A nation once led by hate, racism and injustice
A sad legacy handed down by forefathers
Comes to a head – with the shooting of a Man in Blue
A sad legacy handed down by forefathers
Comes to a head – with the shooting of a Man in Blue
Equal StandardAn NYPD Detective is shot by one of his own, benevolent brothers in uniform. Communities are ignited - to march for justice. Gangs put their differences aside - for a united fight, an equal opportunity. “That people not be judged by the color of their skin but for the content of their character.” The movement and unity impacts City society and leads to a Blue Wall intervention within the Police force. White cops lust for change and act on it - by flushing out racism. Not an easy fight. In the end, what was considered impossible, became possible.
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EQUAL STANDARD will not only take you through the storm, it will show you that racism is only a mental chain - a chain that can and will be broken in spite of insecurities, beliefs or differences. African American Detective Chris Jones, with Caucasian Detective David McKenzie, reveal that, when McKenzie’s brother’s life is taken by an African American Detective – in a shooting under “Friendly Fire” law. By the end, there are no fingers to point.
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We are all victims of this way of thinking, a historic result of family values or traditions handed down by generations. No life should ever have to be taken for change to materialize. It’s not the guns that corrupt our society but the conscious mind behind the gun that demoralizes us. Hatred not only distorts our judgment. It also blocks our spiritual blessings.
EQUAL STANDARD a film by Taheim Bryan |
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Filmmakers
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TAHEIM BRYAN
Co-Director / Producer / Writer Experience, passion, talent, and artistry combine to create First Born Production’s Films and Series. With his debut film, Equal Standard, due out in 2020, Taheim Bryan reflects relationships between police officers and the community through a lens unseen – a lens focused on uniting neighborhoods and communities. TALES FROM THE TRENCHES Growing up in Queens during the height of the drug epidemic in the 1980s, Bryan made a living and gained status in the same way many others who grew up in the New York City projects did – dealing drugs. Seeking the leadership that his abusive and mostly absent father hadn’t provided, Bryan became captivated by the streets, rising to prominence in the community after his first arrest and trip to the notoriously hard prison, Rikers Island. It would be the first of many bids, and the aspiring screenwriter would spend much of his late teens and 20s in a cell. After his last release, Bryan was hired in the mailroom at Loud Records. His reputation in the streets would precede him, and he leveraged relationships he’d made there and in prison, along with hard work and a resolve not to return to his previous activities. He’d go on to meet some of rap's biggest influences, including Fat Joe and Ice-T. It was during this time he began writing – for Bryan, it wasn’t fiction. It was life. He knew that he had a knack for storytelling, and there weren’t many production company executives that could tell tales from the trenches the way he could. |
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ICE-T
Executive Producer / Cast Ice-T is an actor, rapper, songwriter, record producer and author. After serving in the army, he turned to a life of crime when he struggled to find work as a young Black army vet. After a close encounter with jail-time, Ice-T turned to music to make ends meet. He began booking gigs as a DJ for clubs and parties, but he was praised more for his raps. This led to the start of his rap career. He is most known for his music relating to street life and violence. Over the course of his professional career, Ice-T has released 8 studio albums, been in over 100 films, documentaries, and TV shows, and currently stars in the hit American drama series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. |
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ANTHONY 'TREACH' CRISS
Producer / Cast Treach was the frontman for the New Jersey rap collective Naughty By Nature where he achieved great success with album and single releases such as their 1991 single “O.P.P”. Treach moved in other elements of Hip Hop culture and the film business in the 90s. Starring as an actor in Jason’s Lyric as well as TV Series such as The Sopranos, Law and Order, CSI and Blue Bloods. |
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BRENDAN KYLE COCHRANE
Co-Director Brendan is a member of both the WGA and Dramatist’s Guild. He began his film career working as a production assistant for Robert De Niro’s A Bronx Tale and from there went on to work on various film and television projects including Last Action Hero, Die Hard 3, Clockers, the Cowboy Way, Bullets over Broadway, and New York Undercover. He has formed production company filming music videos and commercials before directing his first feature. Equal Standard is Brendan’s second feature film and he is now developing further TV and Film Projects. |
Cast
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ICE -T – CROFT
Ice-T is an actor, film producer, rapper, songwriter, record producer and author. Ice-T has appeared in over 100 films and documentaries including New Jack City, 3000 Miles To Graceland, The Other Guys and Ricochet. In Equal Standard Ice-T plays the role of the gang leader Croft. |
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TOBIAS TRUVILLION – CHRIS JONES
Tobias Truvillion is a familiar face to audiences playing in films such as Brooklyn’s Finest, Hitch, Seberg, The Marcus Garvey Story as well as major roles in The First Wives Club, Sistas and Empire. In Equal Standard Tobias plays the lead role of Detective Chris Jones. |
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MAURICE BENARD – CAPTAIN CHAVAT ISSAK
Maurice Benard is a veteran actor of more than 30 years and is most known for his Emmy Award winning television role on General Hospital, playing the character of Sonny Corinthos. In addition Maurice has appeared in feature films such as Joy, The Ghost and The Whale and more recently Hold On. In Equal Standard Maurice plays the roles of Captain Chavat Issak, the Captain of the Precinct. |
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SYLEENA JOHNSON – JACKIE JONES
Syleena Johnson is a Grammy-Nominated Recording Artist, Author, TV Talk Show Host and Actress. Syleena has found success with RNB music and has been featured on the sound tracks of Drumline and Coach Carter before moving into acting. In Equal Standard Syleena plays Sergeant Jackie Jones, the wife of Detective Chris Jones. |
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ROBERT CLOHESSY – DETECTIVE RULLAN
Award winning Actor Robert Clohessy has been in the business for more than 30 years starting out in the hit series Hill Street Blues in 1987 and since then has appeared in such movies as The Wolf of Wall Street, The Place Beyond The Pines, The Brawler and TV Series as Blue Bloods, Boardwalk Empire and Oz. In Equal Standard Robert plays the role of Internal Investigations Detective Rullan. |
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FREDRO STARR – DU
Fredro Starr was a member of the Hip Hop group Onyx before moving into acting. Over the past 10 years he has been playing roles in such movies as Save The Last Dance, Torque and Clockers. In Equal Standard Fredro plays the role of Du, a gang member. |
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CHRIS KERSON – DETECTIVE KEVIN MCKENZIE
Chris Kerson was born in New York City and since 2008, Chris has been appeared in more than 24 films including Gotti, Broadway’s Finest and Daylight’s End, as well as TV Shows True Detective and CSI. In Equal Standard Chris plays Detective Kevin McKenzie, the brother of the shot Police Officer. |
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ANTHONY ‘ TREACH’ CRISS - TRIGGER
Treach started out as a HipHop Recording Group Naughty By Nature and moved into actin with roles in Jason’s Lyric as well as TV Series such as The Sopranos, Law and Order, CSI and Blue Bloods. In Equal Standard Treach plays the role of Trigger, a gang member. |
