Tender is the Knight | Becoming a Man
Tender is the Knight: A Journal Into Manhood is a cinematic poetry piece exploring what it means to be a man in a changing world.
Son of the Valley and LA-based actor, Kev Martinez blends his creativity and passion for film with an entrepreneurial mindset by turning his ideas into independent productions. But no film is created without a great producer at the helm to turn a creator’s imagination into reality.
Enter director and producer — Ki-Jana Marquis.
Ki-Jana brings his experience from wearing multiple hats on film sets — as a director, producer, writer, actor, and editor. He’s made his home on set as the director, using his bird’s eye perspective and leadership skills to make things happen.
Kev met Ki-Jana through a mutual friend in 2017 and the two have collaborated on several projects since, such as Twisted and Alleged Proof.
Their partnership blossomed as both decided to build a production company, Celestial Blood Productions — to provide emerging artists with alternative pathways to create and collaborate on their endeavors.
In their latest production, Tender is the Knight, this partnership is at the heart of the creative vision and production process.
Both have their part in telling this story of self-discovery and manhood.
∘ Their Collaboration
∘ Inspiration Behind Tender
∘ The Vision — On Personal Authenticity
∘ On Being a Man
∘ The Format
∘ Organizing the Shoot — Building a Team
∘ The Most Interesting Part of the Production
∘ What’s Next?
∘ Production Crew & Cast
A Balanced Collaboration
Tender has been just as much a logistics experiment as a creative one. In this production, Kev was both a creative and producer and got to delegate certain tasks to others. Working with others, he realized that to collaborate in harmony, you have to understand what your position is among the others with you. Within this ensemble, Kev is glad he gets to focus on the creative aspects of the project as Ki-Jana handles the logistics.
The duo’s partnership allows them to balance each other’s focuses as Kev has a voice of reason to ground his artistic side and Ki-Jana has a creative mind to help solidify an artistic vision for the production process. Where Kev is fast and furious, Ki-Jana is slow and steady — both laughingly say.
The Inspiration Behind Tender is the Knight
There were several motivations for the duo to create this project. On the production side, Ki-Jana wanted to build out a “lightweight” production model that used less time and resources to complete a project. By perfecting this model, he seeks to execute his long-term vision of expanding his project portfolio and the variety of projects he can have going at any one time.
On the creative side, Kev wanted to fill in the time between acting projects, which would either be packed with auditions or creating his content. To “always stay in motion,” he wanted to bring his love of acting and passion for poetry together in a uniquely personal project.
Though the original plan was just to have the two of them, more people joined the project along its progression. As Ki-Jana says:
If you take one step toward God,
He will take two steps toward you.
The Vision — On Personal Authenticity
At the start, the duo intended to reach out to people in an artistic, novel, and authentic way that’s different from what they would be used to.
Tender is largely informed by Kev’s life experiences and his urge to share them. While working on the project, he pulls from his experience of living in the Philippines and being in his 20s. Throughout his life, he recalls making impulsive decisions and the consequences that came from them. Whether they were good or bad, he made an effort to learn from them and become more self-aware and reflective in the process. He learned to question himself on his motives before diving into something. By learning to ask what he wanted, he became less impulsive.
Through Tender is the Knight, he wants viewers to be more open and accepting of questioning themselves and their motives. Even though Kev is young, he wants to endow some wisdom on maturity and self-awareness from his learned experience to younger people. He wants boys to reflect on his content and message that being a man is something they can define through their vision of living an authentic life.
The interesting aspect is that as Tender episodes are released, he’s noticed that his message resonates with older cohorts, such as those in their early 30s. Though not what he intended, he realizes his work and the exploration of being a man is a timeless theme and means different things at the different stages of a person’s life.
And…On Being a Man
Thematically, Tender asks viewers to be open to introspection by questioning themselves and their motives to create lives that are true to their intentions.
Kev feels that in this cultural moment, the trends of technology and society have made everything very convenient to people. He states:
We can get food with the press of a button. We can get things delivered to us, we don’t have to shop anymore. We are losing touch with ourselves. And I’m hoping to ground some people by having them question their intentions.
Ki-Jana views this project’s emphasis on self-exploration as an opportunity to tell a message about becoming a man. As he directed each episode, he felt the theme emerge organically and take center stage in Tender’s narrative.
He believes that becoming a man is a seemingly controversial topic and that “it’s like people are afraid to say they are a man…it’s taboo almost.” A large part of his discussion with Kev about the project is about the meaning of manhood and what they want to say about it. He wants people to find out what it means to be a man and not be afraid to call themselves men.
He also views Tender is the Knight as a way to inspire people creatively, especially if they don’t have all the resources they need. To him, the creative process is a journey that one can start no matter where they are at.
The Format
Tender’s format became a five-episode miniseries. Kev and Ki-Jana were inspired by the Avatar: The Last Airbender TV show, where each season is dedicated to a certain element, and the final season is a combination of the previous elements.
This inspiration is reflected in the titles of the first 3 episodes, “Friction,” “Animal,” and “Impulse” and how the 5th episode would unify themes from the preceding episodes. Titled “Shadow King,” the fifth episode would serve as a cathartic ending to this experiment in cinematic poetry.
From a production standpoint, Ki-Jana felt the miniseries format would be the right length and would be easy to produce for a one-season run. There would be a balance of content to tell a full story. As each episode lasted no more than a few minutes, the format would make it easier to promote on Instagram and Facebook and to publish on YouTube.
Organizing the Shoot — Building a Team
When it comes to setting up and sustaining your production, it’s a full-time job masquerading as a side hustle. Both Ki-Jana and Kev have full-time day jobs to fund their productions, so it’s a labor of love and personal sacrifice to build each production from the ground up.
Like many artists and actors, it’s often a struggle to balance your job, finances, and creative pursuits all while living in L.A. Both have made sacrifices in sleep and time to do their projects. Ki-Jana has been known to thrive off of little sleep and to simplify his diet, often eating only apples on shoot days.
The two attribute their successes to their constant communication and managing schedules and logistics across multiple people. While it is difficult to get done, it’s made better by working with people who “want it” and have the drive to see the project finished. It boils down to time management, discipline, sacrifice for your passion,….and the logistics of working with 12 people.
When working with so many people, Ki-Jana leads the charge by acting as director and project manager for the whole thing. Ki-Jana enjoys leading teams and delegating to people, based on their strengths and passions. He finds that by doing so, he creates a well-balanced team that meets the needs of the full production. He believes that this approach motivates a person to become better at what they enjoy and continually keeps them contributing — key for a multi-part project.
Tender is the Knight’s first episode started off with 4 people and ballooned to 14 cast and crew by the fifth episode. The amount of behind-the-scenes preparation increased too, as it took 4 weeks of training with 2 fight coordinators to complete the last episode.
The Most Interesting Part of the Production
Kev and Ki-Jana both find the preparation for and the production of the fight scene in episode five a memorable experience. The fight scene is the final scene in episode five and acts as the capstone of the series.
Evolving in complexity, the fight scene eventually required the involvement of 2 fight coordinators (Savaje Davis and Kyle Aaron) to create a more intricate sequence. In total, it took a full crew and 4 weeks of practice and rehearsal to make it happen.
It also presented Kev with a physical challenge to build upon his martial arts background and to level up his skillset to more advanced fight choreography.
Though the duo had prior fight scene experience, Ki-Jana enjoyed directing the scene by providing the actors with direction and observing their swift progress. Coupled with instruction from Savaje and Kyle and practice off the set, the team produced a professional quality fight scene. Ki-Jana notes the quality of instruction from the fight coordinators and their part in evolving the scene’s concept made for a great sequence on finale day.
For Kev, the most interesting aspect was between himself and others on the team. He’s enjoyed seeing others grow as creatives and artists, becoming more confident in their work and skills. He also finds it very fulfilling to facilitate the growing camaraderie among the people on set and on the project.
Both Kev and Ki-Jana look forward to seeing the impact of their collaboration and that of the cast and crew as Tender of the Knight releases.
Ways to Develop Your Inner Potential
1. Take up exercise, a hobby, or a sport to challenge yourself.
Vigorous activity will help you develop your strength, physique, and mind-body connection, along with your confidence. As human beings, we have a physicality and thrive on a sense of momentum — both physically and mentally. Plus, regular exercise promotes positive changes in the brain.
2. Meditate and journal regularly.
Consistent meditation, especially at the start of the day, is a great way to promote mindfulness, a clear mind, and a sense of positivity. A meditation session can be as long as you like — from a few minutes to an hour or more.
Writing in a journal helps get your thoughts on paper, clearing your mind and developing your introspective side. Growing your introspective side is key to becoming more self-aware and It can help bring structure to your thoughts and expand your perspective on complex questions and life. When faced with difficult problems, it is a great tool to turn to when you want to catalog and work through your thoughts.
3. Do something competitive.
Being in a competitive mindset can make you more focused on your pursuits and willing to bring your A-game. You become more likely to set a higher standard for yourself and to develop into a sharper, better version of yourself. Whether it’s in a hobby, work, or sports, competition creates bonds among people and inspires them around shared goals. However, being competitive shouldn’t come at the expense of your well-being.
Consider these tips and try them out for yourself. Experience leads to self-knowledge. If you are consistent with what works for you, you’ll find a better version of yourself waiting for you not too far away in the future.
What’s Next?
Kev and Ki-Jana continue to collaborate on several upcoming projects, including a short episodic series made for TikTok. They continue to release episodes of Tender is the Knight and will resume after the holidays.
Production Crew & Cast
Tender is the Knight wouldn’t have happened without the contributions and time of all these great people:
- Noel Duer — Composer (Eps. 1 & 2)
- Neale Petilla — Lighting Lead
- Schuyler Noble — Actor
- Savaje (“Sav”) Davis — Fight Coordinator
- Kyle Aaron — Fight Coordinator
- Brijen Patel — Location Scout & Drone/BTS Photographer
- Monique Hernandez — BTS Photographer
- Micah (“Running Wolf”) Lewis — DP (Episode 5)
The writer took part in the Tender is the Knight production as a location scout, BTS photographer, and drone photographer. If interested in these services for the LA area, feel free to contact me.
