New York City - July 3rd, 2017 — After weeks of a closely guarded audition process, 2014 Big Brother Africa-Hotshots winner Idris Sultan is cast in the upcoming American motion picture ‘Ballin...On the Other Side of the World,' to be directed by Harvey White, an American music director and editor turn filmmaker who’s worked with Chris Brown, Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga and Tamia to name a few. As a film editor, he’s worked on films such as 'Think Like A Man 2,' 'The Wedding Ringer,' and ‘King of The Dance Hall,’ with Whoopi Goldberg.
Written by Torino Von Jones, the story is about a young Kenyan boy (Kunjani), whose parents are victims of a violent crime. One day on the schoolyard, the thirteen year old is noticed by an American priest who sees him playing basketball and believes he has potential for greatness in the NBA.
The two develop a friendship and a mentorship begins. (King) to be played by Sultan, is a very charming, but an extremely dangerous gangster who has another idea and wants Kunjani to join his gang of criminals and will stop at nothing to make it happen.
Last seen in the Tanzanian film ‘Kiumeni,’ which marked his feature film debut, Idris will be in Zanzibar next week for ZIFF (Zanzibar International Film Festival) to screen ‘Kiumeni’ during ZIFF’s Swahili Day on July 14th, with the producer and star Ernest Napoleon. Earlier this year, Mr. Napoleon made history when he was appointed president of the American production and distribution company D Street Media Group based in New York City, with offices in Berlin, Buenos Aires and Cape Town.
D Street’s CEO and executive producer Dexter Davis became aware of Idris from a private screening of ‘Kiumeni’ in the United States and thought he would be great for one of the leading roles.
“Idris Sultan has what it takes to become an international star and our upcoming film ‘Ballin…On the Other Side of the World’ is a perfect fit. We’re considering Mr. Sultan for other movies as well, said Davis. The team is now looking forward to casting the American and Kenyan parts and can’t wait to do a major talent search for the actors in Kenya and other East African countries including Tanzania if necessary.”
The story takes place in New York City and a major city in Africa. The producers are deciding which African country the production will be filmed and looking at the beginning of the new year to start shooting. The film’s budget is set at $5 Million U.S. dollars and will also star two American A-list actors to play the priest and his best friend.
‘Ballin’ is another example of D Street’s commitment to put African talent and Africa on display in productions for the international market. The company is also behind the action-packed heist film ‘The Blue Mauritius,’ which is shooting in Cape Town and seeing South African star Pearl Thusi team up with Eric Dane (Grey’s Anatomy) and John Rhys-Davies (Lord of the Rings,) and many more international stars from around the world.
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