Ann Marie Production Movie: Stars too High

Movie on a budget
'Stars Too High' is a film being made with a lot of heart … and a lot less money.

By Rick Bentley / The Fresno Bee

01/15/07 03:21:28

'Five minutes," Julia Najieb shouts as she enters the kitchen area of the home nestled in the hills of Madera County. She is carrying a brown plastic container loaded with cooking utensils and food.

The items — some purchased, some taken from Najieb's pantry — are needed for the movie scenes to be shot later in the evening. She and a handful of crew and actors are in the final days of filming "Stars Too High."

Najieb is the last to arrive. Along with being the director, she wrote the script. She's producer, head of casting and helps out with the props on this ultra-low budget movie.

Normally, the writer and director of a movie would not be delivering props. Not since Mickey Rooney turned to Judy Garland and said "Hey, I have a barn. Let's put on a show" has there been such a non-Hollywood way of making movies.

She and the cast and crew are making a movie with little money and no guarantees the film will be sold or shown. They are working on the film because of the need to tell a story and hope of making a movie that matters to audiences. Nothing more complicated than that.

They are a bunch of mostly local people trying to tell a story about blacks seeing reparations for their ancestors' slavery and the discussions and arguments about it among blacks.

On top of that, the cast either has little or no professional acting experience. Locations, food and other items have either been donated by local merchants or purchased using donated money.

"Stars Too High" will be completed by the end of March. Najieb says that several cable channels have shown interest in the production. She wouldn't say which ones. Anyway, there have been no promises.

The cast and crew continue their work. Cinematographer Tim Bragaw goes over camera movements with Javier Elizondo. Duties on the film for Elizondo have ranged from location scout to key grip, which means he's in charge of moving things around — furniture, cameras, whatever.

Brian Ferguson has disappeared into a nearby room. The Fresno native, who owns The Wet Paint Co., will be made up for the role of the elderly Uncle Henry.

His brother, Dwayne Ferguson, is busy typing on a laptop computer. He is writing a new piece of software for his Web site, BlackXchange.net, a networking hub for black professionals.

Although Dwayne Ferguson never has acted before, he has the lead role in the film. Jessica Watkin, who plays Ferguson's wife, has worked as an extra in several television shows. But this film is the biggest acting job to date for the student at California State University, Fresno.

"My mother heard at church that they were making this movie," says Watkin, who is a Roosevelt School of the Arts graduate.

She's happy to be part of a film with such a powerful message. She's also happy for the opportunity. Besides being in a lead role, it's a part in a film with a predominantly black cast. Those kinds of projects are rare in or out of Hollywood.

"My husband in the film becomes obsessed with reparations, and my character is just fed up with him," she says.

The frustration of the film's major characters becomes clear when the cameras start to roll. Husband and wife stand toe-to-toe in the living room shouting at each other. This conflict is observed by their son, played by novice actor Aram Easter.

Najieb credits local singer Yanna Johnson with helping the novice cast. She started coaching the cast members long before filming started Nov. 19.

Dwayne Ferguson needed coaching. He landed the lead role almost by accident.

"We had auditions. I would end up reading with everyone. I guess I did a good enough job that Julia decided I should play Davon," Ferguson says.

The house where the filming is being done is an example of the strong community that has helped the picture get made. Frazier Realty, the company handling the property, isn't charging a fee. And the realty company owner, Terance Frazier, has a role in the movie.

Support has come from a variety of local businesses: Stickie Brand Clothing Co., Just Keepin It Real Hair Salon, The California Arts Academy, Bryan Ortiz Photography, New Life Discovery Schools Inc. and Langley Recording Service.

Najieb says: "I was worried in the beginning, wondering how I was going to pull this off. I've got a host of friends and colleagues who stepped forward and let me know everything was going to be OK."

Not all the actors are local. Former Atlanta Falcons player Cory Hall makes a cameo appearance. The reigning Ms. Black Arkansas, Katrina Steward, also appears in the film.

The connection to the BlackXchange Web site also caught the attention of North Carolina music producer Ron "Traxman" Carter. He has been working on the film's score.

That whole "it takes a community" idea may sound trite. In this case, it is how Najieb made a dream become a reality.

Najieb tried to get funding to make the movie through the Public Broadcasting System, but that stalled. She finally got a nudge from her business partner, Dwayne Ferguson. They were working together on BlackXchange.

He told Najieb that they should just make the movie themselves. The process has been a little unorthodox, but this little film has slowly chugged toward completion.

The idea for the script came from battles that were going on in Najieb's own family.

"I took that story and used some other stories to write the script," Najieb says.

She used the different issues about reparations that are talked about within the black community: inherited land battles within families, inner-cultural racism and other insecurities affecting the community as a whole.

"I think people are getting tired of the same old song. It's too depressing to see another black movie where we are presented as angry rebels or victims and that's it," Najieb says. "I'd rather present to people the cause-and-effect relationship, and how to move to the next level."

The movie may never be seen by anyone other than family members and friends. But that won't mean it wasn't a successful effort.

"We got it made," Najieb says. "I learned that if you have a vision, you can get it done if you surround yourself with a quality team."

The reporter can be reached at rbentley@fresnobee.com or at (559) 441-6355.

Bryan S. Ortiz / Special To The Bee
Cast and crew work on a scene from the movie. To make the film happen, the moviemakers have had to work on a shoestring budget.

Bryan S. Ortiz / Special To The Bee

A rural plot of land in Sanger serves as the location for a scene in "Stars Too High."

Bryan S. Ortiz / Special To The Bee

Perseverance paid off. "I learned that if you have a vision," Julia Najieb says, "you can get it done if you surround yourself with a quality team."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact: 
Ann Marie Production
4460 W. Shaw Box 389
Fresno, CA 93722
Phone:  559-352-1444/message 1-800-971-6498

 

Local production company gets national exposure for “edutainment” film Stars too High

     Fresno, CA -- December 18, 2006 – Local business Ann Marie Production is creating a new feature film, Stars too High, starring business icons such as Dwayne Ferguson, (BlackXchange.net), Terance Frazier  (Frazier Realty) and California Advocate’s Derrick Nelson—now the film has bolstered up national attention…
      Former Atlanta Falcons NFL football player Cory Hall has already filmed his cameo appearance for the movie; even Ms. Black Arkansas Katrina Steward made her appearance in a leading role that required vigorous training and expertise in dance. 
     The script content also attracted one of North Carolina’s most talented and diverse music producers, Ron “Traxman” Carter, who just finished composing music for this year’s Super Bowl. 
     Now in the process of creating the score and some of the soundtrack for the Stars too High film, Traxman also incorporated his “Jiberish” (AKA Gibberish) Rap Star Dre’ Money, who uses Pig Latin & hip-hop rhythm to enlighten his listeners.  Traxman—who has been compared to Quincy Jones, George Clinton and D’ Angelo—also instills his own composed hip-hop jazz and melodic ballads to emotionalize key scenes in the movie.
     “My drive is to look at every scene and synchronize it with every note of music I’m playing—that’s the most important part of any movie is making sure the tracks fit what’s happening, not because we want to fit artist in just because.”

     The Stars too High film subject matter has also fascinated national cable networks and is scheduled to be finished by March 2007, (production began Nov.19^th.)  In fact, local business owners throughout the Valley have come forward to help assist financially due to the overwhelming demand for the film’s success:  Cortney Griffin’s Stickie Brand Clothing Company, Maria Spaulding’s "Just Keepin It Real" Hair Salon, the  California Arts Academy formerly known as Cynthia Merrill, Bryan Ortiz Photography, hair & make-up artist Hannah Espinoza & Rachel Contras, Al Ellis, New Life Discovery Schools Inc., BlackXchange.net and David Langley’s Langley Recording Service all collaborated with Ann Marie Production to help get the film on its feet.  The more the story was told about the purpose and content of the film Stars too High, the more local supporters and sponsors came forward to help finance this new feature film being produced in the Valley—(sponsors and supporters are still welcome to come aboard the Production.)
      “I’m very grateful to the sponsors and supporters that have greeted us with open arms,” said producer, director and writer Julia Najieb.  “I was worried in the beginning wondering how I was going to pull this off; I’ve got a host of friends and colleagues who stepped forward and let me know everything was going to be okay—they are really helping us to put Fresno on the map.”
     Other supporters who have assisted with donations and services include:  Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Fresno Chapter, The African-American Historical & Cultural Museum of the San Joaquin Valley, 88.1 FM, KFCF’s Valley Black Talk radio, Fresno High School, Wonda Correia’s Signature Creations and FunkHop--Inc. Music.
     Another heavy hitter who assisted with the production included director Teresa D. McKinney who began working with Dudley Najieb in 2000 as the director of Bench Memoirs at the Henry Street Theater in New York City; co-founder of an organization to promote advancement of African Americans in Arts Leadership, McKinney is currently the program manager for education at New York City Opera.

      Although most films like to instill nationally known actors for audience draw, Najieb did not hesitate to ask local talents such as Dwayne Ferguson, (BlackXchange.net) and Jessica Watkins (Malcolm in the Middle, The Bernie Mac Show, Mad TV, and Mick Jagger's video "God Gave Me Everything.") to play the leading roles of Lavon and Sienna in Stars too High.
      It would be no wonder for Najieb to also put together an all-star supporting cast from the Valley with talents such as Joshua Sims (Lyin up a Breeze, Slavery Civil War Re-enactments), Marie Sims and Nancy Whittle from the Slavery Civil War Re-enactments, and professional performer and Clovis dance instructor Jackie Clark
     “Sometimes the key to success is right in front of you,” explained Najieb.  “I once thought you had to have the big-time actors to be big-time—actually it’s just who has the best talent!” Najieb said
     Najieb has also incorporated top experienced professionals such as director of photography Tim Bragaw and dance choreographer Tara Boyd for the modern-African dance sequences in the film.
      “Dance speaks just as loud as words,” explained Dudley, “I wanted to make sure we were conveying the right message—and the right cinematography to make this film happen; I know we did that.”   

      Stars too High explores the different interconnected issues within the Black community that affect their existence today:  inherited land battles within families, the fight for reparations from slavery, inner-culture racism, and other insecurities affecting the Black community as a whole.  What makes this movie unique is that it presents a solution…
    “I think people are getting tired of the same old song—it’s too depressing to see another black movie where we are presented as angry rebels or victims and that’s it.  I’d rather present to people the cause and effect relationship, and how to move to the next level,” explained Najieb, who is also an English Instructor and an accomplished writer who has written and produced several plays, books, movies and pieces of poetry such as; research analysis “The Origins of Racial Epithets, plays Bench Memoirs, A Plane Life and A Black Woman’s Cry for Peace, book Marcus Wesson:  Mysterious Web of Deception, and movie Reparation Lost.

      For Black History Month, on February 27^th Najieb & Ferguson will present to Fresno City College students and the community on the historical references to slavery, reparations and discrimination issues in the film Stars too High from 10 AM to 2 PM.  Then on March 16^th from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM, the Fresno City College Theatre Arts Department is co-sponsoring a Stars too High multimedia presentation where the cast, crew & soundtrack artists will explore pertinent issues presented in the film through an excerpt from the movie, a theatrical & dance presentation, a live musical performance from the soundtrack, and a panel discussion.  Najieb’s goal is to give the Valley community strong impressions of what to expect in the film.
     “We just want to enlighten people through education and entertainment, and let them know there are always choices we can all make and solutions, if we choose to acknowledge them,” said Najieb.   “We know people will learn and be entertained at the same time.”

 

For interviews or sponsorship information, please call:  559-352-1444 or go to:

www.starstoohigh.com