'Nana's Boys': New Bedford native releases his first feature film
Seth ChitwoodNEW BEDFORD – After screening at 10 different film festivals, winning two awards and securing a North American distribution from Breaking Glass Pictures, Whaling City’s Ashton Pina’s film “Nana’s Boys” is now available on demand and DVD for everyone to see.
“My grandmother was always kind of my rock,” said Pina, 34, writer and director of the feature film of dedicating it to her.
“For most people, living in the Black experience, their grandmothers play a really crucial part in their upbringing, and it really does take that village.”
“Nana’s Boys” is an intimate peek into the relationship of Amari (David J. Cork) and Q (Jared Wayne Gladly), on the morning of Amari’s 30th birthday. As Amari struggles to find his purpose in life, Q is on track to become the youngest partner at his law firm.
The day takes a rattling turn when an explosion cuts off utilities across New York City and forces the city into a mandatory lockdown. Their relationship is tested as the couple grapples with memories that could shatter their plans altogether.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
More:'They get a piece of time': 32 New Bedford artists to be featured in new street art book
“The explosion really just elevated everything,” Pina said. “There were already things that needed to be said that were left unsaid and I think that this explosion really just made those conversations happen.”
Based on Pina’s first relationship
Pina, who defines his sexuality as pansexual, said it gives him the freedom and space to be authentic without having to be confined to whatever boxes that the world has established around these different identities.
The film is based on his first experience being with a female partner and navigating their relationship during the pandemic.
“It was the honesty and vulnerability that we came up to the forefront while we were stuck in the house together,” he remembered.
However, he decided to instead write the story from a LGBTQ+ perspective. “I knew that this film needed to be about Black queer people because there's definitely not enough stories around intimate partnerships of black queer folks,” Pina said.
Pina said that he hopes people who watch the film check in with themselves and reflect on what they love about themselves, so they can keep continuing to do so, but also can pour that love into somebody else.
More:New Bedford restaurants say these are the dishes you have to try: An insider's guide
“If you're not honest and loving and joyful with yourself, it's gonna be hard to give that to somebody else,” he added.
Learning all about the film industry
Born and raised in the West End of New Bedford, Pina moved to Florida when he was 13, but he remembers enjoying his time at The Boys and Girls Club. His family, including his grandmother, still lives in the city.
“I'm the one that's kind of out exploring the world. I've lived in New York. I've lived in Chicago. I've lived in Miami, Los Angeles,” Pina said, adding that he moved to Puerto Rico last year.
Through the experience, Pina said he was able to meet his paternal grandmother and connect with her, too.
In 2019, Pina worked alongside Radha Blank on the Netflix original film, “The Forty-Year-Old Version” as the director’s assistant.
“I really got an intimate experience learning what it took to make a feature film,” he said.
He received an MFA in Film from The City College of New York, an MBA in Media Management from Metropolitan College of New York and studied Acting at Florida International University in Miami.
Pina also produced and directed the web series “Bi” and the award-winning short films, “In the Paint” and “Fayth,” starring Jensen Atwood and Alexandra Grey.
More:'It's a part of history now': New Bedford actor is in controversial Super Bowl commercial
He co-founded BiUS Entertainment to produce content that promotes equality and diversity. More recently, he launched a non-profit to award scholarships to HIV+ students and support for LGBTQ+ filmmakers through the Queer Storytelling Project with The SOULE Foundation.
Empowering others to create
“I still can't believe that I independently produced a film that went to all the major film Queer Film Festivals,” he said. “I just wanted to do it, and somehow I was able to pull the pieces together.”
The film world premiered at the 2022 Inside Out Film Festival, and went on to play Reeling 2022: The 40th Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival, Newfest, aGLIFF's Prism LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Out on Film Atlanta, and took home the coveted Best Narrative Feature award at both the Black Alphabet Film Festival and the Baltimore International Black Film Festival.
Pina hopes “Nana’s Boys” entices other creatives, especially in New Bedford, to believe that they can go out and make a film themselves.
“Even if it's on their phone, using their apartment or their job that they work at,” he said. “I just love that New Bedford, and the surrounding areas, are really encouraging people to really showcase their creativity.
"I really want to empower people in the area to go out and create.”
Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter: @ChitwoodReports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.