July 30, 2019

The Artist’s Corner is a new weekly feature of the Addiction/Recovery eBulletin. We send our participants forty questions and ask them to choose twenty they would like to answer. It includes a short profile and a link to their website. We hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Addiction/Recovery eBulletin or its staff.

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PROFILE

Born and raised in NYC, Johnny Sweet graduated from Syracuse University in 2003. He was an Emmy Award winning feature producer at ESPN for 10 years, primarily covering the NBA and the NFL. In 2016 Sweet directed his first film, “Vick” which won the Associated Press Sports Editor Award for journalism. His second film, “Quiet Storm,” a documentary about the life of Ron Artest was released on Showtime in May of 2019. 

Company website (Only Child Productions):
https://www.ocp-productions.com/

Quiet Storm: The Ron Artest Story will be shown at the upcoming Reel Recovery Film Festival & Symposium in Los Angeles, October 11-17 and in New York, November 1-7.  For more info on the film festival  www.reelrecoveryfilmfestival.org  

Q. If you are in recovery, what was your Drug of Choice and when did you discontinue its use?
A. I’m not in recovery. Haven’t been. 

Q. Have you ever been arrested and, if so, what for?
A. I’ve never been arrested. 

Q. At which classes or workshops did you learn the most?
A. When it comes to my field being thrown into the fire at ESPN for 10 years was the best on the job education I could have ever asked for. 

Q. Do you believe artists are made or born?
A. In my very subjective opinion they’re born through experience.

Q. Which film have you watched the most?
A. Don’t laugh at me too much…but Aliens lol. Was my favorite movie as a kid. 

Q. Who is your favorite celebrity in recovery?
A. Well he’s been in and out of recovery for decades. He was recently arrested for back-to-back DUI’s. I hope he gets his life together soon. Doc Gooden. 

Q. Who is your favorite: Film Director?
A. Martin Scorsese 

Q. Who would play you in the movie of your life?
A.  Hopefully not Fred Savage

Q. What prominent fe/male figure would you most like to date?
A. I’m marrying her on April 25, 2020.

Q. If you were giving a dinner party for your 3 favorite authors, living or dead, who would they be? (you can choose 4 if you think one might be too drunk or stoned to attend.
A. Rick Atkinson, John Keegan and William Shirer

Q. What’s your favorite radio show or Podcast?
A. Drink Champs 

Q. What is your favorite: TV/cable/digital series?
A. The Wire

Q. What is your favorite: App?
A. Not Slack

Q. Who is your favorite novelist?
A. As a kid it was Tom Clancy. I don’t read fiction much. 

Q. What books are you reading now?
A. Colonel Roosevelt by Edmund Morris

Q. What is your favorite: Non-fiction book genre?
A. Napoleonic Era

Q. What is your favorite: Website?
A. NYTimes.com

Q. What is your favorite: Band/composer/musical artist?
A. DMX

Q. What is your favorite: Broadway musical/play?
A. I can’t stand musicals lol. Sorry. 

Q. What is your favorite album of all time?
A. Legal Drug Money by The Lost Boyz

Q. What is your favorite concert venue?
A. Madison Square Garden

Q. What is your favorite: Psychology or school of thought as related to psychology?
A. No clue

Q. Who is your favorite: Activist or Politician?
A. Don’t have one

Q. What is your favorite: Museum?
A. Musee D’Orsay in Paris

Q. What is your favorite:  Cuisine?
A. Seafood

Q. What is your favorite: Restaurant?
A. Don’t have one

Q. What is your favorite: City?
A. NYC

Q. Would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, mountaintop, or penthouse?
A. Ocean

Q. What is your favorite hotel or resort?
A. Any place that gives me Marriott points haha

Q. Where do you go to ‘get away”?
A. A local coffee shop

Q. Do you have any children? Grandchildren?
A. Nope

Q. What is your biggest or littlest pet peeve?
A. Too many to go through

Q. How do you measure success?
A. Viewership and/or journalistic impact whether it’s positive or negative

Q. If you had an extra million dollars, which charity would you donate it to?
A. Tough one…too many. 

Q. Who was the biggest influence in your life?
A. Mom

Q. What is your current hobby?
A. Running

Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
A. If you’re not passionate about it don’t do it if you don’t have to. 

Q. Do you think addiction is an illness, a disease, a choice, or a wicked twist of fate?
A. Disease

Q. What are five things you always carry with you?
A. Wallet, keys, phone, headphones and a book. 

Q. What’s the greatest risk you’ve ever taken?
A. Moving back to NYC

Q. What is the proudest moment in your life?
A. My fiancé saying yes when I proposed.