sweet, sweet country
TRANSCRIPT
SWEET, SWEET COUNTRYa short film by
dehanza rogers
sweetsweetcountry.com | @sscfilm | facebook.com/sweetsweetcountry | imdb.com/title/tt2539994
SWEET, SWEET COUNTRY19mins
DVD| Blu-Ray | DCP
Contact: Dehanza Rogers
310.694.2699
Living in a small Southern town, 20 year-old refugee Ndizeye struggles to support not only herself,
but the family she left behind in a Kenyan refugee camp.
Her struggle becomes so much more when her family literally shows up at her doorstep.
SYNOPSIS
Sweet, Sweet Country is a 2013 short film written and directed by Dehanza Rogers, starring Danielle Deadwyler and Gbenga Akinnagbe (The Wire, Nurse Jackie).
We meet Ndizeye as she’s rekindling an intimate relationship. A 20 year-old refugee, she lives in a small Southern town struggling to support not only herself, but the family she left behind in a Kenyan refugee camp. Her struggle becomes so much more when her family literally shows up at her doorstep.
The film was shot on location in Clarkston, Georgia.
Sweet, Sweet Country is a personal film.
It’s a story of a woman coming to a new country and finding her choices limited.
The story was born from a family argument that occurred having dinner at a chain restaurant. My grandmother and her sisters, their aunties (my great aunties), my mother, her sister and me when I was just out of high school were celebrating Mother’s Day. There were eight women, four generations of Caribbean women to be exact, with a whole bunch of family drama brewing on the surface.
Needless to say, a skeleton or two fell out of a closet that day. The one that stayed with me for years involved someone letting Mr. John have “sex on credit.” Later that evening I asked my grandmother about it and with no judgement attached, she said, “We’re women. We do what must to support our families.”
That’s truth.
Sweet, Sweet Country was fleshed out with a friend’s personal history. She shared with me her experience walking from Northern Ethiopia to Kenya, as a child.
Who walks from country to country?
Listening to her experiences helped me truly understand what it meant to be a refugee. People are born, live and die in refugee camps. She grew up in the camps. That story stuck with me.
I went on to complete an undergraduate degree in Anthropology while focusing on refugee youth culture.
Her experiences and my own are the lenses through which Sweet, Sweet Country is told.
Going home to Georgia and working with old and new friends on such a personal story was amazing.
I had a full heart.
DIRECTOR’S NOTES
dehanza rogers
Sweet, Sweet Country is a refugee’s tale set in the
South, an exploration of the America Dream. This is
an old tale, inspired by Southern landscape, family
history and the ever changing definition of what it
means to be American.
I grew up firmly rooted in between the Southern black
experience and the Caribbean Immigrant experience.
Growing up black in Georgia meant I was tied—bound
really—to a troubled past that still plays out in the
present. The same can be said of the Immigrant
experience.
The vitriolic spirit behind the sentiment of the
“hyphenated American” is alive and well, just
repackaged. Sweet, Sweet Country is set in a small
Southern town and while there is goodwill by some,
the idea of these Others holding fast to their culture
while in America seems to offend.
The Refugee Experience is varied. For many, being in
America is indeed a fortunate turn, for others their
lives are a shadow of what they once where: doctors
working in chicken processing plants, teachers
cleaning office buildings, business owners unable to
find work and youth who are easy prey.
This short narrative is a slice of a feature film that
explores the challenges of refugee youth in a new
land. With limited education, skills and resources,
what are their options? I choose a portion of the story
that explores the end results and consequences of
one specific challenge.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
Sweet, Sweet Country was filmed on location in Clarkston, Georgia. The NY Times calls Clarkston the most diverse 1.1 square mile in the country.
Clarkston, Georgia is a major refugee resettlement hub, home to refugees from more than 40 countries.
Some UCLA peers flew across the country, while a couple of us drove from Los Angeles.
We filmed at the Clarkston Community Center Garden.
We filmed at the historic Pal’s Lounge, an Auburn Avenue hot spot from back in the day, that still holds its own.
We filmed at Southern Place Apartments, one of many apartment complexes in Clarkston that is home to refugees. We met so many wonderful people.
It was summer time and there were kids a plenty, hanging out. A few even crewed for us and some ended up in the film.
PRODUCTION NOTES
Dehanza Rogers is a Panamanian-American filmmaker, of both narratives and documentaries, born and raised in Georgia.
Dehanza completed her B.A. in Anthropology with an interest in refugee youth culture, youth media and folklore. She is currently an MFA Directing and MFA Cinematography Candidate at UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television and a receipt of the Graduate Opportunity Fellowship.
Her films explore the Diaspora, self-defined and transnational identities, with a keen interest in exploring the liminal state of statehood and nationality.
Dehanza was recently awarded the Lynn Weston Fellowship in Film, Stanley Kramer Fellowship in Film Directing, the Mickey Dude Fellowship in Theater, Film and Television for the Depiction of Ethnic Diversity in American Life. She is also a recipient of the Four Sisters Scholarship in Screenwriting, Directing and Animation.
She is currently developing the feature length version of Sweet, Sweet Country.
She lives and works in Los Angeles.
Ragland Williamson is a cinematographer out of Houston, Texas. Starting out as a mechanical engineer, before becoming a youth director at a United Methodist Church, Ragland eventually discovered film and the beauty of motion pictures as a story-telling medium.
Ragland found, in film, a world that combines the technical, creative, and emotional aspects of life. He seeks to create work that embodies each of these ideas in every story, angle, and color…if possible. Hopefully creating discussions that move people to question the world we live in, make themselves better, and make the world better.
Ragland is currently working on his MFA in Cinematography at UCLA, and in pre-production for his thesis that is exploring the idea of God as shown in film.
Doug is in his fourth year of the MFA Film Directing
program at UCLA. He was born and raised on Catalina
Island off the coast of Los Angeles. Before becoming
a filmmaker, Doug spent many years working for
his family’s business on the island, a not-for-profit
company that operates marine-science oriented camps
for children and teenagers.
Doug is passionate about film and, in addition to
directing his own films, takes great pleasure in helping
to get others’ films made, especially films by directors
with unique and original voices. As such, Doug often
works as an assistant director and producer.
Gbenga Akinnagbe is an award nominated performer
and philanthropist. Gbenga began his career as a
series regular on Showtime’s fan favorite Barbershop,
but is probably best known for his breakout role as
“Chris Partlow” on HBO’s widely acclaimed series The
Wire.
He went on to pivotal recurring roles on Emmy-winning
shows, The Good Wife, playing “Pastor Isaiah Easton”,
and Showtime’s hit comedy, Nurse Jackie, play “Nurse
Kelly Slater”.
Having reocccured in the final season of the acclaimed
hit, Damages, Gbenga has moved on to USA Network’s
new show, Graceland as ‘Jeremiah Bello’.
BIOS
DEHANZA ROGERS
DOUG TURNER
GBENGA AKINNAGBE
writer/director
first assistant director/producer
ernesto/producer
RAGLAND WILLIAMSONdirector of photography
Danielle Deadwyler made her television debut as Erica in GMC’s A Cross to Bear. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Danielle’s artistry is rooted in dance, creative writing, and theatre.
She has played on the Tony Award winning Alliance Theatre’s stage as August March in The Real Tweenagers of Atlanta, and performed in Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre productions of for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf and The Colored Museum, under the direction of Jasmine Guy, among others.
Ms Deadwyler has also been seen in national commercials for AT&T, BET, and ID Discovery.
DANIELLE DEADWYLER ndizeye
actors
ndizeye - DANIELLE DEADWYLER
ernesto - GBENGA AKINNAGBE
danai - DAVE SANGSTER
fakhta - TAMMY MCGARITY
sabera - JOSEPHINE LAWRENCE
kanyoni - SIERRA SANDY
tanu/domino player #1 - BERT VAUGHN
domino player #2 - WILLIE DIXON
karen, refugee service office worker - ASHLEY SCHINDLER
refugee service office worker - GIGI BOUDOUANI
the dj - OMAR SEAN ANDERSON
bartender - OSHINBOYEJO ADENIYI
bar patron - ALEXIS SAILES
bar patron - URIJAH SAILES
bar patron - CONPHIDANCE ECHEAZU
written and directed by
DEHANZA ROGERS
produced by
GBENGA AKINNAGBE
DOUG TUNER
DEHANZA ROGERS
co-produced by
AUTUMN BAILEY-FORD
SHADAE LAMAR SMITH
photographed by
RAGLAND WILLIAMSON
production designed by
SARAH JEAN KRUCHOWSKI
edited by
RYAN MOODY
DEHANZA ROGERS
first assistant director
DOUG TURNER
line producer
NIKI PHANSAVANH
art director
SHADAE LAMAR SMITH
hair and makeup
LATERRIA EUBANK
first assistant camera
AARON VAUGHN
still photographers
TERRENCE RUSH
ELIZAH TURNER
data management technician RYAN MOODY
gaffer
DYLAN CHAPGIER
key grip
SPENCER TUKES
grips
BILL BARKER
CHRIS HARDING
sound and adr mixer/sound desinger DANNY LANGA
adr mixer
DAVID JOHNSTON ARYA SUNDAR
adr recordist
KRISTA BERUTTI
boom operator PETER O’HARE
stunt coordinator DAVID LORD
production assistant KATIE DALY
colorist
JASON KNUTZEN
casting
VIVIA ARMSTRONG
poster/graphic design KIRK LEITCH
catering provided by MEAT ME AT THE GRILL WAFFLE HOUSE
grip and lighting equipment provided by DAY 1 PRODUCTIONS and UCLA
props provided by ALL ABOUT PROPS
adr provided by AUDIO MUSTARD
D2THAJ PRODUCTIONS, INC.: ADR AUDIO POST PRODUCTION (ATLANTA)
PRISM POST
CREDITS
music
‘ACCRA CITY BLUES’
Written by BLITZ THE AMBASSADOR
Performed by BLITZ THE AMBASSADOR and the Embassy Ensemble
courtsey BLITZ THE AMBASSADOR
‘MAYBE’
Written and Performed by IAN KAMAU
courtsey IAN KAMAU
‘DROGUE’
Written and Preformed by SALAM
licensed under CREATIVE COMMONS
‘BARRA’
Written and Performed by Habib Koité
courtsey CUMBANCHA
‘EX-ITRANCE’
Written by BLITZ THE AMBASSADOR
Performed by BLITZ THE AMBASSADOR and the Embassy Ensemble
courtsey BLITZ THE AMBASSADOR
filmed on location
CLARKSTON COMMUNITY CENTER, Clarkston, Georgia
SOUTHERN PLACE APARTMENTS, Clarkston, Georgia
PAL’S LOUNGE, Atlanta, Georgia
special thanks
Tom Denove
Rory Kelly
Gyula Gazdag
George Gary
Beau Marks
Nancy Richardson
Timothy Good
Cheri Smith
Jonathon Crawford
Dana Turken
Michelle Amor
Nicole Gordon
Felischa Marye
Lucas Mireles
Judy Phu
Vanita Shastry
Simon Savelyev
Albert Malvaez
Mique Hwang
Billy Woodberry
Becky Smith
Betty Batson
McKenzie WrenJoan Swaney
Devon Lee
Julian Allen and Dallas Howell Christian and Julie Guarnizo Miata and Bert Vaughan Sheri Barry
Isha and Zohra Kamal Sameer Mohammad Sarah Halim
Rana Israili
Buffi Aguero
Jordan Gum
Sarah Clayton
Rafael Ortiz-Guzman Sheldon Schiffer Shannan Cutler John Ruffin
Vanessa Butler Rena Anake
Ann Daramola
CREDITS
Kyna Morgan Amin Atrash The Share Family Peter Kovaric
FESTIVALS
AWARDS
2014 SENE FILM, MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL - JURY AWARD, BEST STUDENT FILM
2014 RED ROCK FILM FESTIVAL - GRAND JURY PRIZE, BEST COLLEGIATE FICTION SHORT
2013 SAN FRANCISCO BLACK FILM FESTIVAL - BEST STUDENT FILM
2013 WOMEN IN FILM AND TELEVISION ATLANTA FILM SHOWCASE - BEST DRAMATIC FILM
2013 WOMEN IN FILM AND TELEVISION ATLANTA FILM SHOWCASE - AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
2013 HARLEM INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - BEST SHORT FILM
2013 ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL - AUDIENCE AWARD WINNER, BEST SHORT FILM
2013 LACMA MUSE YOUNG DIRECTORS NIGHT - HONORABLE MENTION
2013 DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA - GRAND PRIZE STUDENT FILM AWARD (AFRICAN-AMERICAN/WESTERN REGION)
2013 OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL
LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART (LACMA)
ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL
WOMEN IN FILM AND TELEVISION ATLANTA FILM SHOWCASE
LITTLE ROCK FILM FESTIVAL
NEWFILMMAKERS LOS ANGELES
SAN FRANCSICO BLACK FILM FESTIVAL
THE BLACK WOMAN FILM FESTIVAL
BLACKSTAR FILM FESTIVAL
MARTHA’S VINEYARD AFRICAN-AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL
BLACK HARVEST FILM FESTIVAL
CINCINNATI FILM FESTIVAL
WHITE SANDS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
TRINIDAD INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL (TRINIDAD, CO)
HARLEM INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
COLOURFEST FILM FESTIVAL (AUSTRALIA)
TRINIDAD + TOBAGO FILM FESTIVAL
MONTREAL INTERTIONAL BLACK FILM FESTIVAL (CANADA)
MILL VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL
BENDFILM FESTIVAL
REEL SISTERS OF THE DIASPORA FILM FESTIVAL AND
LECTURE SERIES
URBAN MEDIAMAKERS FILM FESTIVAL
INTERNATIONAL BLACK WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL
INTERNATIONAL BLACK FILM FESTIVAL OF NASHVILLE
BRONZELENS FILM FESTIVAL
RED ROCK FILM FESTIVAL OF ZION CANYON
STARZ DENVER FILM FESTIVAL
DIRECTORS GIUILD OF AMERICA STUDENT FILM AWARDS
AFRICAN DIASPORA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
2014 OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
TORONTO BLACK FILM FESTIVAL
HAYTI HERITAGE FILM FESTIVAL
DC INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
PORTLAND OREGON WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL
SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL
ATHENS INTERNATIONL FILM + VIDEO FILM FESTIVAL
SENE FILM, MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL
NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL
BLACKSTAR FILM FESTIVAL - PITTSBURGH EDITION
DIASPORA FESTIVAL OF BLACK AND INDEPENDENT FILM
SWEET, SWEET COUNTRY
In Loving Memory of
DAVID CATON1935—2012
A her celluloid self Production
with support from UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television
and the KICKSTARTER community