Antwone Fisher spent his entire childhood in foster care, and at age seventeen, he was emancipated and left to fend for himself as a homeless teen living on the dangerous streets of Cleveland, Ohio. Though a turbulent journey, Antwone eventually found his place in the world.
He is uniquely familiar and qualified delivering formal talks on child abuse, child abandonment, teenaged homelessness and the difficult and emotional journey of finding a passage to peace and belonging in the world. Antwone approaches these subjects with uplifting candor.
An excerpt from Antwone's U.S. Navy evaluation while serving at Naval Communications Station Eastern Pacific reads, "Petty Officer Fisher possesses a management style and a can-do attitude that gets things done!" In his eleven years of honorable military service in the U.S. Navy, Antwone managed hundreds of sailors, and even marines whenever they were embarked aboard ship and serving in S-3 division. This was always done successfully, even under the most stressful situations, he grew uniquely qualified as a leader.
He has benefited from years of military leadership training and hours upon hours of the U.S. Navy's leadership and management classes. While serving as a Correctional Officer with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, he was responsible for managing some of America's most notorious. As a film director, he is responsible for managing the film's production and it's personnel and ultimately, for delivering the film.
Antwone has managed thousands of people over his lifetime and shares his management style, lessons learned and challenges in managing people and personalities through humor and forthrightness
While as a society we accept that our physical and dental health are something we should take care of on a regular basis, we also have mental health and it is something that requires as much attention as our annual physical examinations. Whether it be because of shame or foolish pride or by simply being unaware, many refuse to accept that they have psychological health that should be examined and maintained.
Antwone speaks candidly on this subject and offers the idea that every family should have a family general practitioner, dentist, and a family mental heath care provider as well.
It wasn't until Fisher was a navy recruit that he realized this smartly dressed man had never taken the time to teach him how to be well-groomed to reflect on the outside the man he was becoming on the inside. "A boy ought to know how to tie a tie," he thought angrily, as he struggled to master the navy's required half-Windsor knot.
Filled with inspiring stories, wisdom, and practical know-how, Antwone's presentation to young people (both male and female) helps them to develop a sense of purpose and worth, and lay a foundation for success.
Antwone lectures on how painting, drawing and other art forms such as dance, music and writing provide a way of self expression vital to the growth of human character and the betterment of the community. Also, he speaks of the importance of the museum, the symphony, botanical and public zoological parks in our culture and also tells of how the arts served as a magic carpet that took him from his extraverted youth to the public man who is now known as an artist in many respects
Wouldn't it be great if all you needed to gain a long and successful career in Hollywood were talent, a great agent and your ability to write the screenplays that every studio executive wants to buy? Well, you're going to need that and more. I've learned that it's crucial to have an edge over the other talented screenwriters knocking on Hollywood's door.
You can begin to get that edge by developing your value as a person and a personality in the process of the business. You can achieve this several other ways as well, all of which, for some writers, may require that you step outside of your comfort zone, setting the stage for your career. Perhaps you may need an escort or a letter of introduction from a prominent member of Hollywood's inner circle.
Attaining these is possible, and I suggest methods on how to obtain some of these keys that can unlock Hollywood's door. I encourage my students not to rely totally on the traditional avenues of gaining a fruitful career as a writer in Hollywood, but to use innovative techniques, the force of their personalities and the power of their distinctive writing style to win a place in the business.
From the free screenwriting class in South Central Los Angeles to the star-studded premiere gala at the Motion Picture of Arts and Science building in Beverly Hills, Antwone discusses the intriguing, nine year journey of the making of the film, Antwone Fisher.