OFFICAIL SELECTION OF THE BOSTON FILM FESTIVAL
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LEGENDARY NOVA SCOTIAN BOXER SAM LANGFORD’S STORY WILL GET ITS BIG SCREEN DEBUT IN BOSTON
Toronto, ON [September 22, 2020]
Award winning Halifax N.S. native director/producer Jim Morrison IV brings the story of Nova Scotian boxing legend SAM LANGFORD to the big screen in the short film BONECRUSHER that will premiere at the Boston Film Festival (SEPT 23-27, 2020)
BONECRUSHER was awarded The Director’s Guide of Canada (DGC) Short Film Award to produce the film. Filming wrapped at the onset of the COVID - 19 outbreak and went through post production during the pandemic lock down with an international team remotely.
The film stars MARC JOHN JEFFERIES (Losing Isaiah, Get Rich or Die Tryin', Power, The Haunted Mansion, Nerve, Stuart Little 2 and Notorious) as Sam Langford and centers around his contention for the heavyweight championship belt in Mexico in 1923. “I’d never heard of Sam before this film was brought to me,” Marc says. “The more you read about him, or hear Jim talk about him the further your chin drops. He’s a legend and Jim’s passion for the story sealed the deal for me.”
Sam fought 6 inches shorter and 40 lbs lighter than most Heavyweights. He was denied his title shot first by the color line, and then by Jack Johnson ( the first black heavyweight). Sam faded into the record books after he died in 1956. Over 300 official career fights and 600 unofficial bouts, Sam often fought battles that sometimes lasted over 60 rounds.
BONECRUSHER is the film Jim got into the business to make nearly 20 years ago. The seeds of the story were planted in the 7th grade by the Chief Curator of the Black Cultural Society/Centre, Dr. Henry Bishop who was a mentor and a close family friend. “Uncle Henry” will consult on the upcoming feature film version.
“My father instilled the love of the unsung hero story in me.” Jim says. Jim’s father is Oral Historian and retired Professor Dr. James H. Morrison (SMU). “I have directed about 200 other projects and this is by far the most rewarding one. I have been pitching it for 2 decades, so it seems like the time is finally right for people to hear this story. It is an incredible honor”
Alex Jordan (Private Eyes) produced the film. “Everyone Jim or I have ever worked with came out of the woodwork to make this happen. From a producing standpoint this film punches way outside its weight division, just like Sam did.”
The short film will run the festival circuit for 2020/21 while Jim and his team finish development on the feature
ABOUT JIM MORRISON IV
Jim Morrison IV’s wheelhouse is unsung heroes in history you don’t know about but probably should. He is an accomplished director with 7 Canadian Screen Award Nominations and 3 wins. Most recently his film “I’m Going To Break Your Heart” ( starring Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida) was nominated in 2020 for best biography. He lives in Los Angeles, California.
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BONECRUSHER GETS ITS CANADIAN PREMIER AT THE HALIFAX BLACK FILM FESTIVAL
Sam Langford Film Comes Home to Nova Scotian Audiences
Toronto, ON [Feb 16, 2021] Award winning Halifax native director/producer Jim Morrison IV brings the story of Nova Scotian boxing legend SAM LANGFORD to the big screen in the short film BONECRUSHER in its CANADIAN premiere at the HALIFAX Black Film Festival (Feb 23-28, 2021).
“Boxing legend Sam Langford was a seminal yet underappreciated Black Canadian sports figure,” says Honourable Tony Ince, Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs and the Public Service Commission. “Screening this short at the 2021 Halifax Black Film Festival is an important moment for the community. I look forward to seeing Sam Langford’s story shared with audiences far and wide.”
The film, which had its World Premiere at the BOSTON FILM FESTIVAL, was produced with the assistance of The Director’s Guide of Canada (DGC) Short Film Award.
“Telling Sam’s story has really been a driving force in my work,” says film director Jim Morrison. “My hope with this film is that it will spark more curiosity about Sam’s life, and that people will be inspired by the audaciousness of his pursuit for the heavyweight championship.”
Sam was much smaller than most Heavyweights. He was denied his title shot first by the color line, and then by Jack Johnson, the first black Heavyweight Champion in 1908.
“Just how great a boxer was Langford? Consider this: his last fight was in 1926 and still today, nearly 100 years later, he is regularly listed by Ring Magazine as one of the Top 10 boxers to have ever lived,” says Bruce Rainnie, President/CEO of the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. “Short, stocky, long-armed and incredibly powerful, he was also a boxing genius - as smart and crafty as they came. It always gives me great pride to think that the story of this incredible athlete has its origins in Weymouth Falls, Nova Scotia,” adds Rainnie.
Jim came to learn about Sam through his father, Oral Historian Dr. James H. Morrison (SMU) which inspired interviews on Sam’s story with Dr. Henry V. Bishop, an Educator, Artist and Black Culture Consultant who grew up in Langford’s hometown of Weymouth Falls, NS. The former Director of the Black Cultural Centre of Nova Scotia (BCCNS), Dr. Bishop is one of the cultural consultants on the feature film version of BONECRUSHER.
“BONECRUSHER is a true testament of the importance of the Preservation of Black Culture and History,” says Russell Grosse, current Executive Director of the BCCNS. “It is inspiring stories like that of Sam Langford, that help create a greater understanding of Canada’s Diverse history, while exposing a gem in Canadian sporting heritage,” adds Grosse.
Wayn Hamilton, Executive Director African Nova Scotian Affairs is also excited to see the film come to fruition. “I have known Jim for a long time. His short film on Sam Langford - which began to form in his mind when he was a junior high student is long overdue,” says Hamilton. “The life story of Mr. Langford is compelling, full of sacrifices, and triumphs. However, two important characteristics, his determination and resiliency are ones most African Nova Scotians can relate to. The film is a dynamic testimony to these things,” he adds.
Sam’s story faded into the record books after he died in 1956. Over 300 official career fights and 600 unofficial bouts, Sam often fought battles that sometimes lasted over 60 rounds. The short film will run the festival circuit for 2021 while Jim and his team finish development on the feature film.
ABOUT JIM MORRISON IV
Jim Morrison IV’s wheelhouse is unsung heroes in history you don’t know about but probably should. He is an accomplished director with 7 Canadian Screen Award Nominations and 3 wins. Most recently his film “I’m Going To Break Your Heart” (starring Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida) was nominated in 2020 for best biography at the prestigious Canadian Screen Awards. He lives in Los Angeles, California. www.jimmorrisoniv.com