THE ILLADELPHIA GLOW 5 Questions for Filmmaker: Mister Mann Frisby

by Le Anne Lindsay, Editor

Mister Mann Frisby is a native South Philadelphian, 2 time AALBC.com Bestselling Author of “Blinking Red Light” and “Wife Beater”;  a former Philadelphia Daily News entertainment reporter; and founder/head coach of PhatBack Athletics ‘ an all boys track & field club and mentoring program. And now he’s a filmmaker!

When I came on the scene with Tinsel & Tine in 2010, Mister Mann Frisby already had a huge following. I remember saying “who’s this guy whose subscribers get seated first and always gets a shout out from Allied PR Reps?” Also, everyone I knew in the movie/journalist/blogger/critics world, knew him, but somehow we were never introduced until now.  It’s awesome to have him join our 5 Questions Series and more awesome to learn he’s a fan of two throw back shows I love – The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman!

I got a chance to screen The Illadelphia Glow (short film). First off, I really appreciate anytime black sci-fi is on the table.  Although, this film doesn’t play out with a comicbook or supernatural tone. It’s grounded in reality. It just so happens the lead character, high school teacher Winston Ligon (Aundre Dean) has a special talent, where it’s not so much that he doesn’t know how to control it, but rather he doesn’t know what to do with it. A mysterious guide (Jacinth Headlam) comes into his life, but she’s one of those tough love type of entities that’s not gonna make it easy for a hero.   Much of the background settings are some of my favorite spots in Philly.  And it’s nice he captures Haute Restaurant for posterity.  This was a black owned spot on Locust street in Center City that specialized in Creole cooking, and was aiming to be a night club after hours, but just didn’t seem to have enough capital to keep going.

“The Illadelphia Glow” now available on Amazon Prime, is a well-produced debut film for Mister Mann Frisby, and I hope he’ll get a chance to turn it into a narrative feature.

NOW HERE’S 5 QUESTIONS FOR MISTER MANN FRISBY…

Synopsis: Winston Ligon is a 30-year-old high school English teacher who discovers that he has a “super power”. The revelation of this power is making him come undone as he struggles to determine whether his gift is a blessing or a curse. 

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T&T: In a nutshell what was the main inspiration for The Illadelphia Glow and/or the theme that is the heart of your film?

Mister Mann Frisby: I have long wanted to write a sci-fi film with Black characters as the main focus. I also want to normalize Black men on screen being teachers, education leaders and coaches. The horrific disease that is cancer is a central theme in this film. Everyone has been impacted by the ugly disease, so we decided to weave it into the plot of my first film. It’s a coincidence that it came out in October which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This film is not just for Black audiences however. The themes are universal.

T&T:  Tell us a bit about the music of your film?

MMF: Music plays an incredibly big part in my life in general so as expected it does in my first film as well. There are three songs on the soundtrack. Two of the songs are from Maya Belardo (Free) and Brittanie Thomas (Energy), both singers who I met through hosting a series of live music jam sessions in Philadelphia since 2013. The third song is by a good friend Erich Davis whose stage name is Psyche of Sound. His song ‘Violate Me’ fit the ‘White Party’ scene perfectly. And of course the one and only Lady Alma is in the film so I had to have her bless us with her world renowned voice.

T&T: Was there a point where you almost didn’t finish The Illadelphia Glow? And if so, what pushed you forward? 

MMF: We filmed this short in April in 2018 and it’s just coming out in October of 2020. I think that says it all. Ha! There were a few obstacles in getting this film to the world but the process made me stronger and smarter. I wouldn’t trade the experience of directing ‘The Illadelphia Glow’ for anything in the world because now I have a greater understanding of how my career should proceed. It was so worth the struggle because the response has been overwhelming. The main theme in this film is kind of heavy but it’s necessary and my fans are speaking loud and clear that they get it, and that they want more.

T&T:  Give a quick shout out to your creative team and anyone who helped get The Illadelphia Glow from an idea to the screen/streaming.

MMF: I have to shout out my longtime friend Deidra Roper aka DJ Spinderella for the many hours we spent developing this plot, the script and the plan for my filmmaking career in general. She serves as Executive Producer along with my frat brother Michael Coard, who is a brilliant attorney and activist. My Director of Photography Lionel Cook was very important in getting the film shot and wrapped up tight in post production. My squad was amazing! Charles Eric Robertson Jr did the score, Allan Wade on drone duty, and Erich Davis with the special effects that are VERY important in this short film. I am also grateful for the background actors who showed up at 6 AM on a Saturday morning without even knowing what the film was about. They just want to see me win and I can dig it!

T&T:   Name 5 of your favorite films, which influenced your desire to be a filmmaker? 

MMF: My influences are all over the place. I love ‘Stand By Me’ and ‘The Princess Bride’ which were both directed by Rob Reiner. Spike Lee has so many films in his catalog, as does F. Gary Gray and John Singleton, which have inspired my desire to be in this business. Depending on my mood I’ll watch ‘Silence of the Lambs’ multiple times or the comedy shows of Norman Lear like ‘Maude’ and ‘The Jeffersons’. My departed mother Joyce Poindexter was hands down the MOST responsible for me falling in love with Sci-Fi. As a kid, I was made to watch ‘The Twilight Zone’, ‘Amazing Storie’s’ and ‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents’. Of all of the TV/FILM that she exposed me to early, ‘The Six Million Dollar Man’ & ‘The Bionic Woman’ had the greatest impact on my desire to write and use my imagination.