TV One today announced that production is underway in Atlanta, Georgia for the new film, HIT A LICK, which marks the feature-length directorial debut for Tasha Smith (For Better Or Worse, Empire) and stars Lil Mama, Lance Gross, Tami Roman, Big Freedia, Lil Zane, and Floyd Mayweather. Slated for a 3Q17 premiere, the film is the network's first original movie inspired by an episode of TV One's original series, For My Man.
Hit A Lick, tells the tragic story of Falicia Blakely, a
TEEN MOM who grows up in the fast-lane. When she becomes an exotic dancer, she attracts the attention of local pimp and predator, Dino. His empty promises of a life together turn Falicia into a pawn in his dangerous games; and she's forced to prove her love for him at the expense of innocent lives.
Hit A Lick cast announced today:
· Lil Mama (CrazySexyCool: The
TLC Story) as Falicia, a sassy 17 year-old young mom-turned-exotic dancer who falls hard for her pimp boyfriend and finds herself forced to choose between commitment to his love and a life of crime.
· Lance Gross (House of Payne, Temptation) as Dino, a modern day Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, who uses Falicia's weakness for his gain.
· Tami Roman (Basketball Wives, Belle's) as Stacey, Falicia's alcoholic mother who has jumped in and out of her daughter's life, exposing her to too much too soon.
· Floyd Mayweather Jr. as Punch, a loud and cocky club owner from Miami
· Tiffany Black (Bring Out The Lady) as Pumpkin, Falicia's rough around the edges "road dog" who fully intends to strip her way out of poverty.
· Walter Fauntleroy as "Q," Falicia's regular customer-turned-friend; a good guy caught in a bad situation.
· Big Freedia as Tam, neighborhood friend and confidante to Falicia's mother.
· Lil Zane as DJ Pierre, Club DJ
In addition to directing and producing, Tasha Smith is a multifaceted actress whose work brings style and intensity to the subjects she plays on the big and small screens. She currently stars in the Tyler Perry television series,
FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE on OWN, for which she earned an NAACP Image Award nomination as "Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series." Additionally, Smith appears in Lee Daniels'
FOX hip-hop drama series, Empire, as well as the
Starz series Power in pivotal recurring roles.
The Hit A Lick screenplay is executive produced and written by industry veteran Cas Sigers-Beedles, who previously wrote and executive produced the
TV One movies
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY and Girlfriends Getaway 1 &2.
Hit A Lick is produced for
TV One by Eric Tomosunas, Keith Neal and James Seppelfrick for Swirl Films. For TV One, Tia A. Smith is Sr. Director of Original Programming & Production and Executive in Charge of Production; Donyell McCullough is Senior Director of Talent & Casting; Robyn Greene-Arrington is VP of Original Programming, and D'Angela Proctor is Head of Original Programming and Production.
For more information about TV One's upcoming programming, including original movies, visit the network's companion website at www.tvone.tv.
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