Teyana Taylor To Star in A.V. Rockwell’s Directing Debut ‘A Thousand And One’ For Focus Features
Deadline reports that Teyana Taylor is set to star in A.V. Rockwell’s feature debut A Thousand And One, from Sight Unseen, Hillman Grad Productions, Makeready. Production is underway in New York City.
Convinced that it is one last, necessary crime on the path to redemption, unapologetic and free-spirited Ines (Taylor) kidnaps six-year-old Terry from the foster care system. Holding onto their secret and each other, mother and son set out to reclaim their home, their identity, and stability in a rapidly changing New York City.
The film is produced by Sight Unseen’s Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev, Hillman Grad Productions’ Lena Waithe and Rishi Rajani, and Makeready’s Brad Weston. Sight Unseen’s Oren Moverman and Rachel Jacobs and Makeready’s Negin Salmasi are executive producing. Focus Features will distribute the film in the U.S. and Universal Pictures International will distribute internationally.
Alina Victoria (A.V.for short) Rockwell has been named one of Filmmaker Magazine's 25 New Faces of Independent Film for her distinctive voice and has received fellowships from Tribeca Film Institute, the Sundance Institute and the John S. Guggenheim Foundation.
Taylor was most recently seen in Amazon’s Coming 2 America in her scene stealing role as Bopoto. In addition to Coming to America 2, Taylor’s other film credits include Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming and Tyler Perry’s Big Happy Family. Additionally, she will next be seen starring alongside her husband, Iman Shumpert in E!’s unscripted series We Got Love Teyana and Iman, which premieres August 18th.
Taylor is a singer-songwriter, actress, dancer, choreographer, director and model. Her production company, The Aunties, recently just won the 2020 BET Award and BET Hip-Hop Award for Director of the Year. Her album, “The Album,” debuted at #8 on the Billboard Hot 200. That album includes the music video for “Lose Each Other” ft. Elton John that she directed and choreographed. She was also just on the cover and number #1 for the Maxim Hot 100 this year. Taylor is the first African-American female ever to receive this.