The strange fruits of this couple's history now haunt their upcoming marriage. As LaShelle walks down the aisle, their wedding is violently interrupted when the ghost of Inka tries to kill Todd. While he knocks at death's door, LaShelle makes a pledge to do anything to save him! That means traveling back in time to first rescue Inka. Her spirit guide JUNE, a magical, whimsical Underground Railroad Conductor, guides LaShelle back on this extraordinary journey of two women colliding across centuries...
Told through rap, song and dance, Strange Fruit is a thrilling hip-hop musical, like 12 Years a Slave meets Hamilton. In our "Hear the Cry" scene, LaShelle has just arrived in 1807 and has been sold to MASTER QUINCY FLETCHER, the ancestor of her fiancé Todd. She encounters the severity of slavery first-hand in the cotton fields... and meets her mystic ancestor Inka for the first time. Ultimately, the story navigates roots, romance and redemption.
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The urgent mission of our film is to ignite healing, unity and racial reconciliation to our nation through a cinematic voice for social justice. The American public still struggles to talk honestly about race relationships – especially between Black and white. Moreover, this country still sweeps much of its painful 400-year history of cattle slavery under the rug. These “strange fruits” of the past still haunt us like Billie Holiday's song – even as an African American woman runs a historic campaign for President. America faces a racial reckoning that is now exploding through civil and political unrest.
In Strange Fruit, the nation’s current racial divide is symbolized by Todd and LaShelle’s forbidden marriage. In order for them to make it down the aisle
--and for us to progress as a people-- we must go back to a past steeped in prejudice. LaShelle’s journey back into her haunted family history represents America’s return to its roots. Now, Strange Fruit: The Hip-hopera isn’t just another slave movie. It meets the moment as a powerful call to confront America’s legacy of racism. The Ghanian proverb "Sankofa" is our theme... in order to go forward, you must go back.
"Hear the Cry" is the first step to our ultimate goal of producing Strange Fruit into a feature film.
www.strangefruithiphopera.com
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Dyneesha Moore is an overall creative and founder of creative hub, Directed by Dyneesha. Her goal in life is to use her gifts to edify the Kingdom of God whether it’s through film, music, theater dance , teaching or simply pressing to always lead by example with purpose. Dyneesha is a Creative Director, Choreographer , writer and film producer who has been a professional in the industry for over 22 Years. But her most important role is being a mother of three who she gives credit for being her push and driving force to always persevere in this industry and life by always leading with love and allowing God to do the rest.
Deborah Jane Burke is a dynamic filmmaker, writer, hip-hop recording artist, and producer. As the daughter of Guyanese immigrants who grew up as one of the only Black families in a predominantly white Orange County suburb, Deborah Jane found refuge in writing and hip-hop, igniting her passion for social justice and storytelling through music. Her journey led her to Stanford University, where she penned an award-winning hip-hop musical inspired by a childhood nightmare of being trapped in slavery. The play was later developed into a short film and is now in the process of becoming a feature- length film about racial reconciliation called, Strange Fruit: The Hip-hopera. Deborah Jane enjoys a successful Hollywood career, and has contributed to major networks such as FOX, TBS, BET, and PBS. Additionally, she founded the House of Deborah Jane Studios with a mission to disrupt the status quo, amplify multi-cultural voices, and affect spiritual and social change through dynamic TV, film, theater, and music, with a particular emphasis on musicals. Under that banner she has written and developed three television pilots "Pioneers," "Bombshells," "Anansi," her debut hip-hop album "Who Is Retro Raptress?," a sold-out play Martin Luther King and the Motown Sound, and, of course, Strange Fruit: The Hip-hopera. Deborah Jane is a proud alumna of Stanford University and the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts where she earned an MFA in screenwriting.
