THROUGH MY LENS ATL DOCUMENTARY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TOMMY FORD LAUNCHES FILM TRAINING PROJECT AND DOCUMENTARY TARGETING ATLANTA’S INNER CITY YOUTH Atlanta, GA May 31, 2016- Tommy Ford aka “Tommy from Martin” and philanthropist Hank Stewart announce their new community project Through My Lens ATL, a film training project targeting inner city youth in Atlanta and Dekalb county that have an interest in the film and television industry. The project began at Clark Atlanta University, and is currently in production and filming in Clarkston, GA at Georgia Piedmont Technical College. The sixteen week program includes film production training and exercises as well as mentoring sessions. The young men also create and produce three public service announcements on topics such as “What is Black Manhood?”, “How to Tie a Tie”, and the dangers of texting and driving. The Through My Lens ATL documentary is scheduled to premiere at the American Black Film Festival on June 19th in Miami, FLA and air on Aspire TV network in fall 2016.

About "Through My Lens ATL” Through My Lens is a documentary that examines the complicated world of bullying as it relates to the urban youth population. Each week, the youths are provided with mentors that discuss thought provoking topics and participate in training that will allow them to become production assistants in the television and film industry. The college staff also work as mentors which fills the participants with hope, inspiration, and encouragement and provide life coaching to help them heal. The documentary utilizes in-depth interviews and testimonies from bullying experts, historians, psychotherapists, social media trendsetters, reformed bullies and inner-city youth to paint a clear picture of this epidemic. To further shed light on this growing epidemic – personal testimonies of celebrities, athletes and bullying experts from across the country provide heart-wrenching stories.

With each interview the audience will witness the personal struggles the young men face as they reconcile their role in the bullying epidemic. The goal is to see if this 16-week experience can change the lens, focus, exposure, and vision of these young people.

TML founders, Michelle Spence-Jones and Gail Seay teamed with Tommy Ford and Hank Stewart as executive producers with Viviane Brazil serving as producer and assistant director. The documentary writer is Susan-Sojourna Collier who is also one of the film’s producers alongside Tammy Williams and Kathleen Kelly. The team behind the scenes includes Technical Director-Terry Clarkston, Mental Health Expert, Dr. Sonayia Shepherd Akinlade, Tarra Jackson (Madam Money) who is Financial Literacy/Entrepreneur Trainer and Aaron Wiggins (Researcher/Social Worker).

For media inquiries contact TiaCulverPR@gmail.com

THROUGH MY LENS-DOCUMENTARY Michelle Spence-Jones (Founder) Gail Seay (Founder) Tommy Ford (Executive Producer/Director) Hank Stewart (Co-Executive Producer) Viviane Brazil (Producer/Assistant Director) Susan-Sojourna Collier (Writer/Producer) Tammy Williams (Producer) Kathleen Kelly (Producer) Terry Clarkston (Technical Director) Dr. Sonayia Shepherd Akinlade (Mental Health Expert) Tarra Jackson aka Madam Money (Financial Literacy/Entrepreneur Trainer) Aaron Wiggins (Researcher/Social Worker)

SYNOPSIS Through My Lens is a documentary that examines the complicated world of bullying as it relates to the urban youth population. Each week, the youths are provided with mentors that discuss thought provoking topics and participate in training that will allow them to become production assistants in the television and film industry. The college staff also work as mentors which fills the participants with hope, inspiration, and encouragement and provide life coaching to help them heal. The documentary utilizes in-depth interviews and testimonies from bullying experts, historians, psychotherapists, social media trendsetters, reformed bullies and inner-city youth to paint a clear picture of this epidemic. To further shed light on this growing epidemic – personal testimonies of celebrities, athletes and bullying experts from across the country provide heart-wrenching stories.

With each interview the audience will witness the personal struggles the young men face as they reconcile their role in the bullying epidemic. The goal is to see if this 16-week experience can change the lens, focus, exposure, and vision of these young people.

Michelle Spence-Jones (Founder) Jambalaya Media Group, “where great ideas come together” is a multicultural agency that creates, promotes and develops marketing strategies that enhance a company's products or profile in the African American and Caribbean markets. Jambalaya Media Group engages consumers with powerful online/digital media campaigns, in market activation events and product placements in film and video outlets that increase brand awareness and sales. Jambalaya Media Group empowers the public with campaigns that shift mindsets, educates and launches movements for change that improve the quality of life for children and their families. Previous clients of Jambalaya Media Group include Mercedes Benz, Bacardi, Remy, American Black Film Festival and others.

Tommy Ford (Executive Producer / Director) Actor Tommy Ford is a Hollywood veteran who became famous for his role in the syndicated sitcom “ M a r t i n ” as Martin Lawrence’s best friend and side-kick “Tommy”. He completed four seasons on TV One’s hit show, “Who’s Got Jokes” hosted by Bill Bellemy, as the hilarious Pope of Comedy. In the past few years Tommy has starred in more than twenty films.

Recently, Tommy has been focusing on a career behind the camera. He has directed and produced several webisodes, television dramas, and sitcom pilots. Tommy Ford is an award winning motivational and inspirational speaker who is traveling the nation with a testimony of hope and healing. He received the Humanitarian of Arts award in 2015 for using film, television, and performing arts as a form of drama therapy; and for producing positive, empowering and inspirational content that assists communities with them toward healing. Ford is currently producing and directing a documentary / docuseries on bullying and cyber-bullying that documents the lives of 25 Black young men on their journey toward discovering their life purpose. Tommy Ford is clearly aware of his job…to be about his Fathers business!

Hank Stewart (Co-Executive Producer) Hank Stewart's poetry has awarded him many opportunities including working on programs with prominent officials such as former Vice President, Al Gore and contributing a piece honoring the mother of the civil rights movement, Rosa Parks with a special poetry dedication. Mr. Stewart has recited his works for Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Atlanta Former Mayor Shirley Franklin, late Rev. Hosea Williams and Dr. Joseph E. Lowery. He also performed for Ruby Dee, late Johnny Cochran, Harry Belafonte, Xernona Clayton and Ambassador Andrew Young just to name a few. Hank is the founder of "Walk Against the Call", an awareness walk to prevent breast cancer which has raised more than $100,000. He is also the founder of the Annual White Linen Affair, Hot Chocolate, Love Jones Sunday's and Five Men on a Stool. As a result of his love for the community and specifically the youth, Hank Stewart co-founded with Gwendolyn Mason, a youth leadership development foundation focused on strengthening our children whole, mind, body and soul. The foundation has impacted more than 10,000 youth over the course of its existence and has made significant changes to our youth’s health & financial wellness, education, social and community involvement.

Susan-Sojourna Collier (Writer / Producer) With a background in poetry & playwriting, Susan-Sojourna Collier received an Emmy® Nomination for Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series for All My Children. A veteran television writer, has written for many daytime drama series, including All My Children, General Hospital and One Life to Live. Most recently, Susan-Sojourna penned the feature films – Conflict of Interest and Switching Lanes. With Tommy Ford (Martin, Who Got Jokes & Harlem Night) as director – both films were screened at several film festivals [the Las Vegas Black Film Festival, Bronze-Lens Festival and Peachtree Village International Film Festival and Kingdomwood Christian Film Festival]. In addition, Susan-Sojourna produced and wrote the feature documentary “Charge it to the Game: The Effects of Gun Violence in Brooklyn” funded by the Robin Hood Foundation & Brooklyn District Attorney. It received the Honored Feature at the NY Metropolitan Film Festival & NYC Downtown Feature Festival. Serving as a mentor for aspiring writers, Susan-Sojourna is an educator and motivational speaker focusing on building self-esteem through writing. Most recently, she was awarded the Writer in Resident at Abu Dhabi Women’s College [ADWC] in the United Arab Emirates.

Dr. Sonayia Shepherd Akinlade (Mental Health Expert) With an extensive background, including serving as a full time school safety practitioner in the nation’s largest state government school safety center, Sony has worked directly with hundreds of public and private schools across the nation and has provided crisis response and recovery support following many school crisis situations and major disasters around the world, including Hurricane Katrina, Tsunami in Indonesia, Haiti, and outbreaks in Africa and Asia. Sony has also appeared on Good Morning America, The Today Show, NPR, CNN, FOX, MSNBC and 20/20. Most recently, Dr. Shepherd served as the project lead for the Safe Havens development team for FEMA course IS-360 - Preparing for Mass Casualty Incidents: A Guide for Schools, Higher Education, and Houses of Worship which is a new web training program on active shooter response for the United States Department of Education as part of President Barack Obama’s White House School Safety Initiative. Dr. Shepherd’s newest book, Staying Alive – How to Act Fast and Survive Deadly Encounters for Barron’s Educational Series Publishing is now in stores Dr. Shepherd has earned her graduate degree in Clinical Psychology and earned her undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Spanish from Phillips University. She also has a Ph.D. in Public Administration & Emergency Response Policy. Dr. Shepherd currently serves as the Chief Operating Offer and Senior Safety Analyst of Safe Havens International, a non-profit campus safety center.

Viviane Brazil (Asst. Director / Producer) Viviane Brazil is Tommy Ford’s producing partner. She has worked with T Ford Model Productions LLC for more than six years. They have produced and directed more than 15 productions including three films sold to Lionsgate Films. They have partnered on projects like: Baby Mama’s Club, Conflict of Interest, Breeze, 90 Days and Counting, Don’t Be Stupid, and a host of others. Viviane’s ability to organize, execute and oversee projects is a gift that has been a valuable asset to T Ford Model Productions LLC. Ms. Brazil is the founder and CEO of I Am Helping LLC and Viviane Brazil Collections which is a jewelry company that specializes in creations made with gems and stones that possess healing components.

Kathleen Kelly (Producer) Kathleen has been working in film for 20 years as an Emmy-winning Producer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor and Production/Story Consultant. She is currently directing her next feature documentary, "Irish Faerie Tales". She began her career in San Francisco in still photography and then moved into shooting independent films and popular reality television shows like MTV’s “The Real World-San Francisco” and “Road Rules” before turning her focus to documentaries. She became a principal with Journey Productions (JPI) serving as VP of Production to produce & shoot a documentary called “The Journey” with the help of Walt Disney Pictures. "The Journey" went on to win audience awards at the South by Southwest and Atlanta Film Festivals, amongst others.

After 11 years with JPI, she opened Kathleen Kelly Films. She's devoted most of her career to making social issue-based documentaries. Kathleen also has extensive experience as a videographer for shows like “Oprah”, TLC’s "Property Ladder" & others. While serving on the board of Women in Film & Television as VP of Professional Development, she produced an Emmy Award-winning series of PSAs about child prostitution in Atlanta. She has traveled extensively through Europe, Africa and North America and has shared her insights speaking at universities, film festivals, corporations and community organizations across the country.

Tammy Williams (Producer) Tammy Williams is an award-winning producer, motivational speaker and CEO. She began her career in television directly out of college as an editor in news at WTVF-CBS in Nashville, TN. She established Open Rivers Pictures in 2003-a film, television and digital production company. She's written and produced biographies on sports figures like Alonzo Mourning, musical greats Gamble & Huff, politicians like Mayor Kaseem Reed and business executive Ed Welburn. Tammy Williams became the first black woman to own her own studio and post-production facility in the state of Georgia. She launched Open Rivers Film Academy in 2012, which provides hands on training in the film/TV industry. ORFA offers eight workshops: Office & Set Production Assistant, TV Sitcom Writing, Web Series Makers, Lighting & Grip Boot Camp, Hair on Film, Make Up for the Movies and Work Your Tape. Tammy launched a Production Assistant Training Program in 2014. Nearly 500 students have graduated from the program, getting jobs on films such as, “Captain America: Civil War,” “Mother’s Day,” “Baby Driver” and “Guardians of the Galaxy. Tammy Williams is the first to launch a Motion Picture Career and Education Expo in the state of Georgia-Cinema South Motion Picture Career & Education Expo- to provide opportunities and educate the community on the industry. She was featured on Black Enterprises', "Our World" television show and was also featured on Tom Joyner's "Little Known Black History Facts."