Meet Kenneth Forrester | Filmmaker, Actor, Poet

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kenneth Forrester and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kenneth, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
To me it was how I redefined “success.” Many people in America see success as lots of money, nice cars etc. Those things can be nice at times. But if you cannot gauge your success based on how you are received as an artist first, the other things will not feel earned when they come. What do I mean by that. Well, If you show your film to 10 people and they all love it, quote it or recommend others to you, then you have to view that as just as much a success as you would if you won an award or made money off your project. Art is for the viewer. It is my opinion that if you can make a single person react to your work because they truly felt connected to your work, then you are a “successful” artist. Our company has won 13 awards and been nominated for several more. But I am always much more interested in what the audience felt about the films than the awards themselves.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
In my acting class, one of the first things I teach is how everything tells a story. Every movement, every gesture and every place the eye lands. The story is always more important than what might “feel” right and sometimes it is as important as how the actor feels. So long as the story is told well, your job is done as an artist.

We at Mobocracy try to keep our hearts open to where a good story takes us. If I’m writing a script and the story doesn’t take over and begin challenging me, then I need to stop and reassess if this is a good story or not.

We have found a wonderful balance as indie filmmakers to not “compromise” whilst compromising. The hell does that mean you may ask? I see it this way, I don’t like to compromise on my vision. However, (especially when working with a team on a low budget) you have got to trust your team to have good if not better ideas than you. Sometimes “not compromising” leaves out valuable suggestions that could enhance your work for the sake of your “art.” I believe film demands equality on set as much as it demands good leadership. So If I as a director cannot see the creative value in all who are working on my project, then I have already failed, and so has my producer.

Our humble beginnings taught us a lot about compromise and the many hats we had to wear. Even when the hat didn’t fit well! But the challenges as a young filmmaker drove me/us to learn so much about problem solving later on. Indie filmmakers are unstoppable! I’ve never met more passionate groups of people in my life than folks pulling resources together to make something that seems so impossible not only possible, but incredible! Our film Rock Island Woman soaked up 12 awards at festivals on 2022, I believe 3 nominations and many more selections. I couldn’t be more proud of my Mobocracy team.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If money were not a option?

Stay at the Marriot and tour the city of course. But then, there has to be a day where we go see a band. A good day trip for me would be to go grab some Waffle House first thing. Tour Oakland Cemetery or The High. Then go to Candler Park Market for their awesome sandwiches. When done, grab snacks we want from there and head to The Eastern to see a band. Best venue in Atlanta for live music in my opinion. Another great day trip is a drive up to the Blue Ridge Mountains. I like to go to Mercier Orchards to pick apples (or whatever is in season) stock up on cider / hard cider and many other goodies only their store provides. Then on the way out, you gotta go to the Bigfoot Museum! JUST DO IT! I BELIEVE HE IS OUT THERE!!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I can’t write this without mentioning my partner in crime Barna Lumpkin Jr. and my wife Kaitlyn Forrester.

Barna is truly a film artist. I am lucky to have such a strong an consistent partner. This journey we took together 14 years ago when we embarked on our quest to make our first film together has grown into more we ever imagined.

Kaitlyn not only is my beautiful wife you but a hell of a producer and the marketing savant behind the success of our film Rock Island Woman!

Website: mobocracyfilms.com

Instagram: @anarchistpreacher

Facebook: Kenneth Forrester

Youtube: Mobocracy Films