The ATL Waterboyz
ATL WATER BOYZ is a short documentary that examines the recent uprise of young, black males selling water on the streets of Atlanta as a means of survival. We will take a journalistic yet cinematic approach to uncover the psychology of the “boys behind the bottles”. This 12 minute short documentary will dissect the root of this negatively perceived “hustle” while
showcasing real families that have been impacted by the current climate in Atlanta. We peel back the layers of this issue by following Quamarius, an Atlanta native over the course of two years to find out what it's like being an Atlanta Water Boy.
“ATL Waterboyz” part 1 of 4 will deliver a 360-degree view of this controversial issue featuring exclusive interviews from the water-boys, victims, political leaders, community members, celebrities and influencers. Our team’s main objective is to captivate audiences by shedding an insightful light on this topic by delivering the facts through authentic interviews, while humanizing the
issue. The storyline will be interwoven with an exploration of past incidents, revisiting archival footage and testimonials, while incorporating a series of interviews to help deliver a balanced view on this movement.
"ATL WATERBOYZ” will be a story that will parallel a much larger debate in this country and will hopefully bring along its own
necessity; change.“
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Antoinetta Hairston-StallingsDirectorBEING, Just Extensions, The Price of Silence, Trap Queens
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Antoinetta HairstonWriter
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Michael GreeneWriter
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Antoinetta Hairston- StallingsProducerBEING, Killer Curves, Price of Silence, Trap Queens,
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Michael GreeneProducerRace Bubba, Prisoner of Love, SISTAS, KILLER CURVES
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Keyon WilliamsProducer
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David JosephProducerNomad with Carlton McCoy, The God's Honest Truth with Charlemagne, True Life: Crime,
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Project Type:Documentary, Short, Web / New Media
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Genres:Historical drama, drama
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Runtime:11 minutes 57 seconds
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Completion Date:December 31, 2021
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Production Budget:75,000 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:Digital, Sony FS5
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
Antoinetta Maria Hairston-Stallings lives by the famous Ralph Waldo Emerson quote, “Do not go where the path may lead, instead go where there is no path and leave a trail.” Born and raised alongside her twin brother in Flint, Michigan, Antoinetta left home in 2001 to pursue her degree in Radio, Television and Film from Howard University in Washington, DC. She was involved in many activities and organizations on campus and in the District, including membership in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. While at Howard, she launched her television and film career early on, with consecutive summer internships at CBS in Hollywood, CA. After graduating with honors from Howard University, Antoinetta decided to begin her career in entertainment in Los Angeles, CA. She packed up all her belongings and headed west with little more than $800, undying passion and her faithful vision of success. Her first job in Hollywood was as a receptionist for A. Smith & Co. Productions. Shortly after, she began working as a Talent Production Assistant on Nick Cannon’s Wild N Out series for two seasons. She also did freelance work as a production coordinator for music videos and award shows and gained experience in television commercials.
In 2007, Antoinetta worked with Cossette Productions to produce the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards show and subsequently met Stephen Hill, then Vice President of Music Programming for the African-American focused network. He immediately became a mentor, offering invaluable professional advice and an industry network. Antoinetta relocated to New York City and served as Stephen’s assistant for three years. Some of her notable achievements at BET were co-producing the 30-minute special “Crank That Vote” prior to the historic 2008 Presidential Election and writing and producing an on-air promotional voting campaign. She has also served as an Associate Producer on BET specials “Rising Icons” and “Black Girls Rock.” Post BET, Antoinetta moved on to become a freelance producer and founded Girls with Gifts, Inc, a mentorship program for young girls from underserved communities who have a desire to find their purpose through their gifts.
Currently, Antoinetta independently produces films and documentary's through her production company, Gifted Media, Inc. She also serves as the Creative Executive for TPS in Atlanta, Georgia.
Although the circumstance for each child is different; the central modus is survival. The recent emergence of the Water Boy debate has sparked a conversation around Atlanta and this
documentary will explore and expose the impetus with hopes to spark a conversation that will help create change. As a new filmmaker is it important that I showcase a side of the these young boys that the local news does not show- their TRUTH.