Executive Director Angela Green of On Location - Memphis has a straightforward mission statement:

“Exceptional movies are being made faster and cheaper all over the world. We believe that Memphis should have a large presence in the filmmaking revolution.” 

Hence Memphis Movie Production - a Memphis based production company that creates indie films and provides training for crew and collaborators in all aspects of the process, at the same time.

The 5th Step Movie Series is such a production, that features the ongoing story of a recovering alcoholic, halfway through his twelve-step program facing complex family dynamics that challenge his recovery.

The series portrays a daily, vulnerable process where temptation shows up as stress, sex, power, loneliness, and the desire to numb out.

Music choice is critical in any film and fortunately Memphis has a rich talent pool of exceptional musicians- drawing on a world famous musical heritage of soul, jazz and blues.

Consequently a music track by Memphis based soulful singer songwriter and performer Keia Johnson was used in the production.

Memphis Movie Production licensed her track "GDE" for episode 3 of the 5th Step Series : "5th Step: Who do You Trust”.

Its a wonderful smooth and sensual song that ebbs and flows and reflects the emotions at play.

(Keia Johnson)

Angela Green who also co-wrote the script, describes how the selection of this particular track resonated perfectly with the complex emotions conveyed - and how music can inform a greater level of understanding and empathy with the depiction on the screen:

“Keia Johnson's "GDE" was selected because it carries sensuality without feeling forced or overly romantic—it has a confident, intimate energy that supports the scene's intention.

The tone and pacing create a slow-burn atmosphere that lets the moment breathe, underscoring the physical pull …..while keeping the viewer aware that this closeness is strategic.

The track functions like an emotional undercurrent—amplifying temptation and heat in the scene, while still fitting the episode's larger question: who can you really trust when desire is being used as a tool?”

Keia Johnson also elaborates on the inspiration for her track “GDE” :

“This was the first time in my career that I wrote a song that was really explicit in nature, but my point was as a woman, we have the right to desire a man and be able to articulate that in a direct and mature way.

It's a bold statement that I had to work my way up to being willing to write and sing. “

Bold and impactful - the combination of local movie making, the topics addressed in the movie and the music, is keeping it real and relevant to everyone.

This local Memphis ingenuity is to be applauded, in an age of a bloated and less competitive movie and music business.

An industry thats increasingly controlled by private equity interests will not necessarily give audiences what they want ,in terms of innovation, authenticity and creativity.

The 5th Step series should resonate with a wider audience due to its realism.

The screening of all four episodes will be on Monday September 14th 2026, 7pm at Malco Studio on the Square in Memphis TN.

More info:

https://onlocationmemphis.org/

https://xperiencentertainment.com/