Flipping the Script: Hollywood’s Stereotypes Led Me to Go Independent

Pitching in Hollywood is like dating in your 30s: everyone says they want something real, but they swipe left on authenticity. Whether it’s a story about a Yoruba god-turned-revolutionary or a Nigerian-American dad raising his son in Boston, I’ve learned that originality isn’t always what they’re looking for. They want what they know—or think they know.

The Maroon: A Hero Redefined

When I wrote the pilot script, The Maroon, I wanted to flip the typical "Blacks and slavery" narrative on its head. At its core, the story followed Abi, a powerful Yoruba god who starts as a man enslaved but transforms into a revolutionary hero. Forced into bondage, Abi confronts his identity, mourning the ideals he once rejected and discovering his true strength as both a god and a leader.

But when I pitched it, the response wasn’t about Abi’s growth, his divine heritage, or the rich Yoruba mythology. It was about how the premise fit into a framework Hollywood understood: “Blacks and slavery.” They got excited because it was familiar to them, but for all the wrong reasons.

They missed that The Maroon wasn’t a story of oppression—it was a story of empowerment. It wasn’t about suffering; it was about reclaiming agency and redefining what it means to be a hero. But for all their excitement, they couldn’t see past the stereotype.

Daddy Mode: Challenging the Status Quo

A year later, I wrote Daddy Mode, a completely different project but one that still pushed boundaries. Where The Maroon was epic and mythic, Daddy Mode was intimate and heartfelt. Tunde, the protagonist, is a single father navigating the chaos of parenthood, cultural identity, and self-discovery in Boston.

This time, the feedback was just as frustrating. Hollywood didn’t know what to do with a Nigerian-American dad. Execs questioned whether audiences would “connect” with him. They wanted to make Tunde edgier, rougher, or more "universal." It was the same story all over again: they didn’t see the heart, joy, and complexity of Daddy Mode. They only saw what they thought Blackness should look like.

The Shift: Taking Back the Narrative

What I learned from pitching both projects is that Hollywood often celebrates stereotypes while sidelining stories that challenge them. They don’t realize that audiences are hungry for stories that reflect the depth and diversity of the human experience.

That’s why I decided to go independent. Projects like The Maroon and Daddy Mode deserve to be told in their full complexity, not watered down to fit someone else’s expectations. Platforms like streaming and crowdfunding are breaking down barriers, allowing creators to bypass gatekeepers and bring authentic stories directly to the people who need them most.

The Daddy Mode Movement

Out of the struggle to get Daddy Mode made, I realized something bigger was at stake: we need a space where fathers, especially Black fathers, can share their stories authentically. That’s where Daddy Mode, the community, was born.

At DaddyMode.tv, we’re redefining fatherhood as a celebration of strength, vulnerability, and love. It’s a space where we can laugh, cry, and connect over the everyday triumphs and challenges of being dads. From events like Everyday Kings: A Fatherhood Series to workshops on resilience and blogs that explore the nuances of fatherhood, Daddy Mode is creating a new narrative for modern dads.

And it’s not just about telling stories—it’s about building a community. We’re bringing fathers together, from every background, to inspire each other and redefine what fatherhood means in today’s world.

Why I’m Doing This Now

Abi’s journey in The Maroon mirrors my own realization as a creator. It’s about reclaiming identity, leaning into authenticity, and redefining what it means to tell a Black story. Whether it’s a Yoruba god fighting for his people or a Nigerian-American dad juggling parenting and culture shock, I’m committed to telling stories that challenge stereotypes and redefine what’s possible.

But it’s bigger than just me. It’s about us. If you believe in authentic stories and want to celebrate fatherhood in all its forms, join us at DaddyMode.tv.

Explore our blog, attend events like Everyday King, and connect with a community of fathers rewriting the narrative one story at a time. Let’s show Hollywood and the world that the market isn’t the problem—the gatekeepers are. Together, we can flip the script and create the stories we want to see.