Special to the AmNews
A capacity crowd filled the Linden Multiplex Theater as Brooklyn native Jermaine “Jay Everyday” Smith returned to East New York to premiere his film, “A Piece of Me: An Everyday Story.”
The film depicts the life of Bryce King, a young man who struggles with forgiving his dying father for years of verbal, mental and physical abuse towards him, his siblings and their mother. Family secrets are just a portion of Bryce’s problems as he comes face to face with his own infidelities and stifled spiritual growth.
Smith gained triumph as a playwright, director and producer by turning the obstacles he faced in his personal life into inspirational stories for others. He first penned “A Piece of Me” as a stage play back in 2006, and it has since been performed more than 40 times.
The play has graced the stages of various venues, including the Oberia D. Dempsey Center in Harlem, the Tony Award-winning Crossroads Theatre in New Brunswick and off-Broadway venues such as the Producer’s Club.
Conquering his issues through writing, Smith was able to produce a story that helped him assess his inner feelings and potentially encourage others in similar situations. The critical moments in his life fueled his creativity and brought forth a spiritual awakening that he made evident in his work.
“I would love for any viewer to look for themselves or see the similarity of where they can grow or help someone else have a better day and life,” he said.
The stars of the film include Devale Ellis, Khadeen Ellis, Kimberly M. Courts, Ta-Tanishia Pearson, Zae Diggs and Sheleah Harris, among others.
Harris, who plays Denise, a girlfriend of Bryce’s younger brother in the film, stated that she had a great time working with Smith, calling him “positive and supportive” throughout the filming of this project, along with other members of the cast and crew.
Having performed her first on-camera gig, Harris did not know what to expect from the premiere. She was nervous about seeing herself on the big screen and the audience reaction.
“I was relieved to get some positive feedback from my scenes, and I’m anxious to get back in front of the camera,” she said.
Smith is proud of the work he’s done so far and hopes to make more inspiring films in the future.
“I’ve learned so much through the challenges of this movie that it will help me with every project I do in the future,” he said.