For me, movies were more than entertainment. They were an escape. Growing up in a tough household with an addict father, film gave me a break from reality. For a few hours, I could be somewhere else entirely — a different world, a different life.

In 1997, the movie Black Dog, starring Patrick Swayze, Randy Travis, and Meat Loaf, was filmed near my hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. My mom won tickets to the world premiere from a local radio station, and knowing how much I loved movies, she took me with her. That night changed everything. I still remember the buzz of the red carpet, the flashing cameras, and the energy in the air. It was my first glimpse into the world of filmmaking. I didn’t fully understand it at age 12, but I knew I wanted to be part of it.

By high school, I was already dreaming of moving to Los Angeles to work in film. I researched jobs and housing, and made plans. But in my small Tennessee community, “Hollywood” wasn’t considered a real career. My father had other plans for me: college, marriage, kids, and a steady job. That was supposed to be my path.

In 2006, my grandmother gave me a one-way ticket to Los Angeles and told me to go after my dream. So I did.

I started at the bottom: Set PA, then Office PA, Accounting Clerk, Director’s Assistant, Production Coordinator, Production Accountant, and eventually worked my way up to Unit Production Manager and Line Producer. I learned the business from the inside out, building budgets, hiring crews, negotiating with bond companies, and managing financial closings.

In 2018, I made the leap into full-time producing. Producing is not for the faint of heart. There’s no guaranteed paycheck, and you often defer your own pay to keep a film on track. But I loved it. I developed scripts, found directors and cast, and raised financing from scratch. Still, I realized I’d need additional, passive income streams to make it sustainable.

In 2020, I became a father to twins. The experience was life-changing. A year later, I was diagnosed with cancer, and thankfully, I beat it. That diagnosis was a turning point. As strange as it sounds, cancer gave me clarity. It reminded me what truly matters: time, health, and family.

After treatment, I returned to set, but the spark wasn’t the same. The 60 to 70 hour weeks meant missing out on milestones with my kids. I realized I needed a new way to stay in the industry I loved without sacrificing fatherhood.

So I pivoted.

That same year, I financed and produced The Fallout, a $1.5 million indie shot during the height of the pandemic. It starred Jenna Ortega and went on to win both the Grand Jury and Audience Awards at SXSW before selling to HBO Max in a bidding war for $5 million. I reinvested those proceeds to fund my first movie loan. From that, FilmMoney was born.

As a producer, I could realistically produce two films a year. But as a financier, I could support twelve or more films annually while still taking my kids to school, making dinner, and working from my home office. That’s the balance I wanted.

Now, with over 19 years in the industry, I use my experience to empower other filmmakers, not just with financing, but with insight and guidance.

Throughout my career, I’ve spotted inefficiencies in the film industry and built solutions. Film markets, for instance, are costly. Fifty thousand dollars or more per market for travel, booths, and lodging. That’s why I created FilmMarket.io, the first online global film marketplace. It allows producers and sales agents of all sizes to buy, sell, and connect year-round without needing to attend in person. Launched in June 2025, it’s available via web and mobile, with apps launching August 2025.

I also built CrewList.io, a global crew directory that is completely free for both employers and crew. Instead of hunting down union lists or emailing one person at a time, employers can instantly browse and message qualified crew by city, department, and availability anywhere in the world.

But I’m not stopping there. I’m currently developing platforms for completion bonds, production banking, payroll, and a global exchange for monetizing tax credits and cash rebates without relying on expensive third-party lenders.

Outside of film, I’ve always had an entrepreneurial streak. During the 2007 to 2008 writers’ strike, when productions stopped, I opened my first seasonal business. A Christmas tree lot on a vacant lot on Melrose in Los Angeles. I strung up lights, brought in fir trees from Oregon, and turned a dirt lot into a $70,000-a-month seasonal business. That hustle led me to explore other ventures.

I also created USInvestorData.com, a powerful resource for founders and entrepreneurs who need access to real, verified investor contact data without paying thousands for broken or outdated information.

In 2023, after relocating to be closer to my children’s grandmother, I founded Brown Capital to invest in real estate using the BRRRR method (Buy, Renovate, Rent, Refinance, Repeat). It’s one more way I build long-term, sustainable income while staying present for my family.

From my early days watching movies as an escape, to financing award-winning films, to launching tech platforms and real estate ventures, everything I do is driven by passion, purpose, and creating the freedom to live life on my terms.