In the midst of celebrity outcry over sexual misconduct in Hollywood, one film has emerged to address the conditions faced by the silent majority. Hold Me Down is based on the experiences of Unique Adams, a single mother from the South Bronx, New York, whose experiences of childhood poverty and abuse lead her into prostitution in early adolescence.“This film will be our voice”, says Adams. According to a report by the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, more than half of all women of color in the United States will experience some form of sexual violence in their lives. All the parts in the film are played by women survivors from the Bronx, none of whom had ever acted before. “We have to be the ones that is looking out for each other”, says Tianna Allen, 19, who plays the lead role.
Hold Me Down depicts a day in the life of a 19-year-old single mother who works as a stripper at an illegal nightclub to support her child in the South Bronx. It is filmed in the locations where the events depicted actually occurred; in the Mott Haven Housing Projects and in an actual brothel, and features a cast of non-actors / women survivors of sexual exploitation and domestic violence.
Referred to as “the premiere talent to watch” by Nike in 2017, Swedish writer-director Niclas Gillis first became aware of the harsh conditions faced by women in poverty in the United States back in 2009 when a former classmate invited him to what he thought would be a regular house party in Harlem, but that proved to be an illicit event similar to the one depicted in the film. He was nineteen years old, and what he witnessed shocked him to the extent that he would spend the next five years researching the issue, and the subsequent three making a film addressing it. After moving to the Bronx in 2014, Gillis interviewed hundreds of local women survivors to craft the story, ensure its authenticity, and assemble the cast.
“We wanted the women who really live this life to have the opportunity to tell their own story, to raise awareness of the conditions that they face and inspire change”, Gillis says.
Hold Me Down was produced by More Media and The Collectif with support from IFP, Sveriges Television and the Swedish Film Institute. It premiered to standing ovations at the Gothenburg International Film Festival.
SPW CreditsWriter & Director: Niclas Gillis
Music: Jonas Bohlin
Cinematography: Steve Annis
Editing: Niclas Gillis
Production Design: Caity Birmingham
Art Direction: Paige Mitchell
Costume Design: Melanie Randolph
Makeup: T'rah Veal
Talent: Tianna Allen, Prince Richard Combs, Tanisha Lambright, Nicole Cochran Adams
Full credits: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4180878/fullcredits
Boma | Camp Sugar Brand Identity
Rebel Wilson's Directorial debut “The Deb” premiered as the closing night film at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Adding a touch of creative flair to the film’s debut, the team at Boma helped in crafting the brand identity for Wilson’s production company, Camp Sugar.
“Rebel and her team approached us with this adorable character design and a simple question: ‘Can we make this happen in time for Toronto?’” shares Jason Cohon. “As huge fans of animation, and with such a fantastic concept from Josh and Meredith on Rebel’s team, it was an easy ‘yes!’”
The :05 identity opens in a serene forest scene featuring a hand-carved wooden sign reading “Camp Sugar.” As the camera reveals two hands gently holding the sign, a little girl playfully peeks from behind, inviting the audience into the world of Camp Sugar. Boma was tasked with designing and animating the 3D environment and character, delivering a fully rendered introduction that will serve as a long-lasting signature for Rebel Wilson’s films for years to come.
“We had so much fun making this and hope to be able to do many more unique versions for all of Camp Sugar’s films.”
Based in Los Angeles, Boma was created to fill a need for quicker turnarounds and tighter budgets while maintaining quality at the highest creative level. With a fully remote pipeline, global partnership across three continents and a team of senior creative talent, Boma is equipped to scale projects rapidly, regardless of budget or timeline constraints.
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