W
e’re always hitting the roof with
excitement when Philly Weeden is
having an event or releasing a new
project. If you’ve had the blessing
of seeing any of his productions, then you know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s so amazing to have witnessed the journey of this brother from Cleveland, Ohio. His stage plays and storylines have brightened the lives of so many people around the world, and he continues to grow and inspire with each production he does. In 2014, he released his first film titled “If You Knew Better, You’d Do Better”, and it was met with overwhelming success here in the city. The story was well thought out, and it touched home for so many people. Now, three years later, Philly is showing the film again at Atlas Cinemas, also known to many as Lakeshore Cinemas. His fan base has grown exponentially since the initial release, so it’s sure to be an amazing night for the local Playwright and Film Maker. We had a quick moment to catch up with Philly to talk about the film hitting theaters again.
U.G. Digital Mag: It’s great reconnecting with you Philly. I know “If You Knew Better, You’d Do Better: The Movie” will be playing next week at Atlas Cinemas. Talk about the process of bringing it back, and showing it once again at the theaters?
Philly Weeden: What happened was
I was getting a lot of requests
throughout the year. We did it in
2014, and obviously it’s three years
later. I’ve reached another
platform since then, and many
more people. It’s a lot of
people who support me
now who didn’t know I
had the film. Now, it’s the
right time and place. I
had never been to Atlas
Cinemas before. The
theater is beautiful
man, and they welcomed
me with open arms.
U.G. Digital Mag: You’re really making major moves, and a lot of us have not seen this happen first hand before. We imagine that you write, produce, and direct your film, and then shop it to theaters. It hits and goes to theaters and then that’s it. We haven’t seen before where the movie has run it’s course and then later comes back for another run. You’re setting a lot of precedent and hitting monumental heights in regard to what you do. It’s amazing, and good for our city to see it. You’re one on one with your fans, and see them everyday. You’re not untouchable as a celebrity, and that’s awesome. Kudos for that because you inspire so many people. It’s awesome to see.
Philly Weeden: Thank you. That means a lot to hear it. The key is to just keep breaking ground and stay consistent. A lot of people want the overnight success, but it’s the crawl that matters. You can’t walk if you can’t crawl. It’s an honor to continue to be in contact with you and see the things you’re doing.
U.G. Digital Mag: I appreciate it too man. I travel a lot, but when I see your photo shots down in Atlanta, it makes me want to be there (laughing). We’ve got our issue release coming up too, so it’s pretty big for us. Talk a little bit
about the overall premise
of the film for those who
have not seen it before?