ARTS FEATURE
NEVER TOO YOUNG
Local actress launches production company, steps into new role BY LEA BEKELE
Pg. 12 MAY 19 - JUN 1, 2021 - QCNERVE.COM
As 2020 came to a close, Charlottebased actress Maritalyn Frazier was having a conversation with her manager Donna Rentz about whether or not she should start her own company. Frazier was sure she wanted to produce a film after spending more than a decade in front of the camera, but wasn’t sure how or when she could do it. After sharing her idea for a film based on a true story that recently occurred in her hometown of Florence, South Carolina, her manager had only one question: Would her first film be her last? “And I said, you know what, that probably won’t be my only movie,” Frazier recalls, looking back on the fateful day that led to the birth of her new production company. After nearly a decade in front of the camera, including small roles in Black Panther, Greenleaf, Baby Driver, and Orange Is the New Black, Frazier recently announced the official launch of Never Too Young Productions. The company’s first film will also be Frazier’s debut as producer. It’s titled Dead End: The Ambush of the Florence 7. The film was inspired by a tragic incident that occurred in Florence in October 2018, when a Vietnam veteran ambushed and shot seven police officers, killing two.
A promising path leads to a ‘Dead End’
Born Maritalyn Koulebetouba in Florence, Frazier grew up acting in community plays and making television appearances, including one on the long-running children’s show Sesame Street. She even landed a TV commercial for the Slinky, one of the most popular toys of the 20th century. She spent the following years participating in productions in high school and throughout
college. Eventually, Frazier graduated from Wingate University with a degree in communications, and has spent much of her career continuing on that acting path, until the recent launch of Never Too Young.
lost their lives on Oct. 3, 2018: 52-year-old Florence Seth Hopkins was later charged with five counts Police Sergeant Terrance Carraway, a 30-year- of criminal sexual conduct with a minor under 11 veteran of the FPD at the time of his passing; and years old (first-degree), and two counts of criminal 36-year-old FPD officer and investigator Farrah sexual conduct with a minor under 16 years old. Turner. As a former sharp-shooter utilizing the element of surprise, Hopkins had an advantage over the officers that came to his home that day. An hours-long standoff ensued, ending with Fred’s surrender. One of the victims was not able to receive immediate medical help due to the danger involved with the situation, which may have led to their death. The incident raised a lot of speculation in the community, especially regarding Hopkins’ intentions. Some Florence locals wondered how Hopkins, a disbarred attorney and husband to a practicing attorney, seemed to know the police were on the way to his home. Others, including Frazier, believe the act was racially motivated. “It was still a racial thing,” she explained. “The cops that came were African-American. He was upset that Black officers were coming to his house.” The film will serve as a tribute to the victims’ service and their department, depicting how their untimely deaths affected their immediate families and colleagues on the force, including the surviving officers, Frazier explained. Dead End is set shortly after the shooting, beginning with the victims’ memorials and leading up to the swearing in of Florence’s new mayor, Teresa Myers Ervin. It will then continue through the trial of Fred Hopkins, which is set to happen in 2021. The film will serve partially as a biopic about Mayor Ervin and her career following the tragedy of the Florence 7. “The movie will still be about the Florence 7, but it’s going to be more about the mayor of Florence,” Frazier explained. “The community came together and we voted in our first Black mayor ever in the city.” Frazier had originally wanted to tell the MARITALYN FRAZIER AT A CHADWICK BOSEMAN MEMORIAL CELEBRATION story from the viewpoint of the victims and PHOTO COURTESY OF MARITALYN FRAZIER leave it at that, but certain circumstances — including the swearing-in of Ervin and On the day of the incident, police showed up at Hopkins’ request for a speedy trial — changed the Dead End: The Ambush of the Florence 7 offers a flipped narrative as compared to the typical police the Hopkins residence to speak to Fred’s son, Seth process for her and her team. shootings that dominate the news cycle: A white Hopkins, regarding child molestation allegations. She’ll aim to offer a positive perspective on the Vietnam veteran shoots seven police officers, killing Fred Hopkins fired on officers before they had a event by paying homage to those who lost their two Black officers, and lives to tell the tale. chance to knock, then barricaded himself in his lives while shedding light on the historic event of The film will memorialize the two victims who home. her hometown electing its first Black mayor.
