Bring the Avalanche: How to Turn Rejection Into Motivation — with Maurice Proffitt

Gotta get up, get up Tell the whole world you a winner, winner vision of a star with a mission in the cause what you doing, how you doing?What you're doing and who you are Flex yourself and press yourself Check yourself, don't wreck yourself if you know me then you know that I be knowing what's up.

Hey, Stephanie.

Graham is nosey. WLPN LP Chicago 105.5 FM Lumped radio. Hey, Chicago, welcome to Two O'. Clock. What a dream to be here with you on Saturday.Today is a fun conversation that we have planned for you because we have Maurice Proffitt in the building, and I have a fun intro that I wrote up to share.So today on the show, we've got someone whose story is wildly good, the king of the kind of creative who's been shaped by rejection, rebuilt by community, empowered by a stubborn belief in making space for people who don't fit the mold. Maurice is here with me live, and we're getting into it.The childhood sparks that made him a storyteller, the moment he stopped waiting for permission, the fear of success he had to outgrow, and the twist that almost made him quit. If you ever felt overlooked, underestimated, or right on the edge of something big, this conversation is for you.So, listener, as you're out and about today, I hope you enjoy. Maurice. Welcome to Nosy AF live on Lumpedin.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. And no, I'll take the king of creatives.

Yeah, no take.

I'll totally take that as well.

So I edit myself.

Nah, nah. Yeah, we can let that sit for a little bit and enjoy it. But. Yeah, but. No, but thank you so much, Stephanie, for having me on the show.I am so excited about being here. I'm so, so geeked about being here right now.

Man. Let's just get into this whole fear of success. That's something that motivated you, right?

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. You know that I remember hearing that. That phrase the first time back in high school. I was taking this business. This business class.It was like a. It was kind of like a general introduction to business course that you take in high school.And I remember the teacher at that time saying that phrase of the first time I ever heard it was fear of success. I did not understand what that even meant remotely, because I'm like, why would you fear.Why would you have an instilled fear of succeeding, of being able to go forward, even grow? Like, I didn't get what that meant. And. And that's time.So that always kind of like Kind of sat with me, you know, and I feel it was a reason to sit with me because that. That term allowed me to understand, like, where.Like, where we are, like, collectively in life when it comes to, like, when it comes to progressing, when it comes to, like, you know, like, getting to that next. That next pinpoint that we want to achieve. And even though, yeah, we want to have. We want to be able to strive for that next.That next level in our lives, struggle for that next level in our lives does come with a lot of responsibility. And it comes with a lot of, like. And it comes with a lot of understanding that you are going to be challenged all the time.You will always, you know, be, you know, faced with, like, some type of adversity, some type of plight, you know, whatever may have you, because you're going to this next level and whatnot.

And.

And doing that, though, having to face that responsibility really is very daunting. You know, it's not the most attractive part of, you know, of the process.But what I've learned, though, is that with all of those things being thrown. Thrown in your direction when it comes to all, like, the hurdles that you have to. That you have to endure to be able to be able to grow, that's the.That's the point is to be as growth that comes from it. And that right there, to me is like, a true testament of, like, you know, can you really, truly handle this type of success that's.That's being brought to you? You're going to have to face an avalanche of problems, you know, on. On the. On this way up.But if you're able to endure that, then you'll become better than what you were the. The previous day. So to me, it's like, cool. Bring the avalanche. Yeah, bring the avalanche.Bring the tidal wave of problems that's going to come with this, because to me, it's going to be worth it in the end knowing that I was better than what I was 24 hours ago.

Yeah, there was this. I think it was.Maybe American Express had this fun commercial where it was like, these furniture designers and it was like, obviously promoting a credit card. But the furniture designer's like, man, we gotta order some more furniture. And his partner's like, why? He's like, we're all out of furniture.He's like, what if this keeps happening? And he was just, like, freaking out in his face. Like, you gotta use more money. Like, oh, my God. He's like, that is the point.Like, this is what we want to do. We wanna Grow. We wanna grow.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And Right, exactly. And you know, because obviously everyone want.Everyone likes the idea of, you know, being able to, you know, be able to like, level up and be able to go into a much, a much higher direction. And, you know, everyone likes that. Everyone wants that.And you know, everyone wants, you know, if you work like a 9 to 5 especially, you know, you want the promotion. You know, you go into the entry level job saying, okay, I'm gonna do this entry level work.I'm gonna do, you know, like, you know, the office admin to work or, you know, whatever may have you, whatever the entry level job is. And what do people say? People say, now I'm going to work my way up. You always hear people say, I'm going to work my way up and all. And that's great.That's great to have that type of ambition because you want to think bigger than what you were thinking yesterday, you know, but when. What happens a lot of times when people do actually are.When they actually are offered, you know, that next level of opportunity, the response, like I told earlier, the responsibilities get a lot heavier and. And you have a lot more eyes onto you as you are being held accountable for so much more. Are you able to handle it, though?You know, are you able to handle it? So. And a lot of times people will draw back from that when they say, oh, wait, I gotta do extra work, I gotta put in extra hours.I gotta be here later. I gotta do ABC and xyz. Maybe that entry level job is cool. I'm good with that. I'm good with that. For real. But, you know, and that's fine.And that's fine because at least at that point, you are being honest with yourself.

Yeah.

You know what I'm saying? You're being honest with yourself. If you know that that's not. I don't want to take that big of a. Of a bite from the cookie.I'm cool with the crumbs, you know what I'm saying? But there is somebody else that's going to want to take that large bite.

Of the cookie, period. Yeah. Well, you feel me, you dream big. You have lots of goals. You've done so much. You have.Is it two production companies, B side Productions and Dreamscape?

Yes.

Yeah.

Yes, yes, yes.

Tell us about. So before B side, before theater, before film, who was Little Maurice, Because y', all, Maurice is a director.Is that how you classify yourself as a director?

A producer.

Producer. Okay, okay, okay. A producer. So before B side, like, tell us, like little Maurice, like, where were you imagining? Where were you drawing, performing?Like, what hinted that you were, you know, a storyteller.

So. Oh, man. I mean, this is, this is so. It's, it's so many. I mean, we got an hour.

This is going to be a 16 hour.

Yeah, this is. Right. This is, this is episode one of many seasons, I was saying.But no, you know, in a nutshell, really, you know, as far back as I can remember, and, and I know this might be sounding like a little cliche and everything, but this is the God honest truth. You know, I've. I've always been inherently invested into the arts in some way, shape or form. When I was younger, I wanted to do nothing but draw.I was drawing everything that I could. You know, I even had my own little cartoon skits and cartoon. Little comics that I would make for myself and everything.And my friends, we trade them off of each other and everything. We had our own characters, original characters.And that's what introduced me to the art of, into the love of story, of just storytelling in general, was being able to create a character, you know, with my hands and be able to put them into this problem and see how they're going to resolve it.So in my mind was, okay, you got to understand how to be able to tell the story, how this character is going to get from this situation to that situation. And so it was all about the in between and, you know, and building those benchmarks to have them get to that conclusion that I wanted to get them to.You know, I'm like, okay, how do I get them to this, this last part of the panel where they were, they're the, they're the victors. Yeah, we, we, we, we win. So that's what really, you know, brought me into the, the area of storytelling.And then from there it just kind of graduated. From there I would, you know, I was, I started to write poetry, you know. Cause like, you know, school, we got introduced to poetry.And then, you know, when you're in school, you do short stories. And I always loved it when we did, when we wrote short stories, you know, in our, our English classes and whatnot, you know.And then like one day I had, I had this urge because I had a story in my mind where I just wanted to just open, you know, open. Boot up the computer.Because when we had the computers with the big back, you know, the big back computers, boot that bad boy up, you know, go into the word processor and just let my fingers roll and let them go and then just write a story that I had in my mind and everything thing. And then it just kept snowballing, to be honest with you.It just kept snowballing where I got to a point where I could actually have this into a much more. A much more structured and conducive environment to be able to. To be able to bring stories to like, ideas to life into the form of a story.And so, and because, you know, like, you know, when you get into that. That space, you just like, okay, I. I want to do. I want to do this, I want to do that.You know, you have all of these ones want of what you want to, you know, compile, but you don't really have direction on how to be able to, like, how to be able to contain it and be able to put it in the. In. In the right direction to be able to get to, you know, like, you know, like that. You know, to be able to get to that. Like that.That area where, you know, everything kind of makes sense and it's much more clear, you know. So that was learning process in its own. But eventually. Eventually it got to a point where after so many.So many opera tries and tries and tries, on my end, trying to become like a. Like a residential director, a residential writer, a residential whatever may have you with a lot of, like the.The playhouses here in Chicago, you get rejected after rejected after rejected so many times, you know, and the thing is that you. I had. I'm just gonna be honest with you. I had so many.I had so much in terms of ideas in my head of, like, what was missing from the Chicago creative scene, what could be applied, what I was able to bring to the table as well, just based off, like, the experience I already had previously, you know, in the suburbs and all that good stuff and everything, and what I could, you know, how I. The kind of value that I wanted to bring. And so I would go into these. I would go into these.These applications and even sometimes these interviews just with a bursting with like, so much, like, enthusiasm of showing, like, you know, hey, you know, bring me onto your team and, you know, we can. And we can. We can elevate together because I want to see us all grow. You know, my. My. My. My way of thinking is like, you know, let's.Let's collaborate. Let's work together and whatnot.But learning the hard way of how, unfortunately, how political a lot of this stuff is out here, you know, when it comes to the. The Chicago.The Chicago creative scene, you know, you learn the hard way that, you know, when you're not part of these little cliques that, that, you know, that, that, that, that surround the city and everything. You're not part of these little like these in inside groups. You know, you're always going to be kept on the outside.So to me it was like, okay, cool, keep me on the outside. That's perfectly fine.Because from the outside I'm gonna, I'm gonna show you, I'm gonna show you from the outside what we are, what we are doing outside. And why, why you on the inside? You want to be outside when you see what we out cooking.

Right? Yeah. It's like, okay, I can just do my own thing. Like I don't have to do things with you guys.

Yeah, exactly. Right, right. Because you know, cuz, like. Cause to me, at a certain point, Stephanie.

Mm.

It was like I got tired of asking permission to be great.

Yeah.

I already know. I already know what I'm able to bring value wise. I already know this already. All right.And to me, it became kind of silly when I kind of thought about it. Where I'm like, here is so and so who I've never met in my life. I've never even heard of who you are.And I had to prove to myself, to you, that I am good and I am me. And then you had the nerve to evaluate me.

Right.

You can miss me with that.

Oh, yeah. Yeah. Especially like if you have something inside of you that you want to create.You know, I've heard this, I've heard this with lots of creatives where even, even talent who's like, in Hollywood, you know, they're like, they're not getting the parts that they want or you know, the opportunities that they want. So they just make them themselves.

Absolutely, absolutely.And, and that's the thing is that like, I don't want to come off as like, I want anyone listening out, out in rail and like, like, who's this arrogant? So and so.

No, this is meant to encourage, inspire.

Right. And that's the thing. Right. And that's exactly. And that's the. I can come across that way and that's fine.But the thing is though, is that it's only because of self belief now, now what you just said right there in terms of like being able to, you know, create your own. That's why I love, I love, love, love, love, love the era that we're living in right now.You know, we have these resources upon us where we don't need gatekeepers anymore to ask permission.We can showcase our own talents on a Very highly professional and highly productive level to be able to display what's in us and what's in our hearts. You know what I mean?So, like, you know, we have those capabilities right now, and that's why I, like, I highly encourage, not just young folks, but even folks our age or even older than us. Please be involved. Please get yourself. Get your hands deep into these tech areas, into these creative outlets, because if you.Especially if that's what you really want to be involved with, you know, I mean, get yours. Get your hands deep into these areas and understand, like, you know, like, how to be able to.To function out here with all what's available to us, because now is the time to be able to be whatever it is that you want. And then. And once again, I know that's a cliche term, but it is so true, though. Yeah, it is so true.

Yeah, get out there, everybody. Stop what you're doing and go make your dreams come true.

Seriously, like, Nali, pull over and start right now.

Okay. Oh, my gosh. But, you know, like, just going back to, like, the thought of rejection.Was there a rejection that did hit you, like, really hard, though, where you were like, dang, it's really messed up.

Yeah, there was. There's a. I'm not going to put them on. Put them on last like that.

Yeah.

But there's a very prominent theater company that's out here in the city, and they have this. They have, like, this fellowship program that they. That they, like, recruit for every year and whatnot.You know, they let this program and the fellowship program, in all fairness, it's. It's. It's absolutely amazing. It's absolutely incredible. And, you know, what it's all about is about, you know, bringing in artists.Artists who may not have, like, the. May not have, like, the background and may not have, like, the. Like The. The formal experience of going to like. Like a. Like a.Like a prominent university or whatever may have you to, like, you know, to make those inroads, but it gives them an opportunity to be able to be a part of this, like this.Kind of like this in this internal circle where they're able to work with their residential directors or residential writers or residential producers and things of that nature among. With other peers, you know, who are on the same level as they are as well, too, and you all grow together as artists.So that the fellowship, I believe, is like, for like a year, a year or two or something like that, like, once you're accepted and whatnot. And. And so when I came across It. I was like, oh, my God. Like, it was. To me, it was.

This has my name on it.

Yes, absolutely. I mean, this is a godsend. Absolutely. You know, this is what. This. I mean, this is it.And to me, it was like, this is the reason why you have been going through the hurdles you've been going through, because it led you to this moment right here. Right. And even so. More so to the point, I was like, okay, because I believed in it so much.I. I, like, even, like, volunteered a lot with, you know, with. With said company, you know, with, like, a certain event, certain, like, clubs or whatever like that. Because I wanted. I wanted to be visible.

Yeah.

You know, I mean, and I wanted to know that I'm. Hey, you know, I'm. You know, I'm here. You know, I'm. I want. I'm.I'm here because I want to be here, but I want to be here and, you know, in a much bigger way and be able to contribute, you know, in a much bigger way and whatnot. So I was very visible. I was very active. I was very involved in whatnot and everything they. They knew I was doing.I was applying for the fellowship as well, too, and everything. And I poured my heart into this application. I poured my heart into it. I even, like, hand to God, I even.Because you know how you get, like, recommendation letters and whatnot and everything. I even. At the time, I even had the mayor of Schomburg write me a recommendation letter for real. Because I always.Because I always thought, yeah, because I'm like, I'm going after every heavy gun I can get so I can get into this. You know what I'm. And so the application was pristine, perfect. It was the definition of perfection, of, like. I'm like, it can't be any more perfect.And this is before ChatGPT, so this is all, like, written from my heart. You know what I'm saying? This is all just real deal. You know what I mean? Real deal. Raw and authentic.

You know, it's real when you're not using ChatGPT.

Okay. Right.

Right.

Exactly. We have none of that back then. I will never forget the day I got a rejection letter for that fellowship and that. Right.And that was the perfect word to describe right now. Brutality. Like that. Heartbreak. I've never. I've never. I've never had a heartbreak, and I've been broken up a lot by a lot of different women before.Trust me, that's a whole other conversation, y'.

All.

But. And Stephanie knows some of them too. But. But no, but, like. But listen. But, like, for real. But that was. That. That was the epitome of heartbreak and.And that. And actually, why you playing? That was kind of like what made me say, enough is enough.And now it really is time for you to shift this into a different gear and create. And create your own space.

Okay.

You know, saying so even though. So even though that really did shatter everything that.I mean, it was shattering, you know, like, you know, getting that news, because after, like, you know, you. You invest so much time into it, but then when I look back onto and I see what was.What was birthed from that anguish, you know, like, this is when the phoenix rise from the ashes.

Yeah.

You know, saying. And so to me, that was like, okay, I needed that punch in the jaw. I really. Or I needed that knockout book, that knockout blow.

That's impressive. I feel like I would look to them like, man, I've been heartbroken. Just applied the next year. But you took.And you're like, I'm just gonna go do my own thing. I'm never gonna apply to this again.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Exactly. Exactly. And I frequently, you know, I'm in that neighborhood a lot, so I'll see that location. And I'm just like.To me, I was like, you're lost. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's. It totally is your loss. Like. Like, I like.Like, trust me, I don't, like, sit there and, like, cry about every night.

Right, of course.

You know, I mean, but, like, it is, like, when I think about it, right? Like, at here and there, I'm just like, you know, that was. That was one of those L's you need to take. Yeah, that was a.That was a very purposeful L. That's really.

That's really cool to hear that that, like, empowered you that much to go off and do your thing. Because, like, I just said, like, I will just shake it off.But I feel like I apply to so many things and get rejected, you know, and so I'm, like, almost used to it. Like, it seems like they have, like, these things, like, rejection challenges where they.Where they tell people to just apply for things or, like, ask for things just to numb yourself. I can't think of the name of the book. I'll find it, like, at the break.But, yeah, like, this guy, he would just go up and like, ask somebody, like, oh, can I have $20? Just so they could be like, no.

Oh, wow.

Yeah. You know, and they'd be like. And he would be like, okay. But then Maybe somebody would give him $20.

Wow.

You know, so you would just keep doing this. So I've gotten into like, the practice of just like, applying. Applying. Applying.Because even if it's no, it's like, okay, I just keep going, you know.

Absolutely, absolutely. And you know, also at the same time, just to add to that and it kind of coattail what you're talking about. Like, in.As I'm thinking about what you're talking. What you're saying, you know, I don't think that's a bad idea in a way. Like, may.Maybe you don't have to, like, be that bold and go to somebody like, you know, on Michigan Avenue, be like, you know, let me hold a dub. Gotta be that bold. But, but even if you're like a.Let's say you're applying for, you go online, you apply for a job on, indeed, a job you have no business applying for because it's way beyond. It's like thermal nuclear dynamic, you know, like engineer something like that. And you. And you barely, you know, can count to six. Yeah. But.But just applying for something like that, that's way out of your realm. Something like that. Just to be able to get those rejections. Yeah, you're right.It kind of does apply with what you're talking about in terms of, like, you know, okay, I know how to be able to kind of take these L's.

Yeah.

You know what I mean? So I'm actually not mad at that because you're right. Because like, after, because after a while, when you're applying so much for.Whether it be jobs, whether it be for grants, whether it be for, you know, for programming or whatever may have you, you know, like after so many of them, you just kind of get to a point, you're like, all right, you know, just, just, just, just keep on moving.

Yeah.

Keep on pushing where there's other people who don't have that. Who don't. Who have not. Do not have not experienced that plight. So when they get that rejection, it really does hurt.

Yeah.

You know them because they're not used to that. But so being so being used to it is kind of like a super power, a superpower in itself.

Yeah. It's like one of those things people are like, the least they could say is no. And they really mean that. They're like, what? They just say no, sure.And that's a wrap.

And.

Yeah.

And that's the end of it.

And that's the end of it.

And that. And also at the same time, that gives you an opportunity not only for time to heal, but also it's like, okay, it's definitive. It's over with.Let's move on.

Yeah.

You know what I mean?

Yeah. There's no need to go back all this back and forth, all this back.

And forth, asking why or whatever. No, it is the way it is now.

Right. So then when you had this one rejection and then you start your project, is that B side Productions that you started first?

Yes, it is. Yes.

Okay, tell us about B side Studios. Like, why the name B side?

So. So, okay, so B side came about when I was thinking of the name. I knew what I wanted to do and I knew what the purpose was.I knew what I wanted our identity to be, and I knew what the direction was. But I'm like, I just don't have a name.So I'm just going through my head of like, I wanted a name that really does kind of capture that unsung hero that, that, that. That rebellious kid, you know, that, that. That was in the. In the classroom. So I was out and I was thinking that for a while, this is. This. No one's.No one knows this.

Come on. Exclusive. Yeah.

For real. Here it comes. But for a while, it really was going to be like. Like Rebecca Rebellion Studios or something. That nature. Right. But. But then, so.So I was. I was leaning on that for a minute, but I was like, that's not. That's not the most. That, like, it's. It's.It's marketable to a certain point, but it can be very confusing. It could be intimidating. And I'm like, I didn't want that. So this. What led me to it. Do you remember?And I know you remember, obviously, but back in the day, we used to have singles. We used to listen to these.These cassette tapes called Singles, and the single was always the very popular song that was on the radio, you know, and, you know, like, that was something that, you know, that was always on the radio and whatnot and everything. So you got.So you got the single, and the single was that popular song, along with the instrumental on side A, side B of that tape would be another song that came from the artist, because the side. A song that came from the label, that came from what the label wanted you to hear.

Oh, hey, I did not know that.

Beside being the tape that came from the artist.And it was always a song that you didn't know, but it came from the artist either from the album that they were releasing, like an unknown song or a song that they never released. But it always came from the artist. This is the artist saying, this is what I want you to hear. So my thing was like, this is.And the thing is that side B was always some fire too. It was always something that was fire. It was like, ooh, you know, you had. You like that.And my thing was that I wanted to encapsulate that idea of that. Yes. This.Us, in terms of like B side, we may not be the ones who came from like, you know, your prestigious colleges or who came from like, you know, a great upbringing in terms of like the arts or whatever may have you. We are going to be the ones who are very non traditional. We are going to be the ones that you have not heard. Are going to be those hidden gems.You're absolutely right.But when you see our product, what we put out there, whether it be on the stage, whether it be on screen, whether it be from an audio standpoint, it is going to make you say o. You see what I'm saying? So that was my thing. I'm like. So when I was like B side studios, I love that. I'm like, that's it right there.Because that says everything. I'm like, it encapsulates everything in terms of who we are when it comes to our identity. Our. Our identity.It lets you know that, you know, like, you know, yeah, we, we are the kids that you may not know about, but when you hear about us, you will not forget us. And on the business marketing side, it's a very marketable name as well too.

Yeah.

You know, that, that really does scratch at the curiosity. Yeah, so, so, yeah, so. So as soon as I came up with that, I'm like, oh, man, we are running with this bad boy now.

I love that. As a matter of fact, Janet Jackson, one of my faves on, she has a song called on and On. And it starts off B side. This is a song about summertime.And I'm like, oh, I never really like, you know, I sing along, but I never knew the whole like background behind like B side, which. I really love that thought because it's like that can apply to so many things.Like this is maybe like what the galleries picked out, but this is my favorite piece. Or like this is what the. This is the photo that the client picked out. But this is the photo I would have picked out.Like A side is like what the studios pick, but the B side is what we pick, which I really, really love.

Absolutely, absolutely. That's coming from the heart of the artist.

Yes, I love that. I Never knew that. Oh, my gosh.

Absolutely.

Wow. Okay. All right, well, listen, we are going to take a quick break and then we will be back with Maurice Proffitt. Real Talk.How many opportunities have you bookmarked and never applied to? I know I have. And you know what? It happens.The admin part of the work we're doing is understandably boring and tedious, but when you neglect it, it can cost you real opportunities. That's why I created Artist Admin Hour, because behind every exhibition I is a clear budget submitted. That makes sense. Admin is the flex.It's the work that makes the work work. But you don't have to do it alone. Every Wednesday, 7 to 9pm Central, artists show up on Zoom to tackle what we've been avoiding.Residency applications, grant apps, budgets, invoices, whatever's on your list. Two hours of body doubling with structure. No shame. In real community, 25 to $45 a month gets you in.But if that's not doable, email me, because getting this done is very important. We will make it work. Stop letting admins sabotage your practice. Join us today at artist admin hour.com. WLPNLP Chicago 105.5 FM Lumpin radio.This is nosy AF live on LUMPIN. I am your host, Stephanie Graham, and we have Maurice Proffitt in the studio with us today.So before we went to break, I was mentioning this rejection book, and the name of the book is called Rejection Proof. How I Beat Fear and became invincible through 100 days of rejection.So I just wanted to mention that because I couldn't remember it when we were talking before. So, Maurice, before we went to break, we were talking about B side studios and the whole, like, what.I'm curious, in your own life, what was your personal B side, the thing, like, people didn't see but mattered the most? Do you have anything like that that comes to mind?

Hmm. I do, in fact.

Okay.

And I think that you'll appreciate this.

Okay. I hope the listener will as well.

Yeah, yeah. Oh, they definitely will. Absolutely. Absolutely. Without question.And I'm certain that a number of people will be able to relate with this as well, too. So. And this is germane to just, like, my personal life growing up and whatnot. So. And trust me, just bear with me. I'm gonna answer your question.

I'm with. We're with you.

Okay. So I grew up. I grew up in a town called Schaumburg, Illinois.

And shout out to Schomburg, man. I grew up there as well.

Right, right, right. You know. Right, exactly. You already know.

I always rep it when people are always repping their city. I've been coming through Schaumburg, and people are laughing. I'm like, what's funny? That's where I grew up.

That's literally right. Like, what do you want me to say? Right, Exactly. Exactly. And so. Yeah, so. So obviously, like, you know, Stephanie and I, we grew up in the same.In the same. In the same town and everything like that. So we understand, like, the dynamics, like, you know, what it's like out there. Especially.Especially being black. And there was coming up Black in the 90s, and Schomburg, you know, was very interesting, you know, because there was this identity of. Of like. Of. Of.Of blackness that was. That. That was out there that was pretty like, you know, prominent in terms of, like, how black people were classified.Because there weren't a lot of black folks in Schomburg. In the totality. Yeah. You know, especially back. Back then.So when you saw somebody black out there, it was like, you know, there's a good chance you knew them from, like, church or something like that. You know what I'm saying? And especially school. So you run some at the cleaners and you're like, hey. They go, Mrs. Williams, what's up, Sean?Right, right. You know what I'm saying? You knew everyone.But the thing is, though, also, there was kind of like this way of being when you were black out there in Schaumburg.And, you know, a lot of times it kind of like mirrored kind of like the, you know, kind of like what you see a lot on TV when it came to, like, you know, you know, being. Being kind of tough and, you know, being, you know, trying to be hood and, you know, things of that nature.You saw a lot of black folks out there, you know, being this way and whatnot. And, you know, granted, like, you know, there were folks, you know, who came from the city that. That. That.That lived out there, and there were folks who were raised out there and everything, and then, you know, they were just mirroring what they were seeing on television and here on the radio and whatnot. So, I mean, it's. It is what it was, what it was. But if you didn't. If you were black and you did not really.You did not really identify with that, then you were lumped into this other category of, like, oh, well, you ain't really black, you know, so you were kind of lumped into this weird category like that and when. And whatnot. Right. And so. And so. And so that, so that, that, that, that's a whole like, you know, cultural.Cultural issue right there and everything that. That needs to be discussed and whatnot.However, however, what was interesting though, and this is where I'm answering your question, what was interesting was that because of that lumped area, that, because I, Because I don't identify with the former, as you could tell by the way I am, but because I didn't identify with the former and I was more so with the latter, and because I was lumped into that category of you know, like, you know, like the non. The non hood brother or whatever may have you, I developed some of the best, the best friendship friendships I've ever.I ever could assemble being lumped into that category. And, and you know, these are these, you know, these are people that. That mean the world to me.You know, these are people who mean the absolute world to me to this day. And to this day we are still the best of friends, you know, that will ever, you know. And at this point it's like we're going to.This is a friendship that's going to go on for the rest of our lives. But because we were like, our entire group were like the black folks who were not like the, you know, like the, the, the hood, the.The hood wannabe thugs, whatever may have it, because we weren't that we were who. Who we were.We just, we just were just like about having, just, just living life, having fun, being who we were, just being ourselves and being who we are, you know, I mean, but because we were lumped into that outsiders B side category in a way that, that for me, I was able to get, like I said, I was able to gain the greatest people I've ever known in my life. And I'll always love, you know, to, you know, to the day I'm laid to rest even beyond that. Yeah, so that, that's. So that's my personal B side.It's just the friendships that I was able to make from being put into that category.

I love that. Friendship is such an interesting thing. You know, I had recently like taught this workshop randomly about confidence.And I don't even know, like, it just.I was invited to teach a workshop and for some reason, like confidence came to mind, but more so like confidence where, hey, like apply for the thing, you know, like put your story out there, hit, hit, publish on the blog post, you know, like that kind of confidence in that lane. But in that conversation, a lot of things came up where people lacked confidence.It was all through like a lot of Times through friendships, which was such interesting things because, you know, people always like, my friends are my chosen family, you know, and it was just like, wow, like, people really get, like, messed up through friendships. Like, friends can, like, really pierce.A lot of these folks that were in there who, like, you know, like, they were afraid to post about their fashion brand because an old friend might see it on Instagram, but they didn't want to block the friend or delete the friend because that would bring this whole other social dynamic that was just, like, made them spiral.

Sure.

You know, and it's just sort of wild, like, how friendships just. I don't know, they just, like, totally make you. They can make or break you.

Yeah, they really can too, as well. And you're right. That's a really great example too as well.And that's the thing is that, like, you shouldn't have to feel so restricted around, you know, like, around those folks and. Because that's the thing is that, like, you know, I. I know that phrase is used a whole lot when it comes to, like, you know, my.Your friends or the family that you create yourself, you know, I'm paraphrasing. Yeah, but you. You get what I'm saying? But, like, and that's.If that's the case, then, like, yeah, these are the people that you should have, like, the most.The most comfort with, the most comfort level with the folks that you can, like, hey, I can go seven months without seeing you, but then when I see you in seven months, you know, we pick. We literally pick up. Right, right. We left off. And it's also, at the same time, there's no angst or there's no awkwardness.There's no issue that we haven't. We haven't communicated or haven't seen each other in so long, whatever may have you.Because what's embedded is so strong that it's undeniable and it's unbreakable at the same time. So. And so with that being said, you should. That person, the.The person that you give the example of, you know, like, of posting their fashion, their fashion sense and getting some. And having some drawbacks about posting it. They should. They shouldn't be.They shouldn't have put themselves in that position because, like, it's like your friends should, like, love you for who you are.

Right.

Even if. Even if it's totally different. You know, I mean, like, think about. Think about your groups, you know, like the, The.The circles of the French friendship circles that you have as well, and think about the differences that. That lie within that in terms of like, it could be just ideologies, it could be philosophy, you know, philosophical things.It could be just like, you know, when it comes, like natural understandings or whatever may have you, there could be differences, but that doesn't make you. Make you love them any less or like, no fear of that. What they're going to say any less because they already know who you are.

Yeah.

And they appreciate you because they appreciate you.

Yeah.

Yeah.

You know, I want to jump over to your first film because I want to make sure we talk about it. Broke af. Yeah. Which I love because, you know, we match with nosy af.

So the AF family.

Yes. What was like the best part of making that film? Wow.

Yeah.

And do you still screen it?

No, I don't, I don't.

Oh, man, you should.

I don't, I don't. I just. It's just out there in YouTube land right now.

Okay.

Wow. Broke af. Sorry, I was, I wasn't. I didn't think we were gonna talk about that. So. Okay, so here's the thing.Broke af, it was very ambitious, and I'll admit that it was very ambitious because it literally was my first, like, film, like film, like endeavor.

Okay.

That I was taking on. And I was like. And I. In going back to the cookie, I wanted to take a major, massive bite of the cookie.

Mm.

So instead of having my first film be like a short, like a short film or whatever may have you, I'm like, let's bypass the short film. Let's even bypass the feature. Let's make an entire web series.

Right.

Let's make six episodes. Right. Because. Because once again, I had, I had this crazy idea.I'm like, I can develop six different stories of six different 20 some year olds who are going through six different, different issues in their own way that, that replicate being broke in your 20s. Because who hasn't been broke in their 20s, right? You know, we, we, we were all broke as ever when we were walking around our 20s and whatnot. And.And Lord knows I had so many broke moments that had so many stories that go along with that. So I was. Yeah, so I want to take a big bite of the cookie. I said. And I said, this, this could happen.So what happened was that after, after this play, I did this play I wrote and direct. It was called I want you to want me. And that came out in 2016, I think it was in the summer 2016. It was a cool play.It had a two week run at Gorilla Tango. Good stuff. Real Fun stuff. And after we wrapped the cast and I, we all went out for, you know, for some beers and pizza.And two of the guys who were part of the production, we were just talking whatever may have you, and they're like, okay, well, they're like, what you got going on next?And so I was telling them about the idea about broke af and I was thinking about making it to a play at first, but then I was like, maybe it'll be a play, but it'll be like, you know, like a long. Just like a long, extensive play and everything. They're like, dude, that idea should be. It should be. We should film it.And so we started talking about the logistics of filming because they were more like the. They. They were. They were DPs, you know, like they were director of photography. So like, they had like the camera equipment and all this other.I knew jack about that stuff, but they were able to kind of sell me on the idea of being able to video capture the story instead. And so after, right after we had that conversation, I was so pumped about the idea of us doing it that I just immediately writing the scripts for it.And a year later, in the summer of 2017, that's when we started filming. And we, man, by the grace of God or whomever you pray to, we were able to bang that out. And we had. Oh, my goodness.We had so many people who were involved in that project. We had up to about, I want to say up to about like 25 people who were involved in that project, actor wise.

Oh, wow.

So, I mean, so many people really believed in the vision as well too. And we had all set locations, obviously, like, you know, like, we had a good story. We had wardrobe, we had all that stuff. It was all guerrilla style.It was all completely guerrilla style. And yeah, and it came out. It came out cool. We know we did a cool screening for it at the University of Chicago. And so that was a success.And then we were able to roll it out into Amazon Prime.

Oh, nice.

And so, yeah, so it was on prime for a couple of years and. And now it's just on YouTube. But. But yeah, you know, we want. I wanted to do like something that was a big splash and I was honest.I'm be real with you, Stephanie. I was. I was happy about that. Even though it was a ton of work. It was a ton of work.But making that big cannonball splash into the pool, then it seemed like anything after that when it came to filmmaking was like, was. Was such a breeze compared to what we Went through that summer. Yeah. You know, I mean, so even going. Making. Making the.Because then I made a short film after that called.

Oh, now you want to make a short.

Yeah, I know. Right, right, exactly. Oh, now. Oh, now you want to do it. Right, right. But right then I made a short film called what Are We Gonna Eat?But that right there, because I just got done doing Broke af. Man, I was. Oh my God, that was easy breezy because like I said, like, you know, I'm like, I'm so used. I'm so used to doing.I was already used to doing. We had to do an entire day where we will be dedicated to make a 30 minute. A 30 minute piece. Now we're making this 10 minute piece.Oh, this is, this is love. Wrote the script, got the spot. We filmed. We filmed the half a day and boom. That was. Was because we did such a big ambitious project.First they go into like something smaller. Was. Was. Was much easier.

Do you edit your own projects too?

Now I do.

Oh, now you do.

Now I do. Yeah. But back then I didn't.

Back then I had an editor what made the switch?

Save money. Oh, to save money and to. Just. Because that was a skill set. I wanted to learn my own.Yeah, it's really good to have that skill set to be able to understand this.

Oh, okay.

And plus, you know, you get, you get to a point where you, you don't want to be the guy at, you know, bothering your. Bothering your. Hey, hey, man. Can you, can you do ABC xyz? You know what I'm saying? And you're waiting on them. They have other projects.You, you feel like you're becoming a nuisance. So it's like I'm like, you know, I don't in like. And my editors were, they were all like. I was friends with them.

Yeah.

I didn't want to like, you know, burden our friendship, you know, me over this. I'm like, Maurice, just learn it. Just learn the program, you know, I mean, you should want to know this anyway.And plus, and I'm so glad I did because I learned because now like when I edit my. When like when I edit the nerdium and whatnot, I. I enjoy it. I, I take the. I. I use the entire day.You know, I make myself like, you know, something like, like a nice beverage and everything like that. I have music playing and everything. It's a good ambiance. You know what I'm saying? I miss in that creative zone. And then.And I'm able to like, you know, put My own spin on the things or whatever. I'm like, dude, you should have been doing this, man. It's a vibe.

Yeah. When I have my own, you know, like, nosy is just a. Has like a podcast too. I've started to edit that myself under the suggestion of a mentor.Just like, to learn audio editing. I would do it myself. And then at first I used to edit it myself, and then I ended up bringing on editors just for sake of time.Because, like, working in production, it was like, really hard to keep up with everything. But then since I haven't been on a production, I've like, taking that back to save money. Right. Cause I'm like, oh, my gosh.I cannot, like, I gotta cut costs. But it has been nice to edit myself and like, hear the conversations back.And, you know, you can, like, put stuff here, put stuff there, where maybe before the editor's like, oh, you wanna put that stuff there? Well, that'll be an additional $75. And it's like, oh, that's okay.

Preach. Right? Seriously. Seriously. Exactly. Yeah.

So it is nice to learn. It has been nice to do that.

Yeah. And you get. And you get these ideas, you get these that you don't initially see, like, when you're going through the actual recording process. Yeah.You know, so, you know, you. So you have time to be able to step away from it, let, you know, let. Let things kind of marinate a little bit.And then like, when you're actually doing the editing, then something might pop into your head. You're like, you know, you sound really cool right here. Or, you know, look really great right here.You know, then, you know, you're able to add that, and it just adds more to it. But, and, but there could be. But at least open.When you're working with someone else, at least open a disconnect that could happen where they're not seeing, like, what is that you're seeing, you know, so they may. They may include something that, that, like, you may not like. But for the sake of time, you're like, you know, I'm just going to roll with it.Yeah, you should have to settle.

Yeah, yeah, don't settle. You know, so much of us, our talk has been about, like, giving yourself permission and all this kind of stuff.I'm just curious, like, if you could talk to the version of yourself still waiting for permission, what would you tell him?

What would I tell him? I mean, obviously I would tell them, you know, just, you know, just. Just trust yourself. Trust yourself. Don't lose trust in yourself. And trust it.And trust the vision of what you have. Do not be discouraged. You know, this world is going to eat you alive. And that's just. That's anybody, you know that. That's not. Just not.Not to Young and me. That's. That's anybody. This world is ready to eat you alive. You know, we are, you know, we coming up as children.You know, we, you know, we're prepped for, you know, we're prepped in this. In a certain type of like, single stroke of the brush where everyone, it seems like, you know, the.Everyone has the same framework in terms of like how we're prepped for life. But, you know, we don't really get prepped for life until we are actually living in the trenches of life itself.Whether it be like when we're, you know, toddlers, you know, adolescents, teenagers, young adults, whatever it is, you know, we learn life when life is, you know, when life is kicking our butt. And. But, but the thing is though, that we're not prepared for that part of life later on. You know, we're not prepared for that.You know, because, you know, you know, like when you're coming up, you know, you're told so much like you could be whatever you want to be in the.

The.

The.The world is your oyster and the sky's the limit, whatever like that, you know, you told all these cliches and everything and they're nice, they're nice little buzzwords and they're nice to hear on the. See on the Hallmark card, but, you know, saying like, but, but you know, you, you. You kind of need those. Those, those. Those slaps in the face to.Or the understanding of the preparation of the slap in the face to understand that like, you know, this is what, this is what, what the majority of life is going to be like, you know. And, and so I would say to myself, you know, you are going. You are going to be hit knocked down so many times.You're gonna be knocked down so many times in so many different variations that you never could imagine in very, very creative ways where you ever get. Got knocked down or you. You ever got like, you know, like, like side like.Like blindsided by something so, so crazy where you're like, oh my God, like, how did the world even conjure that. That situation to occur right now that was so, like be so like, you know, that's going to happen. So I would tell myself, you.You know, just, just to really come. Never lose belief in you and never lose trust in you. Never lose trust in Yourself. Because this world is going to tell you otherwise, that you ain't.Fill in the blank.

Yeah.

You know, it's going to tell you that so many times, but you cannot allow. You cannot allow it to ever get into your head.

Yeah. I remember one time I went to a Little Kim concert, and I fell down, and everybody saw me fall, and they were like, ooh, ooh.And I'm like, that was terrible. But you know what? I got up, and then many years later, I fell down and get another party, right? I'm like, I'm just falling. It's like, why did I fall?What is going on here? What is going on?

It's gonna happen. But, you know, it's funny you said that, though. You know, stay right there, though, for a hot second, because you. Are you a fan of Batman?

I just know of him. I've seen the movies, but I don't know, like, his whole history.

Yeah, yeah, I'm with you. Okay. All right. In Batman Begins, that was Christopher Nolan's first Batman, when he took on the trilogy.But in Batman Begins, Thomas Wayne, Bruce Wayne's father, he asked Bruce, why do we. Bruce, why do we fall? And Bruce said, why? He asked why? And Thomas Wayne said, so we can learn to get up. Yeah, so we can learn to get up.And we can learn. And we can learn to rise. And I feel like that line is so underrated, you know, and. Or not. Not underrated. I'm sorry, I take it back.Underrated, Underappreciated.Okay, it's very underappreciated because clearly, like you said right now, you were at the Lil Kim concert and you fell, and obviously, obviously, you know, you didn't just live on this. Live on the ground. The rest of the time, you know, you're not there anymore. You know, so you got back up, up. You have to go.But that's the thing, though, is that, like, there is. There is a very unappreciated power that lies within that. Because especially in that.In that situation right there, you're probably at the United center or, you know, when that happens. So, you know, that's. That's 16,000 people who saw that happen all around you. I. I know. I just, like, maximize the embarrassment saying that.Like, she's like, dang, I didn't even think about that. The attendance number. More worries. But. But that's. Many people who saw that and many people who reacted. But it took. They reacted and they reacted.Right? And they probably went home and talked about it. However, let's. Let's not.Let's not skip over the fact that you took the strength to be able to endure all that, get back on your feet, dust yourself off, and what did you do? You kept it moving, right? Period that period, that strength.

You have no choice. Also, like, I have to get up. I can't just be like. I can't just be in the middle.Like, there's 16,000 people, as you pointed out, like, 60,000 people here. That's like, ma', am, we gotta keep walking. Get up, get up.

We got clothes now. So are you supposed to keep on laying there? We have to clean up.

Okay.

Even though Kim was like, girl, are you all right in section 101?

Oh, my gosh. You know, I meant to ask with.Because you've worked in both film and theater, what section of, like, in the whole, like, film or theater process do you feel the most alive? It's like the rehearsing, the writing, the directing, the editing. Do you have, like, a favorite part of that process that, like, lights you up? Mm.

Oh, man. You know, obviously, the safe answer was everything, you know, because, I mean, because. Because trust me, everything is. Everything is.Is the entire journey. The entire journey is. Is. Is incredible overall. But, man, you know, like, it's something about. All right, I'm stick with theater.Okay, Just for a hot second, when. The night of the show. Okay, the night of the show, when you see. You feel the end, you feel a kinetic energy that's among everyone that's in the air.The electricity is so thick you can cut it with a knife. That energy is there. You see on the faces of all the actors.You see in the way how they maneuver, going in and out the dressing rooms, going backstage, going onto the stage and, you know, things that nature before. Even before the show starts, just the way how everyone is moving. You seen all these parts moving all at once. You're seeing the.The production crew, the lighting crew, the audio crew, all of them, you know, the stagehands and whatnot and everything. Getting everything. You've seen this. This entire machine in motion and all the gears are running. Everything is moving forward.You are watching everything literally move forward as this. As the clock is getting progressively. Is moving progressively closer to. To the. To current time, the current opening up and whatnot.You seeing vendors coming in, you know, sending. Setting things up, you know, saying their. Their. Their booths up and whatnot. You start hearing the patrons, you know, the. The. The. The.The theater goers coming in and whatnot and everything. And the show starts. The show starts and everything. Now is happening. And I always tell my actors the night of the show because we.We typically do like. Like one show or whatever may have you.But the night of the show, though, that you say every line that you deliver, that's your last time delivering it. Make it the greatest, make it undeniable. And we fast forward to the very end when it's curtain call and final bows.And when everything is all said and done and you see the faces of all those actors, you see the faces of all that production crew, you see the faces of the audience, you see the face of what is to be is symbolically the final punctuation at the very last chapter of the book that you just got done writing. That feeling of satisfaction watching all that culminate and all that come. Come to fruition and seeing the actors.Faces of satisfaction, of completion. There is no drug on this planet that can ever equate to that level of bliss.

Wow.

Never. And that to me is like. That is the. That is so definitive to me.And that right there, like, you know, you can't help but just smile and take all that in, you know, and just seeing them feel so complete and knowing that you, as a producer, talking about myself, were responsible for this moment in their lives that, like, man, Steph, like, that lives with you and it reminds you. Like, it reminds you. This is why you do this. This is why you do this, for moments like this. Because this is a moment that they'll never forget.And you were the reason why that they have this now. And. Yeah, that lives with you.

That's. That's such a beautiful way to end. What a dream.Maurice, what do you have, like, coming up, where can folks hear more about all that you've got going on? Please share with us.

We can find more information, absolutely without question. For more information about what we have cooking, please visit dreamscapetheater.com okay. Yeah. Please feel free to visit that website. We have a.We actually have our. Excuse me. So, so sorry about that. So sorry. That was rude. I got kind of choked up talking about that with that last.That last piece of the conversation. But we actually have a. A show coming up.

Okay.

It's coming up in February. It's. This is going to be for our annual black history production. And we're doing. We're doing Jocelyn. Jocelyn. Jocelyn B. O's show, Schoolgirls.

Okay.

Or the African. The African Mean Girls story.

Okay.

And so this is in a nutshell. It's a black version of Mean Girls, okay. It ran here at the Goodman Theater back during the pandemic back in 2020.And so now with Dreamscape Theater, with, with our theater company, we are excited about being, being able to bring that back to the Chicagoland area. Okay. So, you know, we have, we assembled an incredibly amazing cast and so like, we are very excited about it.So please visit the website of dreamscapetheater.com tickets will be going on sale at the beginning of January and we are excited about bringing that back to Chicago.

Oh, man, that sounds very exciting. I love Mean Girls. So I'm very excited just thinking about, you know, being able to see a version of that story live.So thank you so much for being on Nosy AF on Lumpin Radio. I appreciate it.

Thank you so much. This was a treat. This truly was a treat. Thank you so much, Steph.

Yeah, thank you. And thank you listener for being here. It is three o' clock and I hope you all have a wonderful day.That's a wrap on another episode of Nosy AF conversations about art, activism and social change. I'm your host, Stephanie Graham. If you enjoy today's conversation, please leave a five star rating and review wherever you are.Listening listening to the show. It helps new listeners discover it and say, hey, if these folks like this show, maybe I will love it too.Check out full show notes and transcripts@nosyaf.com and while you're there, sign up for Nosy AF Dispatch, a newsletter where every month I send a roundup of episodes, behind the scenes stories, studio tales and interesting finds straight to your inbox. Thank you so much for your time today. Thanks for listening and as always, stay curious and take care. Bye.