If you agree that “being broke, hot and hungry looking for a job [wearing] the same suit and no haircut” is a “full time hustle” and qualify as traits to describe the worst job someone could ever have, then you and Marques Trusoul have a lot in common.
Here, the sophomore producer discusses his love of filmmaking, how a chance meeting with on-air personality, author and comedian Steve Harvey inspired him and how he wants to make you laugh. –yvette caslin
Current Project: A Boost of Love isone of 11 short films created by the 11Eleven11 Project members under the supervision of Studio 11 Films.
What drew you to this project?
I was first drawn to the project as a whole because of the pitch line – 11 writers, 11 producers, 11 directors making 11 short films in 11 weeks. I have a college degree from AIU-Atlanta in digital filmmaking so as a filmmaker, I understood the value of being one of the 33 learning from the awesome instructors assigned to the project. Also the timing is impeccable to be a filmmaker in Atlanta. As a producer, I was drawn to A Boost of Love because it personally challenged me to pull off all those locations in one day.
Where you were born and where you were raised?
Selma, Ala.’s east side. At around age 10, my family moved to Atlanta. I wasn’t an artist as a child; I was just a kid who grew up fast and had more freedom than normal.
Zodiac Sign:
Sagittarius
What do you hope viewers walk away with after seeing this project?
1) Laughing at old people stealing and telling a friend to check out the short.
2) Asking the following questions: That the film was well produced did they really do it in one day? Those characters are interesting; who wrote that screenplay? It seemed so natural; who directed it.?
Who are your personals idols in the industry?
Will and Jada Smith, 50 Cent, Quentin Tarantino, Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, Spike Lee, Dianne Ashford, Sharon Thomlinson, Mel Jackson and Howard Gibson. The last four have taught me some much during this experience I just want to say thanks for expecting me to deliver when needed and not accepting less.
Performer you would drop everything to go see:
Tupac if he was alive, Gnarls Barkley, Ken Ford the violinist, Lenny Kravitz and Sade.
Pop culture guilty pleasure:
Willow Smith – She rocks hard in a little frame. Travis Porter – they rock too.
What’s on your music playlist?
Rick Ross, Kem, TI, Lenny kravits, 50 Cent, Sade, Tupac, Jay-z and Nas
MAC or PC?
MAC – nothing less
Three things you can’t live without:
Great sex, wealth (monetary and spiritual) and a sharp mind to manifest anything into this reality and beyond.
Most-visited websites:
Boxofficemojo.com, imdb.com, gmail.com, studio11.com and the site I’m designing to raise money for global films.
Last book(s) you read:
Blackroots Science and The Four Agreements.
Last good movie you saw:
Think Like a Man – Steve Harvey is going to make my idol list simply because he can stand with honor in any type of social circle. I remember one time I met him in person, he was a cool guy.
Some films you consider classics:
New Jack City, Dances with Wolves, Matrix, Malcolm X, Apocalypse Now, Red Tailsand Trois – all for different reasons.
Favorite screen or commercial opportunities:
Working alongside 50 Cent and Floyd Mayweather for two years and earning a spot on the Money Team. So tell them I’m free after the 11eleven11 project is completed. Also, working in Nigeria to build the quality of films and get the residual wealth. Really working with people who can balance “productivity and creativity” to continually produce a great product at will.
Previous work?
Priority of Passion, The Valedictorianand Nervous. All short films that bang. That’s why I’m in the program to learn from people who make feature-length films, TV shows, commercials, etc. I love this stuff and I’m going to be one of the greatest filmmakers ever.
(Photo by Tammy McGarity)
