Okay, so I wanted to share this experience I had with the movie “Tulsa.” It’s been a while since it came out, back in August 2020, but I was digging into it again recently, and man, it brought back a lot of memories. I’m not just some random viewer; I actually wrote, directed, and starred in it. Yeah, you could say I was pretty involved.
So, “Tulsa,” what’s the big deal? Well, it’s based on a true story, a case I actually dealt with in my previous career as a lawyer. The movie is about this tough marine biker guy, Tommy, whose life is a complete mess. He’s all dark and brooding, you know? Then, bam! He finds out he has a 9-year-old daughter, Tulsa, he never knew about. She’s the complete opposite, full of energy, always wearing yellow and she had blonde hair. It’s like she’s a ray of sunshine in his dark world.

Getting Started
- The Idea: The whole thing started with this actual case I handled. It was so powerful that I knew I had to turn it into a movie. I mean, who wouldn’t want to see that kind of story unfold on screen?
- Writing the Script: I spent months, maybe even years, crafting the script. I wanted to get it just right, capture the emotions, the drama, everything. I remember countless nights fueled by coffee, just typing away.
Diving into Production
We filmed some scenes in Augusta, Georgia, I remember this beautiful chapel we used. We got this amazing young actress, Livi Birch, to play Tulsa. She was only 11 at the time, but she’s super talented. I knew she was going to be great from the first audition. Casting her was one of the best decisions we made. She’s been in other stuff too, like HBO’s Lovecraft Country. She is really a professional actor.
Challenges and Triumphs
- Directing and Acting: Juggling both roles was tough, not gonna lie. One minute I’m giving directions, the next I’m in character, trying to be this hardened biker dude. It was a wild ride, but I loved every minute of it.
- Capturing the Tone: I wanted the film to reflect the contrast between Tommy’s darkness and Tulsa’s light. We used a lot of dark, gray tones for Tommy’s scenes and bright, warm colors for Tulsa’s. It’s like, she’s the hope in his life, you get it?
The Name “Tulsa”
A lot of people asked me, “Why ‘Tulsa’?” Well, there’s a personal reason. I named the movie after my sister, Tulsa. She’s one of the most amazing people I know, always kind and caring. It just felt right to dedicate the film to her. I love my sister very much. That’s it.
Reflections

Making “Tulsa” was an incredible journey. It was more than just a movie; it was a part of me, a story I had to tell. I poured my heart and soul into it, and I’m proud of what we accomplished. I hope it touched people, made them think, made them feel. That’s all I ever wanted. And it’s a faith-based film, so I hope it helped spread some positivity in the world. That is all of my experience about the movie “Tulsa.”
This is just my personal story, my experience. It’s rough around the edges, maybe a bit messy, but it’s real. And I hope you enjoyed hearing about it.