Prosper Film Spotlight

Today’s film spotlight focuses on the feature film Prosper directed by Deronte Smith.

What is the title of your film and what inspired said title?

The movie’s title is “Prosper,” based on the exacting nature of the witch’s means of securing her prosperity. It is a false promise she makes to ensnare young minds into a deadly trap.

Tell us a little bit about the story and origins of your film.

The story’s origin is as unique and bizarre as the movie itself. It all began ten or twelve years ago when I started practicing meditation. The more I got into it the more I wanted to learn and explore. One day I came across a discipline called Kundalini meditation which exerts specific breathing exercises and patterns to access certain energy points in the body.

I lay back on my bed and began the exercise which took me deep into my mind. I was locked inside my mind for hours. My wife tried to wake me without luck but she was patient assuming I was just exhausted from everything going on.

The hours passed by and deep in my mind, I lived the movie in what felt like real life. I could smell and taste the things around me. And I was conscious of being in an alternate universe or plane but I couldn’t bring myself to leave.

I was trapped inside my own mind. Later I would learn that the practice of Kundalini is highly discouraged without a practicing practitioner but I had taken the journey on my own. It took a world of effort to exit this place; however, when I awoke I was filled with vigor and excitement for what I had just been through!

I went to my wife, explained what had just happened, and she was a bit freaked out. I called my closest friends and shared the experience with them and they all concluded I needed to write the script.

Immediately I sat behind my computer typing into the void of white space. I spilled everything I remembered onto the pages. Thirty-six hours later, with no bath and hardly eating anything, I emerged from my cave with a full script in hand. It would become the first draft of what eventually became Prosper.

The film’s origin begins with the last hours of one of the most infamous witches of the Salem Witch trials. As the story goes, Sarah Good befriended her slave Tabitha who knew the inner secrets and source of Sarah’s abilities. Sarah was subsequently tried and sentenced to death at stake along with her eldest daughter, but it is long rumored that she had a baby daughter, Irene, who escaped execution by the clever slave.

Tabitha brought the baby into the community of slaves, where she lived tucked away and hidden from those who would seek her demise until her powers grew and the enslaved people grew fearful. Upon leaving the plantation, she soon learned that her beauty, youth, and powers wane over time, as did her mother’s, unless she renewed them through a gruesome ritual of unsuspecting child commanding a demon spirit to do her bidding.

Any films or filmmakers that inspired this film?

This movie is a throwback to the work of Stanley Kubrick and Alfred Hitchcock. Kubrick is known for his singular focus and visual presentation, while Hitchcock is known for his mastery of both story and combing humor to shift tension throughout his scenes.

The Shining, Beautiful Creatures and Insidious inspired Prosper in some way. It has a similar feel of strangeness and bizarreness to The Shining. It has cinematography and the slow burn of Beautiful Creatures. It has the story development and character arch of Insidious.

What is the goal of the film for you?

My goal was to open doors in my professional career. It has exceeded my expectations. The viewing audience is to take them on a mind meld, creep them out, and make them uneasy to fall asleep. I want their takeaway to be authentic, genuine, and experiential.

What has the journey been like getting the film into production?

I suspect my journey was probably a little different than most in that we had a carefully mapped out plan, almost down to the detail. I studied what other successful indie filmmakers had done and applied that to craft my strategy.

The plan was to secure as many talented professionals behind the camera as possible; I had to offer a share in the film’s proceeds if it were to become successful. But I also sold them on the vision, which was the big screen. I pitched a great wrap party and movie premiere that they could invite their friends and family too, all of which eventually happened, so they were happy.

One thing you learned from this project?

The journey of the making of Prosper included a spiritual awakening, soul searching, and acknowledgment of supernatural spiritual forces in the universe. While Prosper is the culmination of 2-3 years of work, it is also the authentic representation of what true-to-life rituals look and feel like, taking you inside the world of the occult, spells, and witchcraft.

I learned to respect the spiritual realm and those who can access it. I knew that making a movie on a shoestring budget requires patience and an abundance of grit and optimism, as there will be many dark days when you feel stuck.

I also learned how to craft and perfect my pitch, assemble marketing materials, and the overall process of procuring a deal without an agent. It is a daunting task, but it is manageable.

How can folks find you and your film online?

Anyone interested in Prosper can find it on almost all streaming platforms now, or they can use this link PROSPER_MOVIE. They can also find more details and connect with the Prosper community at Facebook.com/ProsperTheMovie.

And I should tell your audience that I am also a producer’s rep. My specialty is getting your movie or project on streaming platforms like Netflix. You can reach me at www.TheExpertProcess.com or smith.deronte@gmail.com.

Any last pieces of advice for fellow filmmakers?

In closing, I would encourage filmmakers to seek collaborations from which they can benefit, as the process is inherently collaborative.  Find people who share your vision but aren’t afraid to tell you when something isn’t working; your work will be all the better.

Be open to suggestions and new ideas but know when to follow your gut. Have a plan for your shoot, don’t just wing it. Have a plan for your marketing. And have a plan to secure distribution. These require skills that most first-time and second-time directors and producers don’t quite have yet, so just know there is a painful learning curve.

And if you feel you need help, some direction, or someone who understands the business you can talk to, feel free to reach out to me. We are nothing if we don’t pass our blessings to the next.

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