We caught up with the brilliant and insightful April Morrison a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
April, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
I started working in independent films in 2019 on my own production. It was a very big risk, because I was funding it off the money that I make from my job, and I still do to this day, I made a lot of mistakes by paying people in advance to secure them, instead of putting a deposit only. I realized paying in advance made me a target to be taking advantage of. I say this because the quailty of their work was not as good once we started working together. Their desire to give me a great product was’nt there anymore because they already received my money. Then in some cases people would change up things even though we agreed and signed a contract. I guess they figured, I was to easy going and would just let things go, because I was in to deep and didnt have time to argue about it. At times yes that was correct. I learn alot that some people just don’t care and will not be fair. What I didn’t understand was why they screwed me over right in the begining.🤔my guess is they were’nt planning on making more money with me. 🤣I’m glad it stopped when it did. I also kept tring to please everyone actors & crew and that was very hard on me. I felt like at times that I was working for them and they were paying me. I bet I was just looking like a complete fool to everyone, because I heard about it from time to time. This was a very high price to pay and nothing to show for it, other then footage on the shelf, because I could”nt complete projects. I must say no matter what im glad God bless me and kept my health to have fed alot people off my security job. Well im good now. I was doing all this in Atlanta GA while Iiving in Killeen TX. I moved from Atlanta in 2018. There is not much going on in Killeen but a few productions have filmed here. It does’nt matter to me because im staying in my lane doing things the way I want to. God gave me my speacial talent just for me, and I will do it all right here in my little city, because my son and his wife gave me a house there. I’m very happy for this. I will only be filming my own content and putting out the best work ever that I have in my vision and that’s all that matters to me anymore.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I have always been in the business in my mind as a little girl, because I had always wanted to be in the industry. I started out as a child wanting to act. Then life came with all the ups and downs, my beautiful kids who are grown with kids now. Donta and Ashleigh, during those times raising them and two husbands and other personal things I went through. Drugs had even taken over my life at one time but thanks to God I’ve been clean and sober 13yrs never going through that mess again. I would be better off dead. Minus my kids these were the things that I had allowed to make me forget about me and all my dreams for many years up until I started get clean and sober in 2009.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
What drives me to keep going at 58 when i really can sit my tail down and relax, like my kids want me to. I keep going because I want to live out my dreams as long as I’m able, while helping people live out theirs. By casting actors and crew for filming with or without experience. My heart gets full when God makes a way for me to bless others and give opportunities.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Donate to my production as little as $1 im not asking for much, but I can use some help.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: April Morrison Production
- Other: Email aprilmorrisonproduction@gmail.com cash app $April46102 470-646-4805
Image Credits
Non