Da Sweet Blood of Randy

"What we can tell you is that it’s an artistic, cinematic experience by a genius movie director and completely open to interpretation. Suffice to say in this film, which is beautifully shot by Dan Patterson, meticulously edited by Randy Wilkins and wonderfully scored, its “less sacrilegious to drink blood, than to spill it...." - Black Enterprise, June 2014

What a journey the last ten months have been for me. Last August, I was an assistant editor working feverishly on Spike Lee's Mike Tyson Undisputed Truth while working equally as hard on a Seed and Spark crowdfunding campaign to raise money for our web series Docket 32357. Fast forward to today and I am the editor on Spike's new film Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, while our web series has premiered online (see it here) receiving wonderful feedback from the public. I feel like I've matured by ten years in ten months. I can't really describe what I'm feeling at the moment because I am still in the middle of a whirlwind. I never thought my name would be mentioned in a film review by Black Enterprise for editing a legend's film. I quote honestly never thought I would create web based material allowing folks to binge watch a story that I love so much. It just goes to show how far persistence, hard work and commitment can get you. I hope the trend continues upward. I want to increase my impact and I want to inspire. I want to be a standard for artists and the general public. I feel really good about things right now and I feel even better that I'm surrounded by wonderfully talented people who push me every day. I hope you all get a chance to check out Da Sweet Blood of Jesus  when it hits theaters and check out the Docket 32357 Web Series now!

The Docket 32357 Crowdfunding Campaign

I have to be honest with all of you. I didn't expect or anticipate the success of the Docket 32357 short film. I knew the film was strong in all aspects of the craft, but I was privately unsure if people would like watching two women hold a conversation on a bench. It turns out that people were really interested. We were constantly asked what happens next. We were told by our audience that they wanted to see more. We decided we would satisfy that demand with a web series. We really feel strong about this narrative. One of the reasons is the focus on multi dimensional women characters. I'm really excited that Docket features two strong women leads in a dramatic series. But in order for this series to come to fruition we need a communal effort. We recently launched our crowd funding campaign through Seed and Spark. We have a wish list of all the essential items we need for production and post production. We have awesome incentives like tickets to our premiere, roles in an episode, cooking recipes from Lois and other great packages. We really want to foster a community with Docket and would love for you to be a part of it. Please consider backing us by clicking on this link

If you can't make a contribution please consider tweeting, emailing, facebooking (is that a word?) or even following us on the Seed and Spark page. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much.

Docket 32357...The Web Series

The great thing about doing a short film is you can tell an engaging story in a limited amount of time and effectively impact an audience well beyond the screening. The downside to that is if people enjoy the film you are constantly asked "why is it so short?" "why can't we see more?" I'm joking about the downside part because that obviously means people were into the work. Most of the time my answer is some non-sensical, random attempt to evade the question. Well, this is one of the rare times when I can say you're gonna find out exactly what happens next. I am really proud and excited to announce that Docket 32357 will be developed into a web series! A brief history about Docket before we move forward. Eljon wrote the piece as a full length play. I turned the first scene of the play into the short that has done so well. We are essentially adapting the feature length play for the computer screen. We will delve into the lives of Lois and Valerie. We'll know more about the court case. We will be introduced to the ladies' husbands. And we'll see how their story ends. This is a new endeavor for me because I've never done something that was targeted for the web, but I am really excited to take this challenge on. I will be blogging more about our journey to get this done. I hope you will come on the ride with me as we make this web series. As always, thank you for supporting me, the crew and the film.

Docket 32357 Screening on the Huffington Post!

As you can tell from the title of this post I have some exciting news to share with you all. Our short, "Docket 32357," is the inaugural film of the Huffington Post's Black Voices Breakthrough Theater film series. The film is available for the next week in its entirety. I ask that you all take 15 minutes of your time to see what I have been posting about over the last couple of months. I also ask that you please like, share, tweet, instagram, reddit, share of on google + and email your networks about this screening. We really need all the help we can get in spreading the word. Just as important are your comments on the film. We would love to hear feedback from our audience. This is really exciting and I would have NEVER thought the film would have an opportunity like this. Docket has gone through a wonderful journey up until this point and I hope it continues. Please join us for the ride. You can see the film at the Huffington Post here.

Docket 32357 is an Official Selection of the Montreal Black International Film Festival

I am proud to announce that Docket 32357 is an Official Selection of the Montreal Black International Film Festival. This is our Canadian premiere and the film's 19th selection. This has been a tremendous run for us and I'm really excited that the film is a part of this festival. A friend of mine, Donald Conley who directed "Sleep" the winner of the festival's Best Short Award, had some great things to say about it so I look forward to experiencing it. I think this is one festival where we will be live blogging and posting pics of since we've missed out on attending some other great festivals with the film. It's a great feeling to see that the film is still finding venues to play in and hopefully the run will continue. Thank you to all cast and crew and thank you to all of those that continue to support Docket.

Docket 32357 is an Official Selection of the Newport Beach Film Festival

So we have one more announcement to make today and that is Docket 32357 is an Official Selection of the 2013 Newport Beach Film Festival. This selection has a story behind it that I would like to share. When the film screened last summer, a representative from Newport Beach approached Eljon and I. She introduced herself and proceeded to tell us that the story in the film was eerily similar to something that she lived through not too long ago. She had a pretty strong emotional reaction to the film and was appreciative that we made it. At that point, Eljon and I didn't care as much about her affiliation with the festival, but were happy we could make an impact on her like we did. It was fulfilling. So it is special for us that we are a part of the program this year. I will definitely be in CA for this screening. I can't believe how much love the west coast has given the film. It is really humbling. If you are in the area the festival runs from April 25th - May 2nd and I will give specific details when I get them. And as always congrats to the cast and crew.

Docket 32357 is an Official Selection of the Langston Hughes African American Film Festival

I am proud to announce that Docket 32357 is an Official Selection of the Langston Hughes African American Film Festival in Seattle. This is a festival that I have been eyeing for a couple years now because of the good things I've heard about it. I'm happy that we are a part of the program. I've never been to Seattle so I'm hoping it works out that I can attend the screening. When I get more info I will post it on here. Congrats to the cast and crew.

Docket 32357 is an Official Selection of the Los Angeles Women's International Film Festival

Docket 32357 will be returning to the Los Angeles area as an Official Selection of the 2013 Los Angeles Women's International Film Festival. We are excited to be a part of the program. The Los Angeles filmmaking community has been really supportive of the film and we appreciate that a great deal. We look forward to a great festival

Docket 32357 is an Official Selection of the Phoenix Film Festival

Docket 32357 will be a part of the 2013 lineup for the Phoenix Film Festival, which will take place April 4th through the 11th. We are really excited to be a part of the Prime Shorts Showcase, which is a category representing "strong films that were notable, recognized and handpicked by our festival leadership." This is festival selection number 15 and I'm excited that the film continues to gain exposure while playing in cities in the country I have never had a film play in. I'm gonna try my best to make it to this festival so there is the potential for some blogging coverage of the event. Congrats to the cast and crew on yet another accomplishment.

Docket 32357 is an Official Selection of the Dam Short Film Festival!

I'm proud to announce that our short film "Docket 32357" is an Official Selection of the 2013 Dam Short Film Festival in Boulder City, Nevada! This is our first festival screening for the New Year and I'm really proud to be a part of this wonderful festival. It takes place February 6-9. Congrats to the cast and crew and thank you everyone that has supported the project.

Docket 32357 Wins Audience Choice Award at IBFFN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyvZgcQpTVg&feature=youtu.be&a It is with great pride and excitement that I announce Docket 32357 is the winner of the Audience Choice Award at the 2012 International Black Film Festival of Nashville. It is a great honor to receive this award that reflects the people's interest in our work. It is humbling and inspiring to know the public enjoyed the result of the cast and crew's dedication and hard work for the film. We were also nominated for Best Short Film. There may be an added benefit for winning the award, but I will have more info on that in due time. I want to congratulate Eljon Wardally, Jessica Karen Brown, Tara Gadomski, Ashley Denise Robinson, Kiel Perry, Ryan Denmark, Jeff Pinilla, Blair Doroshwalther, Jon Altman and everyone else who made the film come to life. It is a shared accomplishment.

The announcement comes around the 6:16 mark if you want to skip right to it, but take a look at all the winners.

Docket 32357 Screens at Inaugural IBFFN Online Festival!

The International Black Film Festival of Nashville is stepping into the online world for this year's installment of the festival. We are honored to announce that Docket 32357 is a part of this historic lineup. The festival runs from Thursday, December 13 - Sunday, December 16. Docket will be screening ALL DAY on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15th. I will post more details about the screening (i.e. link, pricing, etc.) as soon as I receive it. Being that this is an online festival you will be able to check the film out wherever you are through your computer, ipad or cell phone. It will run all day  Saturday with an encore screening the next day at a specific time slot. Please take the time out to see the film. I will have more information soon. Thanks.

Docket 32357 Screens at Imagenation's Sangria Sundays

I apologize for not being as active with the blog lately, but I have been putting most of my writing energy towards my feature script "The Gunnery." I wanted to bring you all up to date with future screenings of Docket 32357. If you are in the NYC area during Thanksgiving weekend, please come out to Imagenation's Sangria Sundays in Harlem for a featured screening of the film. The event is at Raw Space, 2031 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. (bet. 121st & 122nd Sts.), New York, NY 10027 on NOVEMBER 25TH from 3-7pm. Here is an example of a past Sangria Sunday event: http://imagenation.us/ai1ec_event/sangria-sundays/?instance_id=55425. The tickets are $5 for admission and that comes with a complimentary glass of Sangria or Sorrell. So please come out, be in good company, have a drink and check out Dockt 32357 to end your holiday weekend. I hope to see you there!

Docket 32357 Earns a Nomination in Birmingham, England!

Docket 32357 is a nominee for the Best Short Film Award at the 2012 Birmingham Black International Film Festival! This is our second official selection from an international festival. It is awesome to see our film can span across different borders and entertain different regions. It's also nice to be recognized as a nominee for an award. The festival runs from October 20th to October 28th and the awards ceremony is October 27th. Congrats to the cast and crew and a special thank you to all of the film's supporters!

Thank you Docket 32357

Eljon Wardally. Jessica K. Brown.

Tara Gadomski.

Ashley Denise Robinson.

Kiel Perry.

Jeff Pinilla.

Blair Doroshwalther.

Sauniell Connally.

Ryan Denmark.

Kia M. Neal.

Jonathan Altman.

These wonderful talents, along with many others, have allowed "Docket 32357" to achieve success on the festival circuit in a relatively short amount of time. With our latest acceptance, the film has now reached ten selections. This landmark means a great deal to me. Docket was created because I wanted to keep my directorial skills sharp and I wanted to remain relevant to various film audiences. Eljon wrote a strong piece and it provided an opportunity to achieve those two goals. My hope was that our film would play in a couple festivals nationwide and showcase the talents of everyone involved. Now I can say with confidence that my expectations have been exceeded. It feels good when your work has an opportunity to be shown in front of diverse audiences that you haven't had a chance to engage with in the past. It is also satisfying because our determination to overcome numerous challenges is being rewarded by the overwhelming positive responses the film has received. I was a little concerned when I first took on the project because it is a simple premise in one location. But that concern dissipated when I trusted the talent around me and had faith that the audience will be engaged if we told the story with quality and care. Docket 32357 reminds me of why I love being a filmmaker. The adrenaline rush of being on set and the excitement of interacting with moviegoers. It is addictive. I wouldn't want it any other way.

Docket 32357 is an Official Selection of the Bahamas International Film Festival!

We are making our international debut of Docket 32357! Actually, this is my first opportunity to screen any film of mine outside of the continental United States so this is pretty special. We have been selected for the Bahamas International Film Festival in December. In addition to being a part of a great festival, I am happy to be a part of the program because I met Executive Director, Leslie Vanderpool, in 2005 at the old 40 Acres and A Mule office while interning on Inside Man. She mentioned the festival and it was always one I wanted to have a film in. Now I have that opportunity and who doesn't like watching films while hanging out on the beach? I can't wait for this one. If you're looking for a quick vacation in the sun come down to Nassau and hang out with us.

Screening and Ticket Info for Urbanworld Screening of Docket 32357

Hello Everyone, Tickets are now available for the New York premiere of "Docket 32357" at  the Urbanworld Film Festival. The screening times are SEPTEMBER 21st at 3:15PM and SEPTEMBER 22nd at NOON. Both screenings will be held at the 34th Street AMC Theater in Manhattan. You can purchase tickets at the theater box office or you can purchase them here. I hope to see you all there. Thank you.

Docket 32357 is an Official Selection of the Louisville International Festival of Film

I am pleased to announce that Docket 32357 will be a part of the 4th Annual Louisville International Festival of Film in October. We are excited to be a part of the program. It is awesome that the film continues to get exposure in various regions of the country. It gives us an opportunity to add to our audience for not just Docket, but for future projects as well. We look forward to a great screening in the city of Louisville.

Docket 32357 will screen at Lady Filmmakers Festival in Beverly Hills

I am proud to announce that Docket 32357 will be screening at the 4th Annual Lady Filmmakers Film Festival in Beverly Hills! The festival runs from September 28th-30th at the WGA Theater. We are excited to be a part of the festival's program. It is also great to see that the film is beginning to get exposure in various regions of the country. It feels good that people are responding well to the story. I hope to see some of you in Beverly Hills.

LA Thoughts.

I'm proud of myself. And it is probably for a reason that you wouldnt initially expect. I'm proud of the film. I'm proud of Eljon's writing. I'm proud of Tara, Ashley and Kiel. I'm proud of Jessica's hard work and commitment. I'm proud of our awesome production and post production crew. But that isn't what I'm talking about here. I'm proud because I was pro active in representing my work. I've visited different festivals around the country in the past, but for some reason this trip stands out. I think one of the main reasons is because I feel like I'm closer to one of my greater goals. It is more important than ever that I connect to people that I intend to entertain, educate and engage with my stories in the near future. This trip out west is some ways a symbol for what lies ahead of me. One of the most critical things an independent filmmaker must accomplish is connecting with his or her audience. Making yourself available to the people who will be coming to see your stories. I was a little hesitant to make the trip because of the travel and the costs, but it was all worth it. I got to experience people invest in Docket 32357. I got to live the film with the audience. I had an opportunity to meet some really good filmmakers who share the same goals as I do. I made pretty significant connections and also realized that in order to make this thing work I have to have a presence everywhere. I feel like I grew in some ways and I wasn't anticipating that at all. I made the right decision. I'm pretty proud of that.