Tag: Terrence Smalls

Doc’s Thumbs Up: The Mighty Herd Studios Premieres “Liquor for Water” starring Damian Byrd Jr and Micaiah Jones

I’m branching off from sharing any music artist this week. I’ll give you a little break from the “Baltimore Rapper” and the singer’s scene.

The Doc’s Thumb’s Up is The Mighty Herd Productions Liquor for Water short film which was just released to the public Monday, December 1st at 8 pm ET.

The film is directed and executive produced by media producer and photographer David Wavey. I first caught wind of who Mr. Wavey was in 2015. He was my coworker at my 9 to 5 job at the time. But something about him screamed he’s different from the rest of these folk. Wavey, to me, was destined to be more than his surroundings and that’s why I chose to follow his artistic journey throughout the years. I love that I literally watched his photography and creativity grow.

Photo by schaunchampion

Liquor For Water follows protagonist Damian Byrd Jr’s conquest towards his living purpose. Uncertain whether he is destined to be better following God’s graces, he finds himself in a church airing his grievances to what the audience believes to be a priest played by Micaiah Jones. We later find out he should be more careful about what he asks for. The film is a play on the Christian parable of turning water to Wine. We see this at the end of the video when the protagonist finds that his spirit bottle was turned into water. Dun, dun, dun!

Other familiar names involved in this project are co-writer and filmmaker Raquel LM, producer LaTonya Joyce-Palmer, director of photography Michael J. Johnson Jr., working as assistant camera, director of the Lost Kings Series brand Terrence Smalls and numerous other Baltimore creatives.

Liquor for Water is now available to view on YouTube. Watch the Full Film below.

The Lost Kings Series Premiers at Baltimore’s Charles Theater July 24th

Has Baltimore found it’s new Wire series? It’s possible to say after viewing the premiere of the Lost Kings Series this week at the Charles Theater July 24th.

Terrence Smalls, director at 89 Crowns and writer of the independent film, may be onto something with his new series because it’s been a long time coming since Baltimore had such rich production embedded with its culture. In Lost Kings, Smalls shares his perspective of the city trenches, finally giving a glimpse of the inside from an insider of Baltimore City.

Any Baltimorean can tell the world is ready for more insight into how we live our lives whenever our radar flashes anytime tourists compare the lifestyle of the residents in Baltimore City to actors in the phenomenal HBO Series The Wire. Watching the Lost Kings at its premier made me realize it could have the same potential. From people’s accents to the infamous dirt bike riding in Baltimore streets, this fictional story portrays our city life artistically instead of, in recent years, the common factual documentary.

Through Smalls’ enactment of Max, played by Baltimore’s dirt bike Wheelie Queen, we watch her journey to avenge her brother’s death and thrive in an arena full of corrupt men. According to the premiere’s Facebook e-vite, Lost Kings’ purpose is to “bring Baltimore Culture to the forefront, while also highlighting and examining factors that contribute to psychological trauma.”

The film did great in portraying its purpose. Many artists throughout Baltimore’s art scene had a part in the production of the film. So it was easy to pick up on the city’s culture naturally as we watch the native actors. The film also highlighted characters having Post Traumatic Stress in situations highly aggravating and aggressive.

The series premiere is broken into 3 chapters in a total length of 30 minutes. It didn’t feel like 30 minutes at all with its many break in-between scenes acting as identifiers for the audience to refresh their attention on a new direction the story will take lead. We can see Smalls create a signature of his artistry while implementing this playwright style into the first episode. It also sets the series apart from independent “hood films” of its time, labeling a little more cinematic than that of what I can find “googling” indie hood films or come across on YouTube. So let’s say in three chapters Baltimore’s rawness is indeed depicted authentically and successfully in a swift 30 minutes.

I also did my part as I was a production assistant for the film, which is always great. Woo! I enjoyed having met many of the cast a crew since last year in 2017 at the start of shooting. Other participants in the production took to social media to share that they felt the same.

Terrence Smalls shares his appreciation for the turnout of the Lost Kings Premiere:

Justin Moten posts a picture with other cast members.

 

Hell of a time last night with my cast mates @bmore_lucky_lilman @justcallme_smoove

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Ramona Rideout shares a scene of her character at the premiere:

 

OMG 😯…..seeing myself on the screen in the #movie #theater for the VERY FIRST TIME!… Was thee #BEST feeling in this whole world !!!! Lol I can’t even type the words on this screen to explain … there’s only one way from here to go…👆🏽UP ….I pray I work and I don’t give up 🙌🏽 #thankgod #alwaysbegrateful This project involves so many AMAZING people but @tonyasays you are the real #MVP and @4th.eye.diaries there’s no other like you… you guys are the epitome of #friends turned #family #lostkings #2018 Annnnd @smallroomzsuck @36seagulls this project is so freaking dope Annnnnnnd I couldn’t have done it without @bmore_lucky_lilman guidance and greatness! And I had awesome scene partners @jmo1305 ! Lol this was just so great !

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Does the Lost Kings series look like a series that you’d tune into? Leave your comments below.

If you missed out on the Lost Kings Series first premier, you have the opportunity to check it out really soon. The producers are expecting for the Lost Kings Series second premier to be held this August 2018.