Conversations with Isiah Barnes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Isiah Barnes. 

Isiah, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Yes, I’ll try my best to be brief. I grew up in the theatre and loved performing shows for 20 years. Then at age 19, I started transitioning to film acting and filmmaking. After doing a few local movies, I really had a strong passion for it and knew this is where I was supposed to be. Then I started writing my first screenplay and after failing a couple times with a previous production company. I went out on my own, raised capital, and got it shot, completed in 2018. I was shocked by the reception it garnered. It went on to get 6 national selections at film festivals, and it ended up winning “Best Narrative feature” at the Cinema World fest awards in LA. That opened many doors to film for me and now we are currently in Pre-production for our 2nd feature-length film and the goal is for this one will be bigger than ever. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not! Especially with filmmaking, it’s very hard to start from nowhere and try to make it in this industry. Being from a small town, when I told all my friends and people that I wanted to make movies. I was laughed at, talked behind my back, made fun of to my face. And when it failed the first couple times, I did feel like a failure. Many long nights of trying to figure out what you did wrong. But something in my gut just kept telling me “This is what you’re supposed to do, this is who you are”. Raised the capital, got a new better team, shot the movie, and have been running ever since. Don’t give up, no matter how hard the road or storm is… You’ll make it. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Well, I have a few titles, so I make it easy and say I’m a Filmmaker. I run the newly established production company “Reigning Talent Productions” that specializing in ridiculous off-the-wall comedies. We believe there needs to be more laughter and positivity in this negative world we live in. Crazy characters, wild situations, we love to show audiences what is possible being from Michigan without millions of dollars. I’m so proud of many things, my team, production crew, the actors who do wonderful, but I can say a moment I’ll never forget is…Opening Night for “TWSTH” we sold court st theatre out 450 seats and being at the top of the stairs watching everyone roar with laughter on the jokes I wrote in my room. After all those years of failing, this overwhelming feeling of you did it Isiah came over me. That was my most proud moment thus far. And what sets me apart from not only these Michigan filmmakers but most independent ones is the Originality. We don’t do neesh stories, we tell commercially viable stories that vast audiences can get behind, throw in wild unforgettable characters in crazy situations, people leave the theater talking. True comedies, if done right, go down as classics and those are the stories we want to tell. 

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I would say, as positive and fun I try to be on set, I would say…how hard I work. I’m usually the one running the production, so people know I work but I doubt know how hard or how many hours. I put in 100-plus hour weeks, calls, emails, deals, investors, hiring crew, writing the stories, hiring actors, finding locations… People would be shocked if they actually knew what I do on a daily basis. But that’s because I have such an amazing team of people who help me and make it possible. My Family and supporters who believe in me and I work myself to the max to prove them right! Making this dream a reality and starting something special here in Michigan that everyone can be proud of. 

Contact Info:

• Website: Reigningtalentproductions.Com
• Facebook: Isiah Barnes

Image Credits
Josh Starks
Al Martinez