I am not a filmmaker. I am one person among billions that has been chosen to use film as a mode of conviction. I say this because contrary to popular belief I don’t even know if I’m a fan of film. And since, as I have self identified myself as a film director it seems like I should be at least an avid film enthusiast.My true passion is the human condition. I am a constant observer. A spiritual filter that is forever hungry for knowledge of self and the world at large. I guess you could say I'm an "Edutainment Provider". But one that strives to "Keep It Real" as far as Reality Transformed can be considered reality.So to completely contradict myself. I am a filmmaker. I do not create film content for myself. I do not claim to uphold the greater good. I merely strive to discover truth in my audience. I dedicate this site and my thoughts to you….
THE LOGLINE: A hip-hop A&R decides to turn in his "player card" after he suddenly becomes a single father to his six-year-old daughter.
THE SYNOPSIS: One explores the contemporary challenges of single parent families and shifting gender roles, as a misogynistic, and gregarious hip-hop A&R man is flung into the world of single parent hood. Raising a six-year-old daughter from scratch while still nurturing the careers of two male hip-hop artists, along with a sexually polarized corporate environment, forces him to decide between work and family. Through trial and error, he learns how to care for and love his daughter, devoting more energy to her, while getting frustrated with work. Finally, at the end of his rope, and because of his new priorities he decides to quit. Then his baby’s mother reappears intercepting their daughter at school. Rejuvenated she is ready to do all she can to keep her daughter. Not wanting to put his daughter through a potentially long and onerous custody battle the A&R tries working things out between him and his ex. But when things start to deteriorate, regressing back to why they split in the first pace she decides to go ahead and file for custody. Addressing both the male and female side of the self-actualization question, previously explored in Kramer vs. Kramer. One also explores the urban romance genre akin to films such as Love Jones and Love and Basketball. While at the same time adding to the backdrop the internationally recognized culture of hip-hip.
THE TREATMENT: Travis Best is a self assured hip-hop A&R in search of the next big thing. His new pet project is a young raw artist that goes by the alias Gutta. Between Gutta and Jungle, Travis’s A-list artist and marquee find, he has his hands full. But in his spare time Travis lubricates these special moments living it up, footloose and fancy free, in a sea of wine and women. His weekly visits to the strip club provide him an avenue to relinquish his frustrations and lose himself in his misogynistic fantasy world. On this particular occasion, accompanied by Jungle, Travis seems particularly carefree until Jungle points out a particular stripper in the club. That night Travis ends up in bed with the stripper. The nightcap seems perfect until the moment is stolen by a phone call. An argument ensues between Travis and the person on the other end of the phone. Travis hangs up on the intrusion and turns back to the stripper.That morning while still in bed Travis is jarred out of his slumber by a loud knock at the front door. It’s Renee, Travis’s ex girlfriend, and their child’s mother. Renee’s accompanied by Mia their six-year-old daughter. After a brief interaction with Renee Travis finds himself alone with his daughter.Travis falls into his comfortable role of patriarch for the weekend and spends less then quality time with Mia shopping and getting her hair done. After the weekend Travis whisks Mia back to Renee’s. He proclaims to Mia that he really wishes they could spend more time together. His wish is instantly granted when Renee is nowhere to be found. Travis’s life is suddenly kicked into high gear. Frantically he searches for someone to watch Mia while he tries to return his focus back on his artists. Complications mount as his search is unsuccessful, his complicated corporate A&R politics become even more complicated, and he’s forced to take Mia along for the ride.Once it becomes obvious that Renee has disappeared on purpose it’s only then that Travis finally begins to realize that he has never truly been a father to Mia. This reality terrifies him. Luckily for Travis his daughter, Mia, is no pushover. An old spirit, at just six-years-old, her love and trust in Travis slowly starts to turn their worlds around. Travis finally comes around enough to manage Mia’s daily needs without a fight erupting, a feat he failed at miserably in the beginning. He starts listening to Mia and their relationship blossoms.One day Renee appears at Mia’s school ahead of Travis.In what looks like it could be a very volatile situation Travis digs down to find the compassion and love he has shared with Mia to handle his forced relationship with Renee. The last thing Travis wants to drag Mia through is a court battle so he’s faced with only two options; either walk away and give into Renee or be a man and face the one thing that scares him the most, his love for her.
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