Antwone Fisher's story first caught the attention of Producer Todd Black (A KNIGHT'S TALE) while Fisher was working as a security guard at Sony Pictures Studios more than 10 years ago.

Despite Fisher's lack of professional writing experience at the time, Black was so moved by the story that he hired him to write the screenplay. Fisher delved even deeper into his life by writing his memoir, Finding Fish, which hit bookstores in 2001 and is a "New York Times" bestseller.

After 11 years of service in the U.S. Navy and a three-year stint as a federal correction officer, Antwone Fisher became a security guard at the Sony Pictures Entertainment lot in Los Angeles. He describes, "Working at Sony gave me a place to rest, to gather myself. I was becoming very lonely without the Navy family I had created and I began reflecting on my life. The laid-back work environment made for less distractions and I began thinking of my childhood and eventually decided that I should try to find my biological family."

Producer Todd Black first learned of Fisher's heart-wrenching story from his former college roommate Chris Smith. Committed to giving something back to the community after the devastating riots of 1992, Smith taught a free screenwriting class at the A.M.E. church in South Central Los Angeles. Fisher signed up for the class after learning about it from a friend. Smith taught Fisher the elements of screenplay development and introduced him to Black.

Black was so moved by Fisher's story and so committed to helping him tell it, that he took Fisher under his wing.

Fisher still finds that to be one of the biggest miracles of all. " I don't know why Todd decided to take a chance on me--I wasn't a member of his community or anything--I was just this guy who came to his office. At the time I couldn't type; I typed with two fingers. But I didn't want to let Todd down since nobody else believed in me. He offered me an opportunity to do something better for myself."

Black remembers, "It was an incredible story of survival and strength. So, the minute the studio said to me, 'no, he can't write it,' it was not even a question to me. If I had to mortgage my house to give him the money to write it, I would have, because I knew in my heart that he could do it."

Black reveals, "We worked for one year and went through draft after draft after draft - even as Antwone was still discovering parts of his life, including meeting his mother for the first time." Black credits the discipline that Fisher learned in the Navy with helping him to get through the exhaustive process of writing and re-writing. "Ultimately, a year later, the president of Fox called and said 'You were right; he can write.'

So he bought it and Antwone, in addition to going through the cathartic process of putting his life on paper, made more money selling it as a completed screenplay than he would have as a pitch."

Black concludes, "One of the things I've really admired about Antwone is that he just wanted to make sure that this story was told for all of us, to understand the levels of abuse and learn how to break the cycle, break the pattern...A lot of people told Antwone that he couldn't do it and they could not get it in their heads that this wonderful, innocent kid wanted to write his own life story. I knew in my heart that he could do it..."

Fisher remembers, "Writing the screenplay was like a healing. It took me a long time to get myself together and a lot of people - strangers - encouraged me. It helped to believe in myself, to realise that I had something to offer, and it showed me that I did have some power over myself, something inside me that I could use to further myself as a person and a human being...I hope that this movie will show people that you can amount to something, even if you don't initially show any outward indication of it."

Once the project was green-lit, and rewrite after rewrite was completed, Black sent the script to Denzel Washington to play the role of Jerome Davenport, the psychiatrist. When Black finally received the call from Washington's agent, he was amazed to learn that Washington not only wanted to act in the film, he wanted it to be his directorial debut.

Fisher's journey is nothing short of inspirational says Denzel Washington, who committed to directing the project in 1997, but his busy acting schedule prevented him from taking the helm until 2001. "It's a triumph of spirit. I'm inspired by Antwone. When you look at all that he's gone through and survived and can still be a gentle soul...hopefully it will touch all who see it...hopefully we'll reach out to those who are dealing with difficult times and thinking that they can't make it. They'll see this young man's life and say, 'Hey, you know, I can make it.'"

Washington, who describes Fisher as "a poet," says of the story, "It touches on issues that have sort of been kept quiet, stayed within the home. That's one of the reasons why Antwone wanted his story told, to speak out to all those others who might be in hiding, or are struggling with it, that they also can survive...That became the reason I wanted to do the picture. I told Antwone, 'It's not about me, or my debut. It's really about taking care of you and taking care of your story.'"

Fisher acknowledges, "Denzel could have directed almost anything he wanted, but he chose my screenplay, and I'm really grateful to him for choosing mine."

Selected for the lead role of Antwone Fisher was Derek Luke, a young actor who worked at the Sony Pictures gift shop and had, coincidentally, become friends with Fisher during the time that he was writing the screenplay.

Luke remembers his first reaction to the script, "When I finished it, I was in tears but with the tears there was healing going on, which is why I wanted to do it." Without ever enlisting the help of his new-found friend Fisher, Luke convinced a friend of a friend to allow him to read for the part. "I believed that the role was destined for me, so I got myself into the zone where nobody on the outside counted. When I went to read for Denzel and Todd, I said, 'I heard somebody was doing my story and so I just showed up.' My heart was attached to this screenplay. You can't beat heart--especially the right one--and I just felt like I had the right heart."

The day Washington chose Luke for the role, he insisted that he be the one to deliver the good news to Luke, who was working at the Sony store. Black accompanied Washington on the walk to the store where ironically they found Luke with Fisher, who had stopped by to buy a t-shirt. Washington describes the moment, "I walked past the real Antwone and I said to Derek, `Hey, Antwone. How's it going?' He said, 'That's right, I am Antwone. I'm working on it. I'm Antwone." And I said, 'No, you - you ARE Antwone. You got the part.'" Washington describes Luke's reaction, "First he was stunned, then he practically broke down in tears, then joy, then he started to pray...it was really exciting."

Luke remembers, "When he said, `Hey, Antwone,' and I saw that he was seriously talking to me, the only thing I could do was hug him because it was a dream come true. I was the only person in my family, the new generation, that ever achieved one of their heart's desires!"

On her pursuit of the role of Cheryl, model-turned-actress Joy Bryant recalls, "I read the script a few months before they started auditioning and at least three times in the script I just started bawling. I have always heard actors talk about how they respond to things when they read. This was the first time for me where the screenplay made me react this way...I know about obstacles and difficulties. I know about pain, so this touched me on many levels because I could see what was happening to Antwone...I've seen it happening to people that I know...even myself."

Washington admits he took on quite a challenge, acting in the film, directing for his first time, and at that, two lead characters in their first feature film. He says, "It was tricky, but it worked out. They gave good performances. I really wanted new faces - someone who you would have no preconceived notions about...They're the new generation of young African American actors. There's been a whole wave or two after my group, people like Laurence Fishburne or Sam Jackson, and then kids like Larenz Tate. And now there's another younger crop coming in. It's good to give them the opportunity."

To prepare the cast, Washington required each actor to know his/her character's history and story inside out before coming to the set. This mandate included everyone from Luke in the title role to key cast members like Vernée Watson Johnson, who plays Fisher's long-lost Aunt Annette, Novella Nelson in the role of Fisher's foster mother Mrs. Tate, Viola Davis as Fisher's mother, newcomer De'Angelo K. Wilson, seen opposite Eminem in 8 MILE, as the grown-up Jesse, Malcolm David Kelley as the young Antwone, and Corey Hodges as the teenage Antwone.

Summing up his directing experience, Washington says, "I really got a kick out of helping them as actors and sharing my experiences in filmmaking with them, watching them grow before my eyes."

antwone fisher

Inspired by his life, ANTWONE FISHER marks Antwone Fisher's debut as a screenwriter and co-producer. During the 10 years it took to bring his screenplay to the screen, Fisher sold numerous screenplays and wrote his memoirs for the book Finding Fish (William Morrow), a "New York Times" Bestseller. December 2002 will mark Fisher's debut as a published poet when Harper Collins releases his collection of poems entitled Who Will Cry For The Little Boy.

"Initially I wanted to tell my story because the opportunity presented itself and I was told that I could not do it, meaning that I did not have the aptitude to write. It reminded me of how I was always told as a child that I was worthless and that I would never accomplish anything in life - words that still haunt me. I became determined to write my story simply because I was told that I couldn't. Then, I discovered that it was cathartic and cleansing for me to write about my life. I felt free, free from what felt like secrets...free from the responsibility of such unhealthy shame.

Having my story told gives me faith and encouragement and reminds me that there are good and unselfish people in the world; people who would help an absolute stranger by giving him the tools to pull himself up, giving him the chance to benefit society. Despite the unfortunate circumstances of my life, there is hope.

How peculiar and blue that those words, "You ain't nothing. You ain't never gonna' be nothing, 'cause you come from nothing" made for a fervent fuel that gave me strength and the courage to persevere. But there is more to it than that. At the age of 17 when I was homeless, all I had were my thoughts and the comfort of pretending that my situation would improve. I would think to myself, 'something good is about to happen.' I learned to convince myself of seemingly impossible things. Sometimes they would work out, sometimes they wouldn't, but I remained optimistic long before I knew the meaning of the word. It was that optimism coupled with my fear of failure that allowed me to hang in there for the nine years it took to bring this film to life.

When I saw the film for the first time, I was overwhelmed by a mixture of feelings: fear, joy, pride and satisfaction - all of which still linger, and I am certain they will for the rest of my life. I hope others, too, walk away with those same feelings and the courage to do something to better the lives of children in general. I hope that after seeing the movie and reading my memoir that people will see that every child has value and boundless potential and that even if all one has to give is an encouraging word as a genuine gesture of care...that gift alone can save a child's life and give hope for the future."

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