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AMERICA THIS, AMERICA THAT
What is it about?
What do you do when all you want to do is live a decent life & get ahead but even your own people stand in your way? Eventually, enough has to be enough!
Nastyelgic, Stir the Pot films LLC, and 111 Vision Entertainment’s America This, America That takes place in Virginia in the mid 1800’s with William (Darius “Nastyelgic Jackson) a big, strong, but yet defiant slave. He is fairly new to the plantation but has been there long enough to have found union with fellow slave Antonette (Antonette Heckstall-Jackson). William is secretly learning how to read from the late slave master’s daughter, Ann Marie (Tilia Moraru).
William hopes of one day teaching his wife to read also. However, standing in the way of that goal is Tommy (Gabriel Allen Terrell), the house negro who is now in charge in the wake of the white slave master’s death. In this unusual circumstance, Tommy has been left in charge of the plantation until his only daughter, Anne Marie, is of age. However, Tommy is not just anybody.
Having never been in a position of power and/or authority, Tommy can only do what he knows by imitating what was done by his late slave master. He soon forgets his own identity & his ignorance allows him to treat the other slaves just as badly (sometimes worse) than the late master. Tommy can’t see how his loss of identity has manifested into ignorance. Little did Tommy know, William is not the one to play with but will Antonette’s secrets work in Tommy’s favor?
Who is starring in it?
Darius " Nastyelgic" Jackson, Gabriel Allen Terrell, Antonette Heckstall-Jackson, Talia Moraru
Who is behind the camera?
Creator/writer/executive producer/co-director, Darius "Nastyelgic" Jackson; excutive producer Antonette Heckstall-Jackson; director Ali Bervine; producer/director of photography Eric Lovett Jr.; adapted for screen play by Steven Schaffer. America This, America That is co - production Stir the Pot films LLC (a division of 111 vision Entertainment LLC), and Blcklove.
Meet the Creator, Excutive Producer, and Co-Director
In every generation, the world is blessed with a soul who dares to change the status quo. Darius "Nastyelgic" Jackson is the creator, innovator, and motivator that chooses to shift the narratives that shape the culture to which he ascribes. As the owner of 111 Vision Ent & Stir the Pot Films, he creates content that represents his world and his people. As an author, Jackson innovates new methods to develop the stories that are needed in our communities. As a father, he motivates the lives of the little people that rely on his vision and dream. As a thespian, he creates and plays the roles that will highlight the difference that viewers need to change the narrative. His TV credits include: CBS's "Blue Bloods" & "FBI", NBC's "New Amsterdam", Aspire TV & Kweli TV's "Jabari Keating", HBO Max's "Pause: With Sam Jay", and most recently CBS's "The Equalizer".
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Director Statement
The inspiration to write, executive produce, and co-direct my film “America, This, America That” stems my latest music single “America This, America That”. The song speaks about America’s hidden history of how slavery has affected the black community. The song especially highlights the concept of how growing up black verses growing up white are two drastically different experiences. This part of history too often goes unspoken, as it is considered taboo and detrimental to our ability to move forward. However, the hard reality is that we have experienced two different America’s, and this reality continues even today.
The video and song has allowed me to express the origin from which self-hate and hate for each other within African American communities. This mentality began with the written work of William Lynch’s “Willie Lynch Syndrome”. Decades later, we still see the implications of the syndrome through music, TV & film, and other media mediums.
“America this, America that” is such a profound song that I felt there was no way to convey this message by way of a typical music video. Instead I sought a solution by challenging myself as a creative. As a successful actor, I felt compelled to combine my talents of music, acting, and writing, to create this “Music-Short” . My goal for this project is to bring awareness to the root cause of some of the issues we are still currently facing today within America, and particularly within the black community. These issues include Identity issues, greed, misconduct , unfairness, and several others. This film speaks volumes to my soul and I hope it will do the same for my audience. Thank you for your time & consideration.
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