DiSC Plus: They Survived a Tornado, Defied the Odds, and Made a Movie: Inside the Making of 'Varcity Life'

Overview: The making of Varcity Life highlights the resilience of St. Louis independent filmmaking collective Teamwood Films, who survived natural disasters, budget hurdles, and decades in underground hip-hop to produce an authentic homegrown crime comedy. Directed by W. DOT alongside Donald Tarkington III and Shannon “Honiee” Hicks, the project champions self-reliant Black cinema without waiting for Hollywood validation.

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Hip-Hop Roots, Tornado Survival, and Unfiltered Independence: How Teamwood Films Built a Homegrown St. Louis Cinematic Universe

An exclusive conversation with W. DOT, Donald Tarkington III, and Shannon “Honiee” Hicks reveals how decades of friendship, hip-hop, independent filmmaking, and an unbreakable commitment to storytelling helped create a homegrown St. Louis cinematic universe.

ST. LOUIS, MO — What happens when decades of friendship, underground hip-hop, and a shared passion for storytelling collide? For the creative minds behind Teamwood Films, the answer is Varcity Life: A Thief’s Theme – The Ballad of Joe, an independent crime comedy that places St. Louis front and center while introducing audiences to a world filled with questionable loyalties, colorful personalities, unexpected humor, and characters whose pasts refuse to stay buried.

During an exclusive interview on Pull Up The Curtain With G Souldier, I sat down with writer, director, actor, and Teamwood Films co-founder Doran Ruhl, professionally known as W. DOT; producer, actor, and assistant director Donald Tarkington III, who portrays Donny Nevada; and Shannon “Honiee” Hicks,a singer, songwriter, actress, media personality, and co-writer of the film who portrays “Tammi Smalls.”

What unfolded was more than a conversation about an upcoming movie. It was a discussion about friendship, the evolution of St. Louis hip-hop, creative independence, the importance of authentic representation, and the determination required to build something meaningful without waiting for Hollywood’s permission.

From Underground Hip-Hop to Independent Cinema

Long before Teamwood Films began bringing stories to the screen, its creative foundation was being established through music.

The group’s history traces back to Track Vandals, a St. Louis underground hip-hop collective founded in 1994. Those early years helped cultivate relationships that would eventually evolve into a filmmaking partnership.

When I asked W. DOT and Tarkington to reflect on the St. Louis underground hip-hop scene and how those experiences shaped them as filmmakers, both spoke about a time when music represented far more than entertainment.

“A lot of the scene stayed the same, we got older together but everybody still remained active,” W. DOT explained. “It kept us moving and something to accomplish. We never fell out of the work made, that’s how hip hop helped us.”

For Tarkington, the memories immediately brought him back to two recognizable St. Louis establishments.

“When we kicked it back in the days at Blueberry Hill or Hi-Pointe Cafe, that was like our 8 Mile,” he recalled. “That was the best of times.”

Those memories speak to a period when local artists were developing their identities, sharpening their skills, and establishing creative relationships long before social media became an essential promotional tool.

W. DOT’s personal journey began in North St. Louis. His interest in filmmaking developed further through film history and theory courses at St. Louis Community College–Meramec.

Alongside longtime friends Tarkington and Jaren Crawford, he helped establish Teamwood Films, an independent filmmaking collective operating under Teamwood Farms LLC, which was established in 2013.

The company premiered its first feature film, Pill, at Chase Park Plaza in 2017. Nearly a decade later, Teamwood is returning to that same venue with its most ambitious feature to date.

Brotherhood, Communication, and Finding Your Tribe

Independent filmmaking can test even the strongest relationships. When budgets are limited and responsibilities overlap, friendships can quickly become strained by the demands of production.

I asked the group what decades of independent creativity had taught them about loyalty, friendship, and conducting business with people they know personally.

For Honiee, success begins with surrounding yourself with the right individuals.

“It’s the relationships you build. When you find like-minded people who have the same spirit that you do. It’s a matter of family and finding your tribe,” she explained.

Tarkington emphasized that friendship alone isn’t enough to keep a production functioning.

“The biggest thing we have to work on is our communication,” he said. “Wearing multiple hats, we have to keep working together and holding each other accountable. There are no egos involved.”

That philosophy became particularly important during the production of Varcity Life, where the creative team handled numerous responsibilities typically distributed among much larger crews.

Tarkington’s contributions extended well beyond producing and acting. His responsibilities included assistant directing, camera operation, lighting, sound, scheduling, securing locations, coordinating rehearsals, and managing cast and crew logistics.

His decades of management and logistics experience became an important asset in keeping the production moving.

And independent filmmaking sometimes comes with unexpected physical consequences. According to the production notes, Tarkington suffered two pulled hamstrings while filming a scene involving his character running after a robbery.

Apparently, the commitment to getting the shot came with a very real price.

Meet Joey Pockets: A Thief Who Wants to Be Somebody

At the center of Varcity Life is Joe “Joey Pockets,” a former professional thief who believes his criminal past is behind him. Unfortunately, old relationships, new enemies, and unfinished business have other plans.

While the premise may sound like a traditional crime drama, W. DOT revealed that the inspiration behind his character is rooted in something much more personal: the expectations society places on middle-aged men.

“I based the character off of a middle-aged Black man,” he explained during our conversation.

“When you get to your middle age a lot of people in life don’t expect anything from you, they expect you to just work, go to happy hour and go home.”

He continued by raising an interesting question about identity and ambition.

“So what happens when a guy isn’t who you thought he was? It’s about whether you are OK with settling. My character wants to be important. He wants to be a master thief but he is not good at it at all.”

That final revelation offers insight into the film’s comedic foundation.

Joey Pockets isn’t necessarily the criminal mastermind he imagines himself to be. He’s a man searching for significance, attempting to reclaim a version of himself that may never have existed quite the way he remembers.

For W. DOT, who wrote, directed, and stars in the film, portraying Joey came naturally because of the character’s similarities to his own personality.

When I asked which of his three responsibilities presented the greatest challenge, his answer wasn’t what I expected.

“Directing it was easy. I based it so much on myself personality-wise so it wasn’t hard to play me,” he said.

The real challenge came afterward.

“I say the hardest part is choosing what you can’t use. The cutting room floor as they call it, cutting footage that I couldn’t use.”

It’s a familiar dilemma for filmmakers: sometimes the most difficult creative decision isn’t determining what belongs in a movie, but accepting what must be left out.

Honiee Brings an Authentic Female Perspective to the Screenplay

One of the most interesting revelations from our conversation involved Honiee’s contributions as a co-writer.

Beyond portraying Tammi Smalls, Hicks helped shape the film’s female characters, bringing an additional perspective to their dialogue, motivations, and overall development.

When I asked what she specifically contributed to the screenplay, she explained that W. DOT already had a strong understanding of the characters he wanted to create.

“I brought the elements of a female. So I changed dialogue to what a woman would really say,” she explained.

“I have to give the elements of a woman’s side and point of view and creatively draw stories so that we can branch off and do other projects with this particular film.”

Her involvement helped create opportunities for stories that extend beyond Joey Pockets and the events of the first movie.

Honiee’s creative background spans music, radio, theater, film, songwriting, scriptwriting, and podcasting. Through HonieePot Entertainment, she also became part of the larger production collaboration, which includes Teamwood Films and KaeRah Entertainment.

The film’s director of photography, Derrick Phillips of KaeRah Entertainment, helped establish its visual identity through authentic St. Louis settings and atmosphere.

Meet the Smalls Sisters: Fierce Women With a Family Secret

While The Ballad of Joe introduces audiences to Joey Pockets, the women surrounding him have their own stories to tell.

Honiee portrays Tammi Smalls, alongside Shauntay Manning as Billie Smalls.

When I asked about Tammi’s background and what audiences should watch for, Honiee revealed that the Smalls family has an intriguing history.

“We are all named after female singers,” she explained. “Our dad is a big-time street hustler and con man. He has taught all three of us the game.”

That family history is significant because the Smalls sisters aren’t simply supporting characters created to move Joey’s storyline forward. Their experiences and relationships are designed to introduce audiences to a much larger narrative.

“We are dropping so many Easter eggs in this movie,” Honiee revealed. “The film coming after this will center around the sisters.”

She also made it clear that audiences should pay close attention to the women throughout the film.

“The women in this film are fierce. I hope they pay attention to the Easter eggs because that’s going to take you into another world.”

For viewers who enjoy interconnected storytelling, those details could make a second viewing especially interesting.

A St. Louis Cast Bringing Familiar Faces to the Screen

Another distinguishing feature of Varcity Life is its ensemble of recognizable St. Louis personalities.

Alongside W. DOT, Tarkington, Honiee, and Shauntay Manning, the cast includes KiKi The 1st Lady as Lorraine, influencer Remrod, John Harrington of Midwest Avengers and Paint Louis, Kendra Holmes of Affinia Healthcare, and DJ Charlie Chan.

When I asked Honiee about the casting process, she revealed that the team relied heavily on existing relationships.

“They were selected because we asked them,” she said.

“W. DOT had in mind who he wanted to play particular characters and we have relationships with all these people that we have known.”

As for which performer surprised her the most, Honiee singled out the actor portraying the film’s antagonist, Cholo Joe, as someone she felt particularly delivered in the role.

That approach to casting reflects Teamwood’s larger philosophy: creating opportunities through community relationships while bringing together people from different areas of St. Louis entertainment.

St. Louis Isn’t the Backdrop. It’s Part of the Story.

For Teamwood Films, authenticity extends beyond the cast.

Varcity Life was filmed throughout real St. Louis neighborhoods and local establishments, including Mack’s Bar & Grill, The Cellar Cigar Lounge, and an old police precinct in Walnut Park.

From Delmar to Walnut Park, the filmmakers intentionally incorporated the city’s streets, businesses, and recognizable atmosphere into the movie’s visual identity.

Rather than using St. Louis as a substitute for another metropolitan area, the production embraces the city as an essential part of its storytelling.

But the filmmakers’ commitment to shooting locally would eventually present an extraordinary challenge.

The Film That Survived the Storm

On May 16, 2025, an EF3 tornado tore through the St. Louis region, devastating neighborhoods and impacting areas connected to the production.

Teamwood’s production footprint along Delmar was affected, creating another major obstacle for a small independent filmmaking team already balancing numerous responsibilities.

After years of developing and producing the film, the team faced the difficult task of recovering and continuing its work.

They rebuilt.

They regrouped.

And filming continued.

What began as an independent crime comedy became another example of the determination required to create art in the face of unexpected adversity.

For Teamwood Films, completing Varcity Life now represents more than reaching the finish line on a movie. It reflects years of commitment to one another and to the stories they believe deserve to be told.

Bigger Than One Movie: The Varcity Life Universe

Perhaps one of the most exciting developments surrounding the production is that The Ballad of Joe is only the beginning.

Teamwood Films is developing an interconnected three-film crime universe, with St. Louis remaining central to its identity.

The project’s tagline perhaps captures that creative direction best:

“No good guys. Everybody has an agenda. Welcome to Varcity Life.”

What Do the Filmmakers Want Audiences to Take Away?

Despite the years of work, the production challenges, and the ambitious plans for future installments, W. DOT’s expectations for the audience are refreshingly straightforward.

When I asked what he hopes people experience when the lights go down at Chase Park Plaza, he emphasized the importance of storytelling and emotional connection.

“I hope they follow the story and get a few great laughs,” he explained.

“And through that adventure they get any kind of emotion that I’m looking for. I consider that a success.”

Honiee echoed those sentiments, while encouraging viewers to look closely at the film’s characters and hidden details.

“I want them to laugh. This movie is funny. I hope they find someone in the film who they see themselves in.”

For a film centered around thieves, complicated relationships, questionable decisions, and characters with their own agendas, perhaps that is what makes Varcity Life especially intriguing.

Beneath the comedy and criminal activity are recognizable human experiences: wanting to feel important, searching for purpose, navigating family relationships, and confronting the consequences of past decisions.