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‘A BOY. A GIRL. A DREAM,’ STARRING OMARI HARDWICK, MEAGAN GOOD AND JAY ELLIS TO SCREEN AT THE SAN FRANCISCO FILM FESTIVAL APRIL 10 & 13TH

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Director Qasim Basir and producer Datari Turner to attend
(LOS ANGELES) – April 4, 2018 – Datari Turner Productions has announced that A Boy. A Girl. A Dream – the critically-acclaimed one-take film that premiered at Sundance in January – will screen at the 2018 San Francisco Film Festival (SFFILM) on Tuesday, April 10 at 6:00pm and
Friday, April 13 at 9:00pm.
Datari Turner
Qasim Basir

Director Qasim Basir and producerDatari Turner will attend on individual nights and participate in a Q&A talk-back (Turner on 4/10 and Basir on 4/13). Tickets can be purchased online here.

Starring Omari Hardwick (Starz’ “Power”), Meagan Good (Hulu’s upcoming “Foxy Brown”), Jay Ellis (HBO’s “Insecure”), and Kenya Barris (ABC’s “black-ish”)A Boy. A Girl. A Dream is set on the night of the 2016 Presidential election, when “Cass” (Hardwick), an L.A. club promoter, takes a thrilling and emotional journey with “Free” (Good), a Midwestern visitor. She challenges him to revisit his broken dreams – while he pushes her to discover hers.
Watch a clip from the film herehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlrZrGG1d8U
Written by Basir and Samantha Turner, A BOY. A GIRL. A DREAM was produced by Datari Turner through his Production Banner Datari Turner Productions. Executive producers on the film are Jash’d Kambui Belcher, Louis Steyn, TJ Steyn, Jamal Chilton, Tim Weatherspoon, Phil Thornton,Meagan Good, and Omari Hardwick. Follow the film on Instagram at @boygirldream_movie and Facebook.com/boygirldream.

The 2018 SFFILM Festival runs April 4-17 at venues throughout the Bay Area. Visit sffilm.org for more information.

We Speak Indie Artist

Marz Starlife Makes A Striking First Impression With Healing

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Every once in a while, a debut comes along that doesn’t just introduce an artist – it reveals a soul. Marz Starlife’s first EP, Healing, is exactly that. It’s raw, it’s heartfelt, and it doesn’t pretend to have everything figured out. Instead, it leans into the messiness of real life – the mistakes, the heartbreak, the isolation – and tries to make sense of it all through music. Born in Jamaica, raised in the UK, and now back on the island, Marz brings a cross-cultural perspective to his storytelling, but at the heart of Healing is something deeply human: the need to reckon with the past in order to move forward.

Across the project’s standout tracks, Marz doesn’t hold back. In Bad Memories, he opens up about years lost to incarceration, fractured relationships, and the weight of regret. “Spent four birthdays locked up, baby remember me please,” he raps, in a tone that’s both matter-of-fact and aching. The production stays subdued and moody, letting the lyrics breathe. There’s no glorification of the streets here, only reflection. He admits to being young and caught up in the chase for fast money, but he also shows growth, making it clear that he’s not the same person he once was. It’s a track that lingers, not because it tries to be flashy, but because it feels real.

The title track, Healing, is where everything clicks. Marz taps into something almost spiritual as he raps, “I turn pain into power, darkness to light.” The song is layered with poetic lines and subtle emotional shifts, balancing toughness with tenderness. There’s a determination to rise above, even when the scars still sting. He reflects on his upbringing, his time in the streets, and the inner battles he continues to fight. “No shrink can understand how I’m feeling,” he says, and honestly, it’s hard not to believe him. The pain here is too specific, too lived-in. But instead of letting it swallow him, he uses it to fuel something greater.

What’s refreshing about Healing is that it doesn’t try to fit neatly into any one genre or narrative. Marz blends elements of UK hip-hop, Jamaican rhythm, and emotional rap into something that feels uniquely his own. He’s not here to be the loudest or the flashiest; he’s here to be honest. And in a world full of over-produced, over-polished music, that honesty stands out.

With Healing, Marz Starlife has given us more than a debut; he’s given us a mirror into his journey, and maybe even our own. Whether you’ve lived through similar struggles or are just someone who appreciates music with depth and heart, this EP is worth your time. It’s a reminder that healing isn’t linear, but it’s possible, and that sometimes telling your story is the most powerful thing you can do.

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