We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Samuel Fudge a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Samuel, appreciate you joining us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

I present the American black experience through perspectives that are less favorable in today’s industry. The messages I express through my work are raw, gritty, viciously honest and prevalent to contemporary black culture. This is what makes my work different. I don’t shy away from the truth, nor am I afraid of expressing it. Instead, I use the truth to inspire, educate and spread awareness. Generally, my work is intentional and serves as food for the black soul. The industry’s set priorities are completely different from what mines are.

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

My name is Samuel Lee Fudge. I am an Actor, Director, Writer and Producer. My journey of filmmaking began years back while attending Paine College In Augusta, GA. Being a theatre major, Paine College allowed for me to hone my craft by providing me numerous production experiences in front and behind of the camera. It was also at Paine College where my passion for “Black film” had been cultivated. I grew infatuated with the work and legacies of black filmmakers such as Oscar Micheaux, Melvin Van Peebles and Robert Townsend. I strived to be like these giants by setting community targeted goals for my work, in hopes of eventually influencing social change nationwide. I created a campus theatre arts organization that specifically catered to the needs and concerns of the African American citizens of our country. Our biggest accomplishment to date is performing famous speeches from historic and influential black figures at the 2015 B.E.T Gospel Choice awards.

My work at Paine College afforded me many platforms to showcase my potential on a broad scale. By my senior year, I had worked in several mainstream productions, including Birth of a Nation, directed by Nate Parker. The confidence gained from my experiences while at Paine College pushed me to pursue a graduate degree in acting. My determination led me to Savannah College of Art and Design, also known as SCAD; ranked “Top 25 American film schools” by Hollywood reporter. SCAD furthered cultivated my skill of acting and secured me professional opportunities within the industry. SCAD had completely developed me into a professional. I became knowledgeable on the industry and gained a greater insight on filmmaking and the process of production.

During my time at SCAD, I had observed the absence of relatable black content in main stream television and film. To fix what i I felt was a problem, I developed a personal responsibility to use my resources and abilities to create that content. Since then, I have produced several projects that I am extremely proud of because of their significance to contemporary black culture. One of which is a short film entitled, Lotus. Lotus tells the story of a young man who is faced with the ultimate decision of his life; to pursue an education or succumb to the social pressures of his inner city reality. Since its release via Amazon Prime video, Lotus has been featured in numerous film festivals. These festivals include, the Pan African Film Festival and the Black Harvest Film Festival; two of the nations most popular black film festivals. Lotus has also screened at universities, juvenile jail facilities and at local youth development programs. Lotus serves as a small but significant piece to the multitude of influential work that I will create in time.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Absolutely! My general objective for myself is to physically serve as an inspirational statement to future generations of youth, worldwide. I want my legacy to serve as an constant reminder to youth that regardless of their backgrounds and circumstances, they can truly become whatever it is they desire to be. Dreams are real. Just as they are real, they are obtainable. I yearn being an example to those whose circumstances hinder them of believing.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Sure. I wish that at the beginning of my filmmaking journey, I took more advantage of artistic grants and other resources provided to artists for project funding. My first few projects produced were paid solely out of pocket, which is great, but I feel put a cap on my artistic vision overall. Generally, as an artist, you can do a whole lot more with more resources and means other than your own. Extra backing is always good!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/Samuelleefudge38?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
• Instagram: @Samuelleefudge
• Facebook: Samuel Lee Fudge
• Youtube: Dream Lotus Productions