Private Project

SHAYLA'S CATCH Original

SHAYLA'S CATCH takes audiences on the journey of Shayla, a young lady who falls for the heart-thumping enchantment of Calvin 'CK' Moore, one of the most popular and highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL. SHAYLA'S CATCH is a valid and timely depiction of the competitive nature of American sports mixed with romance, money, intimacy, broken hearts and hope. Every woman, whether single, dating, or married can relate to Shayla's Catch novel and will be able to relate even more to the film. And every man will see himself in the male characters, whether he is a faithful 'Catch' or a skirt-chasing womanizer.

  • Sonya Jenkins
    Director
  • Jermaine Brantley
    Director
  • Sonya Jenkins
    Writer
    Shayla's Catch Novel, Motivation by Sonya Jenkins
  • Sonya Jenkins
    Producer
  • Shakari Gault
    Key Cast
    "Shayla Lucas"
  • Malachi Mutakabbir
    Key Cast
    "Calvin CK Moore"
  • Amina Pankey
    Key Cast
    "Mia Falana"
  • Sonya Jenkins
    Key Cast
    "Claire Jones"
  • Adriano Gonzalez
    Key Cast
    "Diego Jones"
  • Nadine Bone
    Key Cast
    "Sydney Lucas"
  • Kita Harrison Golden
    Key Cast
    "Connie Lucas"
  • Isaiah Lucas
    Key Cast
    "Dexter Moore"
  • Sidney Ginyard
    Key Cast
    "Steve Brown"
  • Chelsi Stancil
    Key Cast
    "Tacara Jenson"
  • Yolanda Braddy
    Key Cast
    "Deidra Donnelly "
  • Janice Wilbourn
    Key Cast
    "Janice"
  • Daniel Jarvie
    Key Cast
    "Roberto"
  • Amina Pankey
    Associate Producer
  • Amina Pankey
    Musical Score
  • Brea Miles
    Musical Score
  • Kemuel "E-Hoody" Crossty
    Musical Score
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes 50 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 20, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    MOV (Quicktime)
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16.9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Shayla's Catch Super Bowl Weekend Screening
    Atlanta
    United States
    February 1, 2019
    NA
    NA
  • Fulton County Fairburn Library
Director Biography - Sonya Jenkins, Jermaine Brantley

Sonya Jenkins, born and raised in Atlanta, GA, is an Actress, Entertainment Journalist, Author, and Producer/Director/Writer of "Shayla's Catch" Film. "Shayla's Catch" was adapted from Sonya Jenkins' novel of the same name. Jenkins studied Communications at the University of Tennessee where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications with an emphasis in journalism. Since childhood, Jenkins has always loved entertainment and the wonders of storytelling. She would often write in her diary, a way she would express her thoughts and her creativity. Her creative writing talents got her the honor of "Most Outstanding Student in Language Arts" while she was in high school. Jenkins went on to pursue a career in entertainment journalism, and got a taste of both show business and broadcast-journalism at "Entertainment Tonight" in Hollywood when she got a coveted internship there.
Soon afterwards, Jenkins became Upscale Magazine's first entertainment editor, writing celebrity feature stories and covering red carpets. She also honed her skills as an actress, and recalls being bitten by the acting bug when she was in the stage play, "The Wiz" while in high school. Jenkins would go on to perform in other stage plays and was cast in a commercial when a director approached her while she was walking inside a grocery store, asking her to be in the grocery store commercial for the BiLo Supermarket chain. Although Jenkins continued to excel in her entertainment journalism career, even working for CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta as a Video Journalist and creating her own magazine, Sonya's Spotlight, (now on the web), she also never gave up on her acting pursuits. In 2014 SHAYLA’S CATCH, Jenkins’ first novel was birthed. She is also the author of FIERY CHARM (Teaser), and MOTIVATION: The Path to Inner Power.
As an actress, Jenkins has spread her wings and continues to love the craft, although her own project, "Shayla's Catch" has put her in the forefront as a filmmaker. Jenkins was a Stand-In and Marcher in the Academy Award nominated film "Selma," where Award-Winning Director, Ava DuVernay, gave her an opportunity to direct a small scene of actors marching, while singing an old-time hymnal. This directing experience gave Jenkins an adrenaline rush, and made her realize that wearing the "Director's Hat" was yet another dream. In acting, Jenkins also had principal roles in "The Verdict with Judge Hatchett" a WebMD commercial, Discovery ID's "Murder Calls," and American Society of Reproductive Medicine Industrial. She has appeared in Tyler Perry's "A Madea Christmas," "For Better or Worse," "The Haves and The Have Nots," Lifetime TV's "The Trip To Bountiful," opposite Cicely Tyson and "Marry Me," FOX's "Star," and several other films and television shows.
_____________________________________________________________________
Co-Director, Cinematographer, Editor - Jermaine Brantley

Jermaine Brantley, born in San Diego, California and a graduate of North Carolina A & T, is an Actor, Stuntman, First Unit Movie Electrician and the Cinematographer, Co-Director and Editor for "Shayla's Catch" film project.
Jermaine's biggest role to date was as Jabari Warrior in the Marvel movie "Black Panther." Along with several acting credits, Jermaine's movie production credits include: "Spider-Man: Homecoming", "Passengers", "Allegiant", "Almost Christmas", "Necessary Roughness", "42" (the Jackie Robinson Story), "Hunger Games 2 & 3", "Fast & Furious" and "The Walking Dead" to name a few.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Since I self-published my novel in 2014, the question, "Are you a Catch?" became a catchy term I asked readers when I was promoting the novel. Now, in motion picture form, the question has been re-launched, with all the readers wanting to envision the characters of the film version and wanting to know if they are Catches. The process of preparing for "Shayla's Catch," the film, began before it even became a book, but when my nephew, a college football player at Arizona State University, had a football game in Los Angeles against the USC Trojans, I scheduled a Table Read the next day. It went so well, that I had actors calling me to be a part of the project. I scheduled another Table Read and knew exactly who I should choose as Lead and Supporting actors. My Shayla in "Shayla's Catch" is the daughter of Super Bowl Champion and former Wider Receiver of the Chicago Bears and L.A. Raiders (and the fastest man in the world in his age group) Willie Gault. I knew that Shakari Gault would be a good fit for the role of Shayla based on her acting ability (I had viewed some of her work), her knowledge about the football life and her beauty. She looks just like the character, Shayla, on the book cover, "Shayla's Catch."
The two tables reads and auditions, and my already promoting SHAYLA'S CATCH (the book), garnered so much attention that people began texting and calling me (out of the blue) to ask if they could be a part of the project. Many offered something in return - their location (if they weren't actors) or wardrobe. But my actors auditioned for and earned their roles.

I am so proud of my cast and the way we all came together. If I didn't choose them through an audition, I saw their work in film projects or on stage. I also took referrals. In short, I have the best cast I could ever dream of having. I wanted to wait out for Michael B. Jordan as CK Moore, the flamboyant and cocky football player in the story (yes, I was dreaming), but I figured forging ahead with the actors I had at hand was to my best interest.

"Shayla's Catch" makes you go, "Hmmm." Yes, the life of the athlete, Calvin CK Moore, is lavish, (as we've seen on TV and in the media for many real life, high-profile athletes), but have we really seen the women they court, date and marry and what they go through behind-the-scenes? Sure, we've seen the woman stand by her man sometimes (if he's had some trouble) or cheering him on if he is a star athlete, but I wanted "Shayla's Catch" to go beyond that outward appearance and get to the core of what it's really like to date or marry a man of stature, who has sexual prowess and money. "Shayla's Catch" does just that. The twists and turns will sometimes have you on an emotional roller-coaster and at other times, the audience will feel a sense of romance and enlightenment. I present to you, the First Look of "SHAYLA'S CATCH." Are You A Catch?
Sonya Jenkins
Writer, Producer