From crafting beats in the music industry to penning dynamic scripts for the screen, Mr. J Jerome DeBose is a true creative force. His latest project, Coach ‘Em Up!, takes storytelling to a whole new level, blending sports, drama, and a unique visual writing style that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. But Coach ‘Em Up! isn’t just another sports story—it’s a bold, unconventional approach to storytelling that challenges expectations and brings characters to life in an unforgettable way. In this exclusive interview with Exposed Vocals, DeBose opens up about his journey from music to writing, the creative challenges he’s faced, and his vision for the future of Coach ‘Em Up! as a potential TV series.
With a background in music production and a passion for visual storytelling, DeBose’s transition into writing was anything but ordinary. What started as a simple acting exercise during a workshop quickly evolved into a full-fledged miniseries concept, proving that inspiration can strike in the most unexpected ways. As he breaks down his creative process, the challenges of shifting from music to screenwriting, and what makes Coach ‘Em Up! stand out, DeBose offers a glimpse into his unique approach to storytelling. Now, in this candid conversation with Exposed Vocals, he shares the journey behind the book, the vision for its future, and why this project is unlike anything readers have seen before.
EXPOSED VOCALS: You’ve been in the music industry for a while. What inspired you to step into the world of scripted storytelling with Coach ‘Em Up!?
MR. J: Simply put… Covid!
Pre-covid I had been attending actors’ workshops, where we’d act out 5- or 6-minute-long scenes from TV shows, movies, and sometimes from our own original scripts, as the instructors would provide feedback on our performance for improvements.
I would sometimes write scenes for myself and others.
I was in the process of writing a 5-minute-long scene for class when covid happened, and our classes were postponed until the epidemic had passed.
As the actors’ workshop classes were on hold, I continued to write, and the story became more captivating as it progressed… So, I kept writing!
Since the epidemic had lasted much longer than expected… the classes never returned, but by then I had written most of the book!
EXPOSED VOCALS: What’s the story behind the story? – What was the original spark that led you to create this TV miniseries concept?
MR. J: When I started the process of writing CEU, it was for a single practice scene.
Since all of my writings were of single scenes (which wasn’t very many since I was fairly new at this)… but that’s what I was used to doing.
Once I got into the story of it all, I noticed that the story had been written into many individual scene sections.
Not knowing what I had, not sure of what to call this stack of individual scenes… thinking to myself, this is some kind of a “fragmented book!” … (Lol)
Surely this can’t be called a ‘novel’… then it slowly became apparent to me that each section, or combining a few sections, could be considered… Episodes!
EXPOSED VOCALS: Writing for television and writing music are two very different creative disciplines. What were the biggest challenges you faced in making this transition?
MR. J: Oh Wow! Yes, a vast difference…
It’s like night and day… up and down… you get the picture, but it does come from the same place, a deep imagination!
I have my small studio at home in a couple of rooms next to each other.
On the right side (door #1), is the music studio… instruments and such.
On the left (door #2), I have video equipment, backdrops, and lighting for shooting my acting audition videos.
Everyone may have a different approach to writing or creating, but for me, when it comes to creating music, I’ve always had to feel the beats and the rhythms first, then build from there.
When it comes to storytelling, I just close my eyes and visualize the scenes as they begin in my mind.
I can visualize the conversations and the actions of the actors!
And as that’s happening, I’m scribbling down the dialogue as fast as I can possibly write!!
I’d misspell words and use stuff that I called my ‘hieroglyphics’ (my personal writing symbols that look like words)… Lol.
Once I have that, I’d go back and decipher the scribbled conversation that I had written, into actual meaningful dialogue!
And like I said before, I still think it’s all derived from the same imagination place in our minds!
For me, switching from a musical discipline to a stage/acting mindset was fairly simple—it’s like choosing what’s behind (door #1) or (door #2)… and then just stepping inside!
EXPOSED VOCALS: Many people might assume Coach ‘Em Up! is purely a sports story. What sets it apart, and what unexpected elements can audiences look forward to?
MR. J: I have always prided myself on being able to think outside of the box, and this project embodies that for sure!!
In high school, I was voted most likely to “Buck the System” … (can you believe that…??)
So needless to say, Me: In finalizing our student yearbook sent to print, I changed the ‘B’ to an ‘F’ … (Lol)
So, I guess that kind of helped prove their point!
Coach ‘Em Up! is a little out of the norm… It’s a very unique reading experience!
The story is written as a pseudo-script with colorful dialogue, that’s a different colored dialogue for each character throughout the script.
The other aspect that seems to be obvious but really isn’t the case… is the name, Coach ‘Em Up!
CEU is not a training manual or a “How-to Book!”
It’s a fictional, professional sports-related, (entertaining AF…) dramatic story!
EXPOSED VOCALS: What themes or messages do you hope to resonate the most with readers and potential viewers?
MR. J: I tell people all the time that I’m very surprised at myself…
I’m the last to ever believe that I would have written this story and turned it into a book!
Previously, I hadn’t read a novel in over 20 years!
I think for the most part, reading those novels was so boring to me!
I believed it to be such a turn-off… Boring-ass black and white pages… hundreds of them too! Lol
So, like many people that find ‘regular’ book reading to be, ‘Blah’… I shied away from reading books as well.
And because of that, there’s another aspect that makes Coach ‘Em Up! a very unique book—it’s the actual writing itself!
The cast of characters is cute, handsome, young, and middle-aged, and they are in the pro football demographics…
So, the story is written in a more modern dialogue with some simple text message similarities added!
So, say ‘No More’ to that visually boring, hard-to-read crap!
EXPOSED VOCALS: Can you walk us through your writing process for Coach ‘Em Up!? Did your experience in music production influence your approach to storytelling?
MR. J: No, not really.
I think I was wearing a different type of creative hat with different thought processes during that time… sorta speak.
As a matter of fact, I actually tried to stay away from any musical ideas to be added or written into any of the storylines as well.
I’ve seen that a lot in TV shows, selling their music and other merch in their programs… I’m not hating on them, that’s their thang…
It’s just, I’m not planning on following in their footsteps!
EXPOSED VOCALS: Is the plan to adapt this book into an actual TV series? If so, what kind of audience do you envision for it?
MR. J: The answer is Yes!!
Haha… I have been torn between the video of the show being shot on set or video of a stage play!
Since setting up the website, it just kind of flowed towards the stage play, so naturally, I just went with the flow!
Here’s a little sample taste of the dope!
https://CEUstageplay.com
EXPOSED VOCALS: What’s next? – Now that you’ve ventured into storytelling, do you see yourself writing more books or TV scripts in the future?
MR. J: I’ve thought about that question!
Will I do it again??
… (Yep, In a freaking heartbeat!) … wink!
So, in closing I’d like to say, “Thank You to Exposed Vocals… You guys have been more than Awesome”!
As our conversation with Mr. J Jerome DeBose comes to a close, one thing is clear—his passion for storytelling is just as powerful as his drive to break creative boundaries. Coach ‘Em Up! isn’t just a book; it’s a fresh, visually engaging experience that challenges the way stories are told. With his eyes set on bringing the project to life on stage or screen, DeBose is proving that innovation in storytelling knows no limits. Whether through music, scriptwriting, or producing, his ability to captivate an audience is undeniable. Stay tuned for what’s next, because if Coach ‘Em Up! is any indication, this is just the beginning.
