Talented filmmaker, Kenny Tiller of Rushmore Films, talks more about “Art of the Hustle,” a captivating TV series about a college basketball star who goes undrafted for his social beliefs
Art of the Hustle has become a favorite among viewers and critics, with the multi-award-winning TV series steadily popping up at festivals and small screenings across the United States to a near-universal audience reaction: “I need the second episode.” The series was written and directed by Kenny Tiller, popularly known for as the podcast host of The Speakerbox Show. In a related development, Kenny recently talked more about the movie and his experience working as a first-time filmmaker.
“I’m the type of person that will say hey I want to do that and will go for it. So, one day, I just wrote about everything I’ve either seen, did, or heard growing up in Shreveport, LA. Then I began to build the world, characters, and storyline. It took me three days to write over 30 episodes. I knew crime dramas like The Wire, The Sopranos, and Breaking Bad were some of the biggest shows ever. So, I stayed in that lane I knew it would make an impact with the storyline and characters.” – Kenny Tiller.
The plot of Art of the Hustle, which is Tiller’s first project, revolves around a dogged and fast-rising college star, Michael Roberson, who is blackballed from his team owing to a commitment to his radical social beliefs. It gives an in-depth look at the underworld of crime, filled with sequences that leave viewers on the edge of their seats, chronicling how Michael falls into the trap of the manipulative and dangerous criminal big shot, Richard Brown, as he seeks financial help.
Addressing the conversation about the reference of Belly in association with Art of the Hustle, Tiller said, “Yes, I fell in love with cinematography watching Belly but also just the aesthetic of 90’s cinematography. The colors and contrast stand out to me.”
According to Tiller, making his first film project was challenging, as he practically worked on every aspect, including writing, producing, directing, and acting. “Not to mention I had a razor-thin budget which forced me even to have to be wardrobe and craft. I worked with a budget under 5000 dollars. But honestly, I’m happy I went through every struggle I did. I think it will help me in the future. What struggles, you ask? Things like getting kicked out of locations, actors not showing up even losing an outside scene to rain, but that’s filmmaking.”
Art of the Hustle features a lineup of talented actors who were able to deliver the intended message of the project. Kenny Tiller hopes to get funding for the Art of the Hustle project as he is confident it will end up in the same conversation as the top crime dramas.
For further information about Art of the Hustle and other works from Kenny Tiller, visit – https://www.rushmorefilms.com/.