Russell Simmons Presents Brave New Voices (HBO)

About Russell Simmons Presents Brave New Voices (HBO)

Russell Simmons Presents Brave New Voices is a docu-series produced by HBO and released in 2009. This seven-episode series was created by music mogul Russell Simmons who aimed to showcase the passionate and talented performance poets across the United States as they prepared to compete in the national poetry competition. Each episode follows the teen poets from various cities such as San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Fort Lauderdale, among others, providing an intimate look at their lives, inspirations, and creative process.

Making / Production

The series was executive produced by Russell Simmons, Stan Lathan, and Kamilah Forbes to elevate the voices of young poets. Filmmakers Marc Levin and Mark Benjamin directed the series, capturing the emotional, intimate moments of the poets as they refined their works and prepared for the national competition. The series was largely unscripted, allowing the raw talent and emotions of the poets to shine through.

Actors

• Mahogany L. Browne - An influential mentor for young poets, Mahogany played an inspiring, nurturing role in the series.
• Lamar Jorden - As a member of the dynamic team from Chicago, Lamar displayed powerful performances that resonated with the audience.
• Kayla Miller - Representing Philadelphia's team, Kayla's passionate recitations showcased her unique poetic talent.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The series was part of a larger youth program called Youth Speaks, which honed the literacy, leadership, and civic engagement skills of young people through arts programs.
• Each year, over 600 young poets, their mentors, and their family members traveled to a new city to participate in the Brave New Voices festival and competition.

Quotes

• "The pen is mightier than the sword, but our voices can shatter glass." - Lamar Jorden.
• "Poetry is not just about writing, it's about finding truth." - Kayla Miller.

Music, Soundtrack

• Given the nature of the series, traditional instrumental music is rarely used. Instead, the poets' powerful verses accompanied by their individualistic presentation styles create the series' distinctive auditory experience.