‘Flatbush’ filmmakers (continued)
Hoodcelebrityy uplifts students during Tri-State visit
RichBossNYC
Caribbean Life, December 24-30, 2021 27
of self-worth by any means
necessary.”
Desouvre said the film
tells the true story of how
the Haitian American community
rose above stigmatization,
and thrived against
all odds.
The dynamic trio of filmmakers
will reunite on this
next project after shooting
their 2020 short film, “The
Sweetest Girl,” during the
height of the COVID-19 pandemic,
in August 2020.
Desouvre said “The Sweetest
Girl” has won several
awards already, including
Best Picture at the 2021
South Florida International
Film Festival, and is in the
work for 2022 Oscar nominations.
The Sweetest Girl, written
by Jeudy and acclaimed
author Desouvre (“Revelations:
Roads to Redemption”)
follows a loving marriage
of 25 years that comes
to a tragic end when a husband
is compelled to tell his
most heart-shattering secret
beside his wife’s deathbed.
The three filmmakers,
bonded by a friendship spanning
over 30 years, said they
are committed to making
authentic films that feature
characters who bounce back
from traumatic moments,
with strength and resilience,
to face better days ahead.
Ladouceur, Jeudy, and
Desouvre’s signing marks
another set of rising names
in Crystal Ship Artists Agency’s
growing roster.
Ladouceur was born in
Brooklyn to parents who
migrated from Haiti and has
worked on countless short
films, major films and television
shows, including “Person
of Interest”, “Unstoppable”,
“Power” and “Boardwalk
Empire”.
In 2018, Ladouceur directed
and produced the short
film, “A Great Day in Harlem”,
written by Jeudy, which
illustrates three generations
of African American men
coming together in Harlem
to revisit old wounds and
make peace with their pasts.
The film is currently airing
in major national markets
on ABC, Fox, CBS, and
other network affiliates.
Ladouceur is the founder
of LA PhiLA Productions and
vice president of Backdoor
Entertainment LLC.
Jeudy, who was also born
in Brooklyn to Haitian immigrants,
has over a decade of
experience in English, African
and African American
literature.
He is a prolific screenwriter,
currently working as a
project manager for the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission,
and is the founder
and principal owner of Backdoor
Entertainment LLC.
Desouvre was born in
Port-au-Prince, the Haitian
capital, and raised in Brooklyn
and Philadelphia, PA.
A modern-day renaissance
man, he’s a best-selling Amazon.
com author, professor of
entrepreneurship at Miami Dade
College and public speaker.
His latest novella, “Revelations:
Roads to Redemption”,
pays homage to Wyclef Jean’s
discography.
Desouvre is also the
author of the 2016 novella
“To Whom Much is Given”,
the first of the Goodman
Chronicles series.
Desouvre, who also serves
as a vice president of Backdoor
Entertainment LLC,
has been featured in various
print publications, including
The Wall Street Journal,
Reader’s Digest, The New
York Daily News, South Florida
Caribbean News, Miami
Herald, Miami New Times,
The Haitian Times, The Haiti
Sentinel, HuffPost and Black
Enterprise, and on television
outlets such as South Florida
PBS, ABC, CBS and NBC.
A unique agency in an
ever-changing market, CSA
agency is a premiere artists
agency located in the
heart of New York City, with
partners in Los Angeles and
London representing actors,
filmmakers, directors, writers
and content creators.
The agency was co-created
by Francesca Francois-
Grimaldi and Sharon Parker-
Frazier as Plaza 7 NYC Inc.
and rebranded in 2020 to
Crystal Ship Artists, housing
highly experienced agents in
film, television and theatre.
In addition to actors and
filmmakers, CSA agency also
represents comedians and
celebrity artists.
“It is a wholly-owned
minority agency whose
number one priority is to
help artists achieve their
goals and provide representation
services of the highest
quality,” Desouvre said.
CSA is headed by veteran
agent Francesca Francois-
Grimaldi, along with Senior
Agent and Executive Vice
President of Talent Richard
Murphy, Agent Christine
Tyson-De Jesus, and Company
Executives Sharon Parker
Frazier and Paisley Karen
Parks.
For more information,
visit www.crystalshipartists.
com.
By Nelson A. King
Known for captivating music
lovers with her infectious hooks
and empowering lyrics, Hoodcelebrityy
took some time out to
uplift students in the Tri-state
area.
Visiting youths across New
York City, ages 11-18 years old,
Hoodcelebrityy made surprise
pop-ups to Madiba Prep Middle
School for Social Justice and
Innovation, The Urban Assembly
Harlem, and New York Edge-
The Young Women’s Leadership
School of Brooklyn, Ronnie Tomlinson,
a Brooklyn-based, Jamaican
born entertainment publicist
and chief executive officer of
Destine Media, told Caribbean
Life on Monday.
“The experience visiting these schools and speaking to the students was everything,”
Hoodcelebrityy said. “I really got to see how smart and talented some of these
students are. I always wanted to perform and speak to students, because that’s
an opportunity I wish I had as a student.
“Growing up, we only got to see celebrities perform on TV and only got to
feel their energy via television but never in person,” she added. “Therefore, getting
the opportunity as an artist to speak to students and letting them know
I’m no different from them, they could all make it out if they put their mind
to their goals.
“My message to all students is if I could do it so can you, stay consistent,”
Hoodcelebrityy continued.
Accompanied by DJ Moody, Hoodcelebrityy performed a few of her hits for
students and gave them a snippet of her soon-to-be-released single “Catch It”,
set to release Jan. 7, 2022, Tomlinson said.
She said that, immediately after the performance students had the opportunity
to ask questions, take pictures and interact with Hoodcelebrityy.
“This day I will never forget, you are my inspiration” one young lady at New
York Edge- The Young Women’s Leadership School of Brooklyn told Hoodcelebrityy,
according to Tomlinson.
“Hoodcelebrityy is beautiful, humble, and talented,” said Erica Rodriguez,
principal of New York Edge -The Young Women’s Leadership School of Brooklyn.
“She spoke on the importance of education, believing in yourself, and the
value of consistency. And, for that, we are grateful.”
Tomlinson said Hoodcelebrityy also had the opportunity to visit her former
teacher, now principal, at The Urban Assembly Harlem, Roony Vizcaino.
“Since a child, Tina has been an example of humility, perseverance, positivity
and empowerment,” said Vizcaino about Hoodcelebrityy. “Everyone that comes
in close contact with Tina is blessed with her positive aura. Tina believed in
herself and continues to bring that energy to all her fans.”
/www.crystalshipartists
/www.crystalshipartists
