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MONEY 1955: The Emmett Till Murder Trial

*BEST DRAMA* at the Wilmington Film Awards.

In MONEY 1955, international press descend on a remote Tallahatchie County, Mississippi courthouse and draw the world's attention to the murder trial of two white men accused of the horrific lynching of a 14-year old black boy from Chicago named Emmett Till.

One actor, MIKE WILEY, performs all 20 roles in reenacting the Emmett Till murder trial. It is a true-crime story crafted from the actual court transcripts.

  • Rob Underhill
    Director
    Dar He: The Lynching of Emmett Till
  • Mike Wiley
    Writer
  • Rob Underhill
    Writer
  • Mike Wiley
    Producer
  • Rob Underhill
    Producer
  • Aravind Ragupathi
    Producer
  • Mike Wiley
    Key Cast
  • Steven Grove
    Original Score Composer
  • Rob Underhill
    Editors
  • Larry Gardner
    Editors
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    True-Crime, Historic Fiction, Drama, Human Rights, Social Issue, Civil Rights
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 10, 2013
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • 12th Urban Mediamakers Film Festival
    Atlanta, Georgia
    October 12, 2013
    North American Premiere
    *AUDIENCE CHOICE* & *BEST Socially-Conscious SHORT FILM*
  • 14th Cape Fear Independent Film Festival
    Wilmington, North Carolina
    May 3, 2014
    *BEST DRAMA*
  • 15th Crossroads Film Festival
    Jackson, Mississippi
    April 5, 2014
  • 17th Magnolia Independent Film Fest
    Starkville, Mississippi
    February 22, 2014
  • 13th North Carolina Black Film Festival
    Wilmington, North Carolina
    March 15, 2014
  • Show Me Justice Film Festival
    Warrensburg, Missouri
    April 12, 2014
  • 20th Hayti Heritage Film Festival
    Durham, North Carolina
    March 1, 2014
  • Short. Sweet. Film Fest
    Cleveland, Ohio
    February 22, 2014
  • Lucerne International Film Festival
    Kriens, Switzerland
    October 4, 2014
  • 17th LIIFE - Long Island International Film Expo
    Bellmore, New York
    July 12, 2014
  • Snake Alley Festival of Film
    Burlington, Iowa
    June 7, 2014
    Nominated BEST DRAMA
  • Gwinnett Center Int’l Film Festival
    Duluth, Georgia
    August 2, 2014
    BEST ACTOR
  • 7th Columbia Gorge International Film Festival
    Venice, California
    August 16, 2014
  • 10th Montreal International Black Film Festival
    Montreal, CANADA
    September 27, 2014
    Canadia Premiere
  • Reel Hope Film Festival
    Indianapolis, Indiana
    September 13, 2014
  • 21st Twin Rivers Multimedia Festival
    Asheville, North Carolina
    July 12, 2014
  • 7th Rumschpringe International Short Film Festival
    Lancaster, Pennsylvania
    November 8, 2014
  • 6th Bayou City Inspirational Film Festival
    Houston, Texas
    October 4, 2014
    AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
  • Sirius Film Festival
    United Kingdom
    December 14, 2014
    HONORARY MENTION
  • 8th Africa World Documentary Film Festival
    Saint Louis, Missouri
    February 5, 2015
    Finalist BEST SHORT FILM
  • On the Reel Film Festival
    Douglasville, Georgia
    April 25, 2015
    BEST ACTOR
Director Biography - Rob Underhill

ROB UNDERHILL is a film and TV director, producer, writer and editor. His films have been in competition at over 200 film festivals worldwide, including ST. LOUIS and SEATTLE (both *Academy Award-qualifying* film festivals), OAXACA (Mexico), SUNSCREEN (Academy-sponsored) and CANNES (France), have received over 100 awards including for Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and have scored rave reviews from top film critics like Mark Bell of FILM THREAT and Anne Brodie in CRITICIZE THIS! Featured on the National Public Radio shows, THE STATE OF THINGS with Frank Stasio and THE STORY with Dick Gordon, Rob’s work is regularly subject in newspapers, radio, TV-news and more. His work has received endorsements from major public figures such as US UN Ambassador Andrew Young, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and former North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue. Carolina STYLE Magazine recognized Rob as one of 25 "Most Stylish People" influencing positive change in the Carolinas through his films. He is a RAWards Indie Art Award recipient for Best Regional Filmmaker. He was the featured Speaker at the 2015 graduation commencement exercises for the Department of English at North Carolina State University. His work has aired on the ASPiRE network and other national US and European TV outlets. Visit his website at www.RobUnderhill.com; *like* his Facebook for regular updates at www.facebook.com/RobUnderhillProductions.

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Director Statement

Consider the following statement: "[Emmett Till's] death was a spark that ignited the Civil Rights Movement in America." -Ed Bradley, Emmy Award-winning journalist. I should have grown up knowing this story. Yet, I did not. My friends did not. In fact I had to inquire all over to find anyone familiar with this key incident in American history. This is why I have devoted years to develop engaging films that others may share and learn from, films that tell this essential American Civil Rights story. This film is a powerful and universal lesson on the dangers of sustained racial hatred. And, as exemplified by recent riots in Ferguson, Missouri, and an unyielding national media craze proceeding the tragic death of Mike Brown, we see the cycle of misunderstanding that doomed Emmett Till in 1955 repeating; this is a lesson that needs retelling not just today, but with each new generation. This film is a tool to facilitate communication, foster understanding, and catalyst healing and harmony in our communities.