinman
    • Salvation Release writer/director – Nikol Hasler
    • An FSC Interview with writer/director Teddy Gyi
  • About the Series
  • The Creative Team
  • Episodios en Español
    • La historia de mi vida
    • Cada 15 Días
    • ¿Qué vas a decir los niños?
    • Me Aceptáron
  • Set Life
    • Set Gallery
  • FSC Gallery
  • Contact us
  • All Episodes

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