A product of an initiative between Tribeca Digital Studios and American Express, "A Dream Preferred" is part of a collection of three short films that highlight the nature, shifts, and struggles of young business development; the pioneers, inventors, and dreamers at the helm of these ambitions; and the impact these ventures have on their communities.
The films debuted yesterday, July 15, online, as well as on a host of cable on-demand platforms in over 40 million homes including Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Verizon, Cablevision, Cox and Brighthouse, Vimeo, interactive smart TV app American Express NOW, the American Express YouTube Channel, and American Express OPEN Forum, an online community for small businesses to inspire and help them grow.
“These exciting new projects further Tribeca Digital Studios’ commitment to showcasing intimate stories and remarkable individuals dealing with strife and triumph — a vision that we earlier embodied with Emmy-winning documentary ‘We Could Be King’,” said Paula Weinstein, EVP Tribeca Enterprises. “It was important for us to enlist the help of these incredible directors to capture the entrepreneurial spirit on the local level, and the often underestimated impact of these small businesses.”
Directed by Heidi Ewing & Rachel Grady, "A Dream Preferred" follows the future of Taharka Brothers, purveyors of ice cream and social change, a business that "hinges on the success of a crowdfunding campaign. If successful, they will be able to grow their business by launching a “Food for Thought” ice cream truck, a literal vehicle for change. With a looming deadline, and what seems like an insurmountable goal:$28,000 in 29 days, Taharka Brothers takes to the streets to raise awareness, inspire, and turn out some supremely delicious ice cream – voted Best in Baltimore. Progress is slow and defeat starts to set in, until a pivotal phone call. Filmmakers Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing take us behind the scenes in a fun, yet poignant portrayal of young men from Baltimore’s toughest neighborhoods as they struggle with entrepreneurship, sharpen their business strategy and inspire their community. Baltimore has a positive and empowering story to tell. The Taharka Brothers’ ingenuity and character are an inspiration to all. When you fight for what you believe in, dreams happen."
Watch the 22-minute short film below.
For the other 2 films in the series – "Buffalo Returns," directed by Gini Reticker, which focuses on a band of Native American businesspeople, facing a crippling recession; and "The Downtown Project," directed by Morgan Spurlock, which centers on a side of Las Vegas that’s far from the bright lights and bustling activity of the Vegas strip – click here.
