Local Detroit Filmmakers On The Rise

By Sydney B.

Find your voice in filmmaking and go for it. People will either get it or they won’t!

The Inner Circle is a one-hour drama series filmed in Detroit, MI. Last night I had the pleasure of viewing the Pilot of this gripping melodrama. The first episode highlights an array of everyday obstacles like stereotypes, friendships, and many unforeseen circumstances with only one thing in common…DRUG ADDICTION.

[Credit: The Inner Circle] | Shiek Mahmud-Bey (left) Paris Jones (right)

Detroit filmmakers Paris Jones, playing Jonathan Rivers, and Shiek Mahmud-Bey, playing Dr Benjamin Taylor, are the brains behind the project.

“It was definitely tough balancing between producing the film and actually acting in the production as well,” Jones says in response to if whether or not being able to balance between co-producing and acting in the series was difficult for him.

The plot centers around 7 individuals, from different backgrounds, who all suffer from various cases of drug addiction. Dr. Benjamin Taylor is what you would define as a calm and controlled. As the Founder and Chief Psychiatrist at The Brentwood Center for Recovery, although his job is to try and help people, Dr. Ben also a few of his own demons that he’s forced to battle in his personal life. This Dr. certainly will have some explaining to do as this story unfolds.

Did I mention that his daughter may or may not be the root of the problem?

Some major plot twist my friends!

“We wanted to give everyone a good story that people will be able to attract to,” says Paris Jones.

The rehabilitation center was sponsored by the Detroit Recovery Project. Prior to production, cast members spent at least one night in this all male home to see just what’s it like to temporarily have to live in a recovery center.

So when character Roxy Raquel, played by actress Lanika Wise, says that they were sleeping in “lumpy a– beds” she literally meant that these beds were really lumpy and uncomfortable. It somewhat reminds me of having to sleep on those extra stiff blue cots in kindergarten!

Check out the series trailer below:

The creators of this intriguing series are hoping that with the right actors, actresses and local network partner, Detroit may have an original series that we can even continue to see 10 years down the line! You don’t wake up a drug addict, You don’t wake up homeless.

What do you think about this one-hour drama? Is this due to make an imprint in the film industry in Detroit?

Check out more behind the scene photo’s below: