Huriyyah Muhammad grew up in her parents’ business, Fatboy Donuts, but cared more about reading and writing than baking.

“I would get into trouble all the time around the donut shop because I always had a book,” Muhammad said. “My parents would always tell me to sweep up all the flour or clean the racks, but I was always someplace behind a machine reading a book.”

That love of stories stayed with her, and today she’s sharing parts of her family’s story in the short film “Chocolate with Sprinkles,” which will premiere at the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival on Sept. 20. Muhammad wrote and directed the film, which features a family based on her own. She hopes the story will give people insight into how the donut shop got started.

A cross-country dream

Fatboy Donuts, formerly known as Arts Donuts, has been serving the community since 1975. Located at 10120 St. Clair Ave., the shop has remained a neighborhood staple for donut and pastry enthusiasts. 

But Muhammad had other plans. She left Cleveland to pursue a career in advertising. Success left her wanting something more. 

“I was an ad executive in New York City, making six figures and buying more sneakers than the law should allow,” Muhammad said. “I wasn’t passionate about the work I was doing, and I just remember thinking I’m too young to not be passionate about my career.”

Muhammad decided it was time to make a change. With her family cheering her on, she cashed out her 401(k), packed her Ford explorer, turned on Jay-Z and made her way to Los Angeles with no living arrangements or potential jobs lined up.

“I knew I was smart and determined. I had a couple dollars and I was gonna figure it out.”

Fifteen years later, Muhammad is living her dream, writing and directing stories that resonate with audiences while still advancing her career. Now, she is focused on telling perhaps the most personal story she’s ever written.

An unexpected turn of events 

Tragedy struck when her father passed away in 2008 and her mother passed away shortly after in 2009.

“It took me years to speak about my parents without crying,” Muhammad said. 

I was still a baby and I still needed them. I had so much left to learn from them.”

“They were fun-loving people. People in the community loved and respected them. They treated everyone the same, no matter what their background was.” 

Although Muhammad and her siblings were devastated, they stuck together and kept the shop open. Her brother, Mustafa, stepped in to take over the day-to-day operations. Three generations later, he is proud to carry the torch.

“The greatest way I can honor both of them is by helping maintain our family structure and to maintain a presence in the community by keeping the shop open and their legacy alive” Mustafa said.

“My brother stepped up right away and was determined to make sure that the business kept going, and we galvanized around him. I’m so proud of my brother. It’s not easy, he has his own personal challenges going on as well. I’m just super proud, and I know my parents are too.” Huriyyah said.

An emotional creative process

Creating the film came with its own set of unique challenges, particularly when it came to character development. After receiving some feedback during the post-production process, Muhammad found herself going back to tweak things. It wasn’t easy to put the personal lives of her family out for the world to see. 

“When I started to get the feedback, it really made me a lot more protective of the story. People had comments about my parents, and I didn’t realize how defensive I would get,” Muhammad said. “A lot of people felt a way about the portrayal of the character Mary, who is inspired by my mom. I didn’t want them to feel that way, so I changed it up a little bit because I wanted them to walk away with a different feeling.”

Through those edits, she was able to see the feedback from a different perspective.

“This is a character inspired by my mom. This is not really her in the film,” Muhammad said. “There is a level of separation needed, but I did find myself becoming very protective over her during that time.”

The next chapter

Having previously won the HBO Short Film Competition for “Chocolate with Sprinkles”, Huriyyah is looking forward to branching out into different industries in the entertainment field. 

“I’m a writer, director and producer. I’m excited to be pushing into television soon and to be expanding my career.” Huriyyah said.

As for Fatboy Donuts, Mustafa doesn’t plan to slow down anytime soon. Having been working in the shop since he was 8 years old, he is determined to make sure the family legacy continues.

“My mother taught me to do unto others as you would have others do unto you,” Mustafa said. “I think that applies to everything about the shop and about their lives.”

To purchase tickets to the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival, click here.
To watch the trailer or for more information on “Chocolate with Sprinkles”, click here.