Entertainment

Johnny Manziel Bought a Gun Ahead of $5 Million Bender: ‘Untold’ Recap on August 8, 2023 at 7:00 am Us Weekly

Published

1 year ago

August 8, 2023

Johnny Manziel’s rise and fall transcended football — and he’s pulling back the curtain on his controversies and mental health struggles for the first time in Netflix’s Untold: Johnny Football.

Texas A&M fans may remember Manziel’s college career got off to a rocky start when he was arrested weeks before his first game as the football-crazy school’s quarterback. The incident marked the first of many controversies to come.

“I don’t have much of a recollection other than waking up shirtless on a concrete bench in Bryan County Jail,” Manziel, who was booked for a fake ID after a fight, told Netflix cameras. “[A&M’s statement] said, ‘That wasn’t very normal for my character.’ … I guess looking back now, it was normal for my character.”

It wasn’t long into the 2012 season, however, before Manizel proved that he could perform on the field regardless of his hard partying. As a result, his coaches, as they later admitted, let him get away with whatever he wanted — and “Johnny Football” was born.

After leading the Aggies to a shocking victory against No. 1 ranked Alabama in November, Manziel recalled being treated like a celebrity on and off A&M’s College Station campus. “You walk off the field like a f—king G,” he said.

One month later, Manziel became a household name as the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy, awarded every year to the country’s best college football player. While his outstanding play brought A&M a windfall in money and publicity — Manziel’s Heisman win was estimated to bring the university $37 million worth of free PR — he quickly grew frustrated that he wasn’t seeing any of that money himself.

Johnny Manziel. MEGA

“There were two times throughout the season where I had to sign hundreds and hundreds of autographs [for] our donors,” Manziel said of the events the university held to raise funds for a new stadium. “I was tired of not having any money and I sure as hell saw 45 million No. 2 A&M Adidas jerseys sold. It didn’t make any sense, and I had a bone to pick.”

Manziel and then–best friend Nate Fitch opted to ignore NCAA rules that college athletes couldn’t profit off of their own likenesses and began selling autographs in January 2013. They made $30,000 on their first deal with an unnamed “king of all autographs,” who Fitch alleged Alex Rodriguez vouched for during a phone call.

The two BFFs subsequently began partying with A-listers including Drake, Rick Ross, Lebron James, Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake. “None of them could believe [Johnny] was there,” Fitch said.

As a result of A&M advising freshmen not to talk to any media, Fitch fielded questions about Manziel’s sudden wealth, lying about his family being from “oil money.” The two men made more than $100,000 — they split the money 80/20 — before the NCAA began to investigate Manziel. Fitch and Manziel’s attempts to cover their tracks, which included trading the cash for checks from Manziel’s grandfather, proved somewhat successful as Manziel was suspended for only half a game and they continued their autograph business during the 2013-2014 season.

A&M, however, went 8-4 during Manziel’s sophomore season and the quarterback caught a lot of heat for his increasingly erratic behavior, which included skipping practice and showing up hungover. “F—k your practice. I’m the best player in the country,” Manziel recalled thinking. “Whether people like to say it or not, I was bigger than College Station.”

After the season ended, Manziel declared for the NFL draft — and Fitch and Manziel quickly had a falling out when the athlete signed with professional agent Erik Burkhardt.

“We had originally told [Nate] that there wasn’t going to be a guy with me on a day-to-day,” Manziel said. “When we told him that wasn’t gonna happen, kind of thing like he felt his role in the whole world was diminished kind of pulled away. I don’t think we’ve spoken again since then. … I felt terrible about it, but at the same time because of what my track record was, they weren’t going to allow me to do that.”

As he prepared for the NFL combine, a pre-draft workout in which teams judge former college players on their abilities, Burkhardt attempted to keep Manziel on the straight and narrow, drug testing him weekly. “I was really, really good until the week before the combine in Indy, and I finally just broke,” Manziel said, admitting he went to a party with rappers and actresses in L.A. “I woke up in a hotel room, and didn’t know how I got there.”

Johnny Manziel. Larry W Smith/EPA/Shutterstock

While Burkhardt wanted Manziel’s dad to fake a hospital trip to buy Manziel’s some time, the football player was confident he could drink enough water to get the drugs out of his system — which he claimed was his strategy while in college. Burkhardt later learned the Aggies’ fourth-string QB was submitting his own clean urine for Manziel.

Despite the close call, Manziel passed the test and nearly solidified a deal with the Houston Texans before he got drunk at the owner’s country club. Manziel was ultimately picked 22nd by the Cleveland Browns in the 1st round.

“When I got everything that I wanted, I think I was the most empty that I’ve ever felt inside,” Manziel said, noting that he didn’t feel any connection to his teammates in Cleveland.

Manziel admitted to watching zero game film and struggling on and off the field. “I would sit in my condo in Cleveland downtown and just feel like it was the only place that [I could] get away from everybody and anything,” he said. “And I would look out those windows, every day I just felt empty. I went from one fish bowl city to another and I wanted nothing to do with football.”

In 2015, his substance abuse issues spiraled again, and after he missed a game in early 2016 because he was partying in Las Vegas, he was officially cut by the Browns. Manziel subsequently went on what he described as the biggest bender yet, getting arrested after a fight with his then-girlfriend Colleen Crowley.

“Throughout that relationship, I was unfaithful. You know, we get into a heated, heated argument. You know she’s trying to jump out of the car and …” he said before trailing off.

Johnny Manziel. Photographer Group/MEGA

Manziel was dropped by his agent and estranged from his family.

“[It was] the first point in my life where I really ramped up my drug use to a constant, daily thing. I was mostly doing a lot of coke and taking Oxys,” he said. “I went from 215 pounds in January to 175 pounds by September. The wires in my head seem very twisted. I got diagnosed Bipolar, Then I felt like it was the same thing as being called an alcoholic or a drug addict.”

Manziel described his monthslong bender, on which he spent an astonishing $5 million, as “direct self-sabotage trying to burn this thing down.”

“I had planned to do everything that I wanted to do at that point in my life — spend as much money as I possibly could and then my plan was to take my life,” he said. “Months prior, I went and bought a gun that I knew I was going to use. I wanted to get as bad as humanly possible to where it made sense and it made it seem like an excuse and an out for me. Still to this day, don’t know what happened, but the gun just clicked on me.”

While Manziel concluded that he “couldn’t fix” what happened “with Colleen, the NFL, with A&M” and “didn’t have much of a relationship with my family,” he returned to Texas.

According to his sister, Manziel is still a work in progress.

“I think people do, maybe, worry about me sometimes, but I mean, that’s natural,” he concluded. “You know, I’ve given them reason[s] to do that.”

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Johnny Manziel’s rise and fall transcended football — and he’s pulling back the curtain on his controversies and mental health struggles for the first time in Netflix’s Untold: Johnny Football. Texas A&M fans may remember Manziel’s college career got off to a rocky start when he was arrested weeks before his first game as the

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Advice

How Music Makes or Breaks Your Film

Published

13 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Bolanle Media Staff

Music is one of the most powerful storytelling tools in a filmmaker’s arsenal. It can elevate a scene, transform emotions, and create a lasting impression that lingers with the audience long after the credits roll. A great score doesn’t just accompany a film—it becomes an inseparable part of the story, shaping its tone, amplifying its themes, and deepening its impact.

The Emotional Power of Music

Music has the ability to speak directly to our emotions, bypassing logic and touching something deeper. In film, this makes it an essential tool for setting the mood and intensifying emotional beats. A suspenseful score, like John Williams’ iconic theme in Jaws, can instill dread with just a few notes. Conversely, the whimsical melodies of La La Land lift viewers into a dreamlike state, reinforcing its themes of hope and passion.

Beyond overt moments, music often works in subtler ways. A minimalist score, as in Moonlight, can create introspection and vulnerability, pulling viewers closer to the characters’ inner worlds. When used effectively, music ensures the audience not only watches the story unfold but also feels every moment of it.

Motifs: Weaving Music Into the Story

One of the most effective ways to integrate music into a film is through motifs—recurring musical phrases associated with specific characters, ideas, or emotions. These motifs serve as auditory bookmarks that help the audience subconsciously connect with the narrative.

Think of the ominous “Imperial March” in Star Wars, which immediately signals Darth Vader’s presence and the looming threat of the Empire. Or the tender strains of the Shire theme in The Lord of the Rings, which evoke feelings of home and hope even during the darkest moments. By incorporating these musical threads, filmmakers can reinforce themes, foreshadow events, and enhance the audience’s emotional journey.

Tension, Release, and the Art of Silence

The ebb and flow of tension and release are vital to storytelling, and music plays a significant role in guiding these dynamics. A crescendo in a score, as seen in Inception’s high-stakes sequences, can heighten suspense, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. Conversely, the absence of music, like in No Country for Old Men, can create an eerie stillness that draws attention to every sound and movement, amplifying the tension in unexpected ways.

Even unresolved chords or dissonant tones can evoke unease or anticipation, making them especially effective in horror or thriller genres. By manipulating musical tension, filmmakers can control the audience’s emotional experience, ensuring they remain engaged and invested in the story.

The Collaborative Magic of Filmmakers and Composers

A great score is often the result of a strong partnership between the filmmaker and the composer. This collaboration begins with open communication, as the filmmaker shares their vision, key themes, and emotional beats of the story. Temp tracks can provide a starting point, helping composers understand the desired mood. However, leaving room for creative interpretation allows composers to bring fresh ideas to the table.

Legendary partnerships, like that of Christopher Nolan and Hans Zimmer, showcase the magic that happens when filmmakers trust composers to experiment and push boundaries. Whether crafting groundbreaking soundscapes or refining classic motifs, these collaborations elevate films to new heights.

Scoring on a Budget: Creativity Over Cost

Independent filmmakers often face the challenge of creating a compelling score on limited budgets. Fortunately, great music doesn’t always require a big orchestra or a blockbuster budget. Platforms like Artlist and Epidemic Sound offer affordable, royalty-free tracks that can enhance a film’s mood. Local musicians or aspiring composers can also bring fresh, unique perspectives to a project, often at a fraction of traditional costs.

For those willing to experiment, tools like GarageBand or Logic Pro enable filmmakers to create simple yet effective tracks. With creativity and resourcefulness, even the smallest production can achieve a cinematic sound.

Conclusion: Crafting a Cinematic Symphony

The power of a film’s score lies in its ability to transcend the screen and connect with the audience on an emotional level. Music shapes the way we perceive a story, infusing each scene with mood, tension, and meaning. It underscores the triumphs, tragedies, and transformations that define the cinematic experience.

For filmmakers, understanding the role of music isn’t just about enhancing individual moments—it’s about crafting a cohesive emotional journey. The right score can unify a film’s visual and narrative elements, making them resonate as one. Whether you’re working with a world-class composer or creating tracks on your laptop, your film’s music should serve the story, amplify its themes, and leave a lasting impression.

Music is more than just sound; it’s a partner in storytelling, a silent narrator that speaks volumes. By embracing its potential, filmmakers can create not just memorable scenes but unforgettable experiences that linger in the hearts of their audiences.

Bolanle Media is excited to announce our partnership with The Newbie Film Academy to offer comprehensive courses designed specifically for aspiring screenwriters. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to enhance your skills, our resources will provide you with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed in the competitive world of screenwriting. Join us today to unlock your creative potential and take your first steps toward crafting compelling stories that resonate with audiences. Let’s turn your ideas into impactful scripts together!

Advice

How Color Shapes Film Mood and Tone

Published

1 day ago

November 22, 2024

Bolanle Media Staff

Color is a powerful storytelling tool in filmmaking. It shapes a film’s tone, influences emotions, and enhances visual storytelling. By understanding color theory and symbolism, filmmakers can craft compelling narratives that resonate with their audience on a deeper level.

1. The Basics of Color Theory in Film

At its core, color theory helps filmmakers choose and combine colors to achieve specific effects.

Primary Colors: Red, blue, and yellow are the building blocks of all colors.
Color Harmony: Complementary (opposites on the color wheel) and analogous (adjacent colors) schemes create visual balance or tension.
Warm vs. Cool Colors: Warm tones (red, orange, yellow) evoke energy and passion, while cool tones (blue, green, purple) create calmness or melancholy.

Understanding these basics allows filmmakers to design palettes that support their story’s emotional arc.

2. Setting the Tone with Color Palettes

A film’s color palette sets the mood and reinforces its themes.

Monochromatic Schemes: Using shades of a single color can create a minimalist and cohesive look, as seen in Moonlight.
Contrasting Colors: Films like Amélie use vibrant contrasts to highlight whimsy and vibrancy.
Muted Tones: Desaturated colors in The Road evoke despair and a bleak post-apocalyptic world.

Choosing the right palette ensures the audience feels the intended emotions without overt exposition.

3. The Emotional Language of Colors

Colors evoke specific emotions and associations, making them essential for visual storytelling.

Red: Passion, danger, or power (Schindler’s List: The girl in the red coat).
Blue: Sadness, serenity, or isolation (Her: Melancholy longing).
Yellow: Joy, caution, or decay (Breaking Bad: The descent into moral chaos).
Green: Growth, envy, or the unnatural (The Matrix: A digital world).

Consider your story’s themes when assigning symbolic meanings to colors.

4. Practical Tips for Using Color on a Budget

Big budgets aren’t required to use color effectively.

Lighting: Experiment with gels and filters to alter light color.
Costume and Set Design: Coordinate wardrobe and props to align with your palette.
Post-Production: Use color grading software to fine-tune tones and hues.

Indie filmmakers can create visually stunning projects by focusing on intentional color choices during pre-production.

5. Famous Examples of Color in Film

Learn from cinematic classics that masterfully use color:

The Grand Budapest Hotel: Wes Anderson’s pastel hues create a whimsical, nostalgic world.
The Godfather: Golden tones symbolize power and corruption.
Black Panther: Vibrant colors celebrate African culture and Wakanda’s identity.

Analyze these examples to inspire your own projects.

Conclusion

Color is more than a visual element—it’s a storytelling powerhouse. By understanding its emotional impact and mastering its practical application, filmmakers can elevate their craft. Whether you’re working on a blockbuster or an indie film, thoughtful color choices can make your story unforgettable.

Entertainment

What Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan Teach Us About On-Screen Chemistry

Published

1 day ago

November 22, 2024

Bolanle Media Staff

The on-screen chemistry between Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan exemplifies how two distinct personalities can create cinematic magic. Their collaboration in the Rush Hour series not only brought laughter and excitement to audiences but also showcased a unique blend of comedic timing, physicality, and cultural differences. This article explores the elements that contribute to their chemistry, the impact of their partnership on the action-comedy genre, and the valuable lessons we can learn from their dynamic.

Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan on the set of Rush Hour

Contrasting Styles

A key aspect of Tucker and Chan’s chemistry is their contrasting styles. Jackie Chan is renowned for his martial arts skills and physical comedy, while Chris Tucker brings a high-energy comedic flair characterized by rapid-fire dialogue. This combination creates a delightful balance that keeps audiences engaged, as viewers enjoy the interplay between Chan’s action sequences and Tucker’s humor.

Cultural Exchange

Their films often explore themes of cultural exchange, with Tucker representing an American perspective and Chan embodying a traditional Chinese approach. This cultural juxtaposition leads to humorous misunderstandings and witty banter that resonate with diverse audiences. By navigating these differences, Tucker and Chan not only entertain but also educate viewers about the richness of their respective cultures.

Improvisation and Playfulness

Both actors are known for their improvisational skills, which significantly enhance their on-screen chemistry. Their willingness to play off each other’s energy allows for spontaneous moments that feel genuine and entertaining. This improvisation shines in scenes where Tucker’s quick wit meets Chan’s physical comedy, resulting in memorable exchanges.

Impact on the Action-Comedy Genre

The success of the Rush Hour series revolutionized the action-comedy genre, paving the way for future collaborations between actors from different backgrounds. The blend of action-packed sequences with comedic elements became a formula that many filmmakers sought to replicate. Tucker and Chan’s chemistry not only entertained audiences but also demonstrated that diverse partnerships could lead to creative storytelling.

Lessons Learned from Their Dynamic

Embrace Differences: Embracing contrasting styles can enrich storytelling.
Prioritize Chemistry: Building rapport among actors is essential for engaging narratives.
Encourage Improvisation: Allowing room for improvisation enhances both humor and emotional depth.
Highlight Cultural Nuances: Thoughtfully exploring cultural differences resonates with audiences.

Conclusion

Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan’s chemistry is a testament to the power of collaboration in film. Their contrasting styles, cultural exchanges, and improvisational skills create a unique dynamic that resonates with viewers worldwide. By examining what makes their partnership special, filmmakers can gain valuable insights into crafting memorable cinematic experiences that leave lasting impressions on audiences long after the credits roll.