Why make this type of film?

Darren Fordham: Looking at the market and just looking at things of my generation and just the kind of things that I like. Listening to a lot of hip hop…the market is kind of wide open to the merging of music videos and real dramatic film. It kind of gives the urban dramatic experience a new edge to it. When I started researching it I thought a hip hop musical would be great. That is kind of what the basis is. And then what I want to make a musical about is …I just thought about all the kids who are hustlers now with the resurgence of gangsta rap. I thought I’d depict a dark journey of a person of that nature. But not just the surface, how about we get into their brain and see what they are searching for spiritually.

What experience did you draw on to create the film and the character that you portrayed?

Darren Fordham: I grew up in South Florida in the late 80s, early 90s; during the height of the big crack era. A lot of my friends got involved with that type of life. I saw a lot of them get killed. I saw a lot of them end up getting life in prison. I drew on a lot of the experiences of what I’ve seen and heard, more so real people than fictional characters to base the ‘South Boy’ character.

Why didn’t you cast the character as opposed to starring in it yourself?

Darren Fordham: I felt very close to the project. I didn’t want to cast a rapper and I didn’t want to cast…I felt it was so heavy on both sides. I’ve been doing both for years and I felt close enough to the project to go ahead and say…I’m gonna do this role.

Why does the world need to know about these types of stories?

Darren Fordham: I feel the world is just getting one side of the story with the way music is being portrayed now and the images from television. It’s almost like the 18 year old with baggy jeans is an animal with a chain around his neck and he doesn’t feel and he doesn’t have thoughts and he doesn’t have dreams. In Confessions of a Thug, we can show that this person is also on their own spiritual journey just as much as someone who is at a monastery. It’s a different energy, a different vibe. But these people too are searching for their place in this universe. What am I doing? Am I headed in the right direction? What do I want my legacy to be when I leave here? We wanted to show that although someone is thugged out and they may have a heavy street edge to them they still have these big human desires and needs.

Why is it that hustlers don’t trust?

Darren Fordham: I think in their entire life, they’ve seen the pain that is caused when you trust someone. When your 5 years old and your dad tells you he’s gonna pick you up and he doesn’t show up. And your mom is struggling and your dad isn’t helping out he’s with some other chic. It’s just a lot of experiences they draw on. They have older men like uncles in their life that tell them its all about you and you can’t rely on anyone else. A lot of that stuff builds up and once you’ve heard enough of that stuff around 16, 17 years old everything comes with doubts. You may meet the woman of your dreams but it comes with doubts. And unfortunately, a lot of this generation is missing out on a lot of opportunities when someone does come into their life and try to help them that the trust factor is so bad that they can’t even open up their minds and hearts that they can’t really accept these blessings being bestowed upon them, whatever it may be. It could be a mentor, coach, teacher…so their taught at an early age to distrust everyone. So they end up walking around with a cold fist.

What do you want your film to demonstrate about trust and the game itself?

Darren Fordham: First of all I want people to know that there is definitely a consequence to all your actions. Being whatever game it is. I think that even though this film is about the street game somewhat, it kind of transcends into all types of lifestyles. There are consequences to all of your decisions and you reap what you sow. the thing with this film is that he’s a likable character, people like him and yet he’s not Nino Brown. But he is about his business and he will do what’s necessary for him to stay on top of his business. So what people don’t understand is that guys who are running the street, people who are running these so called ‘empires’, for the most part, are really nice people when it comes down to being just them. But when you mention different elements like money…they have to protect themselves at all costs they feel. With this film I wanted to show that other side of that person, that being that so many kids are aspiring to be.

Do you feel that it’s the image that drug dealers, rap artists who portray that lifestyle; this is why people see them as animals?

Darren Fordham: Absolutely. You can call it a stereotype of what have you but for the most part, unfortunately, it’s almost warranted. The recklessness, the extreme machoism; the promiscuous lifestyles, the verbal and physical abuse of women. When you add all that up…if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck…it’s a duck. It’s hard for a guy to display all those images but tell you I’m a nice guy. It’s definitely to the detriment. 20 years ago we had nice rappers. They wasn’t bragging about selling drugs and all that type of stuff. But a rapper like that today would be able to sell 10 records. If you’re the bad guy, you break the law, you have as many women as possible…and that’s what they kids are hanging on to. With the MTV kid’s generation, they’re watching their father working 2 jobs coming home with a dirty shirt on and their looking at him like he’s a failure. But they sit their looking at TV all day long at 50 Cent and the house he’s in. Why can’t my dad be that guy? A lot of it is tangled around into the entire movement of what’s happening.

What is your goal as a filmmaker?

Darren Fordham: To bring experiences to film that no one hasn’t seen.