Stickman tells the story of Roosevelt Wilkerson; an African American man who falters in life, serves time in prison, and finds himself homeless and destitute on the streets of Dallas Texas.  Roosevelt channels his despair and rage into whittling with a knife into pieces of wood and begins to develop a unique artistic style.  The film traces Roosevelt’s journey from the streets,  through a series of fortuitous encounters with strangers who become his friends, champions, and benefactors, till he is able to earn enough to get his own home.  The journey begins with an unlikely friendship with an art enthusiast, Carol Brewer, who involves him in an art program for the homeless.  Soon, Susan Nowlin, a Texas socialite and friend of former president George W. and Laura Bush, notices his work and becomes his benefactor.  She helps him sell his hand-carved sticks and they become sought-after pieces of art.  One is acquired by then Texas governor George W. Bush, who eventually presents one of Roosevelt’s carved sticks to Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. Stickman incorporates themes of race and social disparity and shows that love and friendship can transcend these divides for the greater good in both personal and global spheres.

In making Stickman, I wanted the audience to have two main take-aways: One, that by reaching out to Roosevelt, Carol and Susan not only improved Roosevelt’s life, but expanded and improved their own lives in deep and meaningful ways as well.  Two, that given the right opportunity and support, people can change and transform themselves for the better.