Private Project

Why Me

  • Robert Parham
    Director
    Snow Black
  • Shania Brown
    Writer
  • Earlena Brown
    Writer
  • Earlena Brown
    Producer
  • Cynda Williams
    Key Cast
    "Traci Black"
    Mo Better Blues, Caught Up, One False Move
  • Shania Brown
    Key Cast
    "Crystal"
    Snow Black
  • Hawthorne James
    Key Cast
    "Thomas Black "
    Five Heartbeats, Speed, Othelllo
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 10 minutes 15 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 30, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    50,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:37
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Robert Parham

Robert Parham (born Robert Dennis Parham, Jr. on January 24, 1966) is a retired American kickboxer and former five-time World Kickboxing Champion and former four-time Sport Karate Champion. His kickboxing record was 17-1 with 9 knockouts.

"While enlisted in the Air Force, he won the Mississippi’s Silver Gloves championships and in 1988 he began earning karate titles, including Armed Forces Champion, Mississippi State Champion and pre-Olympic Taekwondo Champion.

From 1991 to 1993, he won the National Karate Championship and in 1991 he was the United States Karate Alliance World Karate Champion. He was Sport Karate International’s regional winner in 1990 and 1993 and world champion in 1991. In 1993, he earned the National Black Belt League’s Regional and World Titles and the United States Karate Alliance Lightweight Koshiki World Title.

Parham’s karate accomplishments earned him the Air Force’s Air Education and Training Command’s Male Athlete of the Year for 1992.

The award-winning martial artist has claimed world kickboxing titles in five weight classes — middleweight in 1994, super middleweight in 1996, light heavyweight in 1995 and 1997, cruiserweight in 1997 and heavyweight in 2001.

In 1999, Parham was a featured participant in the inaugural show of the TV series "The Toughman World Championship on FX". He made it to the finals and lost a hotly disputed decision to the local favorite.

He has been inducted into the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame, the Masters Hall of Fame, the USA Hall of Fame, The Martial Arts Museum, The All-Pro Tae Kwon Do Hall of Fame, The Gedatsuki Hall of Fame, The Kuro Bushi Hall of Honors and the Action Martial Arts Hall of Fame for his martial arts accomplishments.

After retiring from martial arts competitions, Robert turned to acting, with minor roles in movies such as "Bad Faith", "The Insider " and "Hand to Hand". He had his breakthrough starring role in the multiple award winning mini feature "Buster Jones".

The actor, producer, director and writer has been featured in the Daily Republic, Solano County's News Source by reporter Amy Maginnis -Honey. She interviewed Robert Parham while he was working on his upcoming independent movie that premiered in Sacramento California called Jackson Bolt. The movie features Fred Williamson aka The Hammer, R.Marcos Taylor, and James E. Meyer.

Hillside, New Jersey Mayor Angela R. Garretson has given Robert Parham Jr. a Proclamation Award. She declared on January 23, 2017 - January 27, 2017, Robert Parham Week. He has also been retained by Public Relations Firm MizMacMarketing LLC., which is located in Rahway, New Jersey.

Robert has recently turned his efforts from acting to directing. He has directed the movies "Snow Black", "The Bam: The Willie Johnson Story", "The K.A. System", "The Hanged Man" and "Why Me".

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Director Statement

"Why Me" is a moving and touching story of a daughter dealing with bipolar disorder after the death of her father. It's gripping and you will be moved by this story. Cynda Williams, Shania Brown and Hawthorne James poured their hearts and souls into their characters.

The project was scripted last year by Shania Brown when she was 14 years old. She saw a friend struggle with bipolar disorder and decided to write a script based on it. Shania wanted to make people more aware of bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is often overlooked. It affects approximately 2.3 million people in the United States alone. I hope this movie can help and give hope to those who suffer from this disorder.