The Uptown Chronicles continues its stellar year, picking up the award for Outstanding Fantasy at the 7th annual New Jersey Webfest.
The award was bestowed upon the 5-minute series trailer, which showcases jaw-dropping computer visuals alongside a thrilling introduction to the world and lore of the upcoming series.
Series writer, co-director, and co-executive producer Alonge Hawes was on hand to collect the award, taking his moment to give thanks to the late Dwayne McDuffie, the creator and writer behind the popular comic book hero ‘Static Shock’, whom Hawes noted was the first African-American superhero to headline his own eponymously named animated series in the early 2000’s. Hawes also thanked Aaron McGruder, the creator behind the comic-strip turned Peabody Award winning animated series ‘The Boondocks’. Lastly, Hawes thanked Steven Goard, the creator, co-director, and lead voice actor of The Uptown Chronicles, “For allowing me to come play in his sandbox and write and co-direct this wonderful project.”
Hawes was also on hand to help present that night’s Michael Ajakwe Jr, “Don’t Wait, Create” award. Having previously won the award at last year’s ceremony, Hawes stood alongside fellow award alumni Jessica Alexandra-Green, Joshua Pangborn, and Herman Wang; as the four presented creative duo Melissa Malone and Diann Filiatrault with the prestigious trophy.
The Uptown Chronicles is described as “an ambitious multi-media project, encompassing cinema, television, comic books, and a podcast” The trailer for the project 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 genius-scientist father Andre and equally brilliant 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 trailer can be viewed at the link below.
The Uptown Chronicles is created by Steven Goard, who also voices the lead character of Andre Hamilton. The upcoming film, series, and comic book are written by multi-hyphenate Alonge Hawes, who also co-directs and co-executive- produces alongside Goard. Art design is commissioned by Patrick King with animation provided by Dom Fred Films. The project 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 Quantum Productions whilst Hawes produces through A Million Stories One Pen Productions. Jason C. Louder and Joshua Dennard also serve as producers.
The New Jersey Web Festival, created and run by Neem Basha, launched in 2018 and has since become one of the biggest, most prestigious, and respected film festivals dedicated to supporting and honoring independent film makers in web and podcast mediums. In addition to digital series and podcasts, the New Jersey Web Festival also works to highlight pilots, scripts, trailers, podcasts, and music videos from independent creators nationwide and abroad. It is ranked as one of FilmFreeway’s best reviewed festivals and networking mixers. The festival’s long-standing adage is that “Quality Is the Only Criteria: We Want to Showcase the Very Best.”
