Sid Burston is an executive producer, writer, and director of independent films, television series, stage plays, novels, and original music. As a writer of stage plays, novels, films and television series, he defines himself a producer of transmedia entertainment. Sid, during his tenure at Westfield State College, had no interest in the world of entertainment. Entrepreneurial from the age of nine years old, his vision was that of starting a communications consulting business and utilizing revenues from such a venture to support a nonprofit that served multiple-risk youth. Using earnings from the two full-time jobs that were integrated into his life, he entered the world of business by utilizing the premise that multiple income streams is the only strategy that will provide income security in a probabilistic universe. As a result, his entrepreneurial efforts included buying luxury cars at auctions for re-sell in the pre-owned car market, establishing a retail clothing store, assembling a team to provide home theaters to persons of moderate income through Home Theaters For Less, seeking patents on several of his original inventions, and other entrepreneurial efforts. In 1992, Sid established Burston and Burston Enterprises which he subsequently renamed FalkonQwest Productions. This company focused on communications consulting which included writing and producing voice-overs, ghostwriting books and articles and other efforts. In October, 1992, Sid, as a family joke, showed up for the open audition of his stepson Maxie Collier’s film, Mind Games and, to his surprise and the surprise of Maxie, was cast in the lead role. Applying the same vigor to the world of entertainment that he had used with his other entrepreneurial efforts, Sid, despite extreme accolades for the quality of his performances, quickly transitioned from actor to writer and executive producer. Stage Since this accidental entry into the world of entertainment, his accomplishments have been many. He has written, executive produced, directed, and starred in, and toured the following stage plays: Calling All Saints (1998); Lord Holler If You Hear Me (1999); Woman at the Well I and Woman at the Well II (2000); Diary of a Drunk Man’s Dream (2000); Thrill (2001); Out of Darkness (2001); Get Thee Behind Me: The Stage play (2002); Street Soldiers (2003); Pimp: Even Players Must Praise Him (2006). In addition to producing the above stage plays, Sid wrote and arranged the original music for all of the above stage plays except Calling All Saints. (Producer and composer, Daz Patterson wrote and arranged the music for Calling All Saints). Films In 1997, Sid wrote, directed, and executive produced his first independent film, Elusive Behavior, a mystery that captures the extreme measures taken by a psychic mother to avenge the accidental death of her psychic daughter by her psychic boyfriend. In 2004, he wrote, directed, and executive produced the film version of Get Thee Behind Me. In 2005, he also wrote, co-directed, and co- produced The Deposition, the story of a law firm that adopts unusual measures to ensure that they win their civil suits. In 2006, he also produced for video distribution the stage play, PIMP: Even Players Must Praise Him starring the late Rodney King in his first and only acting debut. In late 2006, Sid wrote, directed, and co-executive produced the film Road to Damascus. Road to Damascus examines an ex-R&B singer turned pastor’s choices and the consequences of these decisions. Television Sid now produces for independent television network, PunchTV. His first PunchTV original was a TV series based upon the stage play, Get Thee Behind Me. Get Thee Behind Me is in pre-production for its second season. Combining elements of The Sopranos, Glee, and Touched By An Angel, Get Thee Behind Me chronicles a group of Harvard-educated gangsters efforts to consolidate their power and wealth as they also seek redemption. Most recently, Sid also co-executive produced and directed a new series, EROS: True Stories of True Love. Consisting of mini-series, the first installment, EROS Emmanuel and Me, is the true story of true love between a 30 year old businessman who marries a woman 65 years of age. Songwriting In addition to his stageplays, independent films and television series, Sid is an extraordinary composer. His first album of original gospel music was Get Thee Behind Me, Vol. 1. His second album, Get Thee Behind Me Vol. II, is a composite of the original R&B, blues, folk music and gospel music written by Sid and others for the television series. His third album EROS, Vol. 1 is a collection of love songs written by himself and others. In 2004, he introduced the concept of Moviebooks. Thus, for each of his independent films, he co-wrote a novel. Novels written by Sid and his wife include: 24-7 (Holloway House Publishing, 1994), Get Thee Behind Me: The Novel (FalkonQwest Publishing, 2004), The Deposition: The Novel (2004), Get Thee Behind Me, Vol. II (2011) based on the TV series, and Joshua’s Harvest: The Novel (Porch Reed Publishing, 2011) written with his wife Betty, and his stepson Maxie. In addition to these activities, Sid has continued his work as a communications consultant. His group of consultants have written and produced public service announcements and bilingual recruitment materials for numerous nonprofit organizations including Texas College, Mississippi Valley State University, Morgan State University School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Care Center and others. FalkonQwest has been acknowledged for its efforts in the area of health care edutainment. By using trained actors and storylines, Sid has managed to make dull health education topics less dull. Hypertension Lesson 1 was co-produced by Mr. Ross Jordan of Edit Your Video.) FalkonQwest Publishing has published health care books such as Health Disparities? Not in My Community edited by Dr. Yvonne Maddox and From Health Care Nurse to Nursing Supervisor by Dr. Christiana Osuagwu. Through a staff of statisticians, data analysts, and IT specialists, FalkonQwest, under subcontract to another firm, performed statistical analysis and wrote statistical reports for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid from 2007-2009. FalkonQwest has performed communication consulting duties for many other firms. Acting Although Sid considers acting as a “hobby” rather than an occupation and uses it primarily as a tool for identifying extremely qualified talent for his own projects.
