Funding for film of Cannon Street Boys

Charleston filmmakers were awarded a grant to turn the story of the 1955 Cannon Street YMCA into a short movie.

The South Carolina Film Commission awarded Joe Pinto, Ben Hammock and Jason Scott one of three 2008 Production Fund grants. The filmmakers will pair up with Trident Technical College to produce "The Cannon Street Boys."

The film is inspired by the Cannon Street All Stars, an all-black Little League team from Charleston that made it to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., only to be told they were not allowed to participate.

The state's production fund was created to develop collaborative projects in film, video and multimedia between professionals in motion picture and related industries and South Carolina colleges and universities.

"The Cannon Street Boys" will use Trident Tech students to make the film and use the YMCA as a backdrop.

The other two award winners will work with the University of South Carolina and Clemson University.

At USC, Erik Adolphson, a graduate of the media arts program, will work with the university to create "Civil," a period film set at the end of the Civil War.

Clemson University is producing a short feature combining live action and computer animation. The film is about a pair of clogging shoes that come to life and dance on their own. Producer Tim Davis will be working with the Fine Arts Center of Greenville and his master's degree students to create "Appalachian Dreams."

For more information about the Production Fund visit the South Carolina film Web site.

Read Tuesday's edition of The Post and Courier for more on this story.