Indie Award-Winning Filmmaker Campaigns for Funds to bring Jersey to the Big Screen

Oct. 1, 2013 - PRLog -- Plainfield, New Jersey, aka the “Queen City” will be the focus of an upcoming film based on a bittersweet tale of a common urban struggle - a Black Man facing jail time. This time, instead of being shot in “big city America”, the movie will bring Plainfield into the spotlight as the backdrop and the story of how one man’s hustle hinges on a single life-changing decision.  “My Manz And ‘Em”officially launched its Kickstarter campaign on September 23rd with hopes to raise $60k in 30 days to shoot the 10 minute short needed to secure the additional $1MM needed for the entire project. You can pledge a minimum of $1 to help funding efforts by visiting (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/927417581/my-manz-there-comes-a-time-to-choose-your-hustle).

Plainfield native and Sundance-award winning Film Director, Alrick Brown brings this feature film project to his hometown based on the novel written by fellow Plainfielder JM Benjamin. The film is about a young man born and raised in the Elmwood Garden Projects of Plainfield. The opening minutes of “My Manz” takes place ten years before the rest of the film. The audience will be invited into the life of a paroled ex-felon loyal only to the streets who finds true love but struggles to survive on the outside where old friends and old habits provide a familiar solution that may land him right back in prison.

This power duo will not only bring this film to Plainfield but are laser-focused on involving the community in its production offering rare opportunities for businesses and residents to take part, contribute and benefit from its success. The moniker, “Choose Your Hustle” is what the team, that includes award-winning film producers Deatra L. Harris &Lamar Mackson, is asking social media fans to use as they rally to show their support and share why they are passionate about their individual “hustles”.

Brown shares “‘We are asking everyday people to give at least  $20.00 and thank 20 people who helped them pursue their particular hustle”.  Brown is also a part-time professor at the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at New York University(NYU) and adds, “Giving is important and we will only be successful because of the help and support of our communities in Plainfield and abroad showing support of creative indie arts.

A large portion of the budget will go towards goods and services from local businesses and vendors. The production will also be casting local talent as well as providing mentoring and internship opportunities for students in the community.

With celebrity names like Jamie Hector from HBO’s “The Wire”, Jasmine Guy from “A Different World” and Jamal Woolard from “Notorious” attached to the project, Brown is certain he can garner support for this Kickstarter campaign that kicked off on September 23rd.

Kickstarter is an online crowd funding site where Spike Lee recently raise over 1.2 million dollars for his new project. Kickstarter is an all or nothing program meaning that if a project does not reach its intended goal then they will not receive ANY of the funds at all.  Any monies collected are then returned to the donors and the asking party is back to square zero.

For information about the campaign or to donate to the cause you may visitwww.kickstarter.com, MY MANZ- There comes a time to “Choose Your Hustle”. (Kickstarter Campaign) or send an email to chooseyourhustle@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter @ChooseUrHustle (https://twitter.com/Chooseurhustle) and join the buzz #ChooseYourHustle (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ChooseYourHustle&src=typd).

*photo courtesy of Filmmaker Magazine

About Alrick Brown

Recognized as one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces to Watch and an Emerging Film Maker in Vanity Fair, Alrick Brown is an award winning writer, director, and producer. His collective works have screened in over 65 festivals worldwide, earning numerous awards and honors. His first feature, Kinyarwanda premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and went on to win several awards including the World Cinema Audience Award for best dramatic film at both Sundance and AFI Fest. It was also nominated for three NAACP Image Awards and was listed as one of the top 10 best films of 2011 by Roger Ebert. For more info, please visit www.alricksporch.com.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VSwGqSKPoQ