It's A Smallz World After All Urban Insider Talks Hollywood With "Director Smallz"

When selecting the people with whom I work with, I try to find the absolute best there is because it's a huge representation of my brand. We are heading to my second home New Orleans by way of Los Angeles to speak with Travis Donald who goes by the name of ''Director Smallz". I have a huge admiration for the young people in Hollywood making money moves, fresh out of ''Grambling State University", one of my HBCU rivals, with his very own film company Travis has already produced two films to his credits. Without wasting anymore time let's see what Travis has to say below.....

Give the readers a brief introduction, such as name, age, and where you are from.....

Hello guys, my name is Travis Donald, I hail from New Orleans, Louisiana where I have 4

brothers and 3 sisters. I come from a single parent household where my mother Shilent

Donald often went without just so we could have. Going back to my siblings I must say

Rest In Paradise to my younger brothers Donavin Donald and Tyrone Sanford I love and

miss you guys like crazy, but I know you both are in a better place.

So my purpose for contacting you was because I saw the title of director in your IG name so let's start with that, how did you get involved in the entertainment industry, not only that but directing is a milestone for someone so young....

Yeah, I ‘ve been in the industry since 2013, my good friend Marc Hammond introduced

me to the camera and I made a short film that was accepted into "Festival De Cannes" in France, after that I developed a passion for directing, then I soon began writing my own content and shooting it. Upon graduating from Grambling State University I moved to Hollywood to attend The New York Film Academy ,obtaining my Master’s in Fine Arts/Directing and I haven’t stopped since.

I also saw that you work for Fox Sports, congratulations and what is it exactly that you do there.....

So over at FOX I mostly do live events such as football, basketball, etc. It's a lot of

office paperwork and some in the field camera work.The job is really cool I only work weekends so it doesn’t interfere with anything I have going on film wise.

You write scripts from what I can see particularly the one titled "Ball Is Life", tell us more about that, like what prompted you to write it, and since writing it, where have you shopped it around to and what have been the results of that....

Ball Is Life is a film I developed for the under dogs in the world, the movie takes place in

Los Angeles, its just about a young kid who doesn’t fit in and people take advantage

of that until he decides to stand up for himself. The film is definitely a coming of age film

that the world is missing, currently the film is in post production set to be released in mid to late January.

Now I write but I wouldn't know where to begin writing a script, what type of thought process goes into that type of creative headspace.....


Most people believe that they can’t write, but I beg to differ I think we all have a writer

inside us. Basically you just have to write to get it out, then go back in to fix it, however

the most important part of writing is definitely to just get it out on paper first.


You have already released a film "Rise", what is that about, how did you develop it, how long did it take you from the initial development and concept process to get to the production stage, and from there to release for public viewing....

 "Rise" is what I’d like to call a conversational piece, it's a short about two people from

different backgrounds who engage in a conversation at the bus stop. "Rise"is all about

judgement and why in many cases its wrong to do it. The movie "Rise" took about 6

months from concept to film ,and now "Rise" is currently doing a festival run and will be

available for public viewing this January.

Smallz Films now is that your company independently or are you housed by a parent company for distribution......

Smallz Films is my independently own production company, and from time to time I do

partner with other companies to bring you some of your favorite films.

You have already accomplished so much, what's next for you....

What’s next for me is simple I will keep creating content in hopes of one day winning an

Oscar.

Now do you act as well or are totally behind the scenes.....

Lol, I like to call myself a ghost, sometimes I might run pass the camera just for some fun

but more than likely you can find me behind the scene just directing.

Who would be your ideal cast to work with on a project and why.....

The ideal cast for me is the cast I’m with now, I don’t need anyone famous to come and

validate my film I need the cast and crew that’s at my house every Monday from 7pm –

12 Midnight to keep fighting so that we all come up together, but I wouldn’t deny

Denzel a chance lol.

Formal training for your craft, where did you receive it and for how long.....

 While at Grambling State University I was honored to work and learn for the great Mr.

Alan Blakeney, he taught me a lot of what I know today.

What would be something's you feel need to change or that you aren't pleased with in the film industry.....

The film industry needs more black writers, executives, producers and directors, I feel like

we as black people are under represented in this industry and everyday I’m striving to

change it.

For fun name 5things you can't go a day without.......

Five things I can’t go without .. hummmmm talking with my mom, talking with Janay, I

have to have a coke or two, or three, I have to write and I’m not sure about the fifth

, I’ll get back with you on that one.

Oh before I forget who all have you worked with in this industry so far, and on what projects or events....

I’ve pretty much worked behind the scene with everyone from Drake on "Mommas

House" Super Bowl Commercial to taking pictures of Sean Combs for his recent

Halloween party.