Sugar Daddy
Sweet Poison in the African-American Community
Project type: Nonfiction Feature
Project status: Development
Director: Michael Cooke
Producer: Anthony Hemingway
Producer: Anthony J. Davis
Executive Producer: Tirrell D. Whittley
Email: info@sugardaddydoc.com
Website: sugardaddydoc.com
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Logline
An inceptive lens exploring the convergence of poor eating habits and elevated sugar consumption promoting health disorders that plague the African American community with solution-oriented goals toward better health/well-being.
Synopsis
Our reliance addiction to sugar-a societal ill and public health failure has created a crisis that is disproportionately destroying our bodies. For African-Americans, sugar is our evil nemesis. It sneaks its way into our childhood unassumingly and silently tightens its grasp around our neck into adulthood until violently removing our loved ones’ limbs and oftentimes cutting their lives short (if not our own lives). This documentary will explore the undeniable ties between African-Americans and sugar, from sugar’s violent colonial roots to its modern-day vice grip on our community.
Meet the Filmmakers
Michael Cooke – Director
Michael Cooke is an award-winning director and cinematographer from Atlanta, Georgia. Michael’s credits span from commercial work to narrative to documentary. Michael most recently worked on the BET + Christmas movie, The First Noelle as their Director of Photography. In 2014, he made his directorial debut with the short film Across the Tracks, which was crowdfunded on Seed & Spark. It went on to win multiple awards including Best Diaspora Short Film at the African Movie Academy Awards, Best Short Film at the UK’s Music Video and Screen Awards, and a Ceaser Award from the French Academy of Cinema.
Anthony Hemingway – Producer
Golden Globe, Emmy, and NAACP Award-winning Producer/Director Anthony Hemingway via his eponymous production company Anthony Hemingway Productions continue to empower artists by creating valuable opportunities invested in culture and community, across all platforms. Hemingway is best known for his work on the critically acclaimed series: Genius: Aretha, The People vs. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story, Underground, The Wire, and his feature debut Red Tails. Hemingway most recently directed and serves as executive producer on CBS series, True Lies.
Anthony J. Davis – Producer
As a producer and assistant production accountant, Davis has worked with some of the biggest stars and directors in film and TV, while also showing the drive and determination to achieve increasing levels of success and responsibility. Davis has worked on several major film productions with budgets ranging from $70 million-$400 million as an assistant accountant, including Ironheart, Ant-Man, Captain America: Civil War, and STARZ’s P-Valley: Season 2.
Tirrell D. Whittley – Executive Producer
Tirrell is a notable entrepreneur and filmmaker, known for his innovative approach to advertising, marketing, and storytelling. He is the founder and CEO of LIQUID SOUL, one of the nation’s leading brand marketing agencies that has worked with high-profile clients such as Disney, AT&T, Walmart, and Warner Bros. Whittley’s passion for storytelling led him to become a filmmaker, that has produced award winning documentaries and feature films. He is a NAACP Image Award Winner, member of the Producers Guild of America, and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Whittley has been recognized by numerous organizations for his achievements, including being named as Atlanta Business League’s “Entrepreneur of the Year.” A cum laude graduate of Florida A&M University and life-member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
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Contact
For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.