New Bold Movie Tackles Crime and Violence in America's Rust Belt

LOS ANGELES - Dec. 10, 2013 - PRLog -- Los Angeles, CA – Homewood, an impoverished neighborhood on Pittsburgh’s East End, was called “one of America’s most dangerous neighborhoods”  on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show in 2011. Violence, drugs and incarceration have plagued this working class community for nearly two decades. Eager to see a meaningful change in his community and a realistic portrayal of life as a young man growing up in the inner city, former Homewood resident, Olufemi Young of O.Y.’s Spotlite Entertainment, approached other former residents, Najaa Young and Rasheed Jihad, owners of NaRa Films, about co-producing a film set in Homewood. The result is the new, exciting and bold feature film, Blood First.

Blood First chronicles the lives of two brothers who haphazardly follow their father's footsteps into a dangerous life of crime and violence. When faced with serving lengthy prison sentences for their crimes one brother chooses to cooperate with the prosecution while the other does not, testing the meaning of loyalty, honor and blood. The film’s non-linear storytelling fluidly mixes the past with the present as audiences experience what events occurred in their lives to make these men who they are today. “People think of crime and violence as only affecting major cities like New York, LA and Chicago,” says writer/director, Najaa Young, “ but it is decimating communities in smaller cities too.”

The film, which boasts local talent from Pittsburgh, marks the debut of many of the cast members who enjoyed working alongside professional actors and crew. In addition, neighborhood residents enjoyed tours of the set, free food and beverages on sweltering summer days as well as the ability to meet the producers and director, not something done on the “Hollywood” films that often come to the city to shoot. Local business owners in the neighborhood also benefitted by having the Blood First production patronize them as customers for catering, meeting rooms and film locations.  Producer Rasheed Jihad, says, “This film was a concerted effort to uplift our community by involving the community in the process, a first for a production of this magnitude.”

Blood First which is slated for release in 2014 boasts a powerful score by multiplatinum music producer Drumma Boy and original music by Project Pat, Big KRIT, Turk (of the Hot Boyz), 8 Ball, MJG and Emanuel “Manny” DeAnda (former lead singer of Pretty Ricky). Producer Olufemi Young says, “We were very fortunate to have artists of this caliber coming together to work on this project. With Drumma Boy overseeing the music we were able to deliver a film of the highest quality.”

Blood First has been rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). To learn more about the film and to see the trailer visit: www.BloodFirstTheMovie.com.