Courtney Glaudé joins the likes of Michael B. Jordan, Jordan Peele, and Ryan Coogler as part of a wave of new Black filmmakers. Courtney is based in Houston, TX. has written, directed, and produced multiple award-winning shorts, including Best Short Drama for “Row” at the Los Angeles Short Film Festival and Best Short for “Tag” at Atlanta’s Bronze Lens Film Festival. His 2023 feature film debut, “The Reading,” executive produced by Lee Daniels, is a supernatural thriller starring Mo’Nique that was recently acquired for streaming. Not only has the film broke indie film records garnering top 10 in the country, #158 on IMDB with several million media impressions. The collaborations of this film ended a 13-year feud between Lee Daniels and Monique.
FMM: When did your passion for entertainment begin?
I always knew I wanted to be a storyteller. I loved making people experience things and drawing them into my world. My love for storytelling started when I was a kid, and I would watch and listen to people intently. I never really had a start date of when I decided this was my craft, but I knew I wanted to make films after I saw The Sixth Sense. I ran up the box office numbers for him and watched that movie repeatedly, multiple times daily. It was a life-changing experience for me, and I knew I wanted to create stories that could have that same impact on people.
FMM: You have written, directed, and produced multiple award-winning shorts, including Best Short Drama for “Row” at the Los Angeles Short Film Festival. Tell us about Row and your inspiration for the film.
After writing for so long, Row was one of my first short films with which I wanted to test the water as a director. Row was a story about one of my worst fears as a dad. I intended to spark a conversation about all the horrible things we see and go through in life. Row is now a part of my upcoming series called The Amygdala in a broader perspective. I’ve taken my expertise today to revamp the project and add elements to its storyline. I am very excited to see it join the category of a project that viewers would enjoy.
FMM: What makes an award-winning film?
I don’t know what makes an award-winning film. I can’t begin to tell you the gumbo recipe for that secret ingredient. I don’t create films with the idea of chasing an award; I strive to create content that the mass audience will enjoy. I believe award-winning films are not always necessarily the films the average viewer loves. Regarding my creative process, I find it essential to have a “mind vomit” and get all my thoughts down on paper. Next, I organize the key points and clean up the outline. Finally, I create a structure with the plot and develop the story from there. Ultimately, I focus on making films that I know people will want to see and that will entertain them the most. If the content aligns with what the accrediting organizations are looking for, it will also receive awards. My advice? Create content that you’re passionate about so that you can genuinely engage your audience.
FMM: Your recent film, The Reading is making a big splash. The film stars the ever-popular Mo’Nique and executive produced by the esteemed Lee Daniels. What led you to this project?
God gives me all of these stories I like to tell, and he also creates the process. It could have only been God that led the connection to Mo’Nique. When I received the correct email to reach her management team, I sent them the script. They loved the script and agreed to come on board without seeing my previous work. After the film was complete, they were not impressed with the film. They advised me to get into a room of people who were not my friends. At that point, I believed the person who would be honest with me was Lee Daniels. My manager at the time knew one of Lee’s mentors and reached out to her to review the film, which she loved. The feedback was positive, which prompted the submission to him. He loved it immediately and arranged a meeting. I asked him to assist with the film’s structure. From there, he helped me bottle the thoughts of the film and create a rhythm for it during the editing process. Not only did we create great content for viewers, but this film also ended a 13-year feud between Mo’Nique and Lee Daniels, making history in the industry.
FMM: Tell us about the film and what was important to you as a director.
My actors, their performance, and my storyline were all incredibly important to me. Although I didn’t have the budget I wanted for the film, I was determined to capture the story I wanted to tell, regardless of the cinematic approach I was compelled to take.
FMM: Is “The Reading” setting the stage for your success as a filmmaker? What’s next?
Sh*t, I don’t know. I hope so! It’s the spark to what’s next. I’m near completion of developing a series and producing a feature film in Houston this September.
Social media @courtneyglaude
I love this film, the Reading and one of the best performances by my girl, Mo’Nique! Both are amazing! Congratulations to Courtney and Mo’Nique!
Very nice! I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Glaude.
He’s a true Gentleman. His vibe I got was one of an honest guy. An attribute that is earned, not played. For some it’s hard to pick up on. For me it was obvious earned his value. A value that is important to this generation. I applauds this write-up on him. Thank you. 😊