First, let me know some of the stuff you’re working on now?
Well I’m here in L.A.. I like to stay versatile – the work I do is across a lot of projects. I handle content production for major studios and do production and marketing for feature films and TV projects.
I’m actually trying to get more projects filmed in Pittsburgh. It’s a very versatile, really cool filming environment. I love the versatility of the settings and landscape – 15 minutes in any direction and you feel like you’re in a new city, state or country sometimes. It’s a great and under-utilized area for film and TV. So I’m actively working on that and have spoken with the Pittsburgh Film Office to make sure I have all of my ducks in a row.
Anything specific you’re trying to bring in?
I have a horror movie, an action movie and a musical which has one of the best scripts I’ve seen that I’m working on. With the pandemic it’s really slowed things down of course – it’s really impacted the industry. Especially as an independent, you need investors and they are waiting for the effects of the pandemic to slow down. Now with the increase again in people going to theaters and live-streaming, they are starting to get more comfortable again.
My goal is really to be bi-coastal. To live in L.A. and bring entertainment and jobs to Pittsburgh. To make it a film industry hub like Atlanta.
Other projects you’re working on as well?
I work with a lot of influencers, actors and athletes. I’m here to help them build their brands and find opportunities for them to be successful not just in the short term, but in the long-term as well. I like finding untapped talent and helping them to get where they want to go. It’s all about being of service.
I also do some speaking. I spoke recently at N.C. State for their homecoming. That was a blast. I like to do a lot of speaking at schools and events. I used to say that I loved to network, but then I realized the word networking had a bad connotation. People thought that implied ulterior motives, so I stopped using that word. What I really want to do is make connections. If people I meet and I get involved in business opportunities, that’s an extra. I just want to surround myself with good people who inspire me.
I’m also going to be in movie theaters doing the pre-show video for Noovie. I was a big movie fan growing up so doing that is pretty exciting. And I’m active in the Twitch game too. I host watching parties – it’s like having my own speaking engagement where we can talk about anything we want. The conversations are diverse – sports, Marvel, film, TV….its always different and I get to do it in gym shorts!
How did you get started in all of this?
We moved to North Carolina for my dad’s job when I was in middle school. I went to N.C. State after that and got an internship after that with the Pittsburgh Power of the AFL. It was an electric experience – it was such a fast sport. After that I got hired full-time with the Power but worked remotely out of North Carolina. But I always loved to do many things at once. And that led me to a man who changed my life and opened doors for me. Jimmy Rich believed in me – met me and got me a job with Robert Downey Jr.’s team. Jimmy passed away five months ago – he was like a brother to me.
I learned a lot with that experience with Robert Downey Jr.’s team. I was a huge Marvel fan already and respected his work for a long time – you can’t get better than that to start your career in Hollywood.
So I brought what insight I could with my marketing background to the team and learned as I went. I didn’t go to film school – I knew nothing about the industry. It was a very different animal so I learned on the fly.
They suggested I get some studio experience then. So I worked for Warner Brothers and worked on the ad and marketing campaigns for“Kong: Skull Island,” “The Lego Batman Movie” and “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” We won Clio Awards for those three campaigns which are like the Emmy’s of film promotion
How were you able to stay focused across all of those projects so early?
It’s all about the choices you make. I didn’t move to L.A. to get lost in the sauce. To get lost in the flashing lights, ego and red carpet. I came out with a focus and a drive. I’ve seen people here come and go and fall on their face. You need a thick-skin here. I’ve got stabbed in the back more times than I can count. That’s what I miss about Pittsburgh – people say hi to you and are kind. It’s a different animal.
What has that Pittsburgh background meant to you – how has it influenced who you are and how you work?
My mom and dad – mom especially – she was an incredible woman. She helped me become the person I am today. She would give you the shirt off her back. That giving mentality I learned from her. She taught me it wasn’t about what you get in return for helping others. She embodied that.
The empathy and kindness you see in Pittsburgh. It’s a very real, transparent town. You see it in how people react to their sports teams. When the Steelers lose the city is depressed for a week. That’s why I love it. It’s real – people are transparent and open. They say hi to you and open doors for you. In L.A. people don’t even look at you. It’s a bizarre 180 degreed difference. In Pittsburgh people may not know you but they still treat you like family.
It’s funny. Here in L.A. you will meet some folks who are from Pittsburgh. When you mention you are from Pittsburgh to others who are too, the whole conversation shifts. You could be having a terrible conversation but the moment you mention Pittsburgh it all changes.
It’s like Yinzers Unite! Here in L.A. it’s so amplified too because it’s so rare to find that authenticity and kindness here. So when you find it you latch on to it.
How did you get started working with the Steelers players you know?
It’s funny because in high school I saw Jerry McGuire and thought “That’s me!” I had a genuine love for the players and related to him.
In 2005 it started with Willie Parker. I was doing an art project of him in high school and the art teacher thought I should submit it to a national competition. I thought it would be cool if we could get Willie Parker to sign it. My mom and I thought about how we could reach him – we were determined and decided the best way was to do it at training camp.
There was no social media then or anything. So we used the big fat phonebook and found him amazingly that way. I cold-called his family and from there established a relationship with them. I’ve known them now for over 15 years – they are like a second family to me.
So I got to know Willie that way – I met him in-person at training camp and hung out with him. When that happens you get his stamp of approval and meet other players. It takes time but that’s how you build relationships. I remember when he told me “You didn’t leave me when I left the Steelers.” I never forgot when he told me that. I learned it’s still about people and their feelings and families.
Full circle, when he retired I handled his retirement with the team. I almost got him signed back to the Steelers. They told me if Mewelde Moore didn’t sign his extension they would have re-signed Parker.
In talking to players, what is the biggest misperception you think fans have of players?
They’re people but sometimes people don’t care and don’t treat them as such. It’s really sad to see. I see them at their best and worst – some of them very depressed – so much so their families are worried about their well-being. People think they make millions so it’s ok to treat them poorly. But they are human and need breaks too. People don’t always get that. I was close with Ryan Shazier and remember watching that game. I never felt more sick when he wasn’t getting up. I’d rather the team lost every game if it meant him getting back up again. His life changed forever. He was on the verge of a huge contract and big things and now he was just looking to walk again. Everything changed for him and his family.
I used to be a yeller and screamer when the team lost. But now I’m like “Damn they lost.” I know it’s bigger than football now.
I sat down with Highsmith and Cam Heyward in the hotel lobby in San Diego. Highsmith is another one of those perfect Pittsburgh guys like Cam and T.J. A great kid. People kept coming over and asking for pictures and I just laughed. It’s amazing what that one picture will do for them. What these players mean. It really matters. They bring some happiness to those that really need it.
JuJu and the heat he gets for being brave enough to put himself out there and he’s a good guy. Tomlin – talking about getting heat. Too many fans don’t care about them. I mean, Tomlin is such a great mentor and human being. They all get a lot of hate but they and the organization just exude class.
What memories stand out most to you?
The biggest one is Willie in 2007. He was the leading rusher in the NFL and was an undrafted free agent. That was almost unprecedented. He broke his leg in the second to the last game of the season. I saw him go down and called his sister and told her Willie was hurt. She told me that he wasn’t, he’d be fine. I asked her if she was watching the game and she told me she was out Christmas shopping. I told her “How can you say he’s fine then!”
So she made some calls and 15 minutes later she called me back and told me he was hurt bad. He went from the leading rusher to out for the season. It all went down the drain in a second.
What happened afterwards?
Willie spiraled and went through some depression. His family was concerned. I sat outside and thought about what I could do for him. I wasn’t wealthy or famous – I was a freshman in college. What could I do? I remembered his idol was Michael Jordan. Now, I had no relationship with Michael Jordan at all. I just wanted to swing for the fences -something I tried to do in every facet of may life. I thought “I’m going to get him to meet Michael Jordan.”
Well, I talked to some people, they introduced me to more people, and I just continued to work my way up until I got to people high up in the Bobcats organization. I was able from there to get Willie and his family a chance to go to Jordan’s suite during a Bobcats game to meet Michael Jordan. I didn’t go – I just wanted it to be about Willie and his family.
Years later I was on the field with Willie and out of nowhere he turned to me and said “You helped me meet Michael Jordan.” It was out of nowhere. It just meant that much to him and from him to see his dad meet Michael too.
Any other good stories?
One silly one is after a while I got close with Le’Veon Bell when he was in Pittsburgh. He was a big FIFA guy. I was over Terence Garvin’s place when he told me Le’Veon was talking shit about me in the locker room. I didn’t know Le’Veon then – you know you are in the inner circle when guys are talking trash about you!
Well, I was a good FIFA player then. Now, I’m ranked number one in the world – as of two months ago! But I was good then too. I told Terence to give me Le’Veon’s number and I texted him. A while later I met him and gave him the new FIFA game and he invited me to his place later that week.
Well, I get there and there are two plastic chairs set up in front off a massive TV screen – it was like a Super Bowl setting. Behind the two chairs were more chairs surrounding them and there were like seven guys there. We start playing and he goes up 2-0 on me quickly. I think “Oh God, he’s going to beat me.”
Well, I ended up tying the score until he scored at the 88th minute. I play with Messi as my guy – and Le’Veon ended up tackling him right outside the box and I got a free kick. I buried it in the top left corner and the house erupted. I ended up winning on penalty kicks in overtime.
We played a couple of games more and it got progressively worse for him – I beat him worse each team. When I asked if he wanted to play again he told me he was doing with FIFA – he rested after that!
Zach Banner is a huge FIFA player too.
He was my next victim! He and I had a bet that whoever lost to the other had to make a video saying the other was better. I still have his video! I actually saw him after the San Diego game and asked if he wanted to play again – he said he hadn’t played in a long time. I think I retired another player!
I used to play Call of Duty with Hines Ward and Max Starks and played Highsmith on FIFA. I think it’s just fun for the guys to just be normal without having to go out and maybe get in trouble or deal with people. It’s just like hanging out with a friend for them.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
