He has been called a prodigy, an oddity, a mastermind and a miracle. A boy named Todd Simpson from small town Alabama has overcome all odds and has since brought his unique style of blues to the masses. He has graced the stage with legends and will soon enrich the film world through his first acting role in the indie drama “Lifted,” a movie whose storyline mirrors Simpson’s own life.
His chance at the big screen came about as magically as the story of his own life. It just so happened that a documentary filmmaker named Jim Cloutman had been developing a film about Todd’s life. He had been in Alabama, but was back in California at the time things started to fall together. He spoke with “Lifted” writer and director Lexi Alexander, an Academy Award nominee, whose film is about a young boy in Alabama rooted in R&B music. It was one of the first features to be filmed in Alabama under the state’s new entertainment industry incentives. The plot revolves around Henry Matthews, an exceptionally talented young singer, whose happy family life is disrupted when his father, a marine, is re-deployed to Afghanistan and, despite all obstacles, he is inspired to compete in a teen singing competition. When Alexander told Cloutman about the film, he said, “I know that kid. Know him personally. He is from down around Birmingham, Alabama.”
When Alexander heard that there was someone out there so similar to her fictional role, she knew she had to see it for herself. So, she made her way to Birmingham to see the young man and consider him for the lead in her movie. She spent a little time with Todd, who recently turned 21, but felt the lead role needed an actor a few years younger. “I needed someone around the age of 12 or 13,” she said. “Todd was perfect, but just too old for the part. However, I couldn’t get him out of my head. I have been in Hollywood for years and met a lot of talent, but I have never been as touched as when I met Todd. He is otherworldly gifted.”
Alexander was so impressed, she wrote Todd into her film. “He basically plays himself,” she said.
For Todd, “Lifted” was another accomplishment to add to his list of completed hopes and dreams. Growing up, he had been in and out of the hospital and struggled for many years with a very rare condition called DiGeorge Syndrome, along with many associated problems such as a combined immune deficiency, severe dyslexia and disautonomia. It was a disease that could very well have taken his young life. However, he defied all adversity and found his gift, playing the blues.
In all honesty, Todd believes music isn’t actually his gift. “I believe my disability is my true gift,” he said. “Music is a catalyst for me. I believe it is only a disability for those who don’t have it. So, it is an ability for me.”
He said acting was not as much of a feat as he believed it would be. “It didn’t hurt I played myself in the movie,” he said. “Really I just went into it knowing that it is a lot like music and that I had to be ready for it. I had to be zoned into the moment. Once you get to that space, it is very fluent and simple.”
Todd shared the stage with a number of talented actors and musicians including Dash Mihok, Trace Adkins, Rueben Studdard and Uriah Shelton to name a few. Uriah, an 11-year-old born in Alabama, plays the lead and Todd said, “He’s unbelievable. I asked him how he did it,” said Todd. “He told me he just gets into the character he is playing. So, when I asked him what he would do if he was playing himself, he said he wasn’t sure and that he had never really had to do that before.”
Todd said that he believes the energy brought to the set was just extraordinary. “You could tell people were there for the art of it all and for the movie,” he said. “I feel honored they befriended me.”
Alexander said Todd is an incredibly kind-hearted, sweet kid who has the type of music that will make even the less spiritual have a spiritual awakening through his God-given gift. She said she is so thankful he was born to his parents and that his life and accomplishments are unbelievable.
Todd said they filmed the 18-shot movie around Birmingham, Montevallo, Irondale and smaller towns around. He added most of his scenes took place at the Alys Stephens Center. He said they look to have the film completely edited within the next couple of weeks and look to have the film at Sundance and on the big screen.
“It’s crazy, you know,” said Todd. “Three months before I got word I was even going to get to do a movie, I remember I was watching Elvis’ movie ‘Love Me Tender.’ I remember hearing he was only 20 when he filmed his first movie and I jokingly told my aunt that for me to be like Elvis I would have to film my first movie before I was 21. Well, I turned 21 on September 20. We wrapped on the set one week before my birthday. See on that note, anything you dream is possible.”
Todd realizes how life works in mysterious ways. He believes the movie was meant to be. “I have a song titled ‘Living the Dash’ and Dash Mihok is in the movie,” he said. “There are a lot of weird similarities, including the plot of father and son. (Wes Simpson is Todd’s father who quit his job as a football coach to help his son follow his dreams.) Then, there is Alabama. It is just weird how it all works together.”
To top it all off, three of Todd’s original songs are in the movie. “This movie has meant so much to me,” he said. “It will help get my material world-wide. Personally, I would have been happy just being on set cleaning a floor.”
Filming “Lifted” was really just one more thing on the list of good things ahead in Todd’s life.
Source: theleedsnews.net
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