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Eden's Garden - The Jungle Has No Face - Ep 1

“The Jungle Has No Face” Eden’s Garden: PILOT EPISODE

In this garden, snakes aren’t the only secret. Peek into the world of a group of transmen in NYC navigating the journey of learning manhood, overcoming family drama, and surviving the mean streets on their way to success.

Episode 1 Description:
The pilot episode to Eden’s Garden focuses on a group of men who are tied by a choice of no return in transitioning from female to male. Will CJ overcome his demons that ties him to cycles? Will Gino see the truth he is scared to admit? Will Rico achieve his true desires? Will Chaz accept what he is no longer willing to hide? The introductory episode covers the dynamics of life from the shoes of men learning what manhood is when you make the choice of transition. In the midst of this journey, they are also influenced by their life’s environment that leads each character to a different fate. Will they be brothers or foes?

  • Malachi Seven King
    Director
  • Malachi Seven King
    Writer
  • Malachi King
    Producer
  • Barrie Brooks
    Key Cast
    "Rico"
  • Tyell Lowery
    Key Cast
    "Pernell"
  • Sydney Mitchell
    Key Cast
    "Leroy"
  • Cess Jones
    Key Cast
    "Gino"
  • Omar Cooke
    Key Cast
    "G Stone"
  • Dino James
    Key Cast
    "Careem"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Suspense
  • Runtime:
    35 minutes 48 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 1, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    8,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    MP4
  • Aspect Ratio:
    23.98
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Malachi Seven King

Malachi King, known as Seven, stands as the visionary force behind The Nile Creatives and Seven King Productions. With a lineage rooted in the legendary hip-hop ensemble Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five—his father’s legacy—Seven effortlessly embraces the entertainment realm. Opting to forge his distinct path to greatness, he emerged as a film director, producer, author, screenwriter, motivational speaker, and a steadfast advocate for the trans community.

Malachi’s educational journey led him to Clark Atlanta University, where he adeptly mastered various hands-on programs within Mass Media, ultimately ascending to the role of Mass Media Department President. Amidst these formative years, he lensed music videos for fellow students, igniting his creative spark and birthing engaging vlogs. This initial foray gradually evolved, culminating in the inception of his own short films and the groundbreaking web series, “Eden’s Garden.” This audacious creation garnered immense traction, amassing over 2 million YouTube views and propelling him into the spotlight—earning recognition as one of Ryan Murphy’s top emerging directors, affording him the coveted opportunity to shadow the prolific creator on set.

Presently, Malachi’s production company thrives, a crucible for diverse visual arts encompassing feature films, web series, dynamic social media content, and evocative documentaries. His unwavering mission revolves around imbuing narratives with visceral impact, transcending mere sight to evoke profound emotional resonance. Rooted in a distinct and contemporary vision, his projects beckon viewers to reengage, repeatedly immersing themselves in narratives that authentically mirror the communities and social causes that resonate deeply within him.

This burgeoning luminary has already etched an indelible mark upon his community, poised for an even more remarkable trajectory. Anticipate a wealth of forthcoming endeavors from Seven King Productions, a revitalized incarnation of his viral sensation, “Eden’s Garden,” poised for an exciting resurgence in the summer of 2022.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I directed this film out of passion, necessity and leadership. Being a man who can relate to this experience, I decided to lead by example. To create a historic and compelling story, with men of trans experience as the main focus. The fact that this was never done before also inspired me to never give up. I spent 8 years producing this independently, started on YouTube, and immediately went viral and gained national attention. I was even invited to the White House during the Obama administration for this work! While watching this film, I wanted the viewer to experience what it can be like mentally, emotionally, and in general for those who were assigned a female gender at birth and a peek into the journey to transition to their manhood. No, every transition doesn’t have to be connected to harsh trauma. Yes, everyone has a different path to walk. I really desire for this project to connect to everyday people so that they can see themselves, and hopefully empathize with others, remembering that we are all having a human experience. I wanted to also combat the stereotypes that have kept many people ignorant and confused about the trans experience.

Some of the challenges making this film were definitely budget related, often working with a skeleton team at best! We overcame many sacrifices and long hours on set, stretching money to cover locations, food, and talent. I literally had to work full time as a trucker AND full time as a film-maker, causing stress on my body due to lack of care. One year I saved up all the money I made to invest in personal film equipment needed for this project. This pilot was the perfect vision of what I always dreamt. A raw, passionate, unique story that showcases the men of trans-experience, particularly of color. Working with these actors and actresses was special because it takes a village to make anything come together, and the actors/actresses came from different backgrounds. I intentionally casted all the leads as actual trans-male actors to preserve the authenticity that you will see on screen. I am truly grateful for the heart and passion of these talented individuals that believe this story is worth being told. We were fortunate to raise the funds for this film by HVTN, Gilead, Pocaan, and some Gofundme donations, outside of my personal savings as well. The experience working on this film will help me with future projects because I got the chance to cultivate and work with multiple departments as the producer and my love and passion for directing never wavered, it just grew stronger. I’m an actor’s director and I’m excited about my visions for stories I haven’t even touched yet. The ability to have this picked up will change what I can do in the future for the world. Creating this film helped me grow in many ways, most of all to develop a deeper self love that makes me grateful to be exactly who I am, unapologetically.