Deitrick Haddon Makes Film Debut in Blessed & Cursed

by Lisa Collins

“Another of God's promises come to pass” is how gospel singer-songwriter/producer Deitrick Haddon views his latest venture, a straight-to-DVD movie titled “Blessed & Cursed”, featuring Sheryl Lee Ralph, Drew Sidora, Karen Clark-Sheard, J. Moss, Mali Music, 21:03's Jo'rel Quinn, Kierra Sheard, iRocc, Rance Allen, and wife, Damita.

The movie, whose soundtrack releases this week and DVD is scheduled to hit retail stores on July 27, is just the first of a series of films the award-winning gospel recording artist plans to release over the next few years.

“The next three are going straight to DVD as we build our brand and our base,” Haddon said. “We want to let the players know that we have a following, so that when we go to the big boys, we go in numbers with an army of people who want to see these movies.”

The strategy came with the harsh revelation that it would take more than mere talent to get his stories out.

“This is actually my second movie,” Haddon states. “The first film was named “G-Street” and it's on the shelf for now. It required much more money than we had to do it the way I wanted to do it, so I scaled back and got smart with this project. I tapped into the resource I knew I had and found someone who could get it done with what I have.”

That resource was partner Bryant Scott who for the last decade has been one of gospel's most respected executives for his leadership of Tyscot Records, Taesis Distribution, and most recently his association with Imago Dei Music Group, the label recently launched by former Zomba Music/NASCAR executive Max Siegel.
 

“We are the exec producers-Tyscot Film and Entertainment-and it was our goal to get into positive, faith-based movies, the first of which will feature gospel artists,” Scott reports.

“Deitrick first approached me back in 2006 about doing it and we've learned over a period of four years how to make it happen.”

With a budget of $150,000, Scott knew a theatrical release was not in
the cards.

“We had no aspirations for it to go to the theatre knowing the budgets,” Scott explained. “We'll have a limited run in about 14 screens across the country, but we always looked at this as being straight to DVD and we're talking to TV-One and BET about premiering it.”

Retail partners include Walmart, Target and Family Christian Stores, while Haddon will hit the road to cross promote the DVD to churches through a combination of music and film clips.

“In order to drive sales, it won't be a full concert nor a full movie,” Scott reports. “Most of all, we're very confident that we have a good product- a high quality “B” movie that touches on some church politics that a lot of people don't want to talk about and features a lot of good music.”

A modern twist on the biblical story of David and Saul, the movie tells the story of  an ambitious minister of music, Dwight Hawkins (played by Deitrick Haddon), forced to choose between family obligations and pursing his own dreams of gospel music stardom as he receives an incredible opportunity to become a psalmist at one of the city's largest churches, but gets caught in a diabolical scheme of jealously, orchestrated by the church's Bishop.

Haddon, who pastors the Detroit-based High Praise Church and got the idea for the script while studying for Bible class the dynamic between David and Saul's relationship, says his talent for acting came naturally.

“Back when I was 16-17, at our church I prayed and asked God: 'What am I supposed to do? and I really felt like God spoke to me and said people are going to hear your music, sing your songs and that I would be able to write movies and people would watch my stories.”

But Haddon was not going to wait for Hollywood to come to him.

“With nobody knocking on my door to give me a role, I believe in making things happen.”

So too did manager Holly Davis-Carter of Releve Entertainment, who along with her partner, casting director Robi Reed went to work at making Haddon's dream a reality.

“Once the script was done, I looked at who in the gospel industry could fit the look of the character and deliver the role. I went after my friends to be a part of this.

Among those talents was gospel newcomer, Mali Music, who Haddon characterizes as “a natural born star" as response to Haddon's first acting foray has been great thus far.

“It looks like I put millions into it and people are going crazy for it,” Haddon observes. “For me, it's already successful because I was able to accomplish it with almost nothing. Hopefully, there will be those out there who connect with my vision and hopefully it will expand my music career. I just want to do all that God has put in my heart. Preacher, songwriter, singer, and actor- it's all authentically me.”