Wasted Talent
“Wasted Talent” follows four high school teens who are thrown into detention after a fight. These boys from different worlds come together through their love for music and songwriting. However, their newfound bond is brought to a halt by the harsh reality of the world they come from.
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Derrick BentonDirector
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Derrick BentonWriter
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Derrick BentonProducer
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Sonia ConlinProducer
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Alexis Lisa RiveraProducer
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Chetan CuttingKey Cast"Marcus"
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Amber JaneaKey Cast"Natalia"
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Ahmad DeChalusKey Cast"Louis"
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Dexter PhillipKey Cast"Jashawn"
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Omari JohnsonKey Cast"Dario"
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Ines GowlandCinematography
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Project Type:Short
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Runtime:14 minutes 7 seconds
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Completion Date:July 7, 2021
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Production Budget:40,000 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:4:3
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
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Syracuse International Film FestivalSyracuse, NY
United States
October 22, 2021
Official Selection -
Nashville Film Festival Screenplay CompetitionNashville, TN
United States
October 5, 2021
Finalist -
Lake Placid Film FestivalLake Placid, NY
United States
October 22, 2021
Finalist -
Silver State Film FestivalLas Vegas
United States
October 28, 2021 -
Snowtown Film FestivalWatertown, NY
United States
February 19, 2022
2022 Best Narrative Short -
Lonely Wolf International Film FestivalLondon
United Kingdom
April 29, 2022
United Kingdom
Nominee -
Blackbird Film FestivalCortland
United States
May 20, 2022
Award Winner -
BGR Film FestWashington DC
United States
July 2, 2022
Official Selection -
Montauk Film FestivalMontauk, NY
United States
July 26, 2022
Official Selection -
Florence Film AwardsFlorence
Italy
September 5, 2022
Italian Premiere
Honorable Mention -
AFRICAN AMERICAN FILM MARKETPLACE AND S.E. MANLY SHORT FILM SHOWCASELos Angeles
United States
August 19, 2022
Official Selection
Derrick is a Brooklyn native and graduate of SUNY Oswego with a B.A. in Cinema Screen Studies. He dedicated most of his coursework to film theory, philosophy, and storytelling through the medium of screenwriting. In 2018 Derrick received an award for outstanding screenplay at SUNY Oswego for his Senior Thesis script “Acid Rain”. His stories often explore themes of identity, existential anxiety, and social inequality.
When I first thought of a "Wasted Talent" I wasn't sure what that phrase meant to me. I sat down for days trying to muster the words on paper. I remember sitting with my friend Pete one afternoon, we talked about dreams and how everyone has them but only a few pursue them. Borrowing from Will Smith, 100% of people have dreams but 99% of people won't put in the work to make their dreams come true.
I thought back to my days in high school- the time that would shape my future. This normally is an exciting time for young adults, but when your path is uncertain or takes a turn, it can make or break you. I chose one path and it brought me here but there are many kids out there, talented & bright with dreams they struggle to obtain because of the systematic obstacles placed in front of them. This story is for them and all of the marginalized kids who were told they can't amount to anything.