We recently connected with Kevin Black and have shared our conversation below.

Kevin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

There are a couple of movie trends that are really bothering me right now. Just my opinion—everyone’s free to like what they like—but here’s what’s on my mind.

First, the whole multiverse trend. I can barely understand what’s happening on Earth; now you’re telling me I have to sit through a two-hour movie jumping between different worlds? That’s just too much for me. This multiverse trend has got to go. I want to watch a superhero movie that starts from the very beginning of the hero’s journey. What happened to the good old days when Spider-Man got bit by a spider and started developing Spidey senses? Nowadays, it seems like every superhero is fighting battles across different planets, and I just can’t keep up. No offense to anyone involved, but my ADHD can’t handle it.

Another trend that bothers me is the overuse of technology in movies. If I see a character holding an iPhone that’s even a couple of years old, I automatically feel a little less connected to them. I want to feel like the movie is happening right now and that I could be there with the characters. Outdated technology takes me out of the story and makes me uncomfortable.

So, you won’t find any multiverse worlds in my films. As for technology, I’ll steer away from overusing it. I get that it’s a big part of our lives, but my focus will be more on the characters, not their phones.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Besides having beautiful curly hair and arched eyebrows, who am I? For my friends, I’d definitely say I’m their Wendy Williams. My friends always know the latest hot topics, the juiciest tea, and are very aware of pop culture, all thanks to me. I dive deep into the headlines, dig through the news, and love delivering hot juicy tea for them.

To the outside world, I’m Kevin Black. I like to describe myself as a scriptwriter; I’ve written countless scripts, and it’s where I feel most at home. I have a unique ability to use words as powerful tools, whether for storytelling or reading people. I’ve written full-length features, musicals, and even completed scripts within 48 hours. I’d say I’m gifted when it comes to writing—though I may not always get punctuation perfect, I can definitely pull a story together.

I also enjoy directing and acting. With all these passions, I decided to create my own production company, Matusalem LLC. After being bullied in middle and high school, I had two choices: become a harsh cold person, or use my trauma for good, which I did. I bring inclusivity into art and always will.

Matusalem is a film production company, it’s currently PREGNANT with it’s first feature film. Currently, I’m in preproduction, assembling an amazing team of people who believe in the project. I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds. My first movie will be horror!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I did the whole film school thing, and while some people have positive things to say about it, others might not. For me, it was a mix of both. One unexpected outcome was that I lost some confidence in myself. Film school, which was supposed to make me feel more capable and knowledgeable, had the opposite effect. I learned how to fund films with million-dollar budgets, but the reality was that someone like me, with my background, skin color, and limited resources, wouldn’t have that kind of funding available for my own future films. Leaving film school, I felt trapped in a cycle I couldn’t escape. I like to call it the “sad filming-billing cycle.”

The Sad Filming Billing Cycle ↓

I couldn’t get a job because I didn’t have experience. I didn’t have experience because I couldn’t get a job. I couldn’t produce my own movie because I didn’t have money, and I didn’t have money because I couldn’t get a job. I couldn’t get a job because I didn’t have experience. I didn’t have experience because I couldn’t get a job.

It was a never-ending cycle: no job without experience, no experience without a job, no film without funds, and no funds without film credits. I felt stuck in this loop, which became a mental trap as well.

But then I realized that I could make a movie without a huge budget. People will act for FREE. People have scripts that are collecting dust, People want to work and build their portfolios. In 2020… I fully committed to working on my portfolio. I made short films for free, built a strong IMDb profile, and created a résumé all without money. That’s what I’m going to teach my students when I become a film professor. You can do it for free. You don’t need this big blockbuster film sets to say yes. Now, I want to give others the same opportunity I wish I had. As I produce my current movie, I want to offer roles to people who may not have much experience, giving them a chance to work on set and build their portfolios. I want to be that helping hand for others, so they can start building something to put on their résumés.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Even though I love writing and find it easy, it can still be a challenge. Writing a script takes a lot out of me. I feel like my eyesight has progressively worsened because of how much time I spend staring at the computer. My neck starts hurting from looking down at the screen, and my back aches like I’m a 75-year-old grandma cooking empanadas for her family. (Maybe I should get back into yoga!) Writing a script definitely takes a lot of effort, but when you start seeing your script come to life, that feeling is like no other. You imagine these characters in your head and write them down, but when you finally see them in person, the feeling is indescribable.

When the film is complete and you’re sitting down with an audience, hearing them gasp, laugh, and even criticize your every move—that’s a feeling I crave. After every short film I’ve done, I’ve always felt this strange sensation in my bones, and my eyes water with happiness and sadness at the completed project. I’ve experienced this feeling on a small scale so many times, but now, as I prepare to produce my first feature film, I can’t imagine how I’ll feel after seeing every single idea I envisioned come to life on the screen. I can’t wait for Matusalem Pictures to birth its first baby. What should we name it?

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.instagram.com/matusalempictures
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevinenvy
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/kevinenvy
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@matusalempictures

Image Credits

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