We were lucky to catch up with Wayne D Burdette Jr. recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Wayne D , thanks for 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.

The biggest risk in my opinion that I have ever taken without doing one ounce of research was back in 1998/1999 when I decided against everyone’s wishes to attempt to purchase a NASCAR Race team from Cale Yarborough. It was one of the biggest life changes that not only affected me but those around me especially in my immediate family. The quick story is I saw it posted in the local newspaper as we were in the same area in South Carolina and by the afternoon was sitting in front of him making a deal.

We operated the team under the buy-sell agreement for the first 6 months of the season in 1999 and were becoming a competitive team as completely unfunded by a sponsor had a top ten finish in the Daytona 500 and then was 16th in points. In May though, things changed but keeping this short you can learn more about how it turned out at my podcast called “Missing the Shift” and the book, “Missing the Shift” which will be released later this year.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Less than a year ago, I established Moonless Media & Entertainment Inc. Initially, the company was operating under Infinity Media Group but my former CEO, Jackie Smith and I decided to come up with a different name to set us apart from the competition because when I first started the business I rarely ever slept either from writing screenplays, building websites or sending out email to potential talent. So, that is where the name came from because to me it was always like the day time and at work.

Moonless Media & Entertainment is a full production company from writing screenplays in a very short time period, production work, directing, and more. We have also even started building and designing our own streaming service and launching our own capital firm to help others fund their movies and television series. I have to say that I am most proud that in a very short time to have several of my screenplays win various festivals including those that I wrote with Christan Van Slyke. As well, the other thing is the team that I have been fortunate to work with and the established relationships.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In the entertainment industry, resilience is something that in order to succeed you have to have because so many times as an actor, actress, director, writer, or producer to name a few there is always several individuals telling you no before you may get that one yes. There is not just one story that I can share but many on when resilience. For example, individual producer or production companies will tell you that you have a terrific screenplay but they can’t fit it in their portfolio right now. There is also the days when your casting director is trying to cast a project for you, which is a process all in itself. In closing, it takes patience and resilience to be in this industry and be a success or accomplish the goals you have set for yourself and your company because nothing comes easy.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I actually have more that one goal or mission that is driving my creative journey. Eight months ago my dad died unexpectedly and that is actually what got me started on this amazing journey in the world of entertainment. Instead of keeping my feelings bottled up inside, I wrote and wrote screenplays of so many different genres. But there is one Christmas tradition that my family always had during the holiday season and that was my mom and sister would always put on the Hallmark Channel and watch Christmas movies while I was in town from Atlanta with my children. Later of course, GACTV was added and so as a result of that currently with the wonderful assistance of my cowriter, Christan Van Slyke, together we have written so many different Christmas & Rom/Coms designed specifically for those channels even right down to the almost kiss mid movie that gets interrupted by someone or something. So, what drives me in my creative journey is to have those screenplays be seen on those channels as they are award-winning screenplays or as well for one of my action-crime-thrillers to be picked up by one or two big name actors/actresses like a Rebecca Furgeson or Ryan Reynolds and seen on the big screen. These are just some of my goals that not only drive my creative journey but I am determined to have happen very soon.      

Contact Info:

• Website: www.moonlessmedia.com. www.wayneburdettejr.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wdburdette/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wdburdette/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wdburdettejr/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/wdburdette
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MoonlessMediaEntertainment