Meet Samuel Fudge of Dream Lotus Productions in Buckhead

Today we’d like to introduce you to Samuel Lee Fudge.

Samuel, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I came up in a small, urban community called South Miami Heights in Miami, FL. Infatuated with television images; I grew a strong admiration for the world in which television characters lived. Desperately wanting to join that world, I would emulate the different characters I had seen. Acting out these characters helped me to escape and to become free of my bleak reality. It was at the age of seven that I knew I wanted to be an entertainer. My first experiences on stage came from singing in the South Florida Boys Choir in Miami, Fl. Upon graduating high school, I went on to attend Paine College in Augusta, GA.

It was at Paine College that I decided to take an acting course as an elective. A particular experience from this class was going to see Romeo and Juliet, which was the first production I ever attended. The only thing I had noticed walking into the auditorium was how it was full of diverse people. Growing up in a community predominately black and then attending a historically black college, I had never seen people of multiple ethnicity all in the same place. I was fascinated at how one production could bring all these people together. My mind was blown how at the particular moment of the play when Romeo, played by an African-American male, killed himself. Every single person in the audience, including myself, became teary-eyed and emotional. The energy carried all throughout the auditorium. My immediate reaction was surprising. The idea that one actor could possess the power to make many different people feel the same way had moved me. It was at this moment, I realized that I could use this very same power to spark the minds of diverse audiences to think about social issues that afflict our nation. The Romeo and Juliet production sparked my interest in using acting as a platform to advocate social change.

While at Paine College, I was afforded many opportunities to hone my craft by acting in local and national productions. One includes Nate Parker’s, “Birth of a Nation”. Inspired by Nate Parker, I formed Paine Playhouse, which was a performing arts organization on campus. Through performance art, we brought awareness to issues harmful to the African American community, such as police brutality. One of our biggest achievements is performing dramatic pieces at BET’s Gospel Choice Awards in 2015. My acting and social work gained me recognition outside of the city of Augusta. Within my junior year, I was invited to join the NAN Performing Activists, founded by Rev. Al Sharpton. I had charted a chapter at Paine College the following year.

After graduating from Paine College, I decided to further my training in acting. In doing so, I enrolled at the Savannah College of Art and Design to earn an MFA in performing arts. It was while at SCAD, my desire to create films had emerged. I realized the significance of creating acting opportunities for myself and other performers of color. By the same token, I gained a strong interest to tell narratives of African American heritage through a positive lens. Ultimately, I wanted to cultivate the minds of African Americans by telling stories of our rich history.

Once finishing my acting training at SCAD, I decided to navigate my new found journey in creating influential media content. Though, before transitioning directly into producing film, I was cast in the major feature film, “Emperor”, produced by Reginald Hudlin. Shortly after, I decided to produce my first stage play entitled, “Voices in my soul, yearning to breathe free”, which premiered in Augusta, GA spring of 2019. The play was unique because it shed light on the struggles of black actors and their fight for lead roles in film and TV. A few months after, I enrolled in the Nate Parker Foundation’s, summer film institute. There, I was given a culturally responsive and socially practical education, which set a new direction for my film work. In the midst of me creating projects independently, my childhood friends, Lacorrie Mccarty (IG@cousin_corrie) and Nathaniel Williams (IG@sinwill25) reached out to me expressing their desire in wanting to write a short film relating to our background experiences. They both thought it’d be best that we produce the film under a production company that we too, would create. From there, Dream Lotus Productions formed.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Fear was number one. Being human, I feel it’s only natural we experience fear as we venture out to new limits and heights. My fear of failing the company is easy eliminated by having a strong and stern support system. While still in the developing stage of Dream Lotus Productions, my team, Lacorrie Mccarty (IG @cousin_corrie), Nathaniel Williams (IG @sinwill25), Lydia Elmore (IG@_lotusflower_17), Shea Stephens (IG @shea_prophecy_stephens), Nicki Sutton (IG @solrootzapparel) and Kevin Wallace (IG @shopwithfetti) have been with me every step of the way. Their assistance and guidance has been tremendously significant to the company’s progress. We each meet daily to fellowship, discuss task and establish individual responsibilities for the week and month. Having their support and knowing they are always available when needed, makes my job as a CEO much easier. Hats off to my team!

Creating the perfect product is the number two fear. As a company, the pressure of wanting to have the best product possible for consumers is heavy. Ultimately you want your company to strive and elevate off of your brand product. To ensure our best product and content, we as a team set very high expectations for ourselves and the quality of our work. In addition, we make sure that the content always reflects our company’s mission; which is to spark social change and self-awareness for our audiences.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Dream Lotus Productions – what should we know?
Dream Lotus Productions was established in November 2019, by Lacorrie Mccarty, Nathaniel Williams and I. With my lead and all of our visions, we wanted to create a company that produces content that educates uplifts and empowers the culture today and generations to come. In addition, we wanted the content to reflect our heritage. Through each piece of work, we strive to connect with our audiences; ultimately influencing self-prosperity from within. In hopes to spark social change in the world, our work also highlights social issues in the world. Our company specializes in creating media content, such as films, commercials, music, music videos, PSA’s, photographs and graphics. We also produce theatrical stage plays. We are also known for our Dream Lotus Apparel; Hats and T-shirts designed by Nicki Sutton, owner of (SOL ROOTz Apparel) and freelance artist, Shynessa Jordan.

The name “Dream Lotus” steams from the journey of the lotus flower and my own personal concept of how it relates to human life experiences. In short, the lotus flower starts a seed, buried in mud. Relying on its roots, the flower pushes through the mud until it reaches the surface top. Once it has finally made its way through the filthy mud, the Lotus finally blossoms into the beautiful flower we know it to be. Just like the lotus, we all go through muddy circumstances and instances in our lives that may temporarily blind us from our dreams and goals. Though, once we persevere through these occasions, we too, can then blossom beautifully like the lotus flower. Every single person in the world who has thrived and overcame trials, tribulations or turmoil in their life is a Lotus.

The dream part comes from me literally telling the world to dream. Every single day you wake up, your mind should be set on self-progression; growing and getting closer to your dreams and goals. Dreaming is essential when trying to accomplish anything.

What set us apart from other companies are our unique concept of the lotus flower and our use of the lotus flower to change the world. Not many production companies can say that they strive to change the world and have work that shows. Dream Lotus is for changing the world and bettering the people in it. We will always stand behind that.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I believe growth is essential in obtaining success. Nothing can be greatly accomplished without growth.

Contact Info:

• Email: dreamlotusproductions@gmail.com
• Instagram: _dreamlotus
• Facebook: Dream Lotus

Image Credit:
Keem
IG @1keem1

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