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Latasha Harlins: A Rose That Grew from Concrete/

The story of Latasha Harlins, a mild-tempered 15-year-old girl from South Central, struggles to find herself in a world where she must overcome the tragedy and heartbreaks of the past.

  • Shannon Dion
    Director
  • Shannon Dion
    Writer
    Hidden Faces
  • Kaicey Chae
    Producer
  • Shannon Dion
    Producer
  • Matia Karrell
    Producer
  • Claire Zhao
    Producer
  • Rayven Symone Ferrell
    Key Cast
    "Latasha Harlins"
    Stolen By My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story
  • Ajia Munns
    Key Cast
    "Crystal Harlins"
  • Terra Strong
    Key Cast
    "Aunt Ruthie"
    Zombies 2
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Bio, Drama, History
  • Runtime:
    20 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    September 4, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    13,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.00 : 1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes
Director Biography - Shannon Dion

Shannon Dion (born January 31, 1986) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. Dion was born in Dallas, Texas.

Dion attended Oliver W. Holmes Humanities/Communications Academy where he excelled in theatre and drama as a young actor.

In his second year of high school, he was Awarded 10th Grade "DUKE" 2001-2002 at Franklin D. Roosevelt High School.

In 2003, he won third place runner up award for an International Peace Art contest and received a certificate of Artistic Recognition signed by Congresswoman, Eddie Bernice Johnson.

In 2004, he won first place cash reward for winning a Poetry Election Battle contest based on the 2004 Presidential Election Race between former President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry.

In 2009, he studied Fashion Design for 2 years at El Centro College, before transferring to Oakwood University, where he would earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Theology in 2016.

Although, Oakwood did not have an academic program for film, Dion took it upon himself to utilize the camera equipment from his department to create 2 short films and 1 documentary.

During his matriculation at Oakwood, he worked as a Forklift Operator for FedEx Freight, a Camera Operator for Breath of Life Television, and served as intern Video Editor for Oakwood University Broadcasting Network. He also was a member of Art-N-Soul, Poetry Club.

In 2015-16, Dion was nominated for Communication Student of the year at Oakwood University.

Not long after, he moved to Pasadena, CA, where he was accepted in ArtCenter’s College of Design Film Department. While at ArtCenter, he wrote and directed 2 short films. One of which highlights the life of Latasha Harlins, the African American teenager who was shot and killed in a convenience store in South Central LA in 1991. He is currently working on a new documentary entitled, “Black History is American History.”

In the summer of 2019, Shannon graduated from ArtCenter College of Design, receiving his Master of Fine Arts in Writing & Directing.

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Director Statement

In making this film, it is my desire that people will come to know who Latasha was. More so by her life than her death. The future relies on the past for inspiration and I believe that the story of Latasha Harlins is one that should never be overlooked or forgotten. History is filled with life lessons that should always be remembered and honored. By creating this film, it is my prayer that the audience would come to envision her experience as she may have lived it.

Regrettably, her story is no different than that of Treyvon Martin’s, Oscar Grant's, and so many other young people who lives where tragically and unsuspectingly cut short.

Unfortunately, I cannot tell the story of them all, but the burden of telling the story of Latasha Harlins is one that I have gladly chosen to welcome with open arms. Telling her story, is a way of me giving back to society, by being a voice for the voiceless.