---

A sneak peek screening of The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword, the Asbury Park School District’s very own hip hop documentary, will be held tonight at The ShowRoom Cinema, located at 707 Cookman Avenue.

The Red Carpet show comes days before the film’s screening at the 15th Annual Pocono Mountains Film Festival on Oct. 21, 2017.

“Part of my goal of ‘Building a Brighter Future’ for our students is to expose them to things they otherwise wouldn’t have experienced,” said Superintendent Lamont Repollet. “This is one such amazing opportunity.”

The film was produced over the summer in conjunction with Henry Entertainment Group, and features Asbury Park students who participated in the inaugural Hip-Hop Literacy Camp.

The camp, which was Repollet’s brainchild, was designed to use all facets of hip-hop to not only foster learning, but to engage and motivate them to become stronger readers and better writers. Legendary hip-hop artist Special ED [Ed Archer] and Kurt Nice [Kurtiss Jackson] helped the students polish their poetry, breakdancing, and graffiti art.

Based in Tannersville, Pa, the Pocono Mountains Film Festival is touted as one that celebrates the art of movie making and screenwriting, officials said. The goal of the event is to increase self-esteem and positive role models while providing a vision on how to secure a viable socioeconomic status.

The free screening begins at 6:30 p.m. and seating is on a first come basis. 

[Photos courtesy of the Asbury Park School District]

——————————————————————————————-

Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.

---