SILVER SPRING, Md.—Bad Dad Rehab, an original movie written by the American Black Film Festival’s 2015 TV One Screenplay Competition winner Keronda “Kiki” McKnight, made its national debut at this year’s 20th Annual ABFF as a Spotlight Screening at The Colony Theatre on Saturday, June 18.
Launched last year, the ABFF-TV One Screenplay Competition was created to encourage and promote the production of creative, contemporary, engaging and relatable screenplays, and offers budding writers the chance to showcase their talent and win the opportunity to see their project come to life.
In Bad Dad Rehab, directed by Carl Seaton and starring Malik Yoba (“NY Undercover”), Robert Ri’chard (“Chocolate City,” “One on One,” “Cousin Skeeter”), Rob Riley (“Hit the Floor,” “The Bourne Legacy”), Wesley Jonathan (“Soul Man,” “Crossover,” “City Guys”) and Kandi Burruss (“The Real Housewives of Atlanta”), four men in denial of their poor parenting skills attend a rehab for deadbeat dads that employs unusual methods to help them become true fathers and real men. Bad Dad Rehab premieres on TV One on Sunday, July 3 at 7 p.m. ET and encores at 9 p.m. ET.
“Movies like this don’t come around often where you see the many complexions of fatherhood,” said D’Angela Proctor, TV One’s SVP, original programming and production. “Many people think that being a deadbeat dad is connected to money, but it’s not. Fatherhood is about presence and not presents and we see that in this movie.”
After turbulence with their respective baby mamas and ex-wives forces them to take definitive action, Shawn (Jonathan), Tristan (Ri’chard), Jared (Riley) and Pierre (Gonzalez) attend a rehab program for dads to turn their situations around. Mr. Leon (Yoba), creator of a “Bad Dad Rehab Program,” challenges the dads to a series of tasks to strengthen their bonds with their children.
“This film for me is art imitating life,” said Yoba. “Just like the character I play, Mr Leon, I actually started a foundation to support fathers when my first daughter was born 18 years ago. We need to see images of men as involved fathers. I love that TV One chose to make this movie and has made it a priority to connect with actual real life fatherhood organizations across the country. I’m proud to be a part of this effort both on and off screen,” he added.
Through all the hilarity, hijinks, drama and soul-searching, the men of Bad Dad Rehab discover that fatherhood is less about making babies, and more about responsibility and commitment.
Bad Dad Rehab is directed by Carl Seaton, written by Keronda “Kiki” McKnight, and produced for TV One by Roger M. Bobb and Angi Bones of Bobbcat Films. For TV One, Lamar Chase serves as executive-in-charge of production and director of programming; Donyell Kennedy-McCullough as senior director of talent and casting; Robyn Greene Arrington is vice president of original programming; and D’Angela Proctor is executive producer and head of original programming and production.
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