''Secrets of the Magic City'' is an American

comedy drama Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple co ...

film written and directed by

R. Malcolm Jones R. Malcolm Jones is an American music video and motion picture director. Jones is a graduate of the University of Miami. While a student at the university, Jones was granted the Eastman Kodak Scholarship. He is its youngest recipient. Jones also rec ...

. The film stars

Jenifer Lewis Jenifer Jeanette Lewis (born January 25, 1957) is an American actress. She began her career appearing in Broadway musicals and worked as a back-up singer for Bette Midler before appearing in films ''Beaches'' (1988) and ''Sister Act'' (1992). Le ...

, Jamie Hector, Keith David, and Erika Alexander. Many scenes from the motion picture had been filmed in earlier years (such as the scene which included boy band,

Mindless Behavior Mindless Behavior was an American boy band who were best known for the singles " My Girl" and "Mrs. Right", produced by Walter Millsap. The band was put together in Los Angeles in 2008, by Keisha Gamble, Vincent Herbert and Walter Millsap. The ban ...

), but wasn't released until June 26, 2015, by New Revolution Studios.

Plot

Set in the vibrant atmosphere of Miami's underground teenage club world, we follow the powerful journey of Amiya Castle, who feels discarded by her mother after being left to spend the summer with relatives. In the gritty Liberty City area, Amiya, a deeply troubled girl, comes face to face with unbelievable circumstances of tragedy and turmoil that she chronicles. When Amiya is forced to explain a school report, she reveals accounts of her summer infatuation with the neighborhood thug and of a young girl's attempt to keep her drug-addicted mother alive. Amiya also sets out to explain the tragic story of two sisters, Nia and Tiana, who are fiercely devoted to each other and to staying out of the welfare system, where they spent several years after their mother abandoned them. Now living with their only available relative, Aunt Georgia, Nia and Tiana, feel hopeful for the first time in their young lives. After an unexpected death occurs, the girls’ friendship grows into a tight bond, where personal lessons are learned and a dark secret is kept.

Cast

* Erika Alexander as Ms. Fletcher *

Vanessa Baden Vanessa Jennifer Baden-Kelly (; born September 8, 1985) is an American actress, writer, director, and producer. She is best known as a child actress in the Nickelodeon television series ''Gullah Gullah Island'' (1994–1998) and ''Kenan & Kel'' ...

as Tracey * Amiya Thomas as Amiya * Latrice Jackson as Tiana * Lashalle Jackson as Nia * Coi Leray as Brittany * Taj Collins as Darius * Keith David as Mr. Daniels * Angela Golden Bryan as Jackelyn Castle * Jamie Hector as Tru *

as Aunt Valerie * Frank Licari as Officer Gomez

Release

Secrets of the Magic City screened at the 2013 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) in the "Narrative" category it screened at the 2013 Annual Urban World Film Festival in New York City and the 2013 Bronze Lens Film Festival in Atlanta where Jamie Hector and Jenifer Lewis were nominated and won awards for Best Actor and Actress. The film debuted on Centric TV June 26, 2015 and received worldwide distribution with EOne Entertainment.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Secrets Of The Magic City 2015 films 2010s English-language films American comedy-drama films 2010s American films