1. How long did it take to write the script?
" Well, the script has been in production since 1995. I came up with the story back then when I knew I wanted to make my first feature film, and the best story I could tell was one from my real life, so I started mentally getting it ready, step by step. My last year of film school at UCSB, I did an independent study with one of my professors on " How to make a movie for $100,000". I did research on every aspect of cost to complete a movie, using the book from Spike Lee's "She Gotta Have It", studying about his experience making his first movie on his own, and I respect Spike so much, that I knew that was how I wanted to make my movie. So I researched everything from the cost of insurance, permits, film/video cost, etc, and the main focus of a movie is the script, so I had to get that solid. I didn't sit down and write the dialogue until 2000. I was going through a divorce and my mental focus was all over the place, so what did I do to relax, I wrote. And it took about what, 3 weeks, to have it done. And from 2000 till 2003,I did my rewrites. I wasn't going to wait for no big budget to get it done, cause if you do that, you ain't gonna ever make a movie. Ain't nobody going to give you no millions of dollars if you ain't ever even made a movie or tried to do it on your own. I respect the art of film. But I also respect the art of business.

2. How important was it to film the movie in the place where you grew up?
" Very important. This is my home. This is the only area that I know. And for me, to have lived in every part of Oxnard, I knew that the city I needed to expose was my hometown. I mean, shit, the story is about something that I experienced, and how could I tell that story in another city. Ya know. We have such a beautiful landscape. This county is by far the prettiest county in the state of California. And every other country knows it. They wish they had the beaches we do. The mountains we do. The farmland we do. The chance for enormous growth like we do. Plus, I knew my cost would be REAL LOW ,because I have so much family and friends who were dedicated to helping see this movie come together. It was so beautiful to see all the people who came out to help and support, cause we kept this on the LOW LOW tip, no broadcasting about what we was doing, know in the clubs talking about what we doing, we was just doing it, and to have the help from all the different people who came out to help, man, that was so moving for me, that I would go home at night and just be like, man, this is so surreal. It was like, dogg, we was out at Centerpoint Mall parking lot in the middle of the night, lights up and all, cars in the parking lot, and not one incident or commotion. People think that we can't get along and do positive things out here, but we proved them wrong. We even filmed inside the Oxnard Police station's holding cell. Let's face it, Blacks and Mexicans are the majority minorities in the area, hell, the state. And I wanted to make a love story about how we get along, but sometimes, our hypocrisy and stereotypical ways contribute to our ignorance when it comes to love.

3. How did you get all the actors?
"Well, most of them I know personally or had worked with before. I wanted to use first timers, people who have the same desire as I do to be in the business. I knew that I had to reach out and use those that are in the same position as me, trying to get noticed and be in the business. So the cast that is from the 805, they were down with me from day one. Nancy Rodriguez, J Scratch, James Thomas, Lea Baskas, Randy Mesa and Erica Sanchez, they have been grinding for years, wanting to be in the entertainment game, so I had to use them, they my peeps. We have been doing projects together for years. Using NevaMind and Terminal Madness was an easy decision because they are my folks. I was very fortunate to get the well known actors, as Michael DeLorenzo, Tom Wright and Erica Gimpel, cause I always knew I wanted to have veteran actors for those roles, and it was so cool to get to work with them. Shit, Delorenzo, man, he is from back in the day, we grew up on him watching "NY Undercover". And he got the script from our casting director and loved it, so when she said he was interested; I was like, hell yea. And Tom Wright, from "Barbershop", he is so talented and brought so much to the movie. And having Caleeb Pinkett was a good addition. He has a very good chance to become a very recognized actor, regardless that his name is solid and strong, he himself has tremendous talent, and I was blessed to be able to give him his first role in a movie. Breon Ansley, the actor who plays "Cedric", all I can say is you better watch out for him. A true natural at the craft. He will go far.

4. "How long in progress"
"My progress goes back to high school man. Hueneme High Class of 1991. I was the Student Body Vice-President, why, because that's the person who is in charge of the dances, rallies and student senate. Then I went off to UCSB in 1991 as an Economics major, but only lasted 3 years when I realized that my world is the entertainment world, so I took some time off and went to live in LA and see the game for what it is. I studied theatre for a year, did some modeling and was blessed when I landed a job at Paramount Pictures Studio as a studio page. The page's job is to give tours, help out with different production companies on the lot, and do whatever is needed to be done at the studio. And for me to be blessed with that job, I was able to actually SEE the business for what it is, a BUSINESS. So I worked there for a year then decided to come back home and learn the movie making world with my own two hands. Plus, I had started a record company, "Toothpaste Records", and I wanted to start it in my hometown. So I came back home and enrolled at Oxnard College and took the TV Production classes. Shoot, that's when I met you; we had a few classes together. And we did pretty well for a true independent record company. I produced a couple of local acts, my family, "NevaMind", and my old school homies "Ill Breed". We distributed about 10,000 units between them, but my passion was always movies. Plus, I lived and learned that if you ain't got $250,000 to spend, you really can't have an independent record company and compete at a real level. So I stepped back from the record business and re-enrolled back at UCSB, totally dedicated to learning about movies. Then I hooked up with my long time friend Jorge Ramirez in 1997. We have known each other since second grade from McKenna Elementary. And he has a passion for movies as I do, so we were like, let's make movies together. And that's what we started doing. I told him about this movie idea I had about Blacks and Mexicans, and he was like, let's do it. But first we had to learn what movie making was all about. So we produced a few short films together, so that we would know how to deal with making a movie. People have to realize that it's serious work. It's not a party. Its long hours and hard work. So we produced about 3 shorts together and a few music videos. I did some interning at a post-production studio in Ventura, learning how to edit and use the computer software. I felt that if I am going to be a filmmaker, I need to know all aspects of the films. I studied the history, the theory, the writing and the sound. I finished up at UCSB in 2000, with a B.A. in Film Studies and a Minor in English. I landed a job on the television show "Charmed" right out of film school and was once again back in the hustle. I even did a stint at "Resurrection Blvd." where Michael was a cast member, how ironic huh. But my mind wasn't right. So I enrolled in Law School and studied law for about 2 years, then, while sitting in class one night, I was like, hold up, I am here still thinking about my movie. And when you in law school, you can only think about law. So I withdrew from school and got with Jorge and went on a mission to raise funds to make the movie. During that time, I reconnected with my ex-wife and we had a child together. That was my focus, because when Rosie got pregnant with Miles, I was focused on getting this movie made. I got in that "tunnel" they always talk about. So we shot a 3 minute trailer for the movie to get investors. We teamed up with an investment banker, Mark Terbeek, and he helped up raise funds. We invested our own money and some of my family and friends came through and invested too. My homie Scott Andrade came through for me and really helped me stay on track. My friend Mark Hunt, who I met working on "Charmed', came through real big for me and really helped keep the production going. My homie Tomas Hernandez came through and helped me with organizing the city and public locations we filmed at. My homie D-Tragic was my eyes and ears for the music. Platinum Entertainment believed in the project and invested. And when we got the chance to screen the movie at the festival in Santa Barbara, we couldn't pass that up. Even thought the movie wasn't done yet, we knew it was going to give us a chance to be seen. And that's what movies is all about, being seen. And we SOLD OUT the night. We even got a second screening added. That was the best feeling in the world, because all those people came out to support, and I thank and love all of them for it.

5. So what's next?
"My next mission is to continue to screen my movie at various film festivals and special screenings. We plan to have a few special screenings in Ventura County to let people check it out. I am planning to show the movie in local theatres if permitted. And there is always the DVD. There are 3 phases to completing a movie. Phase one is to raise money. Phase two is to complete the movie. Phase 3 is to sale the movie. I am on phase 3, and that's my focus. The soundtrack is lovely with 805 artists. Neva and Terminal of course, but we got some heaters from Monteloco, Earthquake Institute, The Faculty, Dirt Farmers, Down, Scandal, Smooth, Solar,VINC, Lost Soulz, and a bunch of others. I am about to resurrect the label, calling it " Tlduso Records", because I can let the music be heard along with a movie. A movie shows everything. And we have a lot to show. Once I do that, I am on to the next one. This is all I want to do in my life, make movies and sale records. It's not about how much money I make, that's the easy part, it's about staying creative, staying focused on a dream, and being happy at what I do. Ventura and Santa Barbara County is growing. We are next. So I am trying to open doors and minds. The minute we as a county start to support each other and believe that we too can have success, we will be seen worldwide. Our area is too beautiful to ignore. W can make movies here, we can sale records here, we can have publishing here, we can have concerts here, we can have everything they have in LA, we just have to believe it and do it. Those kids out there in junior high and high school, please believe that. You are our future, so start to believe it. There are places out there that reach out. You got 805hiphop.com for mass media, Arts for Action for the art culture, Section 805 for the underground, Q104.7 now giving love for local groups, Nicholby's giving acts a stage to perform on, Cable Access TV to showcase your work, and this magazine, EightOFeva keeping it real to the streets. In time, we will show what we are made of, and I am blessed to have a movie that shows all those aspects out of the 805. We here now, so ya'll better wake up and get ready.