NOLA is the murder capitol of the world. The majority of the perpetrators and victims are Black men. Help us tell the story of the Black man's struggle between good and evil. A portion of your pledges will be donated to The Covenant House in memory of our cast member Brandon "Boogie B" Montrell.

Based on the original stage play It's A Man's Thing, this story is sure to entertain and educate! It's a Man's Thing opened at Dillard Univeristy's Cook Theater in 2011 to large audiences with rave reviews. Theater goers cried, laughed, and lives were changed. Ed Bishop of the "Big Easy Awards" had this to say: "It's A Man's Thing" is one of the best gospel plays I have seen. Period! Tameka Bob has touched the pulse of what it really means to be a man of color living in a world of faith and committment to community. Her dedication to real and positive images of men of color, her ability to uplift a cast of individuals through words and imagery was clear and resounding, as well as deep seated in spirit and truth in the production.

 

This film will be lead by an African-American male, who is also a New Orleans native. Behind the scenes, a crew of people of color will assist in bringing this story to life. Set three years after Hurricane Katrina in the 7th ward of New Orleans, Ezekiel “Lil Zeke'' Williams is a construction worker who works hard to stay on the straight and narrow, while being a genuinely good guy who grew up in a not-so-ideal neighborhood. With the help of his childhood friends and his “big homie in the sky” who most know as God, Lil Zeke is in for an adventure that includes hearing voices no one else can hear.

His bestie Jonah, and twins Neo and Angel are the crew who keeps Lil Zeke on his feet. Rhyming and ribbing, it all started in 1984 on their elementary school bus, only to be dropped off among street pharmacists and dysfunctional parents. Always landing at Lil Zeke’s modest house, Jonah seemed to be born with a sense of humor. They both find refuge in reading comic books, while imitating the lifelike characters. Because Lil Zeke’s mom works excessive hours, he always wished the nice comic book character was real. Well, his wish just might come true! Through Hurricane Katrina, neighborhood violence, sickness, incarceration, abandonment issues, and Lil Zeke’s constant battle with the voices inside his head, the crew comes together as adults; only to find it may not be as refreshing as he believed it would be.

 

This Coming-of-Age, Good versus Evil film, is influenced by the iconic film Boyz In The Hood, the Hulu series “Woke,” African American comic books, and a hint of faith. Utilizing advanced film equipment in the making of Torn Direction, the film opens on a master shot of a New Orleans neighborhood while hip-hop music blasts from a low riding pick-up truck. Simultaneously, viewers hear yelling voices coming from a house window. A yellow school bus rolls up the street, which is where we meet our main and strong supporting characters as teenagers. Our main character, Lil Zeke, is introduced in a close-up shot. Title cards are used to indicate the setting and year. We then meet our main and strong supporting characters over 20 years later.  This film differs as our main and strong supporting characters have reached a mature age where they are making real life decisions based on real life issues. Flashbacks of actual footage of Hurricane Katrina, Mardi Gras, and New Orleans culture will be utilized to move the story forward. 

All actors will be NOLA natives. This is important due to the  authencity of speech, attitude and movement of New Orleanians. With this in mind, the dialogue is written from the perspective of urban African-American culture. Because Torn Direction is written as a dramedy, there will be a light approach to some serious topics, while other topics will be addressed head on. Torn Direction presents a narrative that will include an original film score specific to the culture, to include hip-hop, rhythm & blues, gospel, jazz, and second line.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inner-city New Orleans is the backdrop for our story. Here you will find authentic well-seasoned cuisine, soulful music, second-lines charged by that "beat," and Mardi Gras! These are some of the things that make New Orleans great. And not to forget our beloved New Orleans Saints.  In the midst of it all, natives always find something to celebrate. 

 

It is time! New Orleans has overtaken St. Louis as the murder capital of America as the city sees an increase in homicides when compared to recent years. Recently, in the MCC bulletin, the statistics show how violent the crimes have become and how frequent. When writing this film, the above data came to mind. In addition to screenwriting, working in Orleans Parish inner city schools has given me firsthand experience with the many challenges African-American low-income students face. Constant pressure from their peers leads to a tough decision making process. Teens and young adults are often influenced by their environment, which includes a strong influence of music and film. With film that is more relevant and speaks their language, the faith community can begin to bridge the gap between church and street. "Torn Direction" aims to help African American males make better choices, and also understand that there are those who can relate to the voices inside their head. To date, most minority faith-based films are not viewed by the younger generation. Based on conversations with teens and young adults, they do not perceive the films as interesting, as they do not include the hottest music, violence, intimacy, drugs, nor superheroes. "Torn Direction" includes all of the previously stated, yet in a tasteful manner that leads to a positive learning experience, and possibly salvation.

 

As I sat on my couch one quiet evening working on this very project, the silence was interrupted by a sequence of gun shots. With a macbook still sitting in my lap, I slowly slid off the couch. My backside found comfort on the wooden tile. Sitting still, I began working again because I was no longer alarmed, as my psyche has gotten adapted to the sound of gunfire. A few minutes later, my neighbor calls to tell me my car had been hit by bullets. The thought entered my mind, what if I was in my car? Twelve days later, my mother informs me of the latest homicide near Rouses Grocery Store. A few hours passed, only to be contacted by a good friend with terrible news. This homicide had in fact hit home. The victim was our friend and cast member, Brandon "Boogie B" Montrell. It was 2 days before Christmas. My knees buckled and I repeatedly asked if she was sure it was Boogie. The violence can sometimes seem as though it doesn't affect you, until it does. Currently, New Orleans is averaging more than one homicide a day. It has become quite difficult to carry on day-to-day activities without fear or anxiety. Therefore, we must continue to pray for direction. With this in mind, I often sought direction about what I can do to make a difference. "Use your gift" was my answer. As mentioned, this script was produced 12 years ago for the stage. I recall audiences being moved by the display of vulnerable black men who were trying to find their way, relying on faith to guide them. This film has been a long time coming. So why this story? Because God said so.

 

All production costs *Post-Production (Color Correction, Sound Design, etc.) *Travel and Accomodations for lead actor *Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner for Cast and Crew for 14 shoot days *Animation Artist *Location rentals *AND because it takes a village!

 

1. FOLLOW US ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS   Be sure to follow us here on Seed&Spark, but also on Facebook and Instagram. 

2. SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT #TornDirection   Tell your friends, family, collegagues, and church members about Torn Direction.  Share our posts, campaign page, and updates!

3. KEEP FOLLOWING OUR CAMPAIGN!  Regular visits to our Seed&Spark page keep you in the know AND increase our chances of being featured on the site!