YOU KNOW IT AIN’T EASY: It is 1969, for the past thirty years, the world’s iconic singer/song writer John Lennon has been a man, and suddenly, one morning, he wakes up as a woman. Our comedy/fantasy follows John as she begins to navigate and understand her new body and her new life. John must deal with his personality now in a woman’s body. She immediately notices the differences between men and woman all the while gaining insight into how unfairly and unequally woman are treated.
In today's world of ever-changing laws, with folks seeking equality and recognition for who they are, we want to tell a humorous and poignant story that shares what it's like to be unique. With an eye on comedy, fantasy, and rock-n-roll, our touching story employs humor and insight relying heavily on the culture and nostalgia of the late 1960’s and the legend of a rock star. The time is right, the time is now.
We have been working on (and off) the feature length project for about three years. It was written during the pandemic and polished with table reads once the lock-down was lifted. We pitched it, and now we have a well know actor interested. After much discussion, we all felt it would be best to create a short version first, a “proof-of-concept". This "proof-of-concept" will allow us to reach out to other entities in hopes of making the feature length version. Come with us on our journey.
You Know it Ain’t Easy is influenced by comedy filmmakers such as Penny Marshall, Carl and Rob Reiner, Harold Ramis, John Landis, and Richard Lester. The films: Big, All of Me, Help, Some Like it Hot, and Tootsie, will touch and motivate the colors, styles and contrast of our motion picture. The short version is ready to shoot. We've got a great little cast and crew who are ready to begin shooting in the late fall allowing us to finish post-production after the first of the year, ready for you to stream and us to take it to festivals and film markets.
Bailey Maxwell (John) – is a producer/actor/singer from Oklahoma City. She studied acting and improv with The Barrow Group in New York City and Music Theatre at the University of Central Oklahoma. Ms Maxwell has appeared in numerous productions in OKC, Chicago, produced and performed at the Stomping Ground Comedy Theatre in Dallas, Texas.
Jenifer Chamreun (Yoko) – is a stand-up comedian and improvisational actor from Oklahoma City. A graduate from Second City Stand-up program and OKC Improv Foundation where she has developed dozens of characters. Currently, she is featured in Robot Saves City with Model 9 Entertainment, Loud City Comedy and A very Serious Production Comedy Show. As a Workshop Moderator, she has run and assisted in the training of students in improv, sketch, and stand-up writing classes.
Iqbal Theba has expressed interest in and is currently in discussion to appear as “the Maharishi” and various characters. He is best known as “Principal Figgins” on the popular television show Glee, and has well over 100 film and television credits including roles on: Nip/Tuck, Two and a Half Men, The Brink, School of Rock, Green Book, Bosch, and The Blacklist. Mr. Theba came to the US as a college Freshman at the University of Oklahoma, Norman. While in college in Oklahoma, Mr. Theba studied Civil Engineering and eventually obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction Engineering Management. After realizing his true passion was acting, he returned to the University of Oklahoma to study Acting.
The team! This experienced group of filmmakers behind our project are creative veterans with national and international accolades. Their knowledge and expertise in the industry, ensures every stage of production is carefully planned and carried out in a professional manner.
George Adams – Writer, Producer, Director: is an accomplished filmmaker and theatrical producer/director with dozens of productions to his credit. His feature films include, Lady Usher, distributed by Indican Pictures, winner of Best Horror Film (MidWest WeirdFest) First Place - Best Suspense/Thriller (International Horror Hotel Film Festival) Best Thriller/Horror Feature (CARE Awards) Best Director Horror Film (Director Awards) Best Feature Film Cinematography (NYCA Film Fest) Best Original Score (NYCA Film Fest) Best Editing (CaCA Film Fest) Best Horror/Thriller Film (CaCA Film Fest) Film Festival Director’s Favorite Award (Poe Film Fest) Best Cinematographer (Mile High International Film Fest) Special Award - Adaptation of Historic Fictional Character (Harrogate Film Festival). He is a producer on other features including Climate of the Hunter, and Chicken House. His feature, Emerald, Texas is a multiple award winner, Touche; A Blind Fencer’s Story won various awards including Best Short Documentary and was nominated for Best Film Score at the Madrid International Film Fest, Panic Nation and Torn from the Flag have more than fifteen combined awards from around the world. Winner of several national and international awards, George trained with or took classes from: Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Gene Wilder, Harold Ramis, Chuck Jones, Allen Davieu ASC, Vilmos Zsigmond ASC, and László Kovács ASC.
John Burness Jr. – Animator and SFX Artist with Arsenal Animation Studios, a Web Award Winning animation studio with 20 years of technical, creative and production abilities. John has created stylized animation for Film, Network TV and the Web. He writes, directs and produces high quality animations, and cartoons.
Hannah Gates – Make-up Artist with over fifty credits including Academy Award winner Minari, Family Camp, 13 Minutes, American Underdog, Love and Death, and A Thousand Tomorrows.
Theresa Santiago – Intimacy Coordinator – is highly qualified with over 60 hours of training and class work (equivalent of an Associate’s Degree) along with on set experience. She has a BFA in Drama from the University of Oklahoma and has appeared in numerous stage and film productions in Oklahoma and Los Angeles.
Taylor Griffin - Assistant Director is known for the films, Blunt, What Rhymes with Reason, and The Beldham.
Valerie Parker - Costume Designer is known for the films; Jurassic Games 2, The Huntsman, Keep Quiet, and Cricket.
