Check out my first video Q&A featuring none other than the cast of the hit Vimeo series Cheetah In August. With me I have Brentley Bawn, Dontà Morrison, Brandon Moten, and André Myers.
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FILM | PRODUCTION
INDUSTRY TALK: Q&A (DIRTY CARLEONE)
FACEBOOK: UNARMED: DON'T SHOOT
I’m pleased to be interviewing this next artist. Anyone who knows me personally can say I’m a bit of an activist. So when I came across Dirty Carleone and his film to spread awareness and shed some light on all the murders that’s been going on in the Black American community I knew I had to get the story. So In his own words I will have Mr. Carleone (writer, director, and actor) explain what his docu-film “Unarmed: Don’t Shoot” is all about...
“Unarmed: Don't Shoot is a reality film based on the things that has been going on across America relating to police involved killings. In my film it shows both sides of the story, from a victim's point of view as well as from an officer's point of view. Production is slated to start in October. This film will be executive produced by G.O.D.N. Entertainment and also produced by India B. It was written by Dirty Carleone and also will be directed by Dirty Carleone, and Co-written by Sasha Brown. I have a cast including- Lil Scrappy of Love and Hip Hop Atlanta and national recording artist, also two newer members from Love and Hip Hop Atlanta, T - Man and Alja Kamillion; they both are G.O.D.N recording artist and Alja is also signed to Sony Records. Also Miss Chee from Master P's label No Limit Forever will be in the film, and last but not least Snootie Wild of Yo Gotti's CMG music label. We have a diverse cast- including blacks, whites, Hispanics, and more. Filming will take place in Louisville, KY and Indianapolis Indiana.”
R|A: Thank you Dirty for reaching out to me about your project. I think it's important for the community to be aware of what's going on in order to make a difference. Please tell myself and the readers: What made you decide to create this project?
D|C: Well it's an ongoing issue today in our communities, and not just the black communities it's happening all over. I felt as an artist, a writer, a filmmaker, and just as an individual that promotes positive and productivity in America I just felt like it was my duty to write this movie and to do this film, because it's something near and dear to my heart; I lost a family member that was killed in the prison system by the guards.
R|A: You have a star studded cast, how were you able to obtain these artist?
D|C: I have personal and business relationships with most of the individuals you speak of and due to me being an artist signed to the GODNENT (Gentlemen of Distinguished Nature) entertainment company and with the label also being the Executive producer on the film, it was kind of a no-brainer to utilize the platform and perks that has been set in front of me, and when the individuals seen what the movie was about, the jumped straight on board.
R|A: Now you have many titles as writer, director, and actor- how long have you been in the industry? How did you get your start?
D|C: Well it's been roughly 5 or 6 years on the film side of things. I've been doing music since I was 8 years of age and I've always been curious about making movies. I try not to put myself in a box. I don't want to be known for just being Dirty Carleone the rapper, (naww) that doesn't suit me well, because I'm more than just a rapper. I'm a writer, director, actor, editor, amongst other things.
R|A: What lessons/advice do you wish someone would have given you upon entering the industry?
D|C: The only thing I would say is to get you a solid team that is loyal. That's not going to run, give up, or leave you hanging at the first sign of adversity or things not moving fast enough or whatever the case may be, because nothing happens overnight. The world even took 7 days to get built.
R|A: What are you hoping to accomplish with Unarmed: Don’t Shoot?
D|C: I hope that the reality of this film can touch people across the world and that people realize that all lives matter. I also want to show people that all civilians are not criminals and all cops are not saints, and vice versa... because there are both sides to this story. I also would like for people in the near future to see this project and be like ‘man that was a great movie, from the script, to the direction, to the casting, to the acting, and down to the producing,’ and whenever they see a movie that's attached to Carleone Films, G.O.D.N. entertainment, and India B, they will automatically know that it will be a great one, and one that they go and support. Whether it's watching it in the theater, or purchasing the dvd, or streaming it on netflix, or whatever the case may be.
R|A: Why’d you decide to film your movie in Kentucky and Indiana? I know many actors around the globe think they have to live in Hollywood or NYC to book work, but you’re changing the market.
D|C: Simple, Louisville Kentucky is where I currently reside and my project manager is located in Indianapolis Indiana and she was able to get a school up there to film some of the scenes in. And I try not to let where I'm at crutch me. I try to make my way no matter where I am.
R|A: When can we expect to see Unarmed: Don’t Shoot and on what platform are you looking to showcase it?
D|C: Well by the summer it should be ready, and my executive producers are working on a few deals now as far as the platform.
R|A: Will you circulate the film through film festivals, or have you found a distributor and will release it on dvd?
D|C: Well honestly we are looking to do a theatrical release for it, so I got my fingers crossed on that.
R|A: Of the many Black Americans murdered these last few years who will you be focusing on indepthly? Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner…?
D|C: No one in particular, I'm just painting the picture of what is taking place in the society we live in and paying homage to all the lives that were lost.
R|A: What most important piece of advice would you say has helped you in life as an entertainer and as a black man?
D|C: I never get discouraged no matter what obstacles may cross my path.
R|A: As a black man I grew up with this stigma about police officers. I was always told how to act. I later became a criminal justice major and realized that the training used to keep me alive was also keeping me in the margin of society. How will this film educate young black men and women on knowing their rights as citizens of The United States, but also as human beings of this planet?
D|C: See that's the thing- our rights have been violated tremendously, we have been treated like animals since slavery. There has been little to no justice for stereotyping and prejudice behavior in the past. So I honestly don't know, because when you are taught to be civil in certain situations and that’s not good enough what do you do? But then we’re told we have the right to freedom of speech, and it seems as though that right is automatically taken away from us when we encounter law enforcement. Somehow our freedom of speech becomes intimidating to authority figures; they feel threatened and of course you know what that can lead to... upon being arrested a good cop will read your miranda rights- we have the right to remain silent... and when we remain silent they take it as if we are ignoring them, and that we are being disrespectful for not answering their questions. So what are our rights? What is the correct way to act when you encounter law enforcement? Or better yet, do we even have rights anymore?
