were under a lot of pressure to get this done. We had to cast
quickly, but carefully. We didn’t want to choose at random, and
it just fell into place. I think when you know the film, and everyone has the same vision, you know the right vision when it walks
through the door. You don’t have to discuss it; you just know. As
soon as we saw and heard them, we knew.
U.G. Digital Mag: I mentioned that it’s been 14 months, and you’re
still screening. What does the timeline look like?
Lynne Stoltz: Distributors and studios have asked to see the film.
Because there has been much made about the film, and we’ve
been very blessed and humbled, we’re not doing the film festival
route. Studios have been asking us to look at it, so we’ve been
blessed with it. That is the route we will take, rather than spread
it out.
U.G. Digital Mag: I can’t wait to see it. How do you not get the big
head, when you put your first film together and it gets this much
love and people standing strong behind it?
Lynne Stoltz: I guess it’s the person you are. I’m not really sure
(laughing). I’m not the person who wants to be a hit. I’m just
focused on this film, and one person does not make a film. Everyone made this film. Once person being over-egoed would not be
acceptable. I’m grateful everyday.
U.G. Digital Mag: You’re very personable down to earth. The
average person can talk with you, and know they’re not being
looked down on. Sasha has been exactly the same way, and so
have the cast when I’ve spoken with them. I think it’s amazing
the team you have arranged for this. I’ve loved working with you.
Even connecting with Maria, I’ve watched her for years, and it’s
just amazing to see her work. The same goes for the entire cast,
and it’s amazing the opportunities you’ve provided.
ture film. Before that is done, we are in the final development of a
series we’re doing next. It’s shot here in Toronto, taken based on
a series that I wrote where there are twelve episodes, and we’re
going to cross that series over with the bridge theme we used in
Sons 2 the Grave, where you have the wealthy on one side, and
the neglected on the other side. The series will deal with a police
precinct, and the personal lives of the officers and detectives,
who connect with the DA’s and mayors, and some people who
live on the good side that you may not believe should live there.
It will be a very deep thinking series where the personal lives will
carry the drama through each week.
U.G. Digital Mag: It sounds amazing already.
Lynne Stoltz: We’re bringing in some hip-hop royalty as well as
part of the cast. The series will be called Hudson, which is the
name of the neighborhood in Sons 2 The Grave. You will love it.
When you see Sons 2 The Grave, you’ll love this concep t. We
never know what comes back to haunt us in our lives. You have
someone who has maybe climbed his way out, trying to do well,
but things come back to haunt. So we have that relationship with
the mayor, the city, and the DA. Lives entangle, and we’re going
to tangle them up a little for you.
U.G. Digital Mag: I can’t wait to see it.
Lynne Stoltz: Well we can’t wait to start. We’re almost there.
U.G. Digital Mag: Is this something that will be pushed to television? Or are we looking at things like Netflix or Hulu?
Lynne Stoltz: We do have a production partner in Toronto with
channel zero. I can’t tell you which network in the U.S. just yet,
but it will be showing there. I can say that channel zero is the
Canadian broadcaster. They want to be the one to release who
will show it in the U.S.
Lynne Stoltz: We’re blessed with everyone. I also don’t want to
leave out Brad James. He, and everyone, has put in long hours to U.G. Digital Mag: Getting back to Sons 2 The Grave, are there
make this film. Faith rules this film for me, and I guess that’s why
more screenings coming?
we all keep pretty low key. There’s only so much you do on your
own. I believe Faith carried us through.
Lynne Stoltz: There are more scheduled, but we may or may not
do them. There’s a few studios that have the movie, so it’s better
U.G. Digital Mag: Talk more about the company Have Faith Profor them and us if we just let it sit a little.
ductions.
U.G. Digital Mag: That makes sense.
Lynne Stoltz: The company has been very close to our hearts.
Besides me being a spiritual person, the name came from me
Lynne Stoltz: Absolutely, and besides that, we get to stay home.
losing my husband a few years ago. He wanted us to do this film. We were in Atlanta for a long time. We loved it, and will be going
It was a very sudden, and hard time for Sasha and myself, and
back to shoot another movie. They’ve been good to us, and we
we were together for 28 years. This si someone who is beloved
look forward to going back.
by everyone that knew him. We decided a good name for our
company would be Have Faith Productions because we needed
U.G. Digital Mag: And again, Hudson will be in Toronto, correct?
to lean on our faith. We kept that vision with us in our hearts from
day one. In one of the scenes, we put my husbands keys to his
Lynne Stoltz: Yes, it’ll be shot in Toronto.
car that he loved on the desk, so that a part of him was with us
when we made this movie. That’s how Have Faith came about.
U.G. Digital Mag: OK. I asked that, just because a lot of the locaWe’ll only do films that mean something, and have a meaning in
tion was in Atlanta for Sons 2 The Grave.
today’s world where you can walk away, not necessarily agreeing, but thinking about it and talking about it. We have a couple
Lynne Stoltz: No, it’ll be in Toronto. The name of the city was nevof projects coming out, one actually that the late Dr Maya Aner made a point in the film, so it could have been anywhere. We
gelou was going to direct from a book I wrote a long time ago.
shot it in Atlanta. We will go back to do it again, but the series,
That’s one of the movies we’ll be doing.
we’re using the name Hudson because I love that name.
U.G. Digital Mag: That book was Loud Silence?
Lynne Stoltz: Yes. And that is scheduled on our slate to do a fea-
U.G. Digital Mag: The story behind Sons 2 The Grave is amazing
in the fact that it centers around making choices in life, and being
your brother’s keeper. What was the inspiration?