Five Things I Learned Making "Adversity"
(That Film School Never Taught Me)
I wrote, directed, produced, and starred in Adversity — an award-winning web series created under Denne Productions. It was the most demanding creative undertaking of my life, and it taught me things no classroom ever could. Here are the five lessons that changed how I work.
The Script Is Never Done — Until It Has to Be
Film school teaches you to write a great script. What it doesn't teach you is that the script you shoot will be a different script than the one you wrote. Locations fall through. Actors bring something unexpected. A scene that read brilliantly on the page dies on its feet in front of a camera. You have to be willing to rewrite in the parking lot, between setups, at midnight the night before a shoot day. The script is a living document until the moment you lock picture. Embrace that — don't fight it.
Producing Is a Completely Different Skill Set Than Directing
I thought because I could direct, I could produce. I was wrong. Directing is about vision. Producing is about logistics, relationships, money, and problem-solving under pressure — simultaneously. When you're doing both on the same project, you have to learn to switch modes constantly. The director in you wants more time, more takes, more coverage. The producer in you knows you have three hours of daylight left and six scenes to shoot. Learning to negotiate between those two voices was one of the hardest things I've ever done.
Your Cast Will Save You — If You Let Them
The ensemble we assembled for Adversity was extraordinary. And there were moments on set where I was so locked into my own vision that I almost missed what they were giving me. The best thing I did — the thing I'm most proud of — was learning to get out of the way. When an actor brings something true and unexpected to a scene, your job is to recognize it and capture it, not redirect them back to what you had in your head. The cast saved this show more times than I can count.
Post-Production Takes Twice as Long as You Think
Double whatever timeline you have in your head for post. Then add more. The edit is where the show is really made — and it takes time to find the shape of something. Color, sound design, music, graphics, delivery specs — every step has its own learning curve and its own potential for delay. Build that time into your plan from the beginning, not as an afterthought. The shows that feel rushed in post usually are.
The Audience Finds You — If You Put the Work Out
Adversity won awards. That was humbling and gratifying. But the thing that moved me most was hearing from people who saw themselves in the show — who felt seen by the stories we were telling. That doesn't happen if you sit on the work waiting for it to be perfect. You have to put it out. You have to let it live. The audience for independent Black storytelling is hungry and loyal and real. Trust them. Make the work. Release it.
"Make the work. Release it. The audience for independent Black storytelling is hungry and loyal and real."
Adversity is available now. Watch it on @YOUNGANDTHERESTOFUS on YouTube, and follow along for updates on what's coming next from Denne Productions.