Timothy Coleman (00:00.99)
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Timothy Coleman (00:54.918)
So man, like New York City, you're born and raised, where you reside, what do you love about it? Born and raised in the Bronx, and I've been like so blessed to be, you know, I'm all New York, you know, everybody loves their borough and I love all my boroughs. I feel like I'm all the boroughs wrapped in one, and I've been blessed to live in everyone, Brooklyn, Staten Island, you know, Queens, you know, really quickly, some a little bit longer, but you know, I got love for New York as well in general, so.

I feel like part of my purpose is to bring New York to gala. As a blue family. Because we do have some seriously forgotten areas, so that would be dope. The Bronx. Mainly naming. I love anybody from the Bronx who's doing anything creative, anything amazing. I just got nothing bad to say about anybody who can come from here and make it. Whether it's R.E.B., Fat Joe, whoever, I love them all.

You know, Stan Lee from the Bronx. You know? He is so interested in creating the story of the Bronx and writing, you know, what they believe about it without having spent any time here, you know, without like really spending some quality, quality time eating the food, meeting the people, you know, knowing the real vibe of what's going down. So I like how you're approaching it, you know, and really more than just changing the Bronx, you are on the way of changing the world. So, I mean, I want to jump in.

with Pretzel Boy, like how did you, like for anybody who hasn't heard of it yet, right? Like how are you describing this to people and how did you get started on that particular journey? Well, for anybody looking, you can go on amazon.com and find it on the Pretzel Boy or my website, theadventuresofpretzelboy.com to get an exclusive copy or you could find it on my website, Mr. Finnezy Official.

Um, but the Pretzel Boy book has just been a really fun phenomenon that really has been taking a life on its own. You know, as a creator, I've created many things, but this is the first thing that I've ever created. And it just had a whole entire life of its own and just bringing crowds of all background together, which was intentional. So to kind of see this all come to life and it go from, uh, just a book and from a book now to

Timothy Coleman (03:19.678)
really in the process of becoming an animated series by a network who wanted to release it. But then so many other networks are happening and, you know, really taking interest in it. It's taken a whole life of its own and the beauty of just watching him come from like idea to paper to life and animation is nothing less than magical.

just to really be a part of this amazing journey of creating this amazing larger than life character and really watching the impact that he's already had on the world behind the scenes. I just can't wait to see what he's going to do on that larger scale. People have no idea of the backstory of it. They watch these books and they become amazing books and iconic characters where it's not really

behind the scenes stories of like what it took to get there. You know, and just really like the people and the hands and the, you know, inspirations. It's always a thing of its own. That's right, because I mean, like, we're just, you know, we're consumers, so we're sitting on the couch and we see a final product. We don't see how many days, minutes, hours, weeks, years it took to get something to come to life. We just see the final product. And as humans do, we sit and criticize that final product, right?

This actually sounds like a super exciting opportunity for a lot of different age groups. So like, what's his story? What's Pretzel Boy, what's he getting into? What's his raison d'etre? You know what I'm saying? Like, what's... You know, I think the fun thing about Pretzel Boy is he really is misunderstood and he's just representing...

those of us who also may feel like that as well. I feel like just definitely having a bit of a urban experience in his life of morphing in from this object to obviously a boy, and then having everyone either want to consume him or want a piece of him. In the process of principally just trying to be himself, really, he's faced with all these adversaries of

Timothy Coleman (05:41.71)
uh, you know, people feeling they have the right to, uh, consume him, hurt him, harm him, touch him, whatever. All these things are coming at him and he's just trying to live his life. So, you know, the brazes of him just try to live his life as, uh, you know, melo-native people we tend to know pretty well. You will get painted, uh, a story of being a menace, you know, with how you may react to, uh, how society may be treating you. So, you know, in that, you kind of see the...

those things kind of play out as a role of menace or hero, you kind of decide, but in the process of him just really being himself, he's like, it's a liberating thing. So really with the intention of creating Pretzel Boy, with the inspiration of, I say children of all ages, because do we ever really grow up with the things that, make our hearts smile and big and move and, we really quickly go back to those.

or as a childhood. So my intention of creating Pretzaboy honestly was inspired by Eloise in the Plaza and the socialite who created her was this fabulous woman named Kay, I forget her last name, and this amazing artist who had captured her vision. And just the dynamic of the backstory of creating this iconic New York character really was a...

intentional with me. So studying the blueprint of, you know, just Eloise and the Claus, I really was, you know, curious of putting my spin on that and fusing it, of course, with, uh, I say the, uh, putting a new twist on an old tale.

I just think of that familiar gingerbread. But Prince of Boy is nobody's gingerbread. Like get that out of here. Yeah, no, definitely not. 2008, you know, like this is like a whole new era, a whole new thing. And you know, we're Prince of Boy just explaining his background. You know, he is this creature, you know, who gets morphed into a little boy and in the process of him trying to, you know.

Timothy Coleman (07:49.35)
live his honest truth in his life. He is confronted with a lot of people who may have an intention of him that may be his intention. So in the liberation of just kind of finding his own voice and having these fun musical abilities to when he's faced with, you know, any adversaries, he just has these ability to kind of flip the script.

He uses music as his tool, you know, so just as the radio, he just is the voice of this generation and so many different ones. So it's really using music that you see. He knows how to kind of unintentionally or maybe it's intentionally bring people together. I love it. Without them even knowing it. You know, so it's far more organic. Yeah. It's far more organic and just the spirit of just, you know, how he is. He's, he's a riot and he's funny. So.

watching him come to life and really touch kids really has been very inspirational. So watching him turn into an animation, just wanting to see what that would do. And how it's gonna be received. I mean- How it's gonna be received, it's just one of those things to where it's just, it's fun, it's nerve-racking, it's also- I love it. I love it, man. It's so exciting. So-

Talk to me about, because I know you, right? I know that Pretzel Boy and being a writer and a publisher, a producer, an animator, those are not the only hats that you wear. Those are not the only roles that you have. You're also an actor, right? And there's other things that I've witnessed of yours that are, I mean, there's so much talent. And I can't wait for the world to really start to experience more of James, right? So...

What are some of the other, like what brought you into entertainment? Like was that because someone was inspiring to you? Is that because it was just always inside of you? Like what put you on this path and do you feel like you're living your purpose? You know, it's so funny that you say that the first thing that flashed in my mind was I just remember growing up as like this really reserved guy, not being able to

Timothy Coleman (10:09.61)
really voice who I was and be the best version of myself. Because I just remember being this kid being bullied. It was so wrong. You know, it was just so skinny and so abusable. But I just remember, you know, has so much spirit. But looking back at that, as you just said, that it really reminded me of how sometimes replaced in different scenarios where they.

can be seeds to kind of break your spirit. You're not really in your truth. And I remember I had to take this night school class and it was full of like 40 people per class. And I remember this teacher in particular, Ms. Johnson, who was just like, God bless you, sexual chocolate. She was this beautiful brown skin, gorgeous woman. She was, Mrs. Jones was her name, Mrs. Jones. And I could see why they say, I used to sing to that song, that song to them. Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones.

Timothy Coleman (11:10.978)
What is that? Mrs. Jones was so gorgeous, but just for the fun of it, she just was so encouraging. I just remember it was an English class I had to repeat. There was a lot of writing involved and she was so inspirational and making sure that I always read whatever project that I had to write first. And I just remember I felt comfortable because I got a chance to really write comedy, which is really my heart. So I got a chance to be funny. And I just remember.

It was the first chance that I kind of got a glimpse into that side of my personality of like controlling a crowd, you know, and being funny and being engaging. And I was like, who is this person? And it was funny because I almost go write a script on it. I remember going to my regular school and not being popular, but going to night school and having this whole personality of popularity. And my friend was like, who are you? It's duality. I'm just like...

They didn't know who I was. They didn't know I could have been a loser or whatever in my school, which I was. But in this night school, from what, being so funny and being able to kind of be like accepted and loved for my brain and my ideas, just really being on. And I remember I couldn't turn myself on like that in every environment. It was just right there, I was able to do that flash of just like that class. And I remember going through cycles where I couldn't turn that back on. And I think.

That was just a glimpse to me of just what I feel the higher power of God just was just introducing me into of like, these are all the tools that you kind of have to go to grow, to learn how to be able to be, you know, manage to do these things. But it was kind of going into the future. Just being, you know, in that class and just having that laughter, it kind of just like bit me, you know, like not as a class clown, but endeared as a

class writer with other writers, you know, was very encouraging for me. So I think that kind of set the path for me to kind of really want to be around and amongst other creators. And even in searching to find that in those paths, having great amazing mentors to help inspire me to be able to get to those skills. So I'm very grateful. You just said that just gave me that flash. No, that's really powerful.

Timothy Coleman (13:32.97)
going through these stages of like becoming. And I think that was the first stage of getting a glimpse of becoming into the role of writer, Mr. Financier, creator, and just path. It takes, as you know, a fellow creator yourself. It is definitely a path. That's absolutely right. I don't know if it's a path that I necessarily chose on my own. It's not one you wish on people.

We don't choose that. It's a hard life. It's a hard not life. It is a hard not life. That's absolutely right. I mean, but you know what? I think for anybody who is searching for their reason, searching for their purpose, searching for their innermost passion that's gonna last for the rest of their time and live on beyond them, because I think a lot of the things that we choose to do and we wind up doing in life, we don't know the ripple effects.

of all of those things, right? Which is what takes me back to Pretzel Boy in that, you know, that has the absolute vibe and potential to affect generations of people, right? And I think that in and of itself makes the birthing process even that much more fun. Well, fun and hard. Yeah.

Birth ain't never easy for nobody. I saw my mama. That's right. Listen, it ain't never been promised. Nothing worth it is ever easy, right? That's right. Nothing that's worth it is ever going to be easy. I love that you're saying that. Thank you for even saying that. Because I feel like, you know, I think until you really go through those type of growing pains, you really don't understand the depth of the gratitude that one needs to be able to have the.

capacity to hold those things. I think, you know, so caught up in ego. I'm joking right now, you know, talking about how hard it is, but you know, there's lessons and I think there's seeds, you know, find the seeds, you know, in those, when in the heart, there are seeds, you know, you find them and you refine you, and you're on to the next. So, you know, even in that, I tried to even add some of those elements, even in the stories of a principle and extending it.

Timothy Coleman (15:50.67)
and having the amazing opportunity to turn it with a really good friend of mine, Karen Skybow, amazing talent who helped me co-write the animated series and really just the inspiration of wanting to capture a animated comedy series, that was important to me. I'm looking at some, I'm not trying to down anybody's,

Timothy Coleman (16:20.566)
creative artistic process, but there's so many things that tend to just blur. I just feel like everything just is so blurred. Yeah. So, you know, Listen, I mean, I think that's a very fair statement, right? We've been inundated with a thousand streaming stations that all have full rosters of content. Everything is not going to be good. I mean, it really was a matter of, it took seven hard, long years to get to a point where we could get it to, you know,

you know, animation doesn't happen overnight. Having amazing mentorships from huge production companies, these things that go into it, people have no idea. So, you know, to create an animation of this size, it is definitely one that I could say is probably maybe one of the biggest but hardest things I've ever had to do, but maybe one of the most rewarding creative-wise. So, it's so rich. I can't wait for people to see it. You've got a little glimpse of it, Tim.

but I just really can't wait for people to see the finished best polished product. I think it really would be such a treat for people right now. I love it, I love it. So, all right, so we have plenty of things to expect from you. We know that you're multi-talented. Give us your website address again. It is theadventuresofprezzyboy.com. I'm sorry, it's so long.

Timothy Coleman (17:51.354)
Uh, pretty hard to abbreviate it quickly. Um, but yeah, just, uh, you can Google that or can Google Mr. Finacy, uh, P H I N I Z Y. And, uh, just really go and, uh, get it, get a, your hands on the book. If you're a librarian, if you are a teacher, if you are a parent, you are a gunkle uncle, auntie, uh, whoever you are, I don't know somebody's nanogramma. Come on.

kid who you love or you were the kid. I don't care. It's for kids of all ages. Get yourself a copy of the book. I guarantee you are going to just love it. It is a really fun tale for all. I think so. Maybe Tim will tell you.

He can say but I think it's a fun tale for all listen. I think it's gonna be amazing I think it's gonna be well received you might get a couple of emails from the usher board, but I think everybody is really Right no, these are the kids they love to pinch So as you think about your legacy, right and you've just given some amazing prophetic vision and I pray blessings and prosperity upon you

Like just showered to the point where you got to put on a shower cap with it. All right. Um, but when you see that, amen. So when you get to the part where you think about your own legacy. Right. And, and even though you're building it and living it and the plane is still flying already, because there's already all these other things that you've already done as you think about that legacy, what is it that you want to leave people, um, that you want to leave people with that you want people to.

speak about you once you've transitioned. What does that look like your life's work?

Timothy Coleman (19:33.566)
I think the reoccurring thing that I want to hear, I would like to do from just working with people to saying, yeah, I think that's what I want to hear, is people just saying, you inspired me, James, to do bop bop. I don't know what bop is. It could be different things for different people. That's right. But it inspired you to move, take action, and some form of value in yourself that you

shifted, thought different, moved different. If I managed to do that, I would have won, right? So it's the power of influence to inspire someone to kind of just turn that inward and see like, you know, God created you to be the individual that you are, your work to do, in that work of tuning into whatever that is, because it's different for different people.

I just want to say thank you, Tim. You have been such an inspiration to me, just always in energy and love and leadership. What you do for the Bronx. People don't know what you do. I don't think people enough people know what you do. And it's like always the leaders who do the most that don't get the most recognition. And I just want to say, I see you, I thank you for what you do for the Bronx. We have a lot of work to do together for the Bronx. So I'm going to be tapping on you. That's right. Listen,

Because I want to see the Bronx in a better place. I don't feel like that's that right now in a certain economy and I feel Like there are people who are of influence who could do more So we need to be tapping on the shoulders, you know We need to be able to create a place in a space of a borough that we could take pride in and There's so many things going on that I'm just really not happy with just the a lot of the youth You know really these robberies, you know

I have to tell you, if they had more engaging things to do that were positive, the story would be different. So definitely get the book, definitely become a fan. Please like and follow everything that James is doing so that you can be amongst the first that see when everything comes to life. I love being this.

Timothy Coleman (21:52.802)
far in advance of the full vision coming out for everybody else. Like you have no idea how amazing it's going to be. I'm so excited. Thank you so much for joining us again here at the Colors of Sound podcast. You can check us out on our website at WDON1204.com. You can also hear our podcast on all of the major stations. So we thank you for your support. Thank you for listening. And we wish you well.