14/08/2023
REFLECTION... Reading this article about Michael Oher, I'm shocked and disgusted, partially because I know a little more about this story behind the scenes, and am disheartened he was never protected. Continuing to reflect, I'm also grateful for always walking in my Light and following my instincts. While making my first studio deal for my feature biopic, THE AMERICAN CAN, my legal rep at the time called me "too honorable" because I was insisting on terms that would be fair and beneficial to the story subject John Keller. At the time I couldn't understand if the comment was meant to be a back-handed compliment or not. However judging from the tone it felt like the latter especially as it was followed by "everyone gets screwed on their first deal". Unfortunately this didn't compute for me. What I knew was that I was not going to let this Black man become a pawn in Hollywood manipulation buried in legal rhetoric. John is a real living hero and Recon Marine veteran who during Hurricane Katrina risked his life for the rescue of over 240 people trapped in his apartment building. He and thousands of New Orleanians lost more than anyone can ever know, and I've been protecting that authenticity ever since. For his life rights, I demanded and got from the studio a deal for this "nobody" that was deemed unprecedented, refusing to back down until he got what was rightly deserved. As a Producer, when someone entrusts you with the depiction of their life, it's your job to safeguard it with creative and business integrity, not only for today, but for their future. I've sacrificed a lot for this project but I'm a faithful believer that while many are called, only a few courageously accept. It's time to www.TheAmericanCanMovie.com
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38190720/blind-side-subject-michael-oher-alleges-adoption-was-lie-family-took-all-film-proceeds
In a 14-page court petition, the former NFL star alleges that Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy never adopted him, instead tricking him into signing a document that gave them legal authority to make business deals in his name.
