In an era when quality African American content is hard to find, there are a group of urban filmmakers determined to change the game. Reagan Gomez-Preston, best known for her role as Robert Townsend’s daughter Zaria on “The Parent ‘Hood” and most recently as the voice of Roberta Tubs on Fox’s “The Cleveland Show,” stepped into the role of screenwriter to create a short film titled This Time.
This Time delves into the sensitive subject matter of the Iraq war. It focuses on the realities faced if and when loved ones return home. In a span of 15 minutes, director Mathew Cherry manages to successfully depict the range of emotions and feelings a man displays upon his return home to find the love of his life marrying someone else.
This Time is equipped with a stellar cast, including Terri J. Vaughn (“The Steve Harvey Show,” “All of Us”), lead actors Gomez-Preston and newcomer Mike Moss, and delivers beyond expectation.
Rolling out spoke with the stars of the film to get their take on the moviemaking process and the effects of the Iraq war.
“To me this story is so powerful because it deals with lack of closure, which is a real issue with military families and we wanted to touch on it in a creative and powerful way,” shares director Matthew Cherry, who started his career as a production assistant for “Heroes,” “The Game” and “Girlfriends.”
Gomez-Preston is ecstatic about the entire production. “I had a great time shooting and writing this short film. I learned a lot. I’m very passionate about more people of color getting behind the scenes and I’m blessed that the opportunity came along. Writing is definitely the new frontier for me,” she says.
“Me and Matt started our careers as production assistants on the final season of the CW series ‘Girlfriends’ and I definitely was humbled and honored that he thought of me when this project came about. [Working with] Reagan Gomez and Terri J. Vaughn … it’s an experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life and I hope that this project allows us all to continue working towards our chosen career paths,” offers Michael Moss.
Television vet Terri J. Vaughn expressed pride for the crew, “Reagan reached out to me and asked me to be a part of the project and it was such a powerful story and script that I couldn’t say no. Matthew is a great up-and-coming director and Reagan wrote her butt off. I look forward to working with both of them again real soon.”
This Time was shown at numerous film festivals including Rincon International, Boston International, GI Film, San Francisco Black Film Festival, Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, Roxbury International, Hawaii International and the Miami Short Film Festival. Slated to be developed into a full-feature length film, This Time is on the verge of something special. –marqueta smith
Check out the trailer at www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRxlYQ8awzE&feature=player_embedded
