Cheetah Vision Films
building a new platform

by Chris Aliapoulios

photos by Lorenzo Lalik

Having mastered the music business, celebrity recording artist, Curtis (50 Cent) Jackson was looking for a new platform on which to grow, learn and challenge himself. He got his first taste of the movie biz by acting in several films including, Home of the Brave and Righteous Kill, both produced by prolific Hollywood producer Randall Emmett.

As an actor, Curtis became curious, and somewhat impatient while sitting idle on film sets waiting for the shoot. He really liked acting but was not fond of complacency. “Hurry up then wait, they are ready for you in makeup, now wait,” was not the winning formula for 50 Cent who earns millions weekly while on tour.

So, Curtis decided to form a film company of his own to allow himself to accelerate his learning process in film, while eliminating idle time. Working together with Randall Emmett on some of his early films may have been serendipitous, but choosing him as a film partner was not. Similar to Curtis, Randall is a driven artist, producing more than 60 feature films in just over ten years.

Together, Curtis and Randall formed Cheetah Vision Pictures in 2008, and like a cheetah, they are off and running. Before I Self Destruct, Caught in the Crossfire, Gun, and Love Me Love Me Not are already in the pipeline, with Things Fall Apart scheduled to start in May after 50 Cent’s worldwide music tour.

Grand Rapids has become the location of choice for Cheetah Vision. According to Curtis, “Michigan, for me, has been great. It’s been quiet enough for me to be able to really focus on a film project. At this point being back and forth out here, and actually developing a film company (Cheetah Vision), they should look forward to me bringing four, maybe five film projects. I may not necessarily be starring in the projects, but will be producing and financing these projects... made in Michigan.”