Ebony Hustle
Ex-stripper turned private investigator evens the score on the streets!
Ebony "Hustle" Howard has a sense of justice and a high level of curiosity. With that combination, she constantly finds herself in the most unusual circumstances, and her need to stand up for the little guy always seems to get her in trouble.
To solve crimes, she uses her knowledge of the streets and friends from her strip club days who are always willing to help out, no matter who or what they're up against. But Ebony does have just one problem - this "cougar's" weakness for young men can often throw her off her game.
When Ebony gets a case that requires a little muscle, she leans on her friend Cardie "Cal" Givens. Cal is an ex-Marine and woman in her 30s who has a bit of a crush on Ebony. Cal still puts on her best game, knowing they will never hook up.
On most days, Ebony gets cases about cheating and fraud, but things change when Glenda Shaw asks for help locating her missing daughter, Ny'Kia. She believes Ny'Kia is being held against her will by former rapper-turned-pastor Caleb Truth. Ms. Shaw has been unable to contact her daughter for over three months and wants Ebony to bring her home.
Caleb and Ny'Kia are in town briefly to promote his new gospel album. Time is of the essence. To keep Ebony from getting in over her head on a case, police detective Wayne Thomas, Ebony's ex-husband, attempts to keep her straight and narrow. Wayne and Ebony have a long history working together, and it's not clear why the two ever divorced, but with the way trouble always finds Ebony, it's good that another strong person has her back.
Between Caleb, Ny'Kia, Cal, and Wayne, Ebony and her circle are about to ride one hell of a ride. "Bam, baby - you're busted!"
"Ebony Hustle" is a film about lust, street knowledge, and justice.
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Jamezz HamptonDirector
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John Wayne S. IIIProducerRed All Over
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Kathy SappProducerGirlfriends Check-in, Judge Faith, Judge Alex, Texas Justice
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John Wayne S. IIIWriterRed All Over
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Cess BlackWriterRed All Over
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Frank OveltonWriter
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Michelle L . LambKey Cast"Ebony"
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Andrew ChandlerKey Cast"Caleb"
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Ryan ElizabethKey Cast"NY'Kia"
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Kennetra SearcyKey Cast"Felicia"
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Jessica MitchellKey Cast"Cal"
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Sai PinaKey Cast"Mark"
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Wayne BrezzKey Cast"Deontae"
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Joel StevensonKey Cast"Wayne"
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Lynita RobinsonKey Cast"Ms. Glenda Shaw"
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Jennerro WadeKey Cast"Lil Dub"
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Project Type:Feature
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Genres:Crime, Thriller
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Runtime:1 hour 34 minutes 21 seconds
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Completion Date:May 11, 2021
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Production Budget:20,000 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:4K
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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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Boden International Film FestivalBoden
Sweden
September 11, 2021
France Premier
Finalist -
Black Film Fest ATL (BFF-ATL)Atlanta
United States
September 16, 2021
Finalist -
Urban Film FestivalMiami
United States
September 3, 2021
Nominee -
San Antonio Black International Film FestivalSan Antonio
United States
September 30, 2021
Nominee
Distribution Information
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Maverick EntertainmentDistributorCountry: WorldwideRights: All Rights
Jamezz was introduced to film in 2008 as an extra for The Poker House starring Jennifer Lawrence in David Alan Grier. In 2012 he enrolled at Columbia College Chicago, where he received an editorial Grant for his first short film, Confident. During this time, Jamezz made a name for himself, covering events Nationwide and countless music videos. Working with names such as Lil Wayne, Waka Flocka, Meek Mill, Young Jeezy, Karen Civil, and many others. This allowed him to finish his undergrad in the spring of 2015. Upon graduation, Jamezz completed two feature films in his first year as a full-time freelancer, Untitled Zombie as a cinematographer and Carter's Game as a Line Producer. Before fully transitioning into a full-time director Jamezz worked as a grip in the independent film market. In 2018 he made his direct debut in Out the Mud (TV series). In 2020 Jamezz landed his first feature film( Ebony Hustle) and produced his first broadcast television show (Your Options).
The vision for Ebony Hustle was to show the power we hold as individuals, regardless of race or gender. Throughout this film, you will see themes such as self-love, overcoming fear, and gender equality. Our visual motifs display our main character reassuring herself while facing conflict by simply talking to herself, “Bam Baby,” as a confidence booster. This allows our nature to push aside doubt and follow her plans. Displaying the struggles of a person who decides to change is essential in this film because of the large payoffs on the other end.
Aesthetically we wanted to create as much camera movement as the budget allowed. That sense of direction will help the audience engage with the embedded struggle during the film and make no sense of comfort until the falling action.