Private Project

Living Proof: Dr. Khalid's Black History 101 Mobile Museum

Living Proof: Dr. Khalid's Black History 101 Mobile Museum is a short documentary centered on the development of the first mobile museum dedicated to Black history and the legacy of Dr. Khalid El-Hakim aka Dr. Khalid. Dr. Khalid has collected of over 10,000 original and rare artifacts of Black memorabilia dating from the trans-Atlantic slave trade era to Hip-Hop culture. He has been called the "Schomburg of the Hip-Hop generation" and has received national and international attention for his innovative work of exhibiting Black history outside of traditional museum spaces. He has embarked on a journey that spans 43 states, disseminating "our story" to more than 1,000 institutions. Dr. Khalid has also worked for over twenty years in the Hip-Hop industry as a manager and booking agent for artists such as The Last Poets, Proof of D12, Jessica Care Moore, and Professor Griff of Public Enemy. Living Proof documents the difficult journey Dr. Khalid faced to recover artifacts, enter unfriendly communities, and coping with grief. This is an inspirational story of fearlessness, resilience, and living proof that Black history matters.

  • Tony Wesley
    Director
  • Martha Diaz
    Producer
    Nas: Time Is Illmatic, Hip-Hop Treasures, Black August,
  • Tony Wesley
    Producer
  • Miki Packett
    Producer
    American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, America’s Got Talent
  • Khalid El-Hakim
    Key Cast
  • Paradise Gray
    Key Cast
  • Khalilah Camacho Ali
    Key Cast
  • Miki Packett
    cinematographer
    American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, America’s Got Talent
  • Tony Wesley
    Writer
    Wave: A True Story in Hip Hop
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature, Short
  • Genres:
    historical, cultural, educational, biographical
  • Runtime:
    45 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    January 15, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    200,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Tony Wesley

Tony Wesley aka Mr. Wave was born and raised in Hip-Hop's birthplace the Boogie Down Bronx. As a child, Tony spent years searching for his “place in life”. He would find himself through the art of dance and was inspired by the late Michael Jackson. Tony dropped out of high school to pursue his passion and gift as a dancer while he lived in a group home, fought drug dealers, and survived gang violence. As he progressed, a new style of dance—b-boying and breakdance— emerged. He began to add his personal twist to the dance form, and became known around the community as Dr. Electric because of his seemingly electrifying body movements. In 1983, he became a member of the B-Boy group, The New York City Breakers, and changed his name to "Mr. Wave". The popular dancer Kid Nice fell in love with Tony’s unique style of dance and suggested he perform at a nationally televised event—the 1983 CBS Kennedy Center Honors. He was later invited by Harry Belafonte to appear in the "Beat Street" movie, and was asked by three presidents to dance in the White House. Mr. Wave’s innovative style of dance and ability to withstand the test of time has cemented him as a living legend of dance. Recognizing the impact that sharing his story and struggles had on his young audiences, Wave launched the I Am That Kid Foundation as platform to offer free dance classes and motivational seminars for the next generation of Hip-Hop. After working on his own documentary titled, "Wave: A True Story in Hip-Hop" with Director Brian Bullock, Mr. Wave realized that his storytelling skills could help other Hip-Hop pioneers who felt they were being erased from history tell their story. Mr. Wave launched Reel Sung Productions in 2019 and has been working on six documentaries including the autobiography of Special K of the Treacherous Three, Sparky D, and DJ Yella of NWA. "Living Proof" is the first documentary to be completed.

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Director Statement

As a dancer, I embody my history and share my story with audiences for a brief moment. When I discovered the art of documentary filmmaking, I learned to use my writing skills and voice to make a long-lasting impact beyond my existence. My goal is to inspire and tell stories that connect with people, and ultimately heal them. More than ever, we need understanding and empathy. The visual medium of filmmaking not only captures deep emotions that resonate with people, it evokes action and social change.