Director Roger M. Bobb talks Raising Izzieby Wilson Morales
July 9, 2012
Airing on GMC TV on July 21 is ‘Raizing Izzie,’ the feature film debut of director Roger M. Bobb. Starring Vanessa Williams, Rockmond Dunbar, Kyla Kenedy, and Victoria Stale, the film is based on David Martyn Conley’s script, which was the winner of the 2011 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) GMC TV Faith and Family Screenplay Competition.
The film had its world premiere on June 23 at the 16th Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) in Miami, Florida.
Raising Izzie is the story of two young orphaned sisters and the caring teacher who changes their lives forever. When their mother passes away leaving them without an adult guardian, sisters Izzie (Kyla Kenedy) and Gertie Nash (Victoria Staley) are forced to grow up fast. Afraid her daughters will be separated if they are placed in the foster care system, their mother makes the necessary arrangements for Gertie and Izzie to live on their own, with a bank account, apartment and small on-line business to support themselves. Older sister Gertie takes care of her little sister in addition to working and attending school. For a year, the girls are able to hide their predicament from their neighbors, their landlord and even their teachers. But when Tonya Freeman (Vanessa Williams), Gertie’s new teacher, becomes suspicious, the girls have to come up with a new plan to protect their secret. After Tonya confronts the girls and they confess to their situation, Tonya has to decide how to protect them and keep them together against the will of her husband Greg (Rockmond Dunbar).
Raising Izzie makes its world television premiere on Saturday, July 21st at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. with encore broadcasts, Sunday, July 22nd at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., Monday, July 23rd at 9:00 p.m. and Friday, July 27th at 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. ET.
Bobb, who is President of Bobbcat Films, a film and television production company, formerly served as executive vice president of Tyler Perry Studios where he produced the acclaimed feature drama For Colored Girls as well as the hit comedy Madea’s Big Happy Family. His numerous feature co-producing credits include Why Did I Get Married Too?, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Why Did I Get Married? and Madea’s Family Reunion.
On the small screen, he executive produced and directed numerous episodes of the hit television series “Meet the Browns” and served as supervising producer and director of select episodes of the long-running sitcom “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne.” Bobb has won six NAACP Image Awards and he is the only two time winner of the Best Film Award at Film Life’s American Black Film Festival.
While at ABFF, Bobb recently spoke with Blackfilm.com about his first feature film, Raising Izzie, casting Dunbar and Williams, and the status on his company, Bobbcat Films.
Trailer
