Upcoming Storytellers Empowers Louisville Youth Through Hands-On Filmmaking Program, Culminating in Public Movie Premiere

Story Overview

Upcoming Storytellers, a Louisville-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is preparing the next generation of filmmakers through its annual Summer Film Program.

During the week-long program (July 20–24), students ages 14–18 work alongside professional filmmakers from Media Pros Productions to create original short films from concept to completion.

Rather than attending lectures, students write, produce, film, act, direct, and edit professional-quality productions using industry-standard equipment.

The experience concludes with a public red-carpet double-feature premiere at Cinemark Tinseltown Louisville on Saturday, July 25, where students will debut two original films:

• 50mm Grit

• The Drift

The event is free and open to the public.

Key Story Angles

• Louisville youth gaining real-world career experience in film and digital media.

• Students working with professional cameras, lighting, sound, directing, editing, and production teams.

• Young filmmakers premiering their work in a commercial movie theater.

• Building confidence, leadership, teamwork, communication, and creative problem-solving through storytelling.

• Removing financial barriers by offering the program at no cost to students.

• Community partnerships helping provide transportation and access.

About Upcoming Storytellers

Upcoming Storytellers is a Louisville-based nonprofit dedicated to preparing the next generation of storytellers through hands-on education in filmmaking, photography, podcasting, and digital media.

Students gain real-world experience by working alongside industry professionals on meaningful creative projects that prepare them for college, careers, and the creative economy.

Event Information

Upcoming Storytellers Double Feature Premiere

• Saturday, July 25, 2026

• Doors Open: 6:00 PM

• Films Begin: 6:15 PM

• Cinemark Tinseltown Louisville

• 4400 Towne Center Drive

• Louisville, KY 40241

Admission is free.

Interview Opportunities

• Brelin Tilford, Co-Founder

• Ellyn Tilford, Co-Founder

• Student filmmakers

• Parents

• Media Pros mentors

• Community partners

B-Roll Opportunities

• Students filming on professional cameras

• Directing actors

• Editing footage

• Audio recording

• Crew collaboration

• Behind-the-scenes production

• Premiere audience reactions

• Red carpet arrivals

• Q&A with students after the screening

Call to Action

The community is invited to attend this free event, celebrate Louisville’s next generation of storytellers, and help ensure more young people have access to opportunities like this.

Donations made during the event will directly support Upcoming Storytellers’ mission to provide free, hands-on filmmaking experiences and prepare students for careers in the creative industries.

To setup an interview (in-studio or onsite) contact VIPP Communications at info@vippcommunications.com.  

HHN2L rolls out the red carpet to highlight talented youth in a film that gives a modern holiday message

The event will highlight specific clips from short film, a panel discussion, the soundtrack release plus live performances celebrating creativity

(Louisville, KY) With the holiday season in full swing. Families have an opportunity to take the family to an event created with youth in mind. Hip Hop Into Learning, (HHN2L) is proud to present The Last Hit: A Red-Carpet Premiere Where Youth Create Healing. The formal/red-carpet attire also known as Black Dandyism will take place on Sunday, December 14th from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at The Portal located at 1512 Portland Ave.

We are excited to announce that The Last Hit is a short film written by Jeriah McMillian and Demi Gardner. Louisville native Rodney Cox directed the film and HHN2L produced the product. The short film was written, starred in, and scored by students from The Real Young Prodigys Program.

The film takes a creative modern twist on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The story delivers a message on the struggle with vaping. Using the past, present and future concepts set in current times makes the story real those who experience the effects of the problem. A message being delivered by the youth about youth is the way to bring real awareness to an issue in communities across the country.

McMillan is a freshman at Jefferson Community Technical College, (JCTC). He is also a graduate of Dubois Academy and a long-time member of The Real Young Prodigys Program since the sixth grade. Garner, a native of West Louisville and graduate of Western Kentucky University, provided invaluable one-on-one support to help Jeriah develop a three-minute short film script which we will witness their labor of love from writing, production to seeing the final product on the big screen. The film will officially be released in 2026.

McMillan hopes to inspire his peers while sharing his passion project which he also stars in the film. ‘Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass; it is about learning how to dance in the rain. When you see the film, you will understand highlight the purpose of having symbolism play a significant role. He adds “I chose spirits and when you watch the film it will become clear what is taking place. People tend to lose the truth about themselves, which is who they truly are. I am excited to share my thought process and how they story developed.”

The evening is all about empowering the youth of the community and giving them opportunities to excel. The event will include seeing for the first time a clip of the film which will focus on vaping, depression and peer pressure. Then the panel discussion will use those topics to springboard concerns of the youth so they can begin the dialogue,  along with thought provoking messages through youth performances.

The movie’s soundtrack was scored by the students in The Real Young Prodigys Program. Music of hope and real-life lessons. HHN2L has also partnered with Butler High School’s Black Student Union, (BSU) who will be presenting the topic of drug use which is taking over communities across the country. Antonio Taylor cofounder of HHN2L says giving youth a voice is vital to the future of their success, “It’s important for youth to tell their own stories in their own way in their own words.’

This event would not be possible without the support of HHN2L, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky and Butler High School BSU.

Nyree Clayton-Taylor, Executive Director of HHN2L, explains the importance of having partners in the community like the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky and the grant they provided helped make a dream become a reality. She says “The grant allowed us to use art for healing. HHN2L plans to create a curriculum and take the movie into schools to teach and start the dialogue on how to use youth-created media to tell their stories”.

Admission to The Last Hit: A Red-Carpet Premiere Where Youth Create Healing is $20 or $15 with a canned good donation for our Dare to Care Food drive.

We would like the opportunity to come to your show and/or newscast to promote our event. We have Antonio Taylor and Nyree Clayton-Taylor available from NNH2L, Jeriah McMillian, Demi Gardner, and Rodney Cox. If you would like to setup an interview please contact VIPP Communications at info@vippcommunications.com or by calling 502.341.7306.  

If you plan to cover the movie premiere, please contact VIPP Communications to confirm that you will be attending. You will have opportunities to get red-carpet interviews, parents, and supporters in attendance.

###

Kentucky native Ericka Nicole Malone is racking up awards at film festivals across the country

(Los Angeles, California) Louisville, native and former Western Kentucky University, (WKU) student Ericka Nicole Malone of Ericka Nicole Malone Entertainment, LLC, is available for interviews. The Youth Performing Arts School, (YPAS), graduate of Manual High, a JCPS school is a successful writer, director, and executive producer. He latest award-winning project is “Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story” starring Ledisi, Columbus Short, Janet Hubert, Keith David, Wendy Raquel Robinson, and Keith Robinson.

Malone says “I am so excited about this latest project; we took this film to various film festivals receiving so much attention. I am so excited to announce that this project you can now see the film on Hulu. This is a major deal for film and my production company. I am so proud of my Kentucky roots and every opportunity I get I acknowledge my home state.”

ERICKA NICOLE MALONE ENTERTAINMENT is a production company focused on the development, production/co-production and distribution of film, television, and animated projects nationwide. 

To setup an interview via phone and/or zoom, contact Sherlene Shanklin at VIPP Communications at sshanklin@vippcommunications.com or by calling 502.341-7306.

To read learn more on the Ericka Nicole Malone Entertainment go to www.erickanicolemalone.com.

To see the official trailer https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=remember+me+the+mahalia+jackson+story&docid=608026812518581063&mid=FE5AFC0CF9B3F0B12F5EFE5AFC0CF9B3F0B12F5E&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

###

ERICKA NICOLE MALONE ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES LATEST PROJECT ‘DREAM FROM THE EDGE’

STARRING MARK CURRY, BERNADETTE STANIS AND ALEXIA FAITH ROBERTS

(Los Angeles, California) As we remember the significant contributions of the past during Black History Month.  In 2021, there’s businesses and people working behind the scenes to continue the legacy. 

Ericka Nicole Malone Entertainment, LLC is working to bring positive images from Black actors to the big screen.  Their latest project, ‘Dream from the Edge’.  The short film tells the story of a young girl by the name of Davina, (Alexia Faith Roberts) who tries to embrace her uniqueness.  Davina sets to make it in Hollywood and follow her dreams, facing many obstacles attempting to derail her, including emotional challenges from her mother, Rose (Bernadette Stanis).  It speaks to difficulties we often face in work/life balance.

Writer, Director and Executive Producer of the short film, Ericka Nicole Malone says ‘Dream from the Edge’, is more than a young Black woman following her dream but it speaks about the inclusiveness of people who may be different but they are the very people who make our society so unique. I wanted that to be reflected in this film. With the challenges Black Americans face on a daily basis I wanted to write a story that humanizes us in a very real way. I wanted to create a story where we have dreams, we thrive, we fall, we rise, so that people could understand our lives and dreams matter. Just the history alone of the actors in this film shows that Black people in entertainment have played a vital role in this industry and helped this film come to life.’ 

The international short film drama also stars Mark and Bernadette Stanis.  You’ve seen both stars’ programs that shaped the stories of Black families.  Curry on ‘Hanging with Mr. Cooper’ and Stanis on ‘Good Times’.  Grammy Award winning writer producer “Printz Board” co-producer/writer of super music group, The Black Eyes Peas hit “Where Is The Love” is Music Supervisor. Dreams from the Edge’ can be seen in film festivals across the world.

ERICKA NICOLE MALONE ENTERTAINMENT is a production company focused on the development, production/co-production and distribution of film, television, and animated projects nationwide. In addition to Dreams From The Edge her latest project is film “Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story” starring Ledisi, Columbus Short, Janet Hubert, Keith David, Wendy Raquel Robinson, and Keith Robinson.

To setup an interview, contact Sherlene Shanklin at VIPP Communications at sshanklin@vippcommunications.com.  To read learn more on the Ericka Nicole Malone Entertainment go to www.erickanicolemalone.com.                          

###