"FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIQ"

INTERVIEW: KIM “GOODLOOK” SEABROOK

VALIDATED: YOU STATED YOU WERE BORN IN THE BRONX BUT RAISED IN THE STREETS. DIFFERENTIATE THE TWO FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW.

TY POWELL: WHEN PEOPLE SAY NEW YORK THEY ARE USUALLY TALKING ABOUT SOMEWHERE IN THE TRI-STATE AREA UNLESS THEY SPECIFY OTHERWISE. PART OF THE TRISTATE AREA IS MADE UP OF THE FIVE BOROUGHS THE BRONX, QUEENS, MANHATTAN, BROOKLYN AND STATEN ISLAND. I WAS BORN IN THE BRONX BUT BECAUSE I HUNG OUT IN DIFFERENT AREAS I SAY THE STREETS RAISED ME BECAUSE I TOOK A BIT OF KNOWLEDGE FROM IT ALL.

VALIDATED: YOU ARE A WRITER, AN AUTHOR, A MENTOR, A MOTHER AND MORE. DO YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT TO JUGGLE SO MANY POSITIONS?

TY POWELL: YES, THERE ARE DAYS WHEN I HAVE TO USE EACH OF THOSE HATS ON THE SAME DAY BUT IT’S RARE.

VALIDATED: HOW DO YOU FIND BALANCE?

TY POWELL: I KNOW IT ALL HAS TO GET DONE NO MATTER WHAT SO I TRY TO TACKLE ONE THING AT A TIME AND KEEP IT MOVING.

VALIDATED: YOUR RESUME SPEAKS VOLUMES.

TY POWELL: THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT.

VALIDATED: DISCUSS YOUR EXPERIENCE IN WORKING WITH LL COOL J.

TY POWELL: IT WAS DOPE AND IT WAS THE INITIAL REASON WHY I STARTED CONSULTING ARTIST AS THEY STARTED TO PURSUE THEIR CAREERS. LL WAS IN LA WORKING ON HIS TV SHOW "IN THE HOUSE" SO I WASN’T ABLE TO LEARN FROM HIM THE WAY I WOULD HAVE LIKED BUT I MET SOME DOPE PEOPLE WHILE I WAS WORKING THERE, PEOPLE WHO I AM STILL IN TOUCH WITH TODAY.

VALIDATED: YOU HAVE HAD SOME TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES IN YOUR LIFE WHICH LED YOU TO BE OPEN AND WRITE YOUR BOOK "FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIQ". DESCRIBE SOME OF YOUR EXPERIENCES AND WHAT LED YOU TO SHARE THEM WITH THE WORLD.

TY POWELL: I GREW UP IN THE SYSTEM AS A "WARD OF NEW YORK STATE" WHICH BASICALLY MEANS NEW YORK STATE WAS MY MOTHER AND MY FATHER. I WAS SUBJECTED TO MOLESTATION, VERBAL ABUSE AND PHYSICAL ABUSE AT A YOUNG AGE WHICH LED TO LOW SELF-ESTEEM, AND FEELING UNWORTHY FOR THE MAJORITY OF MY LIFE. IT IS ONLY WITHIN THE PAST 6 YEARS THAT I REALIZED THAT THOSE EXPERIENCES WERE THINGS THAT I WENT THROUGH AND NOT WHAT I AM. I STARTED THE BOOK AS THERAPY SO IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO REALIZE ALL OF THE GOOD THAT WAS POSSIBLE AND I FIGURED THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE POSSIBLY GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING. MY GOAL WAS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THEY AREN'T ALONE AND THERE IS LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL FOR REAL!

VALIDATED: THE BOOK ALSO BECAME A SHORT FILM DIRECTED BY CHAD QUINN WHICH WAS NAMED "BEST OF THE FEST" AT THE HIP HOP FILM FESTIVAL. HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT?

TY POWELL: WE WERE OUT IN LA WORKING ON ANOTHER PROJECT CALLED "PERCEPTIONS" AND WHEN IT WAS OVER CHAD, RASHONDA (THE ACTRESS THAT PLAYS MY GRANDMOTHER IN THE FILM) AND I HAPPENED TO BE TALKING. I MENTIONED TO CHAD THAT I HAD WRITTEN A BOOK AND I WOULD LOVE TO GET HIS OPINION AS A WRITER ON THE BOOK AND WHERE I WAS GOING WITH IT. I DON’T BELIEVE IT WAS EVEN A WEEK BEFORE WE WERE ON THE PHONE AND CHAD WAS TELLING ME IT WAS THE NEXT PROJECT THAT WE WERE ALL GOING TO WORK ON. A YEAR AND A HALF LATER WE WERE FILMING.

VALIDATED: DESCRIBE THE FEELING YOU HAD WHILE WATCHING YOUR LIFE ON THE BIG SCREEN.

TY POWELL: WATCHING IT IN ITS ENTIRETY STILL ISN’T AN EASY TASK SO I WATCH WHAT I CAN WHEN I CAN.

VALIDATED: HOW EMOTIONAL WAS THAT EXPERIENCE FOR YOU?

TY POWELL: IT’S BEEN EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL. I CAN’T TELL YOU THAT IT GETS EASIER BUT I WILL SAY THAT WITH EACH TIME I WATCH MY LIFE ON A BIG SCREEN I GET STRONGER KNOWING THAT I MADE IT PAST THAT POINT AND I HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO EXPERIENCE IN LIFE!

VALIDATED: WAS IT DIFFICULT FINDING THE RIGHT CAST FOR THIS FILM?

TY POWELL: THIS WAS A PROJECT BUILT AROUND LOVE & FAITH SO NOT REALLY. FOR THE MOST PART CHAD AND I KNEW WHO WE WANTED FOR MOST OF THE ROLES. BETWEEN THE BOTH OF US WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF PHENOMENAL TALENT AROUND US AND WAS ABLE TO PULL FROM OUR RESOURCES WHEN WE HAD PARTS THAT DIDN’T FIT OUR LIST.

VALIDATED: WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THIS PROJECT AND YOUR CAREER IN GENERAL?

TY POWELL: MY GOAL FOR THIS PROJECT PRIMARILY IS FOR ANYONE WATCHING THE FILM OR READING THE BOOK TO KNOW THAT IT GETS BETTER. MY GOAL FOR MYSELF IS TO MENTALLY, SPIRITUALITY, EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY MAKE THE SUN SHINE WITHIN EVERY SINGLE DAY.

VALIDATED: BESIDES THIS BEING YOUR LIFE STORY WHAT ROLE DID YOU PLAY IN THE FILM?

TY POWELL: I WAS AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND PER USUAL WHENEVER I’M ON A PROJECT I DO WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE. I PUT THE PRODUCTION TEAM TOGETHER, APPROVED CLOTHING AND DID HAIR. BECAUSE IT WAS MY LIFE AND I AM STILL COPING WITH IT ALL I WASN'T ABLE TO WATCH MOST SCENES BEING FILMED SO MY TEAM HANDLED EVERYTHING ON SET.

VALIDATED: YOU HAVE HAD A VERY DIFFICULT LIFE, NOTHING EVER CAME EASY BUT YOU MADE IT LOOK THAT WAY.

TY POWELL: WELL THANK YOU FOR THE MAKING IT LOOK EASY PART.

VALIDATED: HOW DO YOU HELP MOTIVATE OTHER WOMEN WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCES TO KEEP PUSHING FORWARD AND BECOME A WINNER NO MATTER WHAT OBSTACLES THEY HAVE FACED?

TY POWELL: THE WAY I BELIEVE I HELP MOTIVATE WOMEN IS BY SAYING, "LOOK I KNOW IT ISN'T EASY BUT IF I CAN DO IT SO CAN YOU!" I PROMISE YOU DURING THIS PROCESS I WASN'T SURE I WASN'T GOING TO MAKE IT AT ALL. THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE OBSTACLES AND PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO SAY IT'S NOT POSSIBLE BUT I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN FOR ME SO I KNOW IT CAN HAPPEN FOR THEM AS WELL. YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF WHEN OTHERS DON'T. THAT'S THE THING (EUREKA MOMENT)! IT'S NEVER A COMPETITION BUT IF SOMEONE ELSE HAS IT THEN IT HAS TO BE OBTAINABLE WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE TO GO FOR IT. AND IF WHAT YOU WANT DOESN'T EXIST MAKE IT EXIST! I WANT TO SEE EVERYBODY MAKE IT AND GLOWING SO LET'S FIGURE IT OUT AND IF I CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE DURING THE PROCESS I WILL.

VALIDATED: MUSIC HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN YOUR LIFE. YOUR CONNECTION WITH MUSIC, HOW HAS IT INFLUENCED YOU?

TY POWELL: IT’S FUNNY BECAUSE I RECENTLY READ AN ARTICLE FROM EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT SAYS SCIENTIST FOUND 15 BENEFITS OF LISTENING TO MUSIC. FOR EXAMPLE, MUSIC REDUCES DEPRESSION, HELPS YOU SLEEP BETTER, AND IT MAKES YOU HAPPY, JUST TO NAME A FEW. I SAID ALL OF THAT TO SAY, MY MIND AND BODY MUST HAVE KNOWN THAT BEFORE THE SCIENTIST DID BECAUSE IT WAS MY GO TO NO MATTER WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN MY LIFE!

VALIDATED: WHAT WOULD YOUR LIFE BE WITHOUT MUSIC?

TY POWELL: NON-EXISTENT! THERE ISN'T A TIME IN MY LIFE WHERE I DIDN'T HAVE MUSIC SO I CAN'T IMAGINE A LIFE WITHOUT IT.

VALIDATED: HOW CAN THEY BUY THE BOOK AND WHAT IS YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA?

TY POWELL: THEY CAN BUY THE BOOK THROUGH AMAZON OR THROUGH MY WEBSITE WWW.MSTYPOWELL.COM. MY SOCIAL MEDIA IS - @MSTYPOWELL OR @FORTHELOVEOFMUSIQ (INSTAGRAM), @FORTHELOVEOFMUSIQ1 (FACEBOOK) AND FLOVEOFMSUIQ (TWITTER).

VALIDATED: YOU INITIALLY STARTED YOUR CAREER IN LAW. HOW DID YOU TRANSITION TO BECOMING A WRITER, PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR?

CHAD QUINN: THE FUNNY THING ABOUT THAT IS I’VE ALWAYS BEEN A STORYTELLER AT HEART. BEEN WRITING SHORT STORIES SINCE I WAS 13 AND I KNEW EARLY ON THAT I WANTED TO DO FILM BUT IT JUST DIDN’T SEEM LIKE A REALISTIC GOAL. WHILE STUDYING BUSINESS AT TEMPLE UNIVERSITY I ACTUALLY PLACED IN HBO’S PROJECT GREENLIGHT COMPETITION FOR MY SCREENPLAY. BUT ONCE AGAIN, I WASN’T READY TO TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO MOVE FORWARD AND ACT ON FAITH. AFTER I GRADUATED FROM TEMPLE I WENT TO STUDY LAW AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW. I WILL SAY THE TIME THERE DEFINITELY HELPED ME GROW IN MY CRAFT AS I SPENT HOURS ON TOP OF HOURS, RESEARCHING AND WRITING. HOWEVER, IT WASN’T UNTIL I MOVED BACK TO JERSEY, HAD NO JOB AND WAS LOOKING AT A PREGNANT WIFE WHEN I WAS LIKE IT’S NOW OR NEVER. WHEN I GOT BACK WORKING, ANY DOWN TIME I HAD, I SPENT WORKING ON MY CRAFT. A FRIEND TOLD ME TO DEDICATE AT LEAST TWO HOURS A DAY TO THE WORK, EVEN IF IT WAS CRAP. I WENT FROM SIMPLY WRITING AND WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO SEE MY WORK, TO DECIDING TO CREATE AND FUND MY OWN PROJECTS.

VALIDATED: EXPLAIN THE SACRIFICES IT TOOK TO LEAVE CORPORATE AMERICA AND PURSUE YOUR PASSION.

CHAD QUINN: NATURALLY, PURSUING ANY DREAM IS GOING TO BE A BIG SACRIFICE; FINANCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, MENTALLY, ETC. I SPENT MANY NIGHTS THINKING I WAS CRAZY AND OR DOUBTING MY ABILITIES. I CAN’T COUNT HOW MANY HUMBLING EXPERIENCES I’VE BEEN THROUGH DUE TO REJECTIONS, CRITIQUES, AT TIMES, PEOPLE LITERALLY DISMISSING MY WORK AS SIMPLY A HOBBY, BUT THE BIGGEST SACRIFICE WAS THAT MY WIFE AND FAMILY HAD TO ENDURE. BECAUSE THIS WAS MY DREAM, BUT MY DECISIONS HAD A DIRECT IMPACT ON OTHERS AROUND ME. AND TO BE CANDID, AT TIMES, THAT WASN’T FAIR SO I HAD TO FIND THAT BALANCE OF GRINDING FOR WHAT I BELIEVE GOD HAD FOR ME WITH STILL BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT AND PROVIDE FOR MY HOME. SO THERE WERE MANY DAYS I WOULD AND STILL WORK 10-12 HOURS.

VALIDATED: YOUR WORK HAS BEEN IN SEVERAL FILM FESTIVALS AND BOUGHT BY NETWORKS. DID YOU EVER THINK YOUR WORK WOULD BE HIGHLIGHTED THE WAY IT HAS?

CHAD QUINN: I DID, AND I DON’T MEAN THAT TO BE ARROGANT. TO DO THIS WORK, YOU TRULY HAVE TO BELIEVE IN YOUR SUCCESS BEFORE IT’S REACHED. IF YOU EVER APPROACH ANY PROJECT WITH THE MINDSET THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE THIS, YOU CAN BET THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE IT. I APPRECIATE THE MOMENTUM THE WORK HAS RECEIVED, BUT WE STILL HAVE SO FAR TO GO. I WILL SAY THE SUCCESS CAN BE DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE FAVOR GOD HAS GIVEN ME, THE WORK I PUT IN, AND THE TEAM I SURROUND MYSELF WITH.

VALIDATED: YOUR LATEST PROJECT WAS AT THE HIP HOP FILM FESTIVAL WHICH WAS AWARDED BEST OF THE FEST "FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIQ" A MEMOIR OF TY POWELL. HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THAT FILM?

CHAD QUINN: WELL TY AND I FIRST MET ON SET WHILE WORKING ON ANOTHER PROJECT OF MINE AND WE JUST HIT IT OFF. SHE JUST HAD THIS GO-GETTER MENTALITY THAT I TRULY RESPECTED AND APPRECIATED. WE THEN WENT ON TO WORK ON ANOTHER SHORT FILM I WROTE (PERCEPTIONS) THAT WE WERE SHOOTING IN LA. TY’S HELP WAS TRULY INSTRUMENTAL INTO BRINGING THAT PROJECT TOGETHER AND DURING THIS TIME WE STARTED TO LEARN ONE ANOTHER OUTSIDE OF THE WORK. BETWEEN TAPING SHE ASKED ME TO READ THIS BOOK (FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIQ) THAT SHE WROTE ABOUT HER LIFE. I WAS IMMEDIATELY DRAWN TO HER STORY AND THE HUMILITY SHE SHARED IT WITH. AFTER I READ IT, SHE WAS LIKE OK BET, SO WILL YOU WRITE IT AND DIRECT. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT OMARR (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, ACTOR), ONE OF BROTHERS AND CREATIVE PARTNERS HAD ALREADY PUT THE BUG IN HER EAR THAT THIS STORY NEEDED TO BE SHARED WITH THE WORLD AS A MOVIE.

VALIDATED: THIS WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL FILM ABOUT ONE OF YOUR CLOSEST FRIENDS. WAS IT DIFFICULT TO BRING HER EXPERIENCES TO LIFE?

CHAD QUINN: DEFINITELY. EVERY OTHER STORY I’VE TOLD HAS BEEN MY OWN SO FIRST AND FOREMOST I WANTED TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF HER BOOK AND HER LIFE. IT’S ONE THING TO TELL SOMEONE’S STORY, BUT ANOTHER WHEN THEY ARE LITERALLY ON SET WITH YOU RELIVING MUCH OF THE TRAUMA AND TRIALS THAT OCCURRED TO THEM IN REAL LIFE. I WROTE ABOUT 10 DIFFERENT VARIATIONS OF THIS SCRIPT BEFORE WE EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT SHOOTING BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GOT IT RIGHT AND THAT TY WAS HAPPY.

VALIDATED: HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT FINDING THE CAST FOR THIS FILM?

CHAD QUINN: FOR THIS FILM THERE WERE A FEW ACTORS I KNEW FOR SURE I WANTED FOR SPECIFIC ROLES. ANDREA RACHEL PARKER (DESTINY) IS SOMEONE I KNEW IMMEDIATELY I WANTED TO PLAY THAT ROLE. WE’VE WORKED TOGETHER IN THE PAST (#TRENDING) AND I JUST KNOW WHAT LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM AND RANGE SHE BRINGS. MALINDA WILLIAMS (NARRATION) IS A GREAT FRIEND AND ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP OUT SO SHE WAS A GODSEND. THERE WERE A FEW OTHERS LIKE TRAVQUE, KAJUANA, OMARR, CISCO REYES AND CHANCE THAT I’VE WORKED WITH ON PAST PROJECTS AS WELL AND KNEW I COULD LEAN ON THE BALANCE OF HAVING PEOPLE I’M FAMILIAR WITH ALONG WITH SOME NEW TALENT. ADDITIONALLY, TY BROUGHT ME SOME PEOPLE THAT SHE KNEW AND ALSO FAMILY MEMBERS TO TRULY MAKE THIS EXPERIENCE AUTHENTIC.

VALIDATED: WHAT DOES BEING A DIRECTOR ACTUALLY ENTAIL?

CHAD QUINN: HA, A LOT. AN INDIE DIRECTOR WEARS SO MANY DIFFERENT HATS. ONE MINUTE YOU’RE BLOCKING SCENES OR SELECTING SHOTS THEN THE NEXT YOU COULD BE HELPING TALENT THROUGH SOME LINES OR PLAYING PART-TIME THERAPIST, MOTIONAL SPEAKER, NEGOTIATOR, ETC. TO BE SUCCESSFUL YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE MANY DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES AND BE AN EXPERT PROBLEM SOLVER. MUCH LIKE ACHOREOGRAPHER, A DIRECTOR HAS TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT TALENT IN POSITIONS TO SUCCEED AND GIVE THEM A SPACE TO MAKE THE WORK THEIR OWN.

VALIDATED: BEING AN AFRICAN AMERICAN WRITER AND DIRECTOR HOW WOULD YOU STILL KEEP THE INTEGRITY OF OUR PEOPLE IN AN INDUSTRY THAT HAS MADE IT UNFAVORABLE FOR US?

CHAD QUINN: GOOD QUESTION. FOR ME THE ANSWER IS TO KEEP THE STORIES HONEST AND DON’T GO CHASING TRENDS OR WHAT YOU THINK THE PEOPLE WILL WANT. I LOVE BEING BLACK AND I LOVE MY BLACK A** EXPERIENCES AS WELL. IT’S IMPORTANT TO BUILD OFF THIS MOMENTUM WE HAVE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT’S "FAVORABLE" TO BE A BLACK STORYTELLER RIGHT NOW. ATLANTA, INSECURE, BLACK PANTHER, SORRY TO BOTHER YOU, MOONLIGHT, QUEEN SUGA, THE COMMONALITY IS THE RICHNESS THAT THESE STORIES ARE TOLD WITH. WE ARE SUCH A NUANCED PEOPLE AND THAT’S WHY IT’S FRUSTRATING TO CONTINUE TO SEE MORE OF THE SAME. SO MANY TIMES WE ARE REDUCED TO TELLING STORIES LEADING WITH SEX, VIOLENCE OR DRUGS. AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THOSE STORIES, THEY ARE REAL, BUT WHAT’S BENEATH THE SURFACE THAT NEEDS TO BE EXPLORED? I SEE SO MANY HOOD PROJECTS THAT CONTINUE TO SHARE THE SAME NARRATIVE, BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO GREW UP IN THE HOOD THAT AREN’T THUGS OR DRUG DEALERS. AND CONVERSELY, THERE ARE MANY BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE WHO ARE FROM THE BURBS OR HAVE TWO PARENT HOMES, ETC. THE STORIES I TELL DEAL WITH THE HUMAN CONDITION. IT’S ABOUT HUMANITY, MY PERSPECTIVE WILL ALWAYS BE COMING FROM A BLACK LENS, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY EXPERIENCES AND HAPPENINGS THAT RUN DEEPER THAN THE COLOR OF MY SKIN.

VALIDATED: ANY INSPIRING WORDS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BE IN THE FILM INDUSTRY?

CHAD QUINN: BE YOUR NUMBER ONE FAN, THERE WILL BE MANY LONELY NIGHTS AND QUIET MOMENTS, BUT KEEPING THAT BELIEF IN YOURSELF WILL HELP YOU SUSTAIN THE ENERGY IT TAKES TO PUSH THROUGH. FIRST ASK YOURSELF WHAT IS YOUR REASON FOR WANTING TO CREATE. ARE YOU DOING IT FOR THE ART OR THE NOTORIETY? GET YOU A TEAM! NOBODY ACCOMPLISHES THIS DREAM ALONE. GET SOME PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE IN YOU AND THE WORK. PLAN, PREP, PRAY, EXECUTE. KEEP GOD FIRST THEN GET TO THE WORK.

VALIDATED: WHAT IS YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA INFO?

CHAD QUINN: @CUTTYQ ON INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER.

VALIDATED: A LONG TIME MUSIC LOVER, PRODUCER AND ARTIST, YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY FOR OVER 25 YEARS. DESCRIBE YOUR EARLIEST MOMENTS IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU.

OMAR SALGADO: MY EARLIEST MEMORY GOES BACK TO THE EARLY 90’S. I WAS PART OF A GROUP CALLED INDEGO MANAGED BY TOP TEN ENTERTAINMENT WHICH ALSO MANAGED ARTIST LIKE QUASHAWN, DINKY BINGHAM, TRENDS OF CULTURE AND JOE. WE WENT ON TO RECORD RECORDS WITH ARTIST LIKE NAUGHTY BY NATURE, WU TANG, LORD FINESSE OF DITC AND DOITALL OF LORDS OF THE UNDERGROUND JUST TO NAME A FEW. MY INSPIRATION IN MUSIC COMES FROM MY FATHER, GRAMMY NOMINATED LATIN PIANO PLAYER YEYO SALGADO.

VALIDATED: YOU ARE CEO OF GROWN MAN SPORT AND NUSWING ENTERTAINMENT INC. WHAT KIND OF COMPANIES DO YOU RUN AND WHAT DO THEY OFFER?

OMAR SALGADO: NUSWING ENTERTAINMENT INC IS AN ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY I DEVELOPED BACK IN 2010. I USED IT MOSTLY TO HELP LAUNCH MY SOLO CAREER AS AN ARTIST. I RELEASED MY FIRST SINGLE WOM EZ "CRAZY" IN JUNE OF 2010. GROWN MAN SPORT CAME LATER IN 2013 FIRST AS A CLOTHING COMPANY FOR THE WELL-DRESSED MAN. WE CONCENTRATED ON TIES, BOWTIES AND OTHER ACCESSORIES. IN THAT SAME YEAR I WROTE AND FILMED AN INSPIRATIONAL PSA CALLED "A TIE NEVER BROKEN" AS A PROMOTIONAL TOOL FOR THE GMS LINE. THE FILM WAS SO WELL RECEIVED THAT IT MADE ME START THINKING ABOUT FILM THUS PROMPTING ME TO BECOME A FILMMAKER. AT PRESENT GROWN MAN SPORT HAS TRANSITIONED INTO A FULL SERVICE FILM/PRODUCTION COMPANY.

VALIDATED: YOU HAVE PRODUCED A FEW FILMS AND THE MOST RECENT IS "FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIQ" A MEMOIR OF TY POWELL. HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN BECOMING A PART OF THAT FILM?

OMAR SALGADO: TY POWELL AND MYSELF HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR OVER A DECADE. SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF WRITING HER BOOK AND WAS ALMOST DONE. AT THE SAME TIME I JUST FINISHED SHOOTING MY THIRD SHORT "PERCEPTIONS" AND WAS LOOKING FOR THE FORTH ONE. TY CALLED ME ONE DAY AND ASKED IF I WOULD READ HER BOOK. AFTER READING HER BOOK IT BECAME CLEAR TO ME WHAT THAT FORTH FILM WAS GOING TO BE. I REACHED OUT TO CHAD QUINN WHO WAS ALSO THE WRITER OF "PERCEPTIONS" AND TOLD HIM ABOUT IT. TY SENT HIM THE BOOK AND AFTER A FEW CONFERENCE CALLS WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO MAKING "FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIQ" THE MOVIE.

VALIDATED: THIS WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL FILM ABOUT ONE OF YOUR CLOSEST FRIENDS. AS A MAN WAS IT DIFFICULT TO WATCH HER LIFE EXPERIENCES?

OMAR SALGADO: IF YOU KNOW TY POWELL THEN YOU KNOW HER HEART AND IF YOU KNOW HER HEART YOU KNOW WHAT AN AMAZING PERSON SHE IS. NOT IN A MILLION YEARS WOULD I HAVE GUESSED SHE HAD GONE THROUGH ALL THOSE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE. I WAS SADDEN BY SOME OF THE EVENTS IN HER LIFE BUT FOUND JOY IN HER RESILIENCE TO STILL STAND STRONG DESPITE HER CIRCUMSTANCES. TY POWELL IS AN EXAMPLE OF STRENGTH AND OVERCOMING THE IMPOSSIBLE. AS A MAN, AS A HUSBAND AND AS A FATHER I VOW TO DO BETTER IN PROTECTING OUR WOMEN AND OUR YOUTH.

VALIDATED: WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MORE, BEING IN FRONT OF THE CAMERAS OR WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES?

OMAR SALGADO: FUNNY THING IS WHEN I EMBARKED ON MY FIRST SHORT FILM "TWO DAYS IN HARLEM" I WAS ONLY INTERESTED IN BEING BEHIND THE SCENES. AS IT WORKS OUT I ENDED UP PLAYING A LEAD ROLE AND TOOK ON EXECUTIVE PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITIES. AT HEART I’M A CREATIVE SO I ENJOY THE PROCESS FROM A TO Z.

VALIDATED: WHAT DOES BEING A PRODUCER ACTUALLY ENTAIL?

OMAR SALGADO: A FILM PRODUCER IS ONE WHO OVERSEES THE PRODUCTION OF A FILM FROM CONCEPTION TO COMPLETION. THIS MAY ALSO GO AS FAR AS THE MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION PROCESS.

VALIDATED: WHAT ARE YOUR OVERALL CAREER GOALS?

OMAR SALGADO: ULTIMATELY I WANT GMS TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A FILM COMPANY KNOWN TO SET THE BAR BY THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX. GROWN MAN SPORT WANTS TO TELL THE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE. CREATE DISCUSSION AND DIALOG THAT BRINGS SOLUTION TO SUBJECTS THAT ARE RARELY TALKED ABOUT. WE WANT TO PAY HOMAGE TO OUR UNSUNG HEROES AND SHED LIGHT ON THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT CHANGED OUR WORLD.

VALIDATED: YOU HAVE A SON WHO IS INTO MUSIC. WHAT ARE YOU SHOWING HIM ABOUT THE BUSINESS?

OMAR SALGADO: YES HIS STAGE NAME IS "RETRO K!D". AS A FATHER I SIMPLY SUPPORT HIS DREAMS AND AMBITIONS BUT AS A FELLOW ARTIST I’M SHOWING HIM THE REALITY OF THE BUSINESS WE CALL ENTERTAINMENT. I CONSTANTLY PRESS UPON HIM THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING A LEADER. AS A KING RAISING A KING IT’S IMPORTANT THAT HE UNDERSTANDS THAT HE COMES FROM ROYALTY. I’M SHOWING HIM THE IMPORTANCE OF HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO YOUR CRAFT. SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY AND NOT WAITING FOR ANYONE TO HAND THINGS OVER TO YOU. HE IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON HIS EP WHICH SHOULD RELEASE THIS FALL 2018. AS A RESULT I AM GUIDING HIM IN THE PROCESS OF MARKETING AND PROMOTION OF HIS BRAND AS WELL AS THE DISTRIBUTION OF HIS PRODUCT.

VALIDATED: ANY INSPIRING WORDS FOR THOSE LOOKING TO BE IN THE MUSIC OR FILM INDUSTRY?

OMAR SALGADO: STAY TRUE TO WHO YOU ARE. NEVER COMPROMISE THE REAL YOU FOR FALSE FAME AND FORTUNE. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH LIKEMINDED PEOPLE, REMAIN HUMBLE AND ALWAYS PROTECT YOUR SPIRIT. FOLLOW THE UNIVERSE AND STAY BUSINESS SAVVY.

VALIDATED: WHAT IS YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA?

OMAR SALGADO: WWW.GROWNMANSPORT.COM

@OMARRASALGADO ON INSTAGRAM

@GROWNMANSPORT ON INSTAGRAM

OMARR A. SALGADO ON FACEBOOK

GROWN MAN SPORT "GMS" ON FACEBOOK

@OMARRASALGADO ON TWITTER

@GROWNMANSPORT1 ON TWITTER

VALIDATED: A BRONX NATIVE, OWNER AND EXECUTIVE CHEF FOR ELLE FOOD AND DRINK, YOUR BUSINESS SPECIALIZES IN SEVERAL SERVICES SUCH AS CATERING, EVENT PLANNING, COOKING CLASSES AND MORE. HOW HAS IT PLAYED A FACTOR IN THE FILM "FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIQ"?

ELLE DANIELS: ON SET FOR "FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIQ" I PROVIDED CRAFT SERVICES (BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND SNACKS).

VALIDATED: YOU ARE ALSO A CELEBRITY CHEF. WHO HAVE YOU WORKED FOR AND TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH WORKING WITH SOME NOTABLE PEOPLE.

ELLE DANIELS: YES, I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO WORK WITH SOME VERY TALENTED PEOPLE. I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF FEEDING JILL SCOTT, MUSIQ SOULCHILD, JASMINE SULLIVAN, THE ROOTS, THE LATE JOHNNY COCHRANE, NBA FRONT OFFICE EXECUTIVES, VARIOUS PLAYERS AND STAFF OF THE PHILADELPHIA 76ERS, THE NY LIBERTY, THE NY RANGERS AND THE NY KNICKS INCLUDING ISIAH THOMAS, PENNY HARDAWAY, DIKEMBE MUTUMBO, AND STEPHAN MARBURY AND NOW MOST RECENTLY THE WONDERFUL CAST OF "FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIQ"! THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT COME TO MIND RIGHT NOW.

VALIDATED: HOW WAS IT WORKING WITH TY POWELL, OMAR SALGADO AND CHAD QUINN?

ELLE DANIELS: EASY PEASY!!! TY IS MY SISTER FROM ANOTHER MISTER SO WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER WITH EVERYTHING ANYWAY. I MET OMARR AND CHAD THROUGH TY AND WE HAVE ALL BEEN ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY EVER SINCE. EVERYONE ON SET WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL AND EASY GOING. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN AND A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

VALIDATED: WAS THIS YOUR ACTING DEBUT AND COULD YOU SEE YOURSELF PLAYING MORE ROLES IN THE FUTURE?

ELLE DANIELS: EXCEPT FOR A FEW SCHOOL PERFORMANCES THIS WAS DEFINITELY MY ACTING DEBUT. LOL I WOULD DEFINITELY TRY MY HAND AT IT AGAIN. AND I’M THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

VALIDATED: DESCRIBE THE FEELING OF PLAYING A ROLE THAT WAS CONNECTED TO YOUR BEST FRIEND. WAS IT DIFFICULT TO GET INTO CHARACTER FOR THIS ROLE?

ELLE DANIELS: ACTUALLY IT WASN’T DIFFICULT. INITIALLY I READ THE BOOK AND OF COURSE TY AND I TALKED ABOUT IT. I GREW UP ON SOME OF THE SAME STREETS TY GREW UP ON (BOOGIEDOWN BORN AND RAISED). SO I KNOW THE WOMAN I PORTRAYED AND WOMEN JUST LIKE HER; SHE SMOKES TOO MANY CIGARETTES, DRINKS TOO MUCH SODA OR BEER, MAD AT ANYTHING POSITIVE BECAUSE HER LIFE ISN’T. THEN OF COURSE THE MAKEUP HELPED THE UGLY ATTITUDE. LOL

VALIDATED: KNOWING WHAT TY HAS BEEN THROUGH PERSONALLY, HOW WAS IT TO WATCH IT ACTUALLY COME TO LIFE ON FILM?

ELLE DANIELS: (DEEP BREATH) IT WAS GOOD… IT WAS GOOD BECAUSE HER AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT SO MUCH AND I KNOW JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS FOR HER TO GET THIS STORY OUT HER HEAD AND ON PAPER. AND I ALSO KNOW HOW HARD IT WAS FOR HER TO SHARE THIS STORY. IT HAS BEEN THERAPY FOR HER. FOR THAT THOSE OF US THAT LOVE HER ARE DEARLY GRATEFUL.

VALIDATED: EVERYBODY HAS A STORY AS I AM SURE YOU DO TOO. DOES ANY OF TY'S STORY RELATE TO YOU IN ANY WAY?

ELLE DANIELS: LIKE I SAID I GREW UP IN SOME OF THE SAME STREETS SHE WROTE ABOUT. AND WE BOTH SHARE LOSING OUR MOTHERS AT A YOUNG AGE (I WAS 5). OTHER ASPECTS OF THE BOOK I HAVE LIVED OUT VICARIOUSLY THROUGH SOMEONE ELSE’S STORY.

VALIDATED: AFTER WATCHING "FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIQ" DO YOU FEEL INSPIRED AND MOTIVATED TO HELP THOSE WHO HAVE ENDURED ABUSE, NEGLECT OR PAIN?

ELLE DANIELS: ABSOLUTELY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, TY AND I WORK AT THE SAME GROUP HOME SHE GREW UP IN. I PROVIDE LOVE AND SERVICE THROUGH FOOD. I AM THE CHEF AND CULINARY ARTS INSTRUCTOR. MY GOAL IS TO PROVIDE THE CHILDREN WITH A SKILL THAT THEY CAN HONE INTO A JOB OR CAREER OR JUST A SKILL THAT CAN BE USED TO FEED THEMSELVES OR TO HELP OUT IN THE HOUSEHOLD THEY BECOME A PART OF.

VALIDATED: WHAT ARE YOUR OVERALL CAREER GOALS?

ELLE DANIELS: I AM CREATING A FOOD PRODUCT LINE AND A LINE OF COLD PRESSED JUICES. I WILL CONTINUE TO CATER AND PROVIDE MEAL PREP TO MY CLIENTS. AND I AM LOOKING TO OPEN A RESTAURANT/HOMEBASE HERE IN NY AND IN ATL.

VALIDATED: WHAT IS YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA INFO?

ELLE DANIELS: INSTAGRAM ELLEFOODANDDRINK:

FACEBOOK: ELLE FOOD&DRINK

WEBSITE IS UNDER RECONSTRUCTION… COMING SOON!!

Troy HendricksonJanuary 9, 2019