ABOUT THE FILM
““...one of the most arresting films I’ve seen in a long time. It’s an intriguing thriller/think piece that provocatively probes the many complex issues around gun violence and social justice.””
““With twists and turns, Miller keeps audiences on the edge of their seats throughout the film.””
HONOR STUDENT is an Award-Winning provocative thriller about a student who holds a teacher hostage to prove America a lesson it will never forget. The feature film stars Emmy-nominated actress Kelly Jenrette (The Handmaid's Tale, All American: Homecoming) and Hudson Yang (Fresh off the Boat), directed and co-written by Tamika Miller (Station 19, The Equalizer), produced by Miller, Joanna Shaw (I'll Sleep When I'm Dead, Class of Lies), and Sophia Solomon (Nike, Budweiser).
HONOR STUDENT is a call to action to invoke meaningful conversation in an effort to curtail gun violence.
The film World Premiered in 2023.
““Every dialogue, camera angle, and song choice is full of subtlety, amplifying the scene and the audience’s response to it.””
““And in brilliantly probing those many layers, “Honor Student” succeeds in Miller’s wish to encourage meaningful conversation about efforts to curtail senseless gun violence.”
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AWARDS & FESTIVALS
PRESS
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PRODUCers
TAMIKA MILLER
DIRECTOR/CO-WRITER/PRODUCER
Tamika Miller is an episodic, award-winning commercial and film director/writer. She recently directed the CBS television drama THE EQUALIZER, NBC’s QUANTUM LEAP and STATION 19 for ABC/Shondaland.
In addition to directing, co-writing, and producing HONOR STUDENT, starring Emmy-Nominated actress Kelly Jenrette (All American: Homecoming, The Handmaid's Tale) and actor Hudson Yang (Fresh Off the Boat), she is currently prepping her much-anticipated feature film UNDERCARD.
An advocate for storytelling where women and people of color are at the center, Tamika co-founded Black Films Travel - a conscious initiative that dispels the myth that Black films don't make money overseas.
A gifted filmmaker, Tamika is a tremendous talent and truly a triple threat.
JOANNA SHAW
PRODUCER
Joanna Shaw is a trailblazer with over two decades of experience as a purveyor of short-form media and branded content: producing major music videos for world-famous stars like Jay-Z, Metallica, and P!nk as well as national and global advertising content for iconic brands such as Nintendo, Toyota, and NF. Piling on to her list of credits, Shaw has also worked on network campaigns for the likes of HBO, NBC, and Bravo.
In recent years, Shaw has transitioned to long-form content for traditional and digital studios, having collaborated with Lionsgate and Relativity on feature films, and Brad Weston’s indie powerhouse Makeready on a digital project. Shaw was the executive producer of Netflix's original documentary I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead, which premiered at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival, and she co-executive produced Snapchat’s first scripted original series Class of Lies.
With an extensive track record for concept development and production with the industry’s biggest names, Shaw draws on her relationships with major studios and networks to lead productions of her own original shows and feature films.
Shaw is passionate about female-centric stories and content that drives provocative conversation.
SOPHIA SOLOMON
PRODUCER
Sophia Solomon is a commercial and film producer. She has produced and developed branded campaigns for notable clients, such as Nike, Target, Instagram, and McDonald’s. This body of work includes broadcast commercials, social and digital media, experimental content, photography, and live-events.
Sophia excels in the fast-paced and challenging environments of commercial production and indie filmmaking. She strives to deliver and exemplary product while creating and empowering and inclusive on-set experience for all crew members.
cast
Kelly M. Jenrette
Nominated for an Emmy for her portrayal of Annie in Season 2 of The Handmaid’s Tale. She is currently on All American: Homecoming, the spinoff show for The CW's hit show All American. Her two latest films can be found on Netflix: Uncorked and All Day and A Night, in the latter, Kelly stars alongside Jeffrey Wright and Ashton Sanders. Kelly is also in the second season of the hit anthology show Manhunt: Deadly Games (Lionsgate/Spectrum) currently available on Netflix. She can be seen as Winona on the Facebook Watch Original LIMETOWN. Kelly has also been a series regular on the Fox comedy, Grandfathered, starring John Stamos; She's had recurring guest star roles on Mixed•ish (ABC), Here and Now (HBO), Pitch (FOX), and Graves (EPIX).
HUDSON YANG
Named by Variety, The Wrap and other publications as a rising star to watch in young Hollywood, spent six years as irrepressible protagonist Eddie on ABC's historic Asian American family sitcom Fresh Off the Boat. His performance garnered him multiple NAACP Image Awards nominations for Outstanding Performance by a Youth, and Teen Choice Awards nominations as Choice Scene Stealer in 2016 and Outstanding TV Comedy Actor in 2017 and 2018. Yang has also appeared on Family Guy, Disney's Sophia the First, Liv and Maddie and The Lion Guard, Universal Kids' Where's Waldo and PBS's Cyberchase. He will next be seen as the lead in the highly anticipated indie thriller HONOR STUDENT and in the forthcoming food challenge show Order Up with Hudson Yang, an original series he developed and sold to Insight TV through his production company Huje Media.
OLIVIA SIMMONS
A classically trained actor who can be seen as Angela in the upcoming thriller HONOR STUDENT, and as Emily Cooper in the soon-to-be-released, You Can’t Run Forever. Prior to embarking on her film career, Simmons played leading roles in plays and musicals including Twelve Angry Jurors, Mamma Mia, and The Laramie Project. She is also a singer/songwriter, currently working on her first album. Simmons studied at RADA Young Actors program, Shakespeare’s Globe summer program, The Groundlings in Los Angeles and is currently a Junior in the Honors College and BFA Acting program at Pace University in New York City
AMARI McCOY
Amari has modeled for Gap as a baby, has since been featured in multiple National network commercials, and has worked with acclaimed director Ted Melfi. Amari shines as a series regular on three different animated projects: WE BABY BEARS, PRETZEL AND THE PUPPIES, and PUPPY DOG PALS as well as several recurring roles on shows including TOTS and TIG N SEEK. Most recently, Amari starred in director Tamika Miller's feature film HONOR STUDENT. You can also see her in the Ryan Murphy TV series 9-1-1, GOLIATH, the feature film ERNESTO'S MANIFESTO, and WAFFLES + MOCHI.
KELVIN HAN YEE
Kelvin Han Yee is an American actor of Asian descent whose career spans over 30 years of film, television, and theater. He was discovered by the American Conservatory Theatre working as a bouncer but then went on to act at regional theaters like Oregon Shakespeare Festival at Ashland, Berkeley Repertory Theater, and The Huntington Theater. In 1985 he was cast in the first American movie shot in the People's Republic of China, as the all-American-Chinese teenager in A Great Wall, and has appeared in many films including Milk, Lucky You, The Island, Copycat, True Crime. On television, he continues to demonstrate a great range of characters on shows like Chicago PD, Hawaii Five 0, The Mentalist, Lie To Me, Criminal Minds, Prison Break, 24, Chuck, Entourage, Accidentally On Purpose, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Nash Bridges and in Soap Operas. He has used his background to help others by mentoring incarcerated youths, bringing arts education to public schools, and youth advocacy.
ANGELA E. GIBBS
Angela Gibbs’ accomplishments in the entertainment industry includes acting credits: This Is Us, Hacks, S.W.A.T. Bosch, NCIS, On My Block and films include Love Jacked, Straight Outta Compton, Stone Cold Christmas, Think Like A Man. Angela was also a series regular on Aaron McGruder’s, Black Jesus. An acting coach, Gibbs worked with Michael Keaton on Birdman then rejoined with the director, Alejandro Inarritu, coaching on The Revenant, both films won Oscars. Gibbs coached newcomers Demetrius Shipp for the role of Tupac in All Eyes On Me and Richie Merritt in White Boy Rick. Recently she worked with Janelle Monae in Homecoming and Antebellum and Ismael Cruz Cordova in the Undoing. She is the recipient of two NAACP Image Awards for producing 227 and for the Broadway play “Checkmates” starring Ruby Dee, Denzel Washington, and Paul Winfield.
Tariq Brown
Tariq Brown can most recently be seen on the Spectrum Originals series LA's FINEST. He has just wrapped principal photography on his first feature HONOR STUDENT directed by Tamika Miller. Best known for his recurring roles on the BRAT network series where he can be seen in three of their hit shows -TOTAL ECLIPSE, CHICKEN GIRLS & CROWN LAKE. Tariq is represented by Gaby Cohen and Mark Herzberg at Gersh and Taylor Bright at Stagecoach Entertainment.
CHASE LIEFELD
Chase Liefeld recently wrapped production on the co-lead role in CHANG CAN DUNK for Disney+.
RICK GIFFORD
Rick Gifford is honored to be joining the cast and creative team of Tamika Miller's HONOR STUDENT. He was last seen at Santa Barbara's ETC as Johnny in Frankie and Johnny in the Clare De Lune. Rick has appeared in OffBroadway's Beckett Theatre and The Mint Theatre productions, Gifford played in Other Off-Broadway credits that include Pugilist Specialist, The Workroom, and Peer Gynt. Film/TV Credits include: You Don't Mess with the Zohan, Undateable John, several “Law & Orders,” “Sopranos,” Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Recurred on How To Get Away With Murder, Nate Parker's American Skin and most recently Paramount Studio's "The Offer". He received his M.F.A. from Columbia University and is a proud SAG-AFTRA and AEA member.
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