David Weintraub Reveals the Wild Story Behind Freaky Tales — The Sundance Smash Fueled by Too Short and Pedro Pascal

DWE Talent

Producer and talent manager David Weintraub is stepping out of the reality TV spotlight and into the gritty streets of 1987 Oakland with Freaky Tales — a genre-bending action-horror-comedy that rocked Sundance and drops in theaters April 4.

In an exclusive Q&A with Star, Weintraub opens up about working with rap legend Too Short, how Pedro Pascal and Tom Hanks joined the ride, and why this wild cinematic mashup might just be his proudest project yet.

Why is this movie important to you?

This movie is important to me for a multitude of reasons. First off, it’s a period piece about the culture in which we see the birth and incredible rise of Bay Area hiphop. That was important on its own to finally be depicted properly in a film. Second, taking place in 1987, it is also an instrumental film solidifying Short as the incredible OG pioneer of Bay Area hiphop that he is, and memorializing it for all future generations to see. This movie exemplifies what this area was like during this time, but portrayed in an extremely creative, exciting and captivating way.

And additionally, having managed and been a producing partner with Too Short for the last 17 years, this movie truly means so much to both of us, and I am so thrilled he was able to be honored in this film through both his music, and cemented in his pioneer status, with a movie now respecting and showcasing his origin as a rap icon.

What excites you specifically about this film?

We had the opportunity to work with the incredible writing directing team of Flec and Boden, who are also from the Bay area and just extremely talented filmmakers. We are so lucky they took a break from their back to back blockbusters to curate and collaborate with Too short and myself on this passion project of theirs, and in turn, ours as well. More importantly they also allowed me to collaborate with them on Too Short’s behalf on how to really tell the story from his perspective, for accuracy and proper portrayal. I have to really give them proper credit and respect for creating such a fantastic piece of art. This movie truly is art.

How did you and Too Short get involved initially?

Initially, well, Ryan Flec happened to be a big Too Short fan, naturally also being from Oakland, and reached out to us as he was developing the film and asked if Too Short would get involved, as well as lend his music to the film. He had the idea to name each section of the movie after one of Too Short’s songs, which we thought was awesome. We connected on all of the elements, and it was an organic next step for Short and I to come on as Executive Producers, which led to Short being in the film, along with his music, and narration..

How did you get Pedro Pascal involved, Jay Ellis, Tom Hanks, and all of the incredible cast?

The filmmakers did the casting and all had worked with the majority of the talent prior, from Normani to Pedro to Angus Cloud to Kier Gilchrist on various projects. They got the scripts to them all, and of course any of the actors that are from the Bay Area wanted to immediately sign on as well. Tom Hanks of course grew up in Oakland, so he also was excited to be a part of the movie. It all just flowed, but was a long road, and here we are four years later. It is truly exciting.

What has been most rewarding about this film?

Because it is a period piece with a huge tie-in of nostalgia for the 80s, it has been a wild ride. For me, I am a guy that makes nonscripted TV, that has always been my specialty, and have only dabbled in producing a few independent films, so the reward of making a film from conceptualization, the process of getting it financed, watch it come to fruition, to then going to sundance and performing so well that it was the opening film paired with all of the accolades, is quite surprising and rewarding to say the least. It has been beyond enjoyable and I feel quite lucky to be a part of this ride and project overall.

What was your experience in the film world prior to this movie?

As an Agent, having worked at both WME and UTA, I packaged tons of independent films, so it was very different to be on the EP side of a movie that you want to see come to life and want people to enjoy, and want to get made properly. Packaging is a completely different side of the table, one I was very familiar with, so this was the complete opposite, and I learned a lot in the process.

You gained major attention at sundance, can you tell us about that?

The movie performed really well, was critically acclaimed, with rave reviews. It was really well received by the audience, which was truly thrilling. The fact that we were an official Sundance selection for 2024, was beyond my wildest expectations, but when the formula is there and the parts all synergize, there is magic that aligns. That is the beauty of the entertainment world.

How did the excitement at Sundance support the Lionsgate acquisition?

Lionsgate has been an incredible and fitting partner that saw the value in this movie from the get go. Their support and belief in the film has really been so amazing, and opened it up to a huge new audience. (The film hits theaters nationwide April 4th, 2025, with streaming to later be announced).

Your client Too Short’s music is the base of this film, can you explain that for our audience?

Basically, Too Short, being the pioneer of hip hop in the bay area, simultaneously through his music, his movement and his lifestyle, helped set the tone of this project. Hip hop is integrated throughout the film, all based on his established presence in 1987 when he was really blowing up on the rap scene. He was the first rep artist coming from The Bay, so his presence is essential to the story, and you can’t tell a story in this world without anchoring it around Too Short.

Were you a fan of Too Short as a kid, being from Los Angeles?

As a kid, I remember my friend had the Too Short album, and introduced me to it. I was maybe 10 or 11 years old. We were really into NWA and Easy E, and my friend turned me on to Too Short, saying you have to hear this artist if you like those guys, and then played me the Too Short album out at the time, and I was hooked.

How did you first meet each other?

I was producing a show for MTV called MTV Rap Superstar, hosted by Kevin Hart. It was basically 10 celebrities paired with 10 rappers, and over 10 weeks they performed, learned how to rap, etc. Think Dancing With The Stars format. At the end of the series, the winner received a record deal. Too Short was one of the rappers on the show, paired with Kendra Wilkinson as his student. At the time, my client Corrupt from Doggpound suggested Too Short be a rapper on the show, and he said yes. Once we met on-set and worked together, the rest was history. We became very close during filming and as a result of my work on the show he then asked me to join his team as his manager. I of course said yes, and that was 17 years ago.

What can viewers expect from this film?

An incredible ride like they never expected. Just know it is like nothing you have ever seen before, truly. It is an action – comedy – horror – and emotional story; a full ride fueled by incredible stunts, writing, and a merge of all the different worlds of life that existed in 1987 Oakland. It is nothing like you have never seen together in the same movie before… from punk rockers to hip hop artists to nazis to gangsters to skaters… everyone is represented, and surprises you throughout the film.

It’s a historical film based on a specific time period of events in the 80s – is the script fiction or nonfiction?

The movie is fiction but based on true events.

And you consider this a horror movie, action and thriller?

It has horror moments, but it’s a mystical movie in tone. There are also undertones of juxtaposed elements, like rock and rap, mafia to gangbangers, then it shifts to a story about basketball, then into almost a kung fu horror film. If I had to make any comparison, I would say it has a very Stranger Things kind of tone meets Pulp Fiction. It is a very unique format, and you have to see it to understand.

When does it come out and where can people see it?

It will nationally be hitting all cities on April 4th via Lionsgate.