SOON

“La Familia”

Family life for Jay wasn’t the so-called “American Dream”.  Jay never got the chance to meet his real father. Eventually, his mother met a man, who would fill the void of being that "Father figure" that Jay so yearned for. However, this man had a past of his own. This man, who ended up taking Jay under his wing for the next several years, was an associate in the Gambino Crime Family from Brooklyn, NY named Dominick Montiglio. While holding nothing back from Jay, schooling him in the "Life" of a gangster..."A Real Gangster", as he would put it, Jay ended up behind bars for a crime that he took the heat for, proving his loyalty to that "life".

 

 

 

Swearing "IN"

Although his new "father" seemed to have pointed him in the wrong direction, Jay also seems to give him credit for saving his life as well… to this day. Dominick dared him to go into the military and get out of this "life" (as Dominick was also a Special Forces Combat Veteran himself).  Fresh out of jail and heading right back into the streets knowing it was just a matter of time, before that "life" REALLY sank its teeth into Jay.... he accepts the challenge of getting "out" while he can and joins the military.  Hoping to once again prove his loyalty to Dominick.

          

 

 

Finding Purpose

After serving 8 years in the U.S. Navy Seabee’s, barely making it out Honorably, because of the "troublemaker" name he made for himself while he was in, Jay got out. Struggling to keep himself on track and away from the streets that were swallowing him up once again, dealing with his mother and her alcohol addiction, and battling the demons of his past… that were back to stake their claim, he fights on to find his true purpose.

 

 

                            

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“I Surrender”

After a series of events that led him crying out and surrendering himself to the Lord, Jay, a single father of 3 (Carlo, Nigel, and Unique), is trying to be the father that wasn’t there for him, and now living up to his Biblical name “Joshua”… by leading God's people to the Promise Land and serving the One he should've been serving this whole time, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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From Secular, To Sanctified

Although pursuing his childhood dream out in Hollywood becoming an Actor seemed too far-fetched to consider while residing on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, it soon became a possibility once finding out that Mississippi was one of the Southern States that made up what they now call, “Hollywood South”.

From Florida all the way to Texas, and all in Between (AL, MS, LA, etc.) had become a hotspot for “Mainstream Hollywood Productions” with Films such as Jurassic World, Interview with a Vampire, 21 Jumpstreet, Dawn of Planet of the Apes, 12 Years of Slave… just to name a few of the many; and TV series like Power, NCIS New Orleans, Queen of the South, Pitbulls & Parolees, American Horror Story… the list goes on and on.

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Jay started to dibble and dabble into the film scene out in the Gulf Coast, that at one point he thought was non-existent.  He found himself doing some work as an “Extra” in films, then a couple of Featured Background Roles. He also landed a few Principal Roles, and then in such a short period of time, he was full blown OFFICIALLY part of the “Hollywood South” … turning his childhood dream into reality… OR SO HE THOUGHT.

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After giving his life to God just a few years prior, the Lord started to work on his heart and convict him in areas that made him start thinking twice about what he was being a part of and ultimately, what kind of messages were being sent out through the programming of airwaves that were being deposited into people’s spirit & subconscious minds.

 

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Jay wanted nothing more to do with an industry that he believes is being manipulated by a much deeper and darker source.  “There is something seriously sinister going on in Hollywood pushing a wicked agenda into our home, promoting evil and a Godless life with a distorted level of morals & values. And it’s main objective and target… our children” – Jay Ashton.

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So, to combat that as a Man of God, with the desire to help others instead of hinder, bring healing rather than hurt, promote good instead of sin, and yet still with a passion for acting & film making, this Christ – Centered Movie-ment called “Holywood Films – A Motion Picture Ministry”, was Born.