Ant Thomas, a poet and musician from Boston, MA., teams up with Max Esposito, a film producer from Holliston, MA., to present “Growing Pains” on September 12th, the first visual off the upcoming project, “Only If It Make Cents". The abstract video accompanied by poetry and music shows Ant and Max using their experiences and expertise coming from vastly different backgrounds, to start a conversation between cultures that addresses inequalities in Boston. "Growing Pains"; orated over an instrumental produced by Scotty Mac, is the introduction to OIIMC, a project that shares the individual stories from people who are most impacted by the disparities that exist.
In “Growing Pains” Ant tells his story about how he changed his trajectory and did not become the stereotypical product of his environment. Max does a great job at blending the video and lyrics, as tools to encourage a shared vision of all people having the ability to rise up and create their own pathways to success. Ant shares his personal challenges that trap most young people of color like himself, coming from an urban setting. The hope is that people use this short film for inspiration that they too - can change their paths and rise above poor education outcomes, poverty, health, violence, and an inherently classist and racist society. Ant and Max use “Growing Pains” to motivate people to get involved to change their paths and communities, and starts this conversation about what a fair and just society looks like.
In its presentation it is a civically engaged conversation among citizens of a community through film and music. When those with power are often reluctant to listen, OIIMC provides, in unique way, an amplifier to the issues of an afflicted community. As the prologue, GROWING PAINS begins our conversation; an account of how character, with will, can triumph over circumstance - the first step in striving toward a path of success.
