Written by | Ray Cornelius
I had the distinct pleasure on Monday afternoon of moderating the screening of Jasmine Burke‘s new pilot project, “Schooling Life.” The private event was held at the Thomas Cole Research Auditorium on the campus of Clark Atlanta University.
“Schooling Life” is Burke’s first attempt at writing and directing a TV series. The comedy is centered on her character, “Diamond Mercedes Cash Williams” and the shenanigans she encounters while enrolling as a freshman at State University. She meets some very unusual characters including a flirtatious faculty member as well as her two new roommates—an boho-chic Blasian and a sheltered preacher’s kid.
The film also includes appearances by Burke’s “Saints & Sinners” co-stars, Clifton Powell and Karlie Redd as well as Goodie Mobb’s Big Gipp and Love & Hip Hop Atlanta’s Lil Scrappy and Yung Joc. It also features rising Atlanta comedians Spencer Neal and Erica Duchess, who are just as funny in person as they are on the big screen. Serving as co-producers on the project are actor Ralphael Lester and noted actor/director Al G. Sillah. Students from CAU’s Broadcast Club also appeared as extras and production assistants.
The event opened up with a performance by singer-songwriter AmericanWill followed by the 30-minute pilot. After the screening was a talk back with Burke, Sillah and the actors that was moderated by yours truly + a Q&A with the audience.
Other special guests in attendance included Burke’s cousin and “Saints & Sinners” actor Neil Carr, “All Eyez on Me” actor Johnell Young and actor Mike Merrill of BET’s “The Quad” and Oxygen’s “Last Squad Standing.”
Check out more photos below:
#SchoolingLife was written and directed by Jasmine Burke
Jasmine Burke with Ralphael Lester, Chanel Sanders and Spencer Neal
Jasmine Burke with Neil Carr
Ralphael Lester and Johnell Young
Jasmine Burke with Mike Merrill
Jasmine Burke and Al G. Sillah with Ralphael Lester
and the CAU Broadcast Club Officers
Photo Credits: RayCornelius.com
