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The Story
In 1945 Philadelphia Seymour “Trip” Lewis, an aspiring trumpet player has one foot
in the street and the other in his music. A lifetime of poor decisions has put
him between mysterious gangster Mississippi Black and the police in his pursuit
of musical stardom. He soon discovers things aren’t always what they seem.
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The Journey
Back in 2000, Atif R. Lanier wrote a play entitled If It
Ain’t Got That Swing. He chose the year 1945 to demonstrate that the issues of
the mid 20th century were still around in the 21st. The play soon caught on and began to tour colleges and universities from New York to Georgia. In 2013 the play became a
short film entitled Trip & Mary Jane which is currently playing in Canada, The Caribbean and Western
Africa.
Who Are We?
The production team consists of veterans of the entertainment industry who are no strangers to success.
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Atif Lanier ( Producer/Writer/Actor) www.imdb.com/name/nm1420803/- Atif Lanier has conducted workshops, film screenings, stage plays and game shows at colleges across the U.S and abroad. His short film The Negro Zone of which he co-wrote won Best Short film subject at Philafilm and Best of Festival at the International Black Media Festival in Oxford England. All of his prior films are in syndication in the Caribbean and Canada. His notable acting credits include parts on Law & Order SVU, All My Children, Get Rich Or Die Tryin' and Do No Harm. If you are ever at the NFL Hall of Fame or The San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame you will find statues of Atif, looking back at you.
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Mike Pender ( Producer/Writer/Director) www.imdb.com/name/nm1836407/- Every project Mike Pender has directed has been seen by audiences in the U.S. and abroad on TV or at a film festival. In addition to directing film, he has also directed theater. He co wrote the award winning short film The Negro Zone, the hilarious He Got Billz, and the romantic comedy Computer Love. He has done film work for hip hop mogul Jermaine DuPri as well as legendary social activist Bobby Seale.
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Nakia Dillard ( Associate Producer/Actor ) www.imdb.com/name/nm1419977/House of Cards, Night Catches Us and The Wire are just a few credits versatile and talented actor Nakia Dillard has amassed. His biggest passion is working with youth as he has directed numerous youth theater projects. His company Aikan Entertainment Solutions is a leader in providing entertainment options for children's events. He is also teaching the next generation of actors through his acting school Aikan Acting Studio.
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Where is your money going?
This is going to be a SAG-AFTRA movie meaning that we have to pay union actors. But more importantly we have to go 70 years in the past back to 1945. You dig? That means we really have to make things look REALLY AUTHENTIC! Cars. Costumes. Sets. I mean after all don't you want the "cats" in the film to be authentic as they are "strutting" down the avenue?
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Why Should You Be Involved?
"Film lasts forever." We all love to curl up and watch our favorite movie over and over again. Well here is your chance to make someone's favorite movie, or better yet YOURS!
The time is now! It's time to take a journey with a group of proven individuals and a film project THAT'S VERY GOOD!
We have accumulated a fan base in various countries, that are eager to see our next project. Are you ready to join the ride?
During the summer of 2015, with your help we plan to shoot If It Ain't Got That Swing in the Philadelphia area-LET'S MAKE A MOVIE!!!!!!!!!
