THIS CAN'T BE LIFE is a film about ambition, struggle, sacrifice, resolve, persistence and faith...and those are exactly the things that it took to bring this film to fruition. Without any of the former, this film could not have been made.
AMBITION, is what was needed to complete the screenplay. After long nights working in live television I'd come home most nights ( or early morning's i should say) at 3 am. From then on I would open up my laptop and crank away at the script. Several friends and colleagues offered their opinions of either pushing back the start date of the project or just simply " wait for the proper funding."
STRUGGLE, what they did not know was that I was a freelance editor at NBATV who had just been laid off from work. I had nothing but time on my hands with no money just good old fashioned determination. In order for me to keep going I had to embrace it. I took my plight as a sign from God. It was time to make a movie. From day one I knew that completing this film would become one of the hardest things that I would ever do. Resources were limited. Money was scarce and time was against me. During pre-production my co-producer and original cast bailed on me, propelling me to re-cast and re-group a new team. While, in production it was no holds barred: actors ran late and locations were switched.
SACRIFICE, a huge commitment had to be made to wrap the film in the 2 week schedule I had alloted for. Any extra time spent on production would not be conducive to my living expenses so time was not an ally. I had to make a sacrifice: no shopping, no clubbing and no dating. My cast & crew would make their own sacrifices. They worked for no pay and committed themselves to this project and all because they believed in the story and its potential.
RESOLVE, in just about a week before production I had realized that the money needed to do the film was not going to come in. A decision had to be made either give up and fold or strap up and hold on, we chose the latter. I was tapped out financially so I was forced to whip out "old faithful"....my credit card.
PERSISTENCE, yell out any cliche' "Refusing to lose " " Only the strong survive! " " When the going gets tough, the tough get going" as corny as they all may sound...those are the chants I had to keep telling myself. With problems of wardrobe malfunctions, switching locations and the weather complications I had to continue.
FAITH, i took that bold leap of faith....believing, knowing, hoping, praying that this film does for everyone else what it has done for me, which is provide me with the faith that things will get better and brighter days are upon us.
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This Can't Be Life" will be playing in the 2008 San Diego Black Film Festival on January 30th 2009 at 5pm
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