“Students Are Heroes: A Sickle Cell Warrior Story” was premiered last night at the Angelika Theater in New York City following a packed Red Carpet event featuring director and screen writer Keenan “Special” Bristol and executive producer Prince Ford. The movie explored the journey of a young student, Jordana, who’s hopes and dreams are to run the New York City Marathon, but she is sadly stricken with a severe sickle cell crisis and faces her mortality because of a genotypical blood shortage. The point the film hoped to conquer was the fact that African-Americans, Latino and Caribbean blood donors who have this genotypical factor are scarce.
Special and his foundation “Music Brings Life (who also acted in the film and presented a song he wrote for the film) absolutely got his point across while also creating an ingenious and spellbinding movie. The moral of the story was that students became involved in Jordana’s plight and came to her rescue. She did see her dream come true but not until the audience experienced her pain and fear during her crisis.
Bravo for Special and the actors who bravely and authentically played their roles with perfection. Jordana played by Jordana Whyte did a superb job allowing the audience to feel her frustrations and her pain. Heroic mention to Joanna Wactor, Stacy Thomas, Dr. Martin Bluth, Diego Diaz, Kia Rush, King Melvin Brown, Layla Johnson, Al Jetson, Jada Bourne, Joven Elegado, DJS1, DeAundre Addison, Sherebiah Lawes, Madison Thompson, Serenity Eaddy, and Jeff Simon. I never mention all of the actors in a cast but these guys deserved it.
For me the leading lady aside from Jordana was Ms. Paula Ellis Marcus who inspired the movie and the cause after she nearly died after a surgery because of lack of available blood. She is the mother of Special and her story was the drive behind the success of the film. She appeared in the film and gave a heartwarming performance as herself.
The film intends to be shown in schools and wherever a blood drive is needed. It is intended to raise awareness in the hope the more ethnic blood donors will support. Each pint of blood saves three lives. The film will also be available for all to stream on September 27, 2024 at MusicBringsLife.org
