Nothing like friends to get you over your fears.
Horror / Thriller director Deon Taylor gathered a group of his friends in Santa Monica on Monday night for a panel about fear, which happens to be the title of his upcoming movie. His friends have not only faced down fear, but have achieved greatly in spite of and in some cases because of it.
Amongst Taylor’s squad was arguably the pound for pound greatest boxer of all time Floyd Mayweather Jr., the other half of Michael Jordan’s dynamic duo on the 90s Chicago Bulls Scottie Pippen, rising star of the upcoming “Fear” Ruby Modine and producer and Hidden Empire Film Group executive Roxy Avent. CNN anchor Van Jones moderated the panel, asking Taylor’s friends about their fears and how that motivated their success.
Pippen spoke about how his brother was paralyzed at a young age in a freak accident and how that taught him how precarious life is. Mayweather Jr. talked about struggling when his father, who mentored him in boxing, went to prison when he was 16. Modine related how she aims to forge her own career and doesn’t want to live in the shadow of her famous father Matthew Modine and Avent discussed her upbringing in the projects and the adversity she faces a black female film executive.
Taylor talked about how he made the film when fear was at the top of mind in the public consciousness, both with the pandemic and the George Floyd killing.
“‘Fear’ is a film that explores the mind. Making a film during one of the most fearful times in our lives gave way for some of the most thought-provoking conversations I’ve had as a filmmaker,” said Taylor. “Understanding the impact of fear is something I am intrigued and excited about. It’s a powerful emotion that connects us all and the panel assembled for this important conversation will provide unique perspectives on ways to conquer it.”
Also in attendance, but not on the panel, were former NBA star Baron Davis, actor Dennis Quaid, rapper T.I., martial arts actor Michael Jai White and rapper Master P. The evening kicked off with an artist painting images of skulls and other macabre subjects redolent of the movie. There was an open bar, ordoeuvres and plenty of mingling amongst Taylor’s friends.
“Fear” hits theaters Jan 27.
