The Story Behind the Film ‘The Land​’

From left to right: Ezri Walker, Jorge Lendeborg, Moises Arias, and Rafi Gavron.

Besides making a film about the hardships of growing up in northeast Ohio, The Land uncovers much more. It’s a film inspired by true events and captures the journey of many people who have experienced what I call “the cycle.”

Originally, I was inspired by my own upbringing. The lead character of the film is Cisco (which is my cousin’s name) and the good-kid of the group is Boobie (which is my nickname). These characters share experiences onscreen that Cisco and I shared in real-life.

I was the kid who could get good grades, went to college, and did everything in my power NOT to become like those around me.

Meanwhile, my cousin only saw the path that was in front of him.

His home situation was rough, trade school was boring, and having a shabby lifestyle wasn’t fitting. While I was learning how to write a resume, Cisco was figuring out ways to make money. He made decisions based on survival tactics and what seemed accessible at the moment — whether the route was stealing, peddling, joining a gang, or selling drugs.

Jorge Lendeborg as Cisco. It’s Jorge’s acting debut.

Rafi Gavron as Patty Cake. Rafi was able to pull from his personal experiences with his role. Rafi shared his troubled history with everyone on set. His openness and how he overcame his past brought insight to the cast and heightened his performance. He’s raw talent adjusted well to the gritty tone.

Michael Kenneth Williams as Pops. He was attached to the project before there was a script. As artists, our purpose was to reveal this cautionary tale, rather than sweep it under the rug. What is great about the film is that everyone attached knew the overall goal.

Ezri Walker as Boobie. The Land is his acting debut. We found Ezri in a viral YouTube interview and tracked him down through his father’s Instagram account.

Many people who lived in our neighborhood took this route because it seemed more glamorous than my struggling in school and working at K-Mart. We’ve seen many films that portrayed this cycle and even glorified the criminal lifestyle, but I wanted to dig into the how?

How does someone become a burglar, drug dealer, or even murderer? And why?

Everyone has a different story — but The Land focuses on the circumstances that motivate the decisions behind so many people going astray.

“The land is everywhere.” This is something Erykah Badu said to me after she read the script. The type of job opportunities, education system, failing economy, lack of resources, and most importantly, the contagious mentality of those who give up is in every struggling city.

Machine Gun Kelly as Slick. He was on tour during the shoot and he made it a priority to make sure he was available for the film. He suffered a serious leg injury and was hospitalized the day before his shoot, but he still made it to the set. He then rushed back to the hospital immediately after picture wrap. Kels also recorded the single “Dopeman” for the soundtrack.

It was a goal to shoot the film at home and use talent from Cleveland. You’ll find cast, crew, and musicians from our hometown. When artists like Machine Gun Kelly (Colson Baker) and Ezri Walker joined the film, they were certainly able to relate. Both from Cleveland, MGK and Ezri dug into the authenticity of their roles and the story. They brought their characters to life onscreen and even brought the right tone to the film musically.

I couldn’t ask for a more committed cast and honest collaboration. Machine Gun Kelly’s energy is special. He was able to transform into an actor while staying true to himself. When we met at a Starbucks in downtown Cleveland, he was down to do the film as soon as he found out that it was about Cleveland. Kels reps the city and the message of the film stronger than anyone I know.

Erykah Badu and Nas are not from Cleveland, but they understood the purpose of the project. They were brought up in a different generation and neighborhood — but their legacy of work and contribution to society is timeless and relatable.

I find it hilarious when people see Erykah and Nas’s names in articles related to The Land and think that the film had a big budget. What people don’t know is that Nas and Erykah gave their time and energy because of the message.

Erykah is soulful and touches the heart of those listening — while Nas is highly aware of history and speaks to the conscience of those listening.

This is why I wanted both artists involved. Erykah’s graceful performance portrays the realities of our society. She had never played a prostitute before, and her performance in the film contains her first on-screen kiss. When she wrapped her on-screen role, she decided that she wanted to get involved musically.

Erykah Badu on set as Turquoise.

Though we all came from similar backgrounds and disliked the circumstances in our neighborhoods, we all agreed that these places are home.

These homes made us who we are today. Our communities shaped our talent and perspective.

We searched for a song that expressed the different emotions within the film— but in the end, I was blessed with the opportunity to create the song with Erykah and Nas. It is called “This Bitter Land.”

We wanted the song to talk about the dark days our characters faced while also shedding light on the promising future — a future they will experience if they choose to fight back.

Nasir Jones and myself during the recording of “This Bitter Land.”

It was the first song I ever wrote and Erykah shared her mesmerizing vocals over an eight-string orchestra. Nas heard the strings and Erykah’s demo and was like — “I gotta get on this.” He jumped in the booth immediately. This was the first collaboration between Erykah and Nas, and it was something magical to witness.

We had very little time to curate the soundtrack as we were trying to make the deadline for the Sundance Film Festival. We spent Christmas and New Years in the studio. Erykah was so busy with touring and hosting, that she sent tracks in around 2 a.m. Nas and I were still working in the studio. It was overwhelming, but the adrenaline was high and we enjoyed it.

Live recording of the orchestra strings in Burbank, CA. This Bitter Land was composed and co-written by Jongnic Bontemps.

Nas and Caple discussing the tone and mood of the soundtrack. We watched the entire film together and we listened to songs and name artists that we felt worked for each scene. We did this for about 2 weeks.

I’m excited for everyone to see and hear The Land. I know the passion behind the film shows on-screen.

The Land will be released on July 29. Here is our trailer: