Strive (film)

Strive is a 2019 American independent film. Set in Harlem, the film tells the story of Kalani Johnson (JoiStaRR), a driven 18-year-old high school student who dreams of getting accepted into Yale University while facing the challenging life in the projects and streets of Harlem - with her only ally being college counselor Mr. Rose (Danny Glover).

The film premiered at the Harlem International Film Festival in May 2019.

Cast

 * JoiStaRR as Kalani Johnson
 * Danny Glover as Mr. Rose
 * Shaylin Becton as Bebe Johnson
 * Ricky Flowers Jr. as Jacob Johnson
 * Chelsea Lee Wiliams as Grace Johnson
 * Warryn Campbell as The Pastor

Production
Pre-Production for the movie began at Aletheia Films and Prodigium Pictures in early 2017. Strive was shot on location in Harlem later that summer, hiring cast and crew that was mostly New York City-based. The events of the film loosely take place around the housing projects of the Polo Grounds Towers. The namesake for the film is Striver's Row - an area in Harlem that its most wealthy residents moved to. Filming took place in and around both of these locations.

Residents and community leaders of Harlem were consulted to the choice of locations and depictions of characters. Danny Glover joined the film in pre-production as "Mr. Rose", a pivotal character for the film.

Post production happened in Los Angeles, with Company 3 providing the coloring of the film.

Writer Sha-Risse Smith set out to make an inspirational film: "I wish I had a film like this when I was going to boarding school. [...] I want people to watch this and say, if Kalani can do this I can too."

Warryn Campbell composed the music for the film. Lead actress JoiStaRR (a grammy-nominated vocalist herself ) sang the closing song of the film based on Campbell's lyrics.

Accolades
Strive received the Audience Award as well as Best Actress Award for JoiStaRR's performance at the Harlem International Film Festival in 2019.

It is in official selection at the San Francisco Black Film Festival and the American Black Film Festival.