Following last month’s premiere of the trailer for the highly anticipated animated series ‘The Uptown Chronicles’, SDG Productions has another reason to celebrate. The series has been announced as the winner of the “Best Trailer” category from the Rome Prisma Awards, marking the first major awards win for the upcoming series.
Nominated against trailers for the Xu Xiaochen directed short ‘Paramita’ and the horror film ‘Immersion’ by William R.A. Rush, The Uptown Chronicles faced steep competition, but its mixture of fantasy, science-fiction, and computer animated visuals won over the judges.
The nearly 5-minute trailer introduces viewers to a futuristic Chicago in the year 2100, where marvels such as flying cars and servant drones are a normal part of daily existence. It is in this setting that we are introduced to the Hamilton family. Led by scientist father Andre and guardian mother Maya, their 5 children – gifted chef Tasha, bookish introvert Sienna, slacker son Ty, and prodigies Jordan and Keira – learn from their parents about their destinies as the last descendants of an ancient magical order tasked with maintaining balance in the world. When a mysterious threat in the form of a giant robot called Neocron appears, the children awaken their powers of super strength, telekinesis, speed, and technological manipulation to face this devastating foe.
‘The Uptown Chronicles’ is created by Steven Goard, who also voices the lead character of Andre Hamilton. The series is written by Alonge Hawes, who also serves as co-director and co-executive producer alongside Goard. Art design is commissioned by Patrick King with animation provided by Dom Fred Films. The series features the vocal talents of Jasmin Richardson, who voices matriarch Maya. Major Attaway, who plays the villainous Victor Hyde. Maria Katre, who voices Tasha. Zane “Lil Zane” Copeland, who voices Ty. Shani Hawes, who voices Sienna. Mina Kraynak, who voices Keira. Arinze, who voices Jordan. And Jason C. Louder, who voices Tariq Lattimore. Goard produces through SDG Productions whilst Hawes produces through A Million Stories One Pen Productions. Jason C. Louder also serves as producer.
The Rome Prisma Film Awards was founded by Stefano Perletta in 2018. Hosted by CinemaAzzurro Scipioni, in its first year it saw Silvano Agosti as the president of the jury, a legendary Italian director that has worked alongside the greatest Italian professionals like Storaro, Morricone, Piovani and many others. In six years, Rome Prisma Film Awards has grown into one of the most community driven festivals, hosting more than 150 directors from all over the world presenting films that are driven by an independent mentality, brave storytelling and innovation of forms.
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