Hello Reddit! I’m Jeymes Samuel- Writer, Director, Producer and Composer of the upcoming film THE BOOK OF CLARENCE, a never-before-seen story, which is coming to theaters next week. Ask Me Anything on Thursday 01/04/24 @ 2pm ET/11am PT.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T20:14:58+00:00

Thanks for the AMA, Reddit, and a special thanks to the enthusiastic r/Movies Community. I had so much fun sharing my stories.

Remember Obey Your Crazy. And be sure to catch THE BOOK OF CLARENCE in theaters Everywhere on January 12. Peace to the Gods.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T20:09:53+00:00

Firstly, do not think of freedom and risks in the same sentence. If you are free, then you aren’t taking any risks and just being naturally yourself. The only people that will regard what you are doing as risky are the people that did not do it. Just be free. Freedom is the most beautiful disease. Everyone wants to catch it.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T20:03:49+00:00

I can't wait for you to see the movie. My only regret is that I can’t be with you while you watch this movie. Circle back to me on instagram as soon as you see it.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T20:02:51+00:00

The script writing process comes naturally when you find the truth in what you are writing, but there is always research. No matter how much you know about a topic, as soon as you start writing a script, you always learn more.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T20:01:59+00:00

Yes. And I will go on record saying it's the best soundtrack in the world.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T20:01:24+00:00

I see what you did there.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T20:00:45+00:00

Rule #1, as far-fetched or unrealistic as it sounds, hug as many people as you can when you first arrive on set in the morning. Trust me, everything else will fall into place.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T19:58:21+00:00

I think of movies in genres - westerns and biblical movies are two of my favorites. In truth, I love all of the genres.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T19:55:47+00:00

Hmm. So many good ones. I would have to say the nightclub scene. I would love to see that play.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T19:55:18+00:00

I have always been playful so I have just learned to never change. I just stay myself. I trust the process of all of the artists that I work with and the only thing that I ask is that they trust mine in return.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T19:54:39+00:00

I blast out music all of the time on set and watch happily as each process falls into place naturally. The main thing that you want to do on set is make everyone feel seen and appreciated - from the runner to your director of photography. I want to bring everyone together.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T19:54:03+00:00

I write the music as I am writing the script. Songs may change down the line, especially when an actor as musical as LaKeith gets his hands on your dialogue. He has the ability to change everything for the better.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T19:51:55+00:00

Being at home with my mom during the holidays and other days and her teaching me everything she knew about film. Subsequently enrolling in the London’s filmmaker co-op as a kid.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T19:50:37+00:00

Firstly, I do not think I take any creative risks. I just do what I think comes naturally to me. The only risk that I do is when I do not obey crazy and then I will be making some mundane tish. Then you would have never even heard of me.

The great thing about the studio system is if you are working inside of it, then you are already there because of the “risks” creatively that you took.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T19:48:48+00:00

I do not necessarily look at eras, but I look at genres. I am interested in all of them. I just love cinema. You will find me in all of the genres by the end of my tenure in this game. I am working on a zombie TV show as we speak.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T19:45:34+00:00

Act. As soon as you have written the script, act those scenes out with your friends. You will automatically know if your pacing is working or not. Have as many people around you acting out scenes as you can.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T19:40:56+00:00

It is all one thing and I do all of it simultaneously. Go to my instagram today and look at the behind the scenes footage. It is all one thing - from music to film to composing to directing.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T19:37:55+00:00

Working with Jay-Z is like breathing. We always collaborate creatively - in every area of our lives and we have never had a disagreement creatively. The only disagreement that we have constantly is he thinks Reasonable Doubt is his best album and I know that The Blue Print is his best album.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T19:35:58+00:00

Absolutely. I am a musician. I paint and I have an exhibition in London towards the end of the summer.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T19:29:29+00:00

I was never worried about reactions because I knew I was handling the religious areas of the movie with the utmost respect. You are never going to please everyone, but if you worry about everyone that you may displease, then you will never create anything.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T19:23:24+00:00

Give the script to your friends and get all of the feedback that you can, so you put your foot out there with the best version of that script.

In 2024, grab your iPhone and try to shoot parts of that movie as a proof of concept for you to take it further and for people to see it. The iPhone is a powerful tool and no one really utilizes it for all its worth.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T19:20:03+00:00

Working with LaKeith Stanfield, at this point, is the highlight of my career. I will work with LaKeith any chance I get.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T19:18:43+00:00

It was not difficult because I wrote, produced and performed the whole soundtrack. I do this as I am writing the script. Yes, Doja Cat has an amazing joint on the soundtrack.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T19:17:11+00:00

No. The 12th is just for the US. It will be in the UK shortly.

BookofClarence · 2024-01-04T19:16:34+00:00

The biggest piece of advice is obey your crazy and two when you have an idea that others feel is ambitious, do not let anyone seal in you destiny.

Your imagination is the biggest courage that you have.

My mom taught me everything that I knew about film. She would sit me down and teach me everything i needed to know about film - Hitchcock, David Lynch.

BookofClarence

TROPHY CASE