Over the years, people have wondered whatever happened to Monty Ross, who co-founded 40 Acres & A Mule with Spike Lee? According to Ross, he’s been honing his craft with a focus on “telling the stories behind our stories” with a film language that uses storytelling via biopics, features, and documentaries.
Ross is currently a Filmmaker-in-Residence at Prince George’s County Community Development Corporation (PGCCDC), working alongside his roommate from Clark Atlanta University, Tolson Banner, founder and executive director of PGCCDC. Together, they have chronicled the life of DC legend John ‘Peterbug’ Matthews in a 47-minute documentary: Let Me Put This BUG In Your Ear: The John ‘Peterbug’ Matthews Story. The film trailer was showcased at Prince George’s County Arts and Humanities Council’s Film Festival at HBCU Bowie State University.
The documentary is now available for viewing on VIMEO for free:
https://vimeo.com/1121020185 https://vimeo.com/user2882225/
New Self-Help Book “Blame It on the Feel of Pain” About Detangling From Past Pain
Get ready for a transformational journey toward inner peace as indie author Max W. Miller’s new self-help release, Blame It On The Feel Of Pain, inspires readers in a witty, down-to-earth book. Truth and compassion are foretold, using poetic frames called ‘The Wises,’ and the help of opinionated little emojis bringing laughter and thought-provoking conclusions throughout.
The author encourages her readers, whom she also calls partners, to stop wrestling with the hard knocks of the past. She expresses how voluntarily walking back into time precedes trauma healing. Confronting lingering pains is a step toward strength and hope for the future. ‘Blame It’ delves into the author’s life experiences, bringing to life the importance of using Full Circle Moments to find resolutions.
Throughout Blame It On The Feel Of Pain, the reader grows to understand through a unique interpretation that what we are destined to become grows out of the years we’ve already traveled. Further, our future hinges on how we address the pains of the past. Other expressions focus on how desires in the present are carved out of having a clear vision that old, lingering strongholds must be defeated. A history of suffering is a prerequisite for becoming fed up enough to demand enjoyment now!
To Get On the Road To Overcoming Your Trauma See Her Exclusive Interview
Order Her Book Blame It On The Feel Of Pain
Matthews is a fifth-generation Washingtonian. He has spent 45 years serving Capitol Hill’s Southeast community— many locals would say the last spiritual and structural connection to DC’s civil/human rights movement; DC Home Rule struggle for the right to vote in Congress; and grassroots activism to fight against taxation without representation.
Since 1977, he has operated the Peterbug Shoe and Leather Repair Academy, now a DC Historic Landmark, with the street renamed in honor: Peterbug Matthews Way SE. Through his philosophy of “saving souls and healing people,” Matthews transformed a modest shoe repair shop into a community institution training generations of young people in craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, and life skills.
The Academy’s building emerged from Lady Bird Johnson’s Society for a More Beautiful National Capitol and was highlighted during her groundbreaking 1960s beautification program. The site was chosen by Walter Washington, the first Black mayor of a major American city, appointed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1967—a powerful symbol of the civil rights era’s promise, federal vision meeting local community needs.
Now, let’s get back to the filmmaker, Monty Ross. Ross’s story began in the Atlanta University Center (AUC). As freshmen at Morehouse College, two young men understood that stories mattered: Monty Ross and Spike Lee. What began in the AUC classrooms would become
40 Acres and A Mule Filmworks—a production company that refused to whisper because it ROARED!
Ross perfected his craft at Clark College, now Clark Atlanta University, under the exacting eye of Joan Lewis, Department Chair of Theatre Arts and director of the Clark College Players. Lewis was demanding. A true leader who taught the many ins and outs of becoming professional artists, who insisted her students leave a legacy of excellence that encouraged others to be productive. Ross carries her lessons still: the discipline, the caring severity, the understanding that theater—and later, film—required nothing less than devotion. Both Ross and Lee took mass media courses, became student members of the AUC Newsreel film club, perfecting their writing and production skills while dreaming larger than their circumstances suggested they should. Ross also spent time with Atlanta Street Theatre, learning what it meant to inhabit a story with his whole body before he learned to frame it with a camera.
In 1986, they released She’s Gotta Have It through Island Pictures. Made for $175,000, it grossed nearly $7 million. The film announced their arrival, but 40 Acres refused the comfort of a single triumph. They seized the opportunity: directing Michael Jordan’s Air Jordan sneaker campaign, creating work that four decades later remains among the top-selling sneaker brands worldwide – commerce and art, braided together.
Then came the deluge. Over twelve years, Ross and Lee released eight major motion pictures with Columbia Pictures, Universal Studios, and Warner Bros Studios – School Daze, Do The Right Thing, Mo Better Blues, Jungle Fever, Malcolm X, Crooklyn, and Clockers. Each film was a statement. Each one refuses easy answers. Ross produced, co-produced, executive-produced, and served as vice-president of production, building the infrastructure that allowed their vision to reach screens across America.
Following Clockers, Ross stepped into his own light. He produced Keep the Faith, Baby, a biopic about Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Ross also produced Escaping Jersey. Ross later segued into feature documentaries—Unity Ride: Search For The Underground Railroad, Welfare to Work, After Affirmative Action— a film work that demanded America look at herself without flinching. In music television, Ross produced videos for GZA and Ghostface Killah: “Cold World,” and “4th Chamber.” Songs that understood and underscored the mesmerizing poetry of the streets in its native tongue.
When Ross rejoined 40 Acres, he coordinated the company’s community outreach programs, recruiting interns for Inside Man, and supervised production for the She’s Gotta Have It television series — a full-circle return to the film that launched their career trajectory.
But Ross had always been a teacher. For fifteen years, he has shared his expertise in after-school programs, summer camps, and universities including VCU, Old Dominion, Clark Atlanta, Howard University, and Florida A&M. His students learn more than film techniques They learned that filmmaking is a form of bearing witness, that stories carry the weight of lives lived and histories erased: calling out from the graves and carried by our ancestors.
In 2016, Ross directed The Opera Game (now titled Scandalous Moves), set in 19th-century New Orleans. The film won the Filmmaker’s Choice award at the 2019 San Diego Black Film Festival. From 2017 to 2022, he served as President of Operations for Soulidifly Productions, producing the award-winning 1 Angry Black Man and Love Dot Com: The Social Experiment.
In 2022, Ross became Filmmaker-in-Residence at Ours Studios LLC, a Black-owned, Black- financed Decatur, Georgia production company. Together, they released As If We Were Ghosts, a 60-minute documentary that debuted on Georgia Public Broadcasting. The film excavates what was buried: the athletic and musical accomplishments of students in Black high schools across Georgia, achievements that had been ignored, erased, written out of history as though they had never sparkled, never mattered, never been.
Ross continues developing projects for all platforms. He shares his thoughts about the film industry at suite57.com, where he will soon exhibit his watercolor paintings—a hobby he’s pursued for the past decade. He tells emerging filmmakers to trust their imagination first, to make their content before AI technologies claim all the discoveries. “After all,” he says, “shouldn’t you have the fun of finding new and exciting ways to tell stories that matter to you? Take the opportunity. Share your own creative ideas.”
Monty Ross is a proud graduate of Clark Atlanta University. Producer, director, teacher, painter. A man who understands that art is not decoration but necessity, that every story told truthfully is an act of preservation, of defiance, of universal love. Ross is available for speaking engagements.
About
Monty Ross is a legendary figure in American independent cinema and co-founder of 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks alongside Spike Lee. With a distinguished career spanning over three decades, Ross has produced and contributed to groundbreaking films that have shaped cultural conversations and inspired generations of filmmakers, including She’s Gotta Have It, Do the Right Thing, Mo’ Better Blues, Malcolm X, Crooklyn, and Inside Man.
As a filmmaker deeply committed to empowering underserved communities, Ross continues to mentor emerging artists and develop projects that amplify diverse voices in media and technology. His work bridges the gap between Hollywood excellence and grassroots storytelling, making him an invaluable voice for educational institutions and faith-based organizations.
Why Book Monty in 2026?
Monty is more than qualified to address aspiring filmmakers, producers, and content creators because of the following strengths that he brings to the table:
Authentic Voice: A true pioneer who has walked the walk, from independent film struggles to Hollywood success
Educational Value: Practical insights into filmmaking, creative collaboration, and cultural storytelling
Inspirational Impact: A powerful role model for students pursuing careers in media, arts, and entertainment
Cultural Relevance: Addresses critical issues of representation, diversity, and community empowerment
Engaging Presenter: Known for warmth, wisdom, and the ability to connect with diverse audiences
For press or business inquiries, contact Tolson Banner at 202-413-6431
Published Author in Her Family
Alexis Donald, MD, a trailblazing African American medical doctor and advocate for empowering young minds, is thrilled to announce the release of her highly anticipated children’s book, Mommy I Want to be a Doctor. Based on her own remarkable journey, this captivating story encourages children to dream big, believe in themselves, and fearlessly pursue their aspirations.
As the first medical doctor in her family, Dr. Alexis has always been driven by a passion for medicine and a desire to make a difference in the world. Her inspiring tale begins with her childhood dreams and takes readers on a heartfelt journey of determination, resilience, and triumph. To Order Her Book Click Here or on Amazon.
To see our exclusive interview with Dr. Donald Tap here.
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nZinga Austin is also the Co-publisher of Our Black News Scoop and Southeast Queens Scoop. The documentary of about 1/2 hr long is getting rave reviews.
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