Growing Up Normal
2012, 10 minutes
An ex-neo nazi tells the story of why he became a ruthless drug lord and how he came to be a Christain.
This was the first (and only) big project I had the honour of directing at school. I was lucky to have met Mike Roberts a few years earlier and was astounded by his story. He was ruthlessly abused as a child, addicted to drugs and alcohol by the age of 16, had severely attempted suicide multiple times, was in and out of countless institutions throughout his life, and 90% covered in tattoos. He was once an impressionable, young man who found refuge in gang life and eventually made millions in drugs, but was then inevitably busted by Edmonton Police. After getting out on bail, Michael found the boys who would've taken a bullet for him at his doorstep with baseball bats and guns. They beat him half to death and left him for dead. Michael swears God visited him that day and since, has completely changed his life around. Now, Mike speaks to young kids, paints for charity, writes about his life, and reaches out to those in need. This documentary tells his story, examines what changed him, and what he’s doing now to help others like him from making life-changing mistakes.