Never Left Behind

You see that weird looking guy in the middle? Yup that's me. It's my third film I directed called "The Undisturbed" and when I tell you that day was one of the hardest days of my life but at the same time it was one of the best days my life. I mean this is me we're talking about. I could never image that I would be here. Not really. Ever since I was young all I wanted to do was make a great story but c'mon, me? That hope, that dream was only for other people.

For people who were smarter and more lucky. I mean what does a young black boy, raised by weed smoking Jamaicans have to say about the world right? We had almost nothing when I was growing up. We lived in a shop in heart of Brooklyn and fought for everything we had everyday. My parents didn't have much to give being immigrants but one thing they gave us was music. They gave us stories. They gave us hope. We would sing and dance even when we couldn't even keep the lights on. They instilled in us a spirit of undying determination that one day it will get better.

Even when I did horrible in school. Even when I made mistakes. We sung. We danced. We created. My parents would argue and fights. My family would cry and yell but at the end of it all they would bring us together in my mother's room and my father would tell a story. He would sing a song and all of it, all the pain would wash away. That's why in my darkest moments I find myself creating a story to tell. I use to gather my friends around and I would tell a story. I was filled with so much joy seeing the look in their eyes as they listened and all of their problems went away.

I became older and life struck again. Film making was not paying the bills and I found myself on my girlfriend's aunt's couch. No job or car. Just a useless man. So I joined the military and life struck again! I was not athletic at all. I was probably the worst soldier you ever met but in those dark times I created. I began writing a story for the other soldiers. Each of them stressed and suffering from the training and being away from home but when then heard my stories it was like we weren't there anymore. We were happy. We would talk in formation and they would whisper to me "Hey Rodney what's going to happen next?" Before I knew it I made all sorts of new friends and with their help I became a soldier.

I came home and married my fiance. I knew then that I had a gift that I needed to share with the world. So I got to work. I called everyone I could. I asked anyone who listened to just give me a chance. All I needed was the opportunity and they would see it. I got my opportunity and it was fantastic. My first short after four years and it blew people away. I began getting calls and I met great people who I love working with. I then got a chance to shoot a second movie, then a third. I could always see these moments in my head but it is another thing to see it in real life but I am not done. There is so many stories to tell. So many gifts I wish to give to the world.

All I have ever wanted since I was a child was to give the world the same peace and happiness that my parents gave to me. I just want to see people smile. To see them at peace. Everyday we turn on the news or we go to work and we are bombarded with noise but when I tell my stories all of that is washed away. That is my hope and dream. To not leave anyone in the darkness. To let every child know that there is hope. To let them know that they were Never Left Behind.