From Nine Days to ABFF: Charlie T. Savage on Voices the Musical, Betting on Yourself, and Building a Creative Tribe

Guest: Charlie T. Savage

Titles: Co-Writer & Producer of Voices the Musical, Producer, Navy Veteran, Associate Producer of the Sista Brunch Podcast

Episode Theme: What happens when creators stop waiting for permission, trust their instincts, and build ambitious films through collaboration, hustle, and community.

Why this matters right now: Independent filmmakers are being told to “wait until the budget is there,” “wait until the right connection happens,” or “wait until the industry notices.” Charlie’s journey with Voices the Musical is proof that sometimes the biggest career leap comes from making the work anyway — even when the resources are limited and the odds feel stacked against you.

Voices the Musical is powered by instinct, risk, and creative determination. In this bonus episode, Charlie T. Savage talks about co-writing and producing the 1967-set thriller musical, premiering at the 30th Annual American Black Film Festival.

She shares how the script was written in a month with her partner Sam Buckner III, how it transformed into a musical, how the feature was shot in nine days, and why building a trusted creative tribe matters more than chasing industry clout.

What we talk about

• Writing Voices the Musical in one month with co-writer Sam Buckner III (00:02:48)

• Why she originally resisted turning the film into a musical (00:06:23)

• The process of integrating nine original songs into the finished film (00:07:34)

• Shooting the entire feature in only nine days in Inglewood (00:11:55)

• How relationships, bartering, and community support helped finance the film (00:16:12)

• Charlie’s favorite film term: “The Martini Shot” (00:19:10)

• Why creatives should “network across” instead of only chasing established names (00:21:58)

Why you’ll want to listen

• How indie filmmakers get films made without studio backing (00:16:12)

• Balancing creativity with production strategy (00:05:18)

• Creating despite fear and limited resources (00:18:09)

• Black creatives thriving outside industry boxes (00:11:08)

• Building trust, collaboration, and creative community (00:12:27)

About the guest

Charlie T. Savage is a Navy veteran, New Orleans native, and award-winning writer and producer, whose work blends psychological tension, emotional complexity, and sharp cultural perspective. Her stories often explore the idea that villains are not born but created. She is the founder of Charlie Bit Me Joints and continues to establish herself as a rising voice in film and television through features, shorts, anthology storytelling, and genre-driven narratives centered on Black experiences. Her latest feature film, Voices the Musical, co-written with Sam Buckner III and directed by Deante Gray, is an Official Selection of the 30th Annual American Black Film Festival. 

Listen now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Watch the full episode on YouTube @TruJuLoMedia.

If this conversation resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a creative who needs to hear it.

Follow @SistaBrunchPodcast for clips, community, and resources.

Support the show and help keep these conversations accessible at Patreon.com/SistaBrunch or GiveButter.com/SistaBrunch.

Keywords: Independent Film, ABFF, American Black Film Festival, Black Filmmakers, Psychological Thriller, Musical Film, Indie Filmmaking, Film Production, Screenwriting, Producing, Black Creatives, Creative Collaboration, Period Piece, Independent Cinema, Filmmaking Community, Creative Tribe, Women in Film, Black Storytelling, Sista Brunch Podcast, Charlie T. Savage, Voices the Musical, Sam Buckner III, Deante Gray, Inglewood Filmmaking, Indie Producers, Film Festival Season

Introduction

Fanshen Cox

Hey, you all. Welcome back to the Sista Brunch Podcast. This isn't exactly Season 7… except that it is. But it’s a bonus because one of our very own team members has a feature film in a very, very important film festival.

And this all happened as we got started with the season, so it’s really exciting, and we decided we had to have her on the show. So think of it as like… Season 7.5.

By the way, I am Fanshen Cox. I am the co-creator and host of the Sista Brunch Podcast, and we are here with the fabulous Charlie T. Savage.

Charlie T. Savage

Hey. How are you?

Fanshen Cox

I'm wonderful. Great, great, great. And I’m so glad to have you.

All right, I’m gonna do a little bit of your bio just to make sure I do it justice, but then we’re gonna dive in because I really want to talk about this film.

Because it blew me away.

Charlie is not only our Season 7 associate producer, along with Ashanti Groves, but she is also a Navy veteran from New Orleans, born and raised, and an award-winning writer, director, and producer whose work continues to establish her as a rising voice in film and TV.

Her latest feature film, Voices The Musical, is set to premiere at the 30th Annual American Black Film Festival.

We are so excited for you.

Welcome to Sista Brunch on this side of the camera.

Charlie T. Savage

Thank you. On this side of the camera, which will probably never happen again.

Fanshen Cox

How are you feeling about it?

Charlie T. Savage

Nervous. My back is wet, but don’t tell anybody.

Fanshen Cox

I love the “my back is wet” thing.

I’ve been trying to get the team on camera all season and they refuse, so I’m very glad that in the end you had to be here.

The Writing Journey Behind Voices The Musical

Fanshen Cox

Tell us the journey of writing this film.

You’re both a co-writer and producer on it, right?

Charlie T. Savage

Yes.

So Voices is basically the biography of every serious creator.

That’s how it started.

It’s where a creator finds themselves at a crossroads of seizing an opportunity or letting it walk away.

That’s why Sam Buckner III and myself — my amazing writing partner — sat down and wrote this script in about a month.

We kicked it out.

Fanshen Cox

That’s incredible.

Go back a little bit more though. How did the two of you meet?

Charlie T. Savage

We met at a mixer in 2022, I think.

And he has been an amazing part of my life ever since.

He’s very much a coming-of-age storyteller, and I’m very thriller, murder, murder, kill, kill.

So putting our skills together — our superpowers — we come up with some really engaging pieces.

He’s the lovey-dovey. I’m the serious side.

And it’s a good blend.

Fanshen Cox

What’s your writing relationship like? How do you split things up?

Charlie T. Savage

When it’s a film, we usually split it into segments.

Sometimes he’ll take the first half and I’ll take the back end. Or we alternate.

It works because we trust each other.

That makes everything easier.

How the Film Became a Musical

Fanshen Cox

So at what point did this become a musical?

Charlie T. Savage

Let me tell you about this musical.

I didn’t even like musicals. Or at least I thought I didn’t.

Sam called me in the wee hours of the morning and said:

“It’s about a singing duo. We have friends that can sing. Let’s make it a musical.”

And I immediately hung up on him because… what are you talking about?

But honestly, I give him all the credit.

I said, “If you can make it work, we can do it.”

And I wasn’t convinced until we got into the studio and heard those voices.

Their voices literally made me go:

“Oh my God. You were right.”

Fanshen Cox

What I love is how seamless it feels.

Some musicals feel random when people suddenly start singing.

This one doesn’t.

Charlie T. Savage

That’s because the script was already done before we added music.

It made it easy to find the perfect places for songs.

So if you’re writing a musical, I’d suggest:

Finish the story first. Then add the music.

Fanshen Cox

And there are nine original songs, right?

Charlie T. Savage

Nine original songs.

And Sam wrote all the lyrics.

That was all him.

About the Film

Fanshen Cox

Tell the audience what the film is about.

Charlie T. Savage

It’s a 1967 period piece about a bellhop who becomes the assistant to a rising singing duo.

Unfortunately, they overdose, and he has to decide:

Should I take this opportunity, or should I let it walk away?

And he makes some choices.

And things get a little dark.

Fanshen Cox

A little dark?

A couple accomplices. Hard decisions.

But what I love is that the film is really about stepping out and taking risks in order to become successful.

Charlie T. Savage

Exactly.

That’s exactly what we did making this film too.

Let’s Talk Tech

Cinematography, Production Design & Shooting in Nine Days

Fanshen Cox

Can we talk about the cinematography?

Because this movie is beautiful.

Charlie T. Savage

The shots. The shot list.

Our DP, Damola…

God.

That man put his foot in this project.

Between him and our director Deante Gray — wow.

Producer tip:

Make sure your creatives have a shot list because those two together in a room will absolutely eat up time.

But it was worth it.

Sometimes you just gotta let people create.

Fanshen Cox

Talk about shooting this in nine days.

Because this is a period piece. A musical. There are stunts. A vintage car.

There’s so much happening.

Charlie T. Savage

We shot this in nine days in Inglewood.

Everybody hustled.

Every single person.

And that’s why I always say you have to find your tribe.

You have to know your boundaries, understand your goals, and know how you can be of service to someone else.

Once you figure those things out, you’ll find the people you mesh with creatively.

Fanshen Cox

The chemistry in the film feels magical.

Charlie T. Savage

It really was.

The chemistry between Francis, Ezekiel, and Raél was effortless.

It was hard to direct them because they already understood the energy.

The Martini Shot

Fanshen Cox

What’s something technical you learned on this project?

Charlie T. Savage

The martini shot.

That’s my favorite shot of the day.

Fanshen Cox

Explain that for people who don’t know.

Charlie T. Savage

The martini shot is the final shot of the night.

And when the AD yells, “Martini shot!” everybody gets a burst of energy.

Until somebody says:

“Oh wait… we weren’t recording.”

Then we have problems.

Let’s Talk Financial

Fanshen Cox

Okay, let’s talk finances.

Because I know you well enough to know you were gonna get this movie made no matter what.

Charlie T. Savage

A lot of this money came out of pocket.

A lot came from relationships we built over time.

A lot came from bartering.

What’s on screen is a six-figure opportunity.

That’s a lot of camera equipment. A lot of resources.

Fanshen Cox

Did you ever feel financially ready?

Charlie T. Savage

No.

We never had enough money.

We just started anyway.

It’s just like the movie.

You see an opportunity and you go after it.

Sometimes you have to put it on a credit card.

Sometimes you have to take the chance.

I don’t want people putting themselves into financial ruin, but know your worth and push.

Fanshen Cox

You mentioned sweat earlier and I’m still thinking about that.

Charlie T. Savage

Yes! Sweat.

Who would’ve thought you have to MAKE sweat?

There’s glycerin involved and all kinds of trial and error.

We spent around $200 trying to figure out what would actually show on camera.

ABFF Nominations

Fanshen Cox

Tell everybody what the film is nominated for at ABFF.

Charlie T. Savage

We were nominated for U.S. Narrative Feature.

And Sam and myself were also nominated for Best Screenplay.

We premiere worldwide on May 29 in Miami Beach.

Screening Room 2 at 1:55 PM.

Fanshen Cox

Spread the word.

We want everybody there supporting our Charlie because we are so proud of her.

The Signature Sista Brunch Question

Fanshen Cox

Charlie, you and your younger self are sitting down to a Sista Brunch.

What are you eating, what are you drinking, and what do you tell her?

Charlie T. Savage

My younger self would be eating a bag of crawfish in New Orleans on a porch.

And she’s drinking a Pineapple Big Shot.

Fanshen Cox

What’s that?

Charlie T. Savage

It’s a pineapple soda from New Orleans.

A signature drink.

Fanshen Cox

Love that.

And current Charlie?

Charlie T. Savage

Lobster pad thai and a glass of wine.

And I would tell my younger self:

Network across.

Don’t spend all your time chasing the Ryan Cooglers and Michael B. Jordans and Nia DaCostas.

Build with the people beside you.

Find your family. Find your team. Find your tribe.

Support each other.

You’ll get there a lot faster together.

Join Us on Patreon

Charlie T. Savage

Hey, it’s Charlie T. Savage, and I would love to see you over at Patreon.

And you can also join us on Instagram @SistaBrunchPodcast anytime.

We love you. Come over.

Closing

Fanshen Cox

We are so proud of you, Charlie.

And we’re so glad to have you on the podcast to share this story.

I can’t wait to see what’s next for you.

Thank you so much for watching another episode of the Sista Brunch Podcast.

Partnerships & Credits

Fanshen Cox

Sista Brunch is brought to you by TruJuLo Productions.

We record right here in this beautiful studio in Hollywood at UPodcaster — a Black-owned studio with amazing owners.

Our producers for this season are:

Associate Producers

• Charlie T. Savage

• Ashanti Groves

Co-Producers

• Tasha Rogers

• Samantha K. Henderson

Producer

• Maegan Philmore

Sista Brunch is recorded on the unceded territory of the Tongva, Chumash, Gabrielino, Serrano, and Kizh peoples.

Please make sure you follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and subscribe to the YouTube channel.

And as Charlie said:

Join us over on Patreon.

We’ll talk to you very soon. ✨