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Link to trailer:
“Joy” is a poem I wrote one that deserves a film. I’ve lived every line in it, from my service in the military, to being bullied in high school, surviving multiple muggings, gun violence and physical assault in every phase of my life to be joyful has been synonymous with being delusional.
Every stanza of this poem serves as a eulogy for the many versions of myself I had to mourn in order to become who I am now—this isn't just a poem anymore, it deserves more than I've ever given my work hence I've teamed up with the incredible Joan Michel. She will be directing this venture alongside a full production team. I’ll also serve as the film’s creative director and lead actor.
This poem speaks to the moments where I’ve had to perform masculinity in ways that felt unnatural. It speaks to the friends I’ve lost, the ones I've called brothers, to the men I've loved, and the healing I’m still doing. Artistically, I’ve spent years learning how to turn vulnerability into art; in this world vulnerability is treated like a privilege, I plan on changing that by normalizing it's expression.
As a nationally ranked slam poet, as the Poet Laureate Emeritus of Jersey City, and as a teaching artist working with young people across New Jersey, I’ve spent my career turning language into a tool for survival and community-building. I've written plays, performed with bands, released album, published books, written memoirs. I'm still trying, now I want to translate that same emotional urgency into film—because there’s a visual language to this pain and joy that may need to transcend poetry.
Why do I think this deserves support? Because I we think we all know some guy, some kid, a man, your brother, a cousin, your father, deserves an opportunity to witness happiness, bliss, and possibly joy even if its just a few minutes on film. This doesn't deserve support, but they do.
Also, being from Jersey City and having spent years building platforms for other marginalized voices, I understand what it means to use limited resources to create something impactful. I know how to stretch a budget without sacrificing artistic integrity. I’ve done it in poetry, in theater, in music, and in previous film collaborations. With your support, I can finally bring this story to life at the scale and quality it deserves.
This is me, choosing joy and role modeling for others to do the same.
It's a good choice, despite every voice, post, and fist screaming otherwise.
Your support will cover production costs, equipment, and fair pay for our cast and crew. Even if you can’t give, sharing this campaign means everything.
We’re aiming for festivals, screenings, and impact.
We want young Black boys to see this and say, “That feels like me.”
We want grown men to whisper, “That was me, too.”
And we want everyone to understand that joy isn’t a luxury, it’s survival. It’s resistance. It's a revolution.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for believing.
Let’s bring "Joy" to the screen together.