Gadrien Williams shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Gadrien, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
The biggest misconception about going into any production is that it’ll be easy sailing. No production is perfect and at any point you have to be able to navigate through the madness and the chaos, people’s feelings etc.. At the stage I’m in now I do all of my own casting, I write my scripts the old school way with pen and paper, I breakdown the script, creating prop list, cast list etc.. Also I have to make sure I have all the equipment needed, handle the finances, catering, and petty cash. I hand pick out my crew and handle the table reads myself. I scout locations and create shooting schedules. All this before we ever turn on a camera. To say it’s just a one two process would be an understatement. This is a job although it’s fun it’s still work.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello again, my name is Gadrien Williams owner and operator of Ghetto Global Productions LLC. Everything I’m doing started with a dream, to be able to live out this dream is a constant learning process and I enjoy the challenge. I remember in elementary school I had behavior issues and my teachers put me into special ed. All my friends would laugh at me and call me slow, but honestly my mind was years ahead of my peers. While the teacher would tell us about science and math my mind would wonder my imagination was wide open and free. By the time they put me in the special education classes I knew I shouldn’t be in there but I embraced it actually learned a lot about people. My mom would ask me everyday what I did in school and I would say we played Oregon Trail on the computer all day, after a month or so of having the same answer my mom came to the school and demanded I be put in regular classes. My time in special ed was over but the knowledge and experience I gained would last until this very day. I met a lot of unique people who was considered slow, but trust me and hear me they were some of the smartest human beings I’ve ever been around in my life. I use this situation to remind me that know matter what anyone says about you, you are in control of your own destiny, you are the author of your story.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
When I was a child I was a care free dreamer as I said before, in the late 90s all that came to an end when one of my best friends Jherrius “Lover” Smith lost his life at 11 years old. I was devastated we were so young how could he just be gone. That thought haunted me most of my young life. I now know life is short, tomorrow is not promised and any day The Most High grants you with breath is a blessing, we must treat it as such. I’m thankful everyday for the chance to try again, I have big goals and I give God the glory everyday as I step deeper into my dreams.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
My first name is Gadrien, growing up teachers would make fun of my name, classmates would make fun of my name. People will pronounce my name wrong it was unsettling. I hated my name I despise it. I used to ask my parents. Why did y’all name me this and they never had a honest answer. My parents and family called me, Manny, which is an abbreviated version of my middle name Manuel. I would literally fight people for calling me anything other than Manny at certain points in my life. But then I remember meeting this lady and she asked how to pronounce my name, I thought she was being funny, but in reality, she was in all because she’s never heard my name before. I realize then that I was different that out of everyone in this world, I was rare. I’m the only Gadrien Manuel Clemons Williams on this planet, and it has to mean something right? I began to embrace my name embracing the difference and now I am proud to hear my first name being called no longer ashamed but proud to be me me.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
That you need money for happiness. Everyone in today’s society base their happiness off of a piece of paper and don’t get it twisted I love me some money but money is not the route to my happiness. I enjoy the options more than I enjoy the money the option to eat steak or Ramen noodles that’s what money brings for me not happiness. Keep it even more real money draws in the liars the thieves, the cheaters, the deceivers almost as a moth to a flame. So I do love what money offers, but I really can’t stand the evil that’s attached to it.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
That I did it for self. Everything that I’ve done and am doing it’s not just for me. It’s not just for my children. Korea productions provides jobs job. Some of my friends don’t have some of them can’t get being convicted felons. I hope my legacy is a long standing one that ensures you that ghetto global literally means what I said. Genuinely Helping Everyone Treaded Through Oppression, Giving Light Offering Brotherhood And Loyalty.
Contact Info:
- Website: Ghettoglobalproductions .com
- Instagram: Ghetto Global Productions
- Linkedin: Gadrien Williams
- Twitter: Iamzone6fresh
- Youtube: Ghetto Global Productions
Image Credits
All images and credit to any photos should be credited to ghetto global productions LLC
