BLKMGC
A musical about a young father determined to realize his dream; struggling to 'make it' while raising his son. The World sends him down a path that questions his faith and conviction.
The Story Behind BLKMGC:
With a brother serving time in prison for murder and dreams permeating his brain; Duran has always wrestled with the thought of bringing a child in to this World. A World where his dreams of becoming a beloved rapper are shadowed by police brutality and injustice for men, women and children of color. This story and the accompanying music was birthed out of what he calls his worst fear; bringing a child into a World that does not value them and that he himself is not yet equipped to prepare them for. Duran's brother left behind 4 children who must now grow up without the presence of their father. His brother's voice can be heard via pre-recorded message in the beginning of the film saying, "I'm proud of you bruh...You know I got enough time for the whole family, so you definitely don't want to come in here." This message was taken from Duran's very first phone conversation with his incarcerated brother. A message of pride, hope, and concern that he hopes the World can understand.
***The BLKMGC EP/ Soundtrack is available on Apple Music, Tidal, Spotify, Google Play, Pandora and all digital platforms.***
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Shaun M. MathisDirector
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Jemonique MillerDirector
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Justin ToulonDirector
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Duran JonesWriter
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Shaun M. MathisWriter
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GregAlan WilliamsProducer
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Duran JonesProducer
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Duran JonesKey Cast"Duran"
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Jahlil MuhammadKey Cast"DJ"
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Michelle ShaayKey Cast"Valerie"
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Sierra SwannKey Cast"Navaeh"
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Damian HolderKey Cast"Justin"
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Project Type:Music Video, Short
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Runtime:18 minutes 38 seconds
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Completion Date:January 1, 2018
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Production Budget:4,000 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
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Digital Cinema Package:Unavailable
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Spotlight Short Film AwardsAtlanta
United States
Gold Award -
Music in Cinema Film FestivalAtlanta
United States
June 30, 2018
Best Drama Short -
Maryland International Film FestivalHagerstown
United States
April 28, 2018
Official Selection -
Black Web FestivalNew York
United States
April 14, 2018
Official Selection -
Urban Film FestivalMiami
United States
September 1, 2018
Miami
Best Musical Short -
Peachtree Village InternationalAtlanta
United States
October 11, 2018
2nd Place Winner -
Dumbo Film FestivalDUMBO Brooklyn
United States
February 8, 2019
New York
Official Selection
Distribution Information
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Duran Jones
Born to Damita Jo Mathis & Stewart Welch, Shaun was raised in Waterbury CT. After attending two different colleges, Shaun penned his first novel, This Hurts, which won him independent best selling author in 2007 and came in at #89 on the Essence Best Seller list. Shaun went on to pen 2 more successful novels before relocating to Atlanta from Philadelphia. In Atlanta, Shaun got his start in the movie industry by interning with Studio 11 Films, Eyeam Cinema, as well as Ralph Wilcox productions. After doing stand in work on several motion pictures, Shaun created and released 2 award winning web series, Rich Brothers & Threesome.
With a brother serving time in prison for murder and dreams permeating his brain; Duran has always wrestled with the thought of bringing a child in to this World. A World where his dreams of becoming a beloved rapper are shadowed by police brutality and injustice for men, women and children of color. This story and the accompanying music was birthed out of what he calls his worst fear; bringing a child into a World that does not value them and that he himself is not yet equipped to prepare them for. Duran's brother left behind 4 children who must now grow up without the presence of their father. His brother's voice can be heard via pre-recorded message in the beginning of the film saying, "I'm proud of you bruh...You know I got enough time for the whole family, so you definitely don't want to come in here." This message was taken from Duran's very first phone conversation with his incarcerated brother. A message of pride, hope, and concern that he hopes the World can understand.