CELEBRITY
Common, Sherri Shepherd Close Out Pan African Film Festival With Premiere of ‘Hats’
The 27th Annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival came to a close with the help of Common and Sherri Shepherd. On Sunday, the two dynamic and versatile talents hosted a red carpet screening for the short film HATS and also took part in a Q&A moderated by HipHollywood.
R to L: Moderator Jasmine Simpkins (Sr. Producer, Hip Hollywood), Sadé Clacken Joseph (Director, HATS); Sherri Shepherd (Actress); Common (Lyricist); Dante Brown (Lead Actor); Credit: Koi Sojer/SnapNU Photos
In the film, directed by Sadé Clacken Joseph a young black, aspiring baseball player (Dante Brown) struggles to find his place between his predominantly white high school and the gang-infested streets of South Central where he lives. Shepherd plays his hard-working single mother. Common did the vocals for the soundtrack, which was produced and composed by Edan Freiberger.
Dante Brown (Lead Actor, HATS) Sherri Shepherd (Comedian/Actress/Host) and Common (Lyricist/Actor) Credit: Sarah Singer
The cast shared their commitment to creating art that inspires and uplifts the Black community and also discussed with HH why they said yes to the project.