Pastor Michael Barrett, producer, and author of “Surrender” debuted his first film, “Beyond the Shield” at a special screening held on Saturday, July 1 at the Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium in Culver City, CA.
Barrett, and his wife Lakesia Barrett who plays, “Kimberly” a lead role in the film, and makes her acting debut, said, “they set out on this journey of film-making four years ago after her husband was released from federal prison. “We wanted to make a film that could impact and change lives,” said the couple, who both serve in ministry under Apostle Ronald C. Hill of Love & Unity Christian Fellowship Church located in the city of Compton.
The film stars, Omar Gooding known for his television and film roles such as “Ghost Dad”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Hangin with Mr. Cooper”, “The Gospel”, “Smart Guy”, and John Singleton’s “Baby Boy”, along with, Boise Holmes , “The Lion King”, Patrick Kilpatrick, “Minority Report”, “Under Siege 2”, “Last Man Standing”, “Eraser”, and “NCIS New Orleans”, Reyna Day, ”Street Fighter”, “Battle Athlete”, and “El Hazzard: The Magnificent World”, Gospel singer & actress, Racquel Herring, songs, “I Came to Praise You”, “Christmas All Over the World”, Thai Edwards, “Inappropriate Comedy”, “Indestructibles”, “Cyclops”, and “Anabolic Life”.
Barrett played host to a standing room only crowd of over 800 people which included the cast of the film, family, church members and friends, including Sweet Alice Harris, (cameo appearance as herself in the film) Apostle Demond L. Tolliver, Bondage Breaking Ministries of Dallas, Texas, Human Rights Activist, Dr. Ora Mobley Sweeting, Greg Matta of the iconic singing group Side Effect, and Playwright/Author, Michelle Kindle-Clyburn.
It touches the nerve of conspiracy, and the all too common over use of force by the police in the African American community in particular. Production of the film was in familiar settings with principal filming done in and around South Central Los Angeles.
