Life Beyond The Lens

Albert Einstein once said, "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." This week’s guest, Travis Wolfe Sr., was born into poverty to parents addicted to crack. At 8 years old he was placed in foster care, where he was starved, beaten, raped, and molested. 

A runaway at 15, homeless by 16; his life looked hopeless. He was told that he would end up dead or in jail, but one day Travis took responsibility for his actions and stopped playing the victim!  

It's no secret that it takes money to create films. Many indie filmmakers don't have the money to invest in their own projects. They resort raising funds, borrowing funds from friends and family, getting investors, or going into debt. There is another way, one that most filmmakers never talk about, multiple streams of income. 

David Tinsley, a filmmaker, engineer, and real estate investor started making films using money saved from his 9-5 job, but more recently real estate investing has created another source of funding for his films.  David is now able to create freely. Free from wondering where the money will come from, and free from the pressure and desperation that comes from making decisions that are often based solely on making a return on investment. 

David talks about: 

• The importance of financial freedom
• Real Estate Investing 
• How to use your 9-5 job as a tool
• Why he created a business for his films
• How he monetized his new feature film

This episode is a must-listen for filmmakers looking for creative ways to finance their films. 

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Navigating the Indie-film business can be challenging and a bad decision can cost you your film, finances, and potentially your career. In this episode, Christina Faith - Entrepreneur, Director, Producer, and Writer discusses how she received 14 distribution offers for her first feature film, Love Your Right: An R&B Musical. 

We also talk about:  

• The Entrepreneur Mindset  
• How not to "Get Got" by distributers  
• How to level up your skills  

Cristina shares so many jewels in this episode, so get ready to learn and be inspired!!

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Marketing is vital to the success of your indie film. Whether you're self-distributing your film or it's being distributed by a company or an aggregator, 99% of the time you must know how to market and promote your film.  In part 1 of this interview, I sit down with Kyle Prohaska, a digital marketing expert. Kyle has helped major studio films, as well as indie filmmakers, reach audiences through digital advertising, specifically using Facebook Ads.  We get deep in the weeds discussing:  

• The first and most important action a filmmaker must take before they make their film.  



• Kyle's blueprint for self-distribution (He's helped numerous indie filmmakers generate a profit with this method).



• How to cut trailers for social media.  



• IOS 14 update and the impact on Facebook Ads/Targeted Marketing.  

If you are serious about indie filmmaking, you need to take notes, and probably listen to this episode multiple times. There's lots of wisdom and information you can apply immediately.  Subscribe, review and share the podcast!  

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Today's episode is powerful. I got my brother Ken Williams on the podcast talking about his new film, Asbury Park. This movie has a star-studded cast and a powerful message. Ken and I go into detail about the journey to make this film a reality. He drops a lot of wisdom for filmmakers to learn and apply!! 

Ken breaks down: 

• How he was able to cast 6 celebrities in his first feature film. 
• The power of sticking to his vision.
• How he waiting 20 years to make a feature, and why? 

I learned a ton in this episode and it inspired me as well. This is a must-listen!!! Subscribe, review and share! 

Follow Ken Here: 

The indie filmmaking landscape has become increasingly difficult for indie filmmakers to make money with their films alone. Many indie-filmmakers still have a traditional mindset, which doesn't work anymore. Filmmakers must understand marketing, budgeting, fundraising, audience building, product creation, and much more. 

I'm excited to sit down with the Creative Activist of Art & Storytelling, and Chicago native, Edwin Walker. Edwin is an entrepreneurial filmmaker who has found creative ways to monetize his films, even during the pandemic, not only for himself but for other filmmakers and artists. Edwin is a producer of a film, Caged Birds which he helped raise $250,000 to produce. He also started a creative space, called Colour Reserve which is a collective space that does pop-up events and cultural exchange ideas for the community and artists.

Edwin's mission as a creative activist of art and storytelling is to truly build an independent creative community in Chicago and curate and facilitate experiences that showcase the evolution of black people. Enjoy this episode and take notes. Remember to subscribe and review the podcast. 

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In the final episode of 2020, I sit down with actress and model, Latisha Thomas. Latisha has had a great 2020 despite the pandemic. She started a TikTok account in March 2020 to promote her first series, I Vow, and has built a following of over 70k in nine months! In this episode, we talk about how she built her following so quickly; her role in my film, I Vow; and how she successfully juggles her family and rising acting career.

Remember, subscribe & rate the podcast. 

This week’s guest is my good friend and musician Chadwick “Niles” Phillips. Chadwick found great success when he left Michigan and moved to New York in 2007. Chad worked for BET, CBS and NYC Fashion Week. Plus he was on a major label called "Koch Records", but one day decided to leave it all behind and do things HIS WAY! This is his story! 

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This week's guest is the inspiring Kalpana Kumar.  She is an up-and-coming writer/director, originally from India, now living in Kalamazoo, MI. 

In this episode I sit down with Actor/Producer Paris Jones. We talk about his acting training at the famous Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute , his beginning as a filmmaker, and his battle with cancer and how he's overcoming his diagnosis. 

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This is a powerful and special podcast!! I invited Paige Alston back onto the podcast to talk about her new film, Meeting Boone and the their fundraiser. Paige also brought, Actor/Producer, Sean Vaughn and Actress, Deborah Lane Spencer on the show to talk about what it took to get the film made.  

To support the Meeting Boone Fundraiser please visit: 

In this episode I sit down with Director and Actor, Daniel Knudsen. Daniel, along with his family started, Crystal Creek Media, a film production company that creates films that address culturally relevant topics from a Christian worldview. Daniel has directed features such as Creed of Gold, Christmas Coupon and most recently, Sky Dog. A film he's also starring in alongside former Superman actor, Dean Cain. 

Follow Daniel here: 

In this episode, I sit down with the amazing Three time, “For Your Emmy® Consideration" actress, Shawntay Dalon of Comedy Central's "Detroiters”, Netflix's "I Think You Should Leave", and recently Freeform's award-winning show "Good Trouble”. We talk about her beginnings as an artist, her activism, how she got the role on Detroiters and her inspiring conversation with Denzel Washington. Listen and share!

Follow Shawntay:

IG: @itsshawntaydalon

FB: @Shawntay Dalon

In this episode, I sit down with my good friend, filmmaker and Emmy Award Winner, Timashion Visionaire Jones. We discuss his documentary, "Africa: Through the Eyes of a Visionaire", his earlier film work, and how his engineering background helped him become a better filmmaker. This podcast is full of gems for aspiring filmmakers.  Enjoy! 

Follow Timashion:

IG: @timashiontv 

FaceBook: @timashion

Film & Documentary Work: 

Africa Through The Eyes of A Visionaire | Trailer: https://bit.ly/3a108Zz

Cody High on Prime Video: https://amzn.to/33tDacz

A Love That Hurts: https://amzn.to/3keOi2J

Life in Osborn: https://amzn.to/3ftt2Tn

Website: 

In this episode, I sit down with the great actor, writer, producer and comic Rico Bruce Wade. We talk about his days writing and performing at the Second City Detroit, his love-hate relationship with comedy, his role as Charles in my film Sincerely, Brenda and much much more!! 

Follow Rico Here: 

FB: @RicoShow

In this episode, I sit down with Lansing’s own Michael McCallum, a filmmaker with over 30 films under his belt. His films have won 187 major awards with over 200 nominations. Besides being a prolific filmmaker, actor, writer, Michael is a great person and very active and supportive in the Lansing film community. He’s always quick to support other filmmakers in various ways. I enjoyed our conversation which ranges from geeking out over classic films, psychoanalysis of characters and actors, our philosophy on directing and much more!!!

Find Michael and watch his work here: 

In this episode, I speak with writer, actor, director and producer, Jezar Riches. We discuss: 

1. Crazy Faith 

2. The Ups and Downs of Creativity 

3. The Power of A Supportive Spouse

And much more.....follow & support Jezar below: