Howard University News May 10, 2017 $1 million film grant from AT&T catapulting Howard graduating senior into film career When Andrew Long graduates from Howard University on May 14, he will have accomplished a major win as a screenwriter. Long, who will graduate from the Cathy Hughes School of Communications with a Bachelor of Arts in media, journalism and film. He made his screenwriting debut with the recent film "Nigerian Prince," which won a $1 million grant for "AT&T's Untold Stories" at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2017. Long co-wrote the screenplay with Howard alumnus and New York University film student Faraday Okoro. Okoro plans to enter the production stage with the movie this fall, and it is expected to debut at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2018. Long term, AT&T plans to distribute the film across several video platforms. "'Nigerian Prince' is about a Nigerian teenager [in America] who is told he's going to Nigeria to visit his family," Long said. "His mom tricks him into going there for school. While there, he teams up with his cousin who is an email scammer, in an effort to get back to America." In fact, this is the second time Long and Okoro have collaborated. The duo worked on "Full-Windsor," Okoro's 2014 film, that was featured at 15 film festivals across the country and received 14 awards. "I had a fun time working with him on 'Nigerian Prince,' and I would like to carry that experience into another project," Okoro said. Long said Okoro "was the one who pushed me into the writing direction. I wanted to direct originally. He pushed me in the direction to help me utilize my other skills." Long added that it is amazing to believe that they received a million dollars from "the words we put on a page. We plan to continue to write in the future. God-willing." Long and Okoro's kinship goes further than Howard University. The pair attended middle and high school together in Prince George's County. They lost contact for a while but met again while helping another Howard alum with a thesis film. Long worked as the production assistant and Okoro as the assistant cameraman on the film. He believes their friendship is centered around their passion for filmmaking. "Finding someone who shares the same love of the craft is very important, whatever journey you're in," Long said. "You have to master your craft to grow." Long admits that constructive criticism can be difficult to accept, but it's important. "I have noticed that when successful people get to a certain level, everyone tells them what they what to hear," he said. "They don't tell them the truth because they want to be a part of their success." Long credits Idit Dvir, associate professor in the Department of Media, Journalism and Film at Howard's Cathy Hughes School of Communications for giving him and Okoro honest feedback on the initial script for "Nigerian Prince." Long said enrolling at Howard was the best decision he made because of the long list of influential alumni whose footsteps he will follow in upon graduation. He is particularly influenced by Bradford Young, the first African-American Academy cinematographer nominee, who studied film at Howard University. Long also credits award-winning filmmaker and Howard Professor Haile Gerima, owner of the popular Sankofa Bookstore, among other professors who have served as mentors for him. Gerima is "becoming important in my life now that I'm entering another stage in my career," Long said. "He's helping me to determine what I should be asking for and how I keep the momentum going." "There's more to come," Long added. "A lot of doors have been opened. I look forward to telling more stories that I'm connected with that have shaped or formed me in some way." SANDRA M. PHOENIX HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta, GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org/ sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org%3cmailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org>> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/