Trailer-Stand from Xist Filmworks on Vimeo.
XIST Filmworks, in association with Lavon Filmworks presents STAND, featuring renowned R&B and Gospel music artist Shirley Murdock, Dove Award winner Karima Kibble of the Gospel music group Virtue, XIST Music dynamic recording artist Sean Simmonds as well as breakout actors Courtney “JR” Peebles and Willie “P-Dub” Moore Jr., and rapper/actor Quest Green. The vibrant cast tells the story powerfully, in word and song, to make audiences feel good and consider similar situations in their own lives.
Produced, written and directed by T. Black (Xist Records) and executively produced by Lavon Coleman, STAND is the story of three friends—Mike Shackleford, Cedric Randle, Anthony Bryant—and their musical band, “True City,” the hottest up-and-coming rap group in the country. They perform at every major venue in their town and in surrounding cities and are played all over the radio. But there is one little difference about them: they are Christians and their group is a Christian rap group. While trying to become a success in the music industry, each of the “True City” members experience challenging situations in their lives. Mike is married with a wife and daughter and needs to make ends meet and support his family, while trying to pursue music. He works at a local grocery store where his hours are always cut, so his paycheck is never enough. Cedric wants to help his sick mother pay her doctor bills and works as an auto mechanic, which pays pretty well, but his mother’s medical expenses pile up quickly. Anthony has a bookie debt of $10,000 from before he became a Christian. With all of the money issues that each of the guys are facing, they are determined to fight their financial challenges by making it in the music industry. When they are suddenly offered a recording contract with a six figure signing bonus from a major record company, they are faced with a challenge far greater than their money troubles, once they realize their deal requires them to record music they don’t believe in.
The record executive who offers them the deal, John Monarch, is someone from their old neighborhood where they all grew up and who was a big brother figure to them. He always told them when he made it he would come back and get them—and he does. Monarch takes them shopping, out to eat, arranges meetings with important people for them, and all the while they are enjoying their first taste of the good life, they have a critical decision to make. As part of the finalization of their music deal offer, “True City” is asked to participate in a high profile talent contest that they can easily win. But rather than being excited that their official big break is about to happen, the guys are torn when they are asked by Monarch to perform songs in the talent show which have themes that they just don’t morally agree with. Do they take this deal and get paid so they can take care of their families, or do they take a STAND?
Look for STAND at the top of the 2012!
For more information, visit www.stand-movie.com and IMDB.
