Description: I AM THE STANDARD is a collaboration of thirteen shorts shot in New York City. This film showcases diversity utilizing scenes surrounding politics, gender, race, sexuality, impairment, mental illness, religion, and body image.

I AM THE STANDARD is a celebration of individuality. Celebrating your individuality is the first step towards becoming the best you you can be. To reach your highest level of self you must revert back to the basics. Basic: Love of Self.

Today, many of us live for the latest coverage of Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Barack Obama, George Bush, the war in Iraq, the MacBook Air, and the iphone. You’ve caught the wrong message if you’ve become obsessed with people you don’t know or items you don’t have. Become enraptured with yourself, and you will experience greatness beyond belief. Celebrate your individuality, flaws and all, and you will rise above all real and conceived limitations.

If Donald Trump, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, George Soros, Bill Clinton, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Michael Jordon, and Michael Jackson were caught up in people, places, and things that kept their eyes off their prize they wouldn’t have earned the status they presently hold. Once you become THE STANDARD in your mind, there won’t be a mountain you can’t climb.

This is for my son who is the only black student in an all white classroom
Go ahead and raise your hand

This is for my gay best friend who struggles with his sexuality on a daily basis
Don’t be gay or straight. Just be

This is for my mother who is two days off the needle and does not believe she can remain clean
It is time

This is for my neighbor who’s raising three young daughters by himself
Enjoy the blessing

This is for my Muslim attorney who’s tormented by his colleagues for his religious beliefs.
Don’t worry. Only your God can judge you.

This is for my adolescent daughter who is bullied each day because she is mentally retarded
Don’t stoop to their level

This is for me
I conform only to myself
I am the one
I AM THE STANDARD