Posted on October 17, 2024

Talk about how you started out

In May 2015, Jonathan W. Fields launched his DGPU Dark Gable Productions Unlimited Brand. This is the aggregate of all his learned management, promotional, social media, and red-carpet service expertise (during his Ambi’ance Magazine LA/ATL stint 2011-2014). His “Rip-The -Runway’ red carpet approach has been a game changer in the world of fashion and entertainment.

In June 2015, he began Managing/Consulting with the “Real Nail Qweens, International”, up and coming plus-size model sensation, “Just-So-Jazzy” Johnson, “The Gable Girlz”, and the dirty South’s rap sensation, “The Carolina Henchmen featuring Flice Fuego”.

In June 2016, as an only child, Jonathan suffered his most devastating setback to date when he lost his mother, Nellie Mae Fields to cancer. It was during this period that Jonathan decided to take a sabbatical from the rigors of Hollywood and returned to his east coast roots to assist with the transitional and grieving process needed for him and his family.

In 2017, Jonathan officially returned to the West Coast (Mesa, Arizona) and began to re-establish himself as a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment community. One of his first projects was to re-establish his business and prelaunch the first of two avant-garde magazines. He projected 2018 to be the debut of his long awaited X’treme Nailz International Magazine. He would later relaunch his Ambi’ance Magazine ATL/ATL under the new title of Ambi’ance Uncut.

Jonathan has been an advocate for many of the unique and unsung women’s movements of the 80’s and 90’s. He is a lifelong supporter of those in need of bipartisan support such as the gay, lesbian movement of the 80’s, The fledgling plus-sized modeling trend of the early 2000’s and today’s beautiful women with long or extreme nails.

The X’treme Nailz Movement is today’s hottest new personal, and fashion trend (not just in the U.S., but in Europe, Russia, Asia, and Australia) where there are so many amazing stories and testimonies behind these long-nailed divas Jonathan has been waiting to create this platform for over twenty years now. He is not trying to exploit these individuals or jump on some fetish bandwagon (this is truly his manifested destiny). His vision officially launched with “Fly Fashion Nails” on Facebook in 2009.

That immediately turned into an interactive blog site. He also had “Fly Nails” on YouTube, which quickly grew to 20,000 hits. It was then that Jonathan knew there was an interest in these amazing X- Nailz Divas. In 2014 his Facebook page was changed to “Internationally Fly Fashion Nails “to acknowledge and showcase those women from other countries who were following his site regularly.

Because of the demand and newfound acceptance of this movement he felt the time was right for a tangible platform to allow both the X-Nailz Divas and their followers to thrive and DARE 2 BE DIFFERENT! In 2020 the first Issue of X’treme Nailz International came off the press and in 2021, we also announced that one of the premiere legends of X’treme Nailz game, Ms. Lena Cole, would be our Brand Ambassador and face of this platform.

Meanwhile, Ambi’ance Magazine ATL/LA who received a facelift and renamed, was relaunched in 2020 to accommodate the increased demand for underground musical talent, plus-sized fashion events, community/political functions, movie premieres, CD & book signings and X’treme Nailz soirees.

Tell us about The GRIND International aka TGI

“The GRIND INTERNATIONAL” was previously known as “Dark Gable Productions Unlimited LLC”. TGI believes that creative marketing and PR is the key to success. It doesn’t matter if you’re up-and-coming or an established star, sustainable “Hype” makes long profitable careers.

TGI specializes in “Positive Hype” for fashion entertainment, comedy, and community Service. TGI motto is “Dare’s to be Different.” TGI goals are but not limited to, 1: Introducing you to an established and or trendy audience. 2: Implementing a strategy to effectively present you to an audience relevant to your platform. 3: Giving you more visibility and connectivity to a consumer base that’s usually ignored by mainstream publications. 4: Reintroducing you if you have been out of the game for a while. By utilizing unconventional marketing, insightful exclusives, fierce red carpets, and talent referral brokering systems we can support and implement your efforts. TGI has become the underground’s hottest fashion, entertainment, comedy, and social events vehicle.

What message are you hoping to get across to the people by doing what you do?

We want to produce an international brand and/or platform for you. How do we accomplish this you ask? By incorporating state of the art PR, marketing, social media, and In-house publications we keep you relevant and ahead of the curve.

What’s unique about this that separates it from the rest?

TGI is the only vehicle that uses all its resources to help those that “Dare 2 Be Different”. It gives the unsung a feel for marketing, promotion, and exposure, not to mention the confidence to elucidate their dreams. Exuding confidence is paramount to one’s ultimate success. Coupled with an understanding of H.O.F (hard work, obsession, and focus) you will reap life-changing results. It’s been said, TGI is fast becoming the “arvangard standard in underground social media expression and Motivation.”

Who was a part of this project that contributed to its success?

Although this started as a spinoff from a nonprofit organization I once spearheaded (Believe & Achieve Foundation, LLC) TGI is truly a collective of business minds that came together to collaborate and create content. Some notable members of Team X’treme are Marcella Ladym Phillips, Michelle Stackfield, Terri Stevens, Deborah Frew, Lena Cole, Cassandra Williams, and Linda Houston.

What is the inspiration behind what you do?

I wanted to implement an individual platform for our clients that’s not only sustainable but conducive to diversity within their chosen field which will potentially attract collaborations with other lucrative entities.

What are some other things people can expect from you soon?

Currently we have expanded our platform to include a couple of reality show sizzle reels. One of our potential shows will focus on the creation and implementation of a TGI like business showcasing the behind-the-scenes difficulties that go into entertainment entrepreneurship. The other vehicle will focus on the X’treme Nailz Diva Phenomenon.

These five billion dollars a year business has always been prevalent overseas but recently has begun to flourish in the US. Specifically, we will talk about everything “X’treme Nailz” from Cardi-B, Megan De Stallion, Love & Hip Hop ATL to some of our home grown X’treme Nailz Divas like Lena Cole, La Rue Drummond, Ana Otano, Elena Shilenkova, Lawona Coley, Melody Wilson, Cordelia Adams, and Tonya McClinton just to name a few.

This once taboo expression of self is ready for showtime exposure (check out of X’treme Nailz International Magazine). Also in September 2024 were launching a urban 4 part book series intitled “The Playa Chronicles”.

Why is this so valuable to you? And why now?

Because the mainstream publications and or promotional vehicles only pursue and edify the A-List and established stars. The unsung, underground, grassroots and up and coming need hype too. That’s why we are known as the “PEOPLE’S PLATFORM.”

How was this put together and how does it benefit the consumers?

Another thing that makes our vehicle invaluable to consumers is the diversity we bring to the table. Our members provide everything from event planning, fashion and talent broker ship, publication expertise, social media branding, purple carpet services and public speaking. Our staff is also representative of the LBGTQ community as well as African American/Hispanic Women Entrepreneurs. So the ideology that underscores all of this is TGI being all inclusive.