I always thought that the sitcom "Friends" wasn’t plausible.
I’m not even talking about the fact that they could never afford those apartments. It seemed to me that a group of friends that large doing everything together would implode under the umbrella of “too many captains and not enough crew”.
But then I met Tanya Fields.
Actually, it’s Tanya “The First Lady” Fields when it comes to her moniker among the group Redonkulous Entertainment.
Fields is an Atlantic City native, single mother and music maven who plays nine different instruments.
She explained to me that the players at RE are lifelong friends who in their youth — as kids forming a club often did — lived by the mantra “no new friends.”
We chuckled about it. But the bond that was formed really worked. It worked so well that the tribe is in their eighth year of a multi-stream venture into comics, clothes, film and documentary work.
This weekend all that hard work and artistry will be showcased at their event Arts in AC: Past, Present, & Future. The screen begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Atlantic City, following a pop-up art gallery from 3 to 6 p.m.
This artistic celebration is sure to entertain and educate event-goers.
To find out more about this home-grown company and its creators, Breaking AC reached out to Fields for an interview.
But in keeping with the hive mind that is a fundamental tenet of the group, they answered our questions together.
The other seven members of RE are James "The Hardest Working Man" Brown, Ryan "The Executive Producer" Ross, Kevin “The Co-Founder” Martin, Efrain "The Lead Artist" Arana III, Courtney "The Watcher" Jackson, Lavar "Cool Breeze" Queen and Nigel "The Wildcard" Frasier.
Perhaps the nicknames have something to do with their success.
BreakingAC: When people ask about Redonkulous Entertainment, what do you tell them?
Redonkulous Entertainment: Redonkulous Entertainment is a group of eight creatives and friends who all had the same goal of creating one comic book. That's turned into eight comic books, a clothing line, short films, an award-winning documentary and so much more.
BAC:Why did it start?
RE: We started out of the desire to do something extraordinary together. We created a sense of community from an early age, and that carried into adulthood. As we got older, it was like "Why not turn this dream into a reality, and really make something of it?" So eight years ago, we did just that.
BAC: You have known each other forever. How have you kept up such long friendships?
RE: When you have been true friends so long, it really isn't hard or something you think about. It's just your reality. We've always been painfully honest with each other. Honesty built trust. That became a habit. That habit became security. Those lifetime friendships have become family.
BAC: Why is Redonkulous Entertainment important?
RE: Redonkulous Entertainment is important because it is the realization of a dream that started over 30 years ago. It is proof, we are proof that even if you're from somewhere as small as Atlantic City, you can still have big dreams, and see them come true.
BAC: Bands break up all the time. How do you maintain a united front artistically with eight other creatives?
RE: It's not always easy, but at the end of the day, we know that each opinion or idea is for the betterment of the company. Especially when you're creating a universe such as ours, the Redonkulous Comics Universe, there is nothing that can't be done. We know and understand this. That's what makes us united. Because we believe in each other. We know that each thought or idea will help us grow and create.
BAC: Is there bias in the comic book arena for black authors and illustrators?
RE: If there is, we don't feel as though we're personally affected by it. Because we've ventured into so many other different arenas. For instance, that same comic book can be turned into a short film, a novel or even a musical! We've always run our own race. That's the beauty of having an eight-person team. Everyone adds something unique and special to the whole. That allows us to diversify in ways that many traditional independent comic book companies might not.
BAC: How do you balance work, home life and your creativity?
RE: Being a creator is a 24/7 job. It's as natural as breathing. We found out that being an adult is all about scheduling. What time do the kids get out of school? What time do we have to work? What is the deadline? Redonkulous Entertainment is phenomenal at scheduling. Even scheduling this interview!
BAC: Does anyone in the company have kids now interested in comics?
RE: Not at the moment. But the cool thing is that they are around the Redonkulous energy all the time. They see what we do, and how hard we work. Hopefully that will translate into whatever they choose to do in their own lives.
BAC: What are the challenges that come with making a documentary?
RE: Making a documentary is like making a comic book. The challenges are making people fall in love with the story. Also, keeping your creative freedom flowing. Take this 6,000-piece puzzle, and make it make sense while making sure the audio is correct and the crew understands the assignment. Honestly, we could go on and on. But the biggest challenge is at the end of the day making sure you're happy with the product you put out.
BAC: Tell us about Arts in AC: Past, Present, & Future.
RE: It was built out of a desire to tell a story about our home that doesn't just involve the negative stuff you hear in the news. We had a genuine desire to celebrate the people in this town who are working everyday to put this city on the map. You don’t necessarily associate the arts with Atlantic City in the same way you would with many other bigger cities. We want to change that narrative. We are featuring an art gallery of local artist during the day. Many of which were in the movie. Then the actual documentary film screening in the evening.
BAC: What’s the five-year plan for the company?
RE: The five-year plan is to expand the Redonkulous Comics Universe by any means. We will have two comics/graphic novels per year coming out, starting in 2025. We're expanding by making feature-length films and animated versions of those same projects. Also, Arts in AC is just the first volume in a larger documentary series about AC. We will explore many of the other aspects that make up our home. We have so much material, that we're here to entertain for the next 20 years and beyond!
BAC: Are there any particular pitfalls with having a business in Atlantic City?
RE: There are pitfalls in having a business anywhere. But like the saying goes, "There's no place like home."
Nearly five years ago, Redonkulous had a dream and a space in the Hamilton Mall.
BreakingAC was there when friends first celebrated their early success.
