Fredrick Gray, who also danced in the video, performed with his dance troupe. (Photos by Wiley Henry)

The eighth-grade performing arts students at KIPP DIAMOND Academy may not see themselves as future actors on the silver screen in Hollywood.

But the thought of making it to Tinsel town seemed remotely possible for some students who sang, rapped and acted in the school’s “My Destiny, My Choice” video.

The theme song for the video was written by the students and based on Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” In Macbeth, there is a quest for power and a struggle between good and evil.

The students applied what they learned from Macbeth to today’s life-choices of good and evil and the quest for power. “After studying Macbeth, we looked at some of those same things they’ll deal with in their lives,” said Stephanie Williams, KIPP’s performing arts teacher.

“Some of the kids come from broken homes — just like in Macbeth,” said Williams. “But you have to choose between success and failure, good and evil.”

The video begins with a scene reminiscent of troubled families in financial distress and on the verge of collapse.

Angel Vandiver gives her acceptance speech while Jarvius Freeman (left) and Jeremy McCalf look on.

A mother is angry at her husband because she’s gotten a foreclosure notice. Their son, who has scholarship papers, is trying to get her attention, but she doesn’t hear him.

The father walks off after a heated exchange, leaving behind a fragmented family, including an inappropriately dressed daughter, who sneaks out of the house with her girlfriends.

There is a correlation between the witches in Macbeth and the gangsters who wreak havoc on the streets. In this case, the son must choose between good and evil.  

“These kids found significance in Macbeth,” said local filmmaker Nikki Newburger of Opera Memphis’ Arts for Children and Teachers Songwriting program. This is the second year of KIPP’s participation.

Last year, the school won 1st place in the Middle School Division of the Indies Film Festival for “Teenage Life.” The video also was featured in the best of T-Tauri Film Festival in Batesville, Ark.

Michael Ching, Opera Memphis’ artistic director, designed the program five years ago to help students write their own musical compositions based on their life experiences.

Funded by Arts Memphis (formerly the Greater Memphis Arts Council), the students got an opportunity to tinker around at Young Studio, where the finished product was recorded.

David Ray and Jerisha Neal

“This is a wonderful interdisciplinary program, because it gives them an outlet to express themselves,” said Newburger, who worked with Rod Pitts of Pitts Productions on the filming and editing of “My Destiny, My Choice.”

“The kids have a genuine interest in what they’re doing,” said Pitts. “They’re hands-on.”  He said that the students were great performers and said the academy was one of the best schools he’s worked for.

Songwriting facilitators for Opera Memphis, Chuck Parr and Shelby Johnson, helped the students with their theme song. Then they added a rhythmic beat. Also, Williams played a section on keyboard.

Newburger said she wasn’t surprised to see the talent in KIPP’s performing arts students. “I discovered an enormous amount of talent at this school,” she said.

“This school has talent beyond singing and dancing. They were eager to work hard. They learned teamwork, critical thinking skills, character development and they learned to brainstorm.”

Javon Hill, 14, has stars in his eyes. He wants to become an actor some day. “I was a little bit nervous — but not a lot. But I’ll get used to it,” said Javon, a fan of actor/rapper Will Smith.

Arnishia Woods saw herself in a video for the first time. The 13-year-old said the experience was gratifying and just may prompt her to become an actor — or a lawyer.

Devoria Branch and Javon Hill

“If I want to pursue this dream (actor), it’s going to be a lot of hard work. And I have to stay focused,” she said. “I have to learn to express myself.”

On Friday afternoon, the students were focused on the premiere and awards presentation for “My Destiny, My Choice.” The boys donned tuxedos and bow ties; the girls wore formal dresses.

It was a Kodak moment for parents who photographed their budding star for posterity. Flashes were popping all over the school auditorium.

DeAngela Turner, one of the photographers, saw her sister Arnisha and took aim. One parent stood throughout the program with a video camera.

Tcherina Turner, Arnisha’s mother, said she is very proud of her daughter and her performance in the video. She said Arnisha has been a student at KIPP since the fifth-grade.

“I always supported them,” said Turner. “It lifts their spirits to be involved in this day and time.”

Jarvis Freeman, 15, said he felt like a professional in the studio. “I’m a singer,” he noted. “It made me feel like I’m a professional. It opens a lot of opportunities to go to a performing arts college.”

Marquisio Byers, 14, thought the studio experience was cool, too. “When they recorded us,” he said, “they did a double on my voice. It made me feel like a star.”

They all felt like stars during the filming, editing and final production phases. They couldn’t take their eyes off the six-minute video.

“This was my first time doing this,” said 14-year-old Angel Vandiver, an aspiring choreographer and beautician. “It gave me an opportunity to show my talent.”  

Nicole Falls and Justin Eddins

It was a learning process for Kiona Coburn. The 13-year-old future pediatrician said she learned teamwork. “I can make the right choices and not do wrong,” she said.

Rapping is Chase Owens’ forte. The 15-year-old said he wants to rap professionally. “It takes a long time (to produce a video), but we were prepared. But I’d like to do it again,” he said.

Terrence Rogers, 13, said the project was fun. But he doesn’t see himself on the big screen. “I like sports. I’m an athlete,” he said matter-of-factly. “I play soccer and basketball.”

For their efforts, Williams awarded prizes to top performers in a dozen or so categories. Jarvis Freeman, 13, hosted the awards show. He was voted Best Male Vocalist. The Best Female Vocalist award went to Jerisha Neal, 13.

The other categories and winners were Best Female Rap Artist - Angel Vandiver, 13; Best Male Rap Artist - Chase Owens, 14; Best Female Actress - Jerisha Neal; Best Male Actor - Chase Owens; Best Supporting Female Actress - Nicole Falls, 13; Best Supporting Male Actor - Marquisio Byers, 13; Best Set Design - Kierika Jackson, 12; Best Choreographer - Fredrick Gray, 13; Value Award - Javon Hill; and Best Cinematography and Director - Vivian Sprouse, 13.

Four other 13-year-olds, Martavia Randolph, Markeesha Durham, Shamari Love and Curniceis Brown also had parts in “My Destiny, My Choice.”

During the awards presentation, Ashiqua Bolden, a 12-year-old talent show winner, performed an original rap song. Also performing were 12-year-old seventh graders Mahogany Jordan, LaDeidra Conley, Destiny Poindexter, Quameesha Edwards, Mya Myles and Kelsey Brooks.

Fredrick Gray, who also danced in the video, performed with his dance troupe — Sharnell Coleman, Katrina Mason, Jade Rice and Janae Rice, all age 12, and Brandon Davis, 13.

A moral message is interspersed throughout the video and theme song: Choose success over failure, good over evil.

Over a rhythmic beat, they sang, “Macbeth taught me a lesson that I needed to learn. It built a fire inside of me, can’t you feel it burn.”  

‘A commitment to excellence’

Jamal McCall, KIPP’s principal, said the songwriting program gives students an opportunity to explore other avenues outside of academics. It also motivates them, he said.

KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) is one of 57 charter schools across the country that focuses on college preparatory instruction. Opened in 2002 as a contract middle school, it is located at 2110 Howell Ave. and serves 250 students in grades 5-8.

The word DIAMOND in the school’s name stands for Daring Individual Achievers Making Outstanding New Dreams.  

On July 1, KIPP DIAMOND Academy will become a charter school. McCall said, “The KIPP governing board and the KIPP Foundation agreed that it was time for KIPP to convert to a charter school like the others. And the Memphis school board approved it.”

The songwriting program, he added, comprises everything that KIPP stands for — “a commitment to excellence.”

Recently, KIPP students outgrew other students around the country by 5 to 10 percentile points in reading, math, language arts, science and social studies based on 2007-08 Stanford 10 norm-referenced tests reported in national percentile rank scores.