About

Behind The Manors was originally a screenplay that was penned during the pandemic to appease the torture of being solo isolated. It was also around this time that the opportunity of a lifetime fell into my lap. That opportunity was serving as cast management on a production that was filming in town called The System, directed by Dallas Jackson.

For about two weeks, I was responsible for getting Terrence Howard, Jeremy Piven and Lil Yachty, to and from set and anywhere else they wanted to venture. 

Over the course of those two weeks, I managed to create a "set" friendship with these guys but one continued the conversation even after the cameras wrapped. From the periodic charts to reparations to Shalamar changing the sound, we covered much talking ground. Eventually we got around to movies and I mentioned the project in passing. He said he'd like to read it but I didn't take him serious because, actors right? 

His last day in town I picked him up from his hotel and began the drive to the terminal. I spent all night rehearsing how I was going to present the project. He takes a call regarding his next project as soon as he gets in the truck. I was a complete wreck about how I was going to present the script. With every glance at the front seat I wanted to toss it out the window but cooler heads prevailed. I tried my best continue the conversation wave that had developed but all I could think about was the ask. We arrive at the terminal and he's still on the call. One of the pilots approach to open his door but he waves them off. He wraps the call finally then just sits in silence for a moment. It was deafening. He thanks me for the time spent and being a great host. I freeze. When I can finally regain thought, the only thought my brain can conjure is to ask, "Can I get a picture?" Dude what! 

He obliges. We take a photo in front of the jet, shake hands and go our separate ways. I missed my shot. As I reach for the door handle I hear, "Yo Donnie, where's the script you promised me?" I can't even describe the emotions that ran through me but if you know me, you know I'd tried to play cool but I was euphoric. 

Now the real work could begin. My writing had been somewhat validated by one of Hollywood's long time notable leading men and I was riding high right into the wedding week of one on my best mates down in Nola.

Among so many other tasks, new contacts were a must. I'd been putting this off for weeks because I couldn't skirt the exam costs. Hey, self-employment insurance didn't cover vision. This visit probably saved my life. After the exam, she asked to take my blood pressure. Odd right? She explained her reasoning while showing me a picture of my irises. There were a myriad of scriggly yellow lines inside a red fireball that looked like worms all throughout. She informed me that these scriggly yellow lines were mini strokes I was having in my eyes and that I could go blind at any moment, no bullshit. She was astounded to discover that I'd been walking around with a blood pressure over 200 and rising for God knows how long. I thought to myself, "hmm, now I know what those little black spots in my eyes were all month". 

The week of the wedding I was able to secure an appointment with a doctor who put me on some bp meds and sent me on my way. I didn't put up too much of a fuss with going further into it because I didn't want to believe that something was wrong with me. I'm invincible, right? The day of the wedding, I woke to almost double my size than the night before. I couldn't fit into my tux, shoes, nothing. Days later I'd walk into the emergency room and collapse, only to wake to a new reality. Stage IV Renal Failure. All momentum on the project had ceased and my dreams right along with it.

I couldn't accept defeat. Not when I had come so close to achieving such a feat. Once I regained my bearings I went back to the drawing board. Although the movie was kaputz, my vision had reignited. In combining the protagonist's journey in the script with my journey to a transplant, a new hero's journey of redemption, renewal and revival was birthed. I present to you... A fake podcast about a true journey...

Behind The Manors