1) Can you talk briefly about your background, and how you first got interested in filmmaking?

I was born in Jamaica, and, as an only child, I spent a lot of time by myself there. I developed a robust imagination. And so, for me, film and television has always been an outlet for my creativity. Ultimately, I went to college at Howard University and was intending on pursuing a career in law, but because I wanted to make a difference in the world, I quickly learned through watching movies and TV shows that you can really change people's hearts and minds and expose them to different experiences. I had a life-changing moment with my father when we went to see Hotel Rwanda. He is normally stoic, but he was on the edge of his seat and deeply engaged, and I realized I needed to change my major from political science to film.

2) What was the initial idea for this project and how did it evolve from there?

J. Mallory McCree, the lead actor in the film, had brought to my attention a newspaper article about a black male artist who suffered from mental illness, and his life spiraled in a violent direction. We wanted to explore what it means to be a Black artist in America who is grappling with racism and trying to navigate the often frustrating and limiting world of art, as well as the stigma of mental illness for Black men.

3) What was the biggest challenge in making this film? And the easiest part?

The biggest challenge was, honestly, just raising the money. We put up some money ourselves and crowd-funded for post-production. The easiest part was the creative collaboration. It was a joy to work with my producers Kady Kamakaté, Ebony Hardin, and J. Mallory McCree, as well as the actors that brought their creativity and brilliance to the screen.

4) What’s a film you’ve seen recently, new or old, that you really loved and why?

I really loved THE FAREWELL. I think it's such a well-done film that deserved many more accolades. It's funny, it's grounded, it's real, and it highlights a community that is underserved when it comes to narrative representation.

5) What’s next for you?

I have a couple of TV shows that I've sold that I'd like to see made, and a couple film projects in the works as well that I can't speak too specifically about.

—

https://www.iamrochee.com/ | IG: @i.am.rochee