How An Artist Turns Pain Into Purpose — Antoine Allen
Antoine Allen, Filmmaker: If I want a job interview, I can’t dress like I want to dress. I’ve got to get a suit. The same thing in your mind. If you want better, you can’t use old keys to open new doors.
Film Courage: Antoine at one point in your life you were homeless?
Antoine: Yes, I was.
Film Courage: At another point in your life you were making six figures plus a year?
Antoine: Yes, I was.
Film Courage: Maybe you can take us through both times in your life and how they intersected?
Antoine: That was a great couple of first questions. I like it…okay…homeless. I came from humble beginnings, raised in south side Jamaica, Queens and had the best mom and best dad. When you’re younger you get mad at them but when you get older you realize that they’re trying their best and they were broken. They’re going through their own internal demons. Around 20 I basically left the house because at the time my mom (she’s not here anymore) she chose her boyfriend over her kids. I left the house. I was homeless for like a year and a half and I started a job working in New…
