Music artist, film director, and entrepreneur Rahim Brazil, just celebrated the screening of his new film “When Love Takes Over,” in Atlanta, Ga . We had the chance to speak to Rahim on the new film, and what it takes to be an independent film director and music artist in this era.  

Interviewed by Adrena Martin

First let me tell you how proud I am of you. I remember you from the beginning when you were just a music artist, now you’ve evolved into so much more. Where did the inspiration come from to get into films?

Thank you, this is definitely been a journey for me as a music artist turned into a film director. The inspiration from getting into the filming industry has come from me being a part of a film project in 2016. After being on set, I really liked the whole vibe of the behind the scenes work and felt a need to dive into film creation. I always strive to enhance my brand, but also enhance my gifts. I used to act  in middle school and I wrote my first script in the eight grade, so I always had that passion, but when I jumped into film in 2016, it sparked up that passion and a new desire for me to direct and create my own content.

“When Love Takes Over” is your latest project. Is this inspired by true events or how did you come up with the storyline?

I would not say this is inspired by true events, but it is inspired by true situations. I actually wrote this one because I wanted to work with a particular Actor and really wanted to mold a different type of story for the community within itself. So I created this story to tackle different issues within this movie and within the script. It really dives into the different things that people face like suicide, therapy, alcoholism, relationships etc. So it is really a layered story that I believe people can really relate to. I really feel that it is a story that needed to be told in a way that people can understand from a perspective of realism. 

As a creative and entrepreneur, what is one of the most challenging things for you to overcome with your projects?

One of the most challenging things for me to overcome within my projects is getting things done with minimum budget. Things like finding locations being able to pay Actor’s being able to solidify myself as a reputable creator who is able to take care of his people. For a while we were trying to Give people opportunities, but also help people to receive the compensation that they deserve for their art. So my challenge was more so centered around being able to actively create, while trying to work a 9-to-5 to support the dream. The last and final challenge would be having a solid team in place. I have really struggled to find individuals who match my level of productivity, focus and drive, but now I believe I am in a better place with the people that are standing behind me and my projects, but it definitely took some time to maintain. 

How did you go about casting for this project, and what are some things the actors had to do to really get prepared for their roles?

This casting was a little different than our other castings because I purposely selected actors that I believed would do the script some justice. I did not hold auditions or anything like that, but the actors all had to attend a table reading and a rehearsal. So doing the rehearsal process, I was able to work with them on their characters, work with them on particular scenes and also do some improv exercises in order to make this project stand out.  My goal was to make sure that whatever emotions came across the screen would touch the viewer. 

What message do you want viewers to get from the film and where can they find it?

The number one message that I want people to receive from this film is that therapy is OK. Therapy  is fine and therapy is helpful. I want people to not feel ashamed for needing help and actively asking for it when they know they need it. They can find this film on my new network www.dreamhousetvexclusive.com By subscribing for $5.99 a month and they can watch all of the shows that we have on there and will be uploading soon. Also feel free to subscribe to our YouTube page Dream House television network.

What advice do you have for other independent directors looking to get their work out? 

My advice for other filmmakers is to make sure they continue to learn, elevate, and grow. We are never too intelligent to learn and providing information to ourselves will help enhance our creative process. I will also give advice on building good connections with other creatives, from actors to crew because having a good set of people behind you will help you create better films. You are as good as your team and the people that’s walking beside you. Be hands on with direction and prioritize your filming process. 

I just really want to say thank you VEU Magazine for this interview and thank you for bringing awareness to what we have going on as creatives, I really do appreciate you for allowing us to use your platform to speak about what we have going on.

About Rahim Brazil

Rahim Brazil is a Hiphop artist/entertainer, Actor, Director and Radio personality from Baltimore, MD. It is rare that anyone comes across an artist that is self-motivated, inspirational, extremely talented, and a genuine representation of true artistry. Rahim Brazil has all of these qualities and more. His music offers an invigorating sound that captures his listeners attention. His unique music style is made of melodic harmonies, lyrical punches, energetic movements, and realism. Currently Rahim Brazil has released a new single “Superstar” off his sophomore  album entitled Closure. He shares stories of his past to where he acknowledges the ending of cycles that no longer serves us. Currently residing in Atlanta, GA, he intends to make his way through the industry performing at shows, killing stages, speaking on panels, hosting events and inspiring the upcoming generation. When Rahim is not working on music he is actively creating movies and tv programs. I’m 2017 he proudly created Dream House Television Network, an in-line streaking Platform that show movies, docu-series and various shows. He is the writer and director of the Hit series Twisted, which gained over 500k views on YouTube. 2020 will be the start of a new journey as he takes it up a notch and stepping into his star potential. Rahim Brazil is more than a star, but a trailblazer.