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Community Corner

Update on Filmmaker & Author's N.J. Film

Two Plainfield, NJ, natives, film director Alrick Brown and author JM Benjamin, are collaborating to create a feature film,"My Manz."Their project is back in the news. 

Benjamin's book - soon to be film - is about a young man born and raised in the Elmwood Garden Projects of Plainfield. The film will be shot almost entirely on location in Plainfield, using streets, homes and buildings in town. A large portion of the budget will go to 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 local students in the community.

Brown, who has won many film awards including a Sundance Film Festival award for his first feature film "Kinyarwanda" in 2011, holds advanced degrees from both Rutgers and New York University; Brown is an adjunct professor at NYU Tisch.  Benjamin, who was released from prison in 2006, has published an array of titles, including his 2006 Award Winning freshman novel, Down In The Dirty, and the Essence Best Selling Ride Or Die Chick series. Cast members include Dewanda Wise, NYU Tisch graduate, and Oliver Samuels of Jamaica.

Brown and Benjamin are now looking to get their community behind them with a new fundraising campaign. A previous fund-raising campaign, Kickstarter, did not reach the project's goal, so the community's help is needed to reach this one. Such fund raising is necessary for independent film makers.  Brown and Benjamin have turned to a different fund-raising campaign, where all funds pledged will be collected, even if the full amount is not raised. 


To help, go https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/my-manz-animation.  More information on the project is discussed on this site
.  Every level of support will be rewarded with gifts ranging from wrist bands to DVDs to extra parts the film.  According to the website, the goal is to raise $10,000 to fund the animation part of the film.  By clicking the link, you can view preliminary work on the film and regular updates.

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