1193 is more than just a production company. For its Philly-based team, it's both an act of defiance and a declaration to live life on their terms.
"...In so many ways my dreams of growing up to run a video production company couldn't have been more out of reach..."
"Growing up in urban America during the crack epidemic, during the Reagan years, to a single mother raising a kid on a couple hundred a month - in so many ways my dreams of growing up to run a video production company couldn't have been more out of reach," recalls 1193 Productions, LLC. co-founder J. Michael Neal. "But I was fortunate enough to have a mother who allowed me to dream," he continues, "so I lived my life like growing up to be the next Spielberg was just as accessible to me in Camden, NJ as anyone out in Hollywood."
"I grew up aspiring to be the next Spielberg, and while that dream my seem impossible, bringing impossible dreams to reality is exactly what a producer and director does..."
Fellow co-founder Louis A. Moore recalls similar inspiration, "The day I saw Jurassic Park I knew what I wanted to do with my life. The sense of wonder, the vision, the excitement - it was what was in my head but couldn’t get out, it was the way I saw the world but no one else around me did..." Moore continues, "I grew up aspiring to be the next Spielberg, and while that dream my seem impossible, bringing impossible dreams to reality is exactly what a producer and director does. Once you get a taste for making that happen, nothing can stop you."
This shared vision created a lifelong bond between the future filmmakers, one that began as retail co-workers but would eventually lead to the formation of 1193 Productions, LLC. Founded in 2014 shortly after Director/Producer Moore's graduation from the Los Angeles Film School and before Writer/Producer Neal's graduation from Rutgers University, Camden with a BA in English and a minor in Philosophy & Religion, 1193 Productions, LLC. is a two person company driven by one goal - a life dedicated to impossible dreams.
"As I’ve grown older my medium has changed, but the drive to build worlds and craft stories has remained the same."
"Growing up in North Philadelphia, I would construct elaborate narratives with toys as my performers," Moore recollects of his early years. "My mom didn’t understand. She would become confused when I’d get upset that she’d cleaned my room and rearranged all my action figures," he continues.
Louis laughs, imitating his younger self - “I’m in the middle of a big story! If you move them I might forget where I left off!"
After a moment to reflect, he continues, "As I’ve grown older my medium has changed, but the drive to build worlds and craft stories has remained the same."
"...We're always going to make something we're proud to put our names on."
Now using the traditional tools of the filmmaker to bring their dreams to life, J. Michael Neal and Louis A. Moore collaborate with fellow independent artists to create a wide-range of content, from original narratives (shorts, series, features) to commercial work. "We put our all into everything we do, and we aren't intimidated by scope," Neal explains. "We have an incredible network of talented people who we enjoy working with, and creating with them makes all the struggle and sacrifice worth it." Neal concludes, "Whether we're working on our own content or someone else's, we're always going to make something we're proud to put our names on."
The first major original project the team put their names on was Tale From Shaolin, a narrative universe based off songs from the Wu Tang back catalog. Featuring an original score by Eno Noziroh and Jake Summers, the first short "Shakey Dog" (Starring Stephen Hill, Dominique Antonio Spencer, and Ninja Devoe) has screened to film festival crowds around the world and has earned Best Dark Comedy at the 2018 Atlanta Ward-Qualifying Film Festival, Best Trailer at the 2017 Around Films International Film Festival in Amsterdam, and Best Screenplay at the 2017 Hip Hop Film Festival.
"We're building that company we both dreamed about as children..."
Neal and Moore also take on smaller projects and works for hire, including music videos, live performance and wedding videography, and portrait photography. "Anything branded 1193 will have our signature aesthetic, but that mainly comes from our eye for narrative and the approach we take to the filmmaking process," explains Louis. "We keep our skillset wide and versatile, and pride ourselves on our ability to tackle any project in an interesting and unique way," adds Neal. 'We're building that company we both dreamed about as children, and we want our body of work to reflect that," he continues. "We want to be a testament to the fact that Black dreams matter."
