A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES...
Philly Weeden: “If You Knew Better, You’d Do Better” is based on my life. There’s entertainment value added, and you have some things that add a twist to it, but it came about from my first 3 stage plays. Once I had done my first stage plays, I said I wanted to do a film. People looked at me crazy, but I really wanted to do a film. I did another stage play which was the trilogy of what I had done. At that point, I felt it was time. I went to a movie release to watch “Secrets' by Mike Berry, and that inspired me more to do it. I knew at that moment that it could be done, and Mike said let’s do it. I sent him the script, and he sent me the format of how it should actually look. I had never gone to film school. Everything I’ve done has been based on my ambition to do it. He sent me the format, and its definitely a process. So, the movie is about a football player who has been on the big stage, and has witnessed the lights, stars, cameras, and girls, and basically the fast life. When it comes time to settle down, he doesn’t know how. He’s still chasing the dreams, and it catches up to him. He loses everything in the process. Everyone around him is holding onto secrets, and when it all comes out, it’s rather damaging. While it’s about the life and times of a football player, its more importantly about the life and times of someone who has friends who hold things in, and do things in demise behind your back. It’s about finding love, finding yourself, and finding love again.
U.G. Digital Mag: There were a number of things I really appreciated when I saw the film. First, it was a real life story, so it was something that we all could relate to. Many have experienced it. The other piece was watching the movie, we all know you’re a rising talent and continuously growing, but nothing about the film said “up and coming”. This looks like a major studio was behind the film, which proves how hard you’re working. Finally, the alternate ending got me at the end. Its really dope to talk now, and really spotlight this. I can appreciate what you do here for Cleveland in showing that you can have dreams, and figure out what you don’t know. You’ve been around the world with your talent. We had Cocoa Brown on the show yesterday, and when I mentioned you, she happily said she knew who you were and had heard of you there in Atlanta from friends. That speaks volumes for fully established people to know your work at this stage of your career. People know you, and it’s beautiful. I know you’re not in it for all the kudos and accolades, but I know first hand that it feels good to hear it though…
Philly Weeden: Definitely (laughing).
U.G. Digital Mag: So again, congratulations on everything bro! When is it playing, and where are tickets being sold?
Philly Weeden: It’s Sunday, May 28 at 6pm at Atlas Cinemas, and tickets can be purchased at www.phillyweeden.com for $10.
U.G. Digital Mag: Now hopefully they can get tickets at the door, but from your history, they’ll probably sell out online (laughing).
Philly Weeden: Yeah man, we only have like 80 tickets left.
U.G. Digital Mag: So here’s the real question man. How does that feel to know that you have an event, and it sells out like this? Nobody here is selling they’re events out in that way, and I know you know this man {laughing). I know there’s a part of you that sits when nobody is looking or listening and you say “ain’t nobody doing this shit like me” (laughing)…
Philly Weeden: (Laughing) To be real with you man, with every production that I do, I’m not terrified, but I’m nervous about the outcome. I know my plays, I know the story, and I know the production, but people still have to buy into it. You’re only as good as your last performance, so in my mind, I’m always asking did I do enough to get more support.