'Canal Street' boasts Tallahassee roots and connections

“Canal Street” the movie was shot over two weeks in Chicago in 2017. But the genesis of getting the just-released inspirational movie to the big screen can be traced back to Tallahassee five years ago.

Executive producer Kevin Mullens was flying home from Nigeria. The Crawfordville entrepreneur and preacher missed his connection in Atlanta. So did music executive and Florida A&M graduate Amir Windom and director Rhyan LaMarr. The duo was headed to Tallahassee to pitch a film, “Restore Me,” and attract investors.

“It was a God connection, a divine connection," Mullens said. "Both of us missed our flights and were on flights we were not supposed to be on. We sat beside each other. We connected then and the rest is history.”  

Mullens and Windom talked about life. They didn't discuss work. The author of four books, Mullens travels the globe doing business, preaching and lecturing.

Windom is a Grammy award-winning record producer who has worked with talents like T.I., Bruno Mars, Lupe Fiasco, Madonna, B.o.B, Trey Songz and Kanye West. As a television and film music supervisor, Windom has helped create music, scores and creative strategies for movies such as “Act Like A Lady Think Like A Man,” “Why Did I Get Married 2,"  “Despicable Me 2,” and “Stomp The Yard 2.”

Windom and Mullens both asked how they could help each other.  

Last week Mullens and Windom held a premiere of "Canal Street," a feature-length film of faith and fatherhood set in Chicago against the backdrop of the city's racial tensions and daily street violence.

The event featured family and friends from FAMU and locals who invested in the project as well as a pitch to area church and social groups to support the independent film so it could be shown in more theaters nationwide.

"It's a spiritual retreat," said Windom of the movie. "I'm committed to making content that makes you feel good. Whether it’s a faith-based movie or comedy, I want to make people feel good. Somebody has to create balance in this world. Just make people feel good, just replenishing their souls, making them laugh, making them listen to things that make them want to be better."

Collaboration

On that flight five years ago, Windom, a 2008 FAMU public relations graduate, introduced LaMarr to Mullens.

"Once I met Rhyan there was an immediate attraction — to his creativity, to his vision," said Mullens. "There was nothing being made for the millennials and Generation Z. Content that could speak to that younger group, that was his dream. When I saw the content he was creating, I wanted to be a part of that.”

The trio collaborated on "Restore Me," which was released in 2016. LaMarr directed. Mullens was executive producer, Windom music supervisor.

That film was a crash course in movie-making. Faith films aren't exactly box office gold. The big studios aren't lining up to finance them. The trio learned some hard lessons about independent filmmaking, Mullens said. Afterward, they explored several movie projects, but one, "Canal Street," had to be made immediately.

"We wanted to tell a story that was relevant to today’s social climate,” Mullens said. “'Canal Street' was one of those films that represent the best of hope, healing and forgiveness. We knew we had to make this film. We had to make it now. We knew it was a film that would inspire change.”

Making Canal Street

Director LaMarr shot "Canal Street" over 16 days in Chicago on a $2 million budget —investors include a former Florida State football player and a Thomasville businessman among others.

How the film was made is the stuff of indy film lore. Faith-based films rarely attract A-list acting talent. But "Canal Street" boasts a cast with impressive credits: Bryshere Y. Gray (Empire) Mekhi Phifer (Chicago P.D.), Mykelti Williamson (Forrest Gump)  Lance Reddick (John Wick), Woody McClain (Bobby Brown Story) and Kevin Quinn (Chicago P.D.). 

“They bought into the script. They asked themselves, 'Am I willing to come in at a much slower rate for something really special?'” Mullens said. “They knew the message was more important than the amount of money we could pay them.”

Timing was also key. Busy actors usually have commitments to TV series or major films. By shooting the movie in just over two weeks, the director had to schedule scenes to accommodate the actors.

"You promised to work with their schedule and get them in and out," Mullens said. "Lance Reddick was on the set for a day and a half. Phifer was in for three or four days."

Windom was a co-executive producer and music supervisor. In the latter role, he had to ensure the background music complements the script. As the theater emptied Tuesday night, one movie-goer raved about the songs in the film.  

The 14-song soundtrack is a mix of jazz, gospel, pop, and hip-hop. It will be released soon, Windom reassured her.

“It’s soulful and invigorating for an 85-year-old and for a 12-year-old. It will be entertaining and uplifting," he said in an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat. "It’s good for families to listen to on their way to church or someone on the way to the club."

Follow Andrew Skerritt on Twitter @andrewjskerritt.