Movies have been declared dead more times than I can count, and well before I became a filmmaker. Every decade, someone swears it’s over.

Television was supposed to kill movies.
Home video was supposed to kill movies.
Netflix! (To be fair, streaming) was definitely supposed to kill movies.

And ye...

I’ve always considered myself a natural teacher. I love sharing what I know about filmmaking—much to the chagrin of a few crew members who’ve had to sit through my impromptu “mini-lessons.” I’m constantly fielding calls from filmmakers asking for advice or direction.

There used to be a saying: t...

Every filmmaker has that one story they wish they could redo — not because the film turned out bad, but because life had bigger lessons waiting behind the lens.

For me, that story starts with my grandmother.

Family Is the Original Studio

I come from a big family — the kind where family reunions a...

Or: How to Take Feedback Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Movie)

I recently went to a works-in-progress event where three filmmakers screened unfinished films and received live audience critique.

Sounds brutal, right? Surprisingly, most of the feedback was positive—and even the criticism came fro...

Hey Filmmakers,

When I directed Maya & Her Lover, I wasn’t new to the industry. I had over two decades of experience working on everything from gritty indie projects to big-name studio productions with HBO, Lionsgate, and Amazon. As I mentioned in my previous post, The Myth of the First Film, Maya ...

The moment I realized I fumbled a once-in-a-lifetime shot at John Singleton — and what that taught me about readiness and timing.

Back in the 90s, when I was just starting out, I was a full-time PA working at Barden Cablevision in Detroit, Michigan. I worked in the Ad Sales department. We produced ...

Hey Filmmakers,

I’ll let you in on a little secret: the industry loves to play the “first” card.
“First-time filmmaker.” “Debut feature.” “First nomination.” You name it. It’s a marketing hook—one that helps build hype and make headlines. Because let’s face it, people love a good origin story.

If y...

I’m an old-school filmmaker. Raised on Hollywood glamour, groomed by the ’90s indie movement — so I’m equal parts Technicolor dream and guerrilla hustle. I am not a content creator (though, if I were, I’d probably be making more money) I’m like a DJ who swore by LPs until Spotify (or whatever tech r...

Dramatic, I know. But hey, I’m a writer—it comes with the territory.

If you hang around film sets long enough, you’ll pick up the lingo. Some terms everyone knows—“Quiet on set,” “Action,” “In the can.” Others are insider shorthand: 10-1 means bathroom break, C-47 is just a clothespin and the Abby ...

When it comes to production, somehow, some way, it always works out. On a daily basis, you’ll hear someone say, “It’ll work out”—until it doesn’t. I was producing and directing a music video for a local artist in Detroit. I had already directed one of his videos, and it had good word of mouth. Peopl...