“In America, a kid drops out of high school every 9 seconds… Imagine if they didn’t”

- Ten9Eight Quote

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Mary Mazzio has created yet another inspiring film.  Mazzio’s award winning past sets the stage for her newest film, Ten9Eight.  Mazzio captures the inspiring stories of students’  journey into entrepreneurship.  These inner city students from around the country in the film have set themselves apart from from their peers.  They compete for $10,000 in the New York City business plan competition run by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE).

NFTE is a nonprofit organization that helps young people pursue entrepreneurship opportunities.  They believe entrepreneurship can be taught and the alumni participates of the organization prove that its taught well.

The entrepreneurs in the film have created a variety of different and exciting businesses.  Tatayana Blackwell designs cheerleading outfits and is working on a project with the Washington Redskins.  Gabriel Echoles and Rodney Walker make videos for special occasions with original music.  Macalee Harlis has made an interesting invention with what he calls, “Mac Shields.”  His invention is a color transitioning football shield, which is meant to help football players better see in all different types of environmental conditions.  Other businesses include: cell phone charger vending machines, organic dog treats, and chemical free lotion.

Mazzio’s last film, Lemonade Stories was a huge success.  Tears fell from viewers eyes as they enjoyed the inspiring stories of entrepreneurs and their mothers.  Richard Branson and Russell Simmons are two individuals who were featured in the film.  Expect another success with Ten9Eight.

GetYourBizSavvy was able to ask Mazzo a few questions:

What are your goals for the film?

The goals for this film are really twofold – first – for hundreds of thousands of kids to see this film. If one student is inspired to think differently about his or her future (or to stay in school), the film has achieved its mission. Secondly – I hope that policy makers and influencers will see this film. Entrepreneurship education makes the traditional building blocks of learning (math, English) relevant to students, particularly those dealing with the ravages of poverty and struggling to find a reason to stay in school. It certainly is not a panacea – but is an effective tool to add to the anti-drop out tool kit.

Can you describe your excitement for your new film?

My excitement – I am over the moon. AMC hosted free educator screenings on Thursday throughout the country for teachers and their students. And applause and cheers broke out spontaneously – so to be able to hold the attention of teenagers for 84 minutes means that we edited and produced the film effectively. In fact, I walked into Lincoln Square AMC in New York, half-way through, worried that the teens would be texting or jostling or bored – - and you could hear a pin drop.

Secondly – Larry Wilmore (Senior Black Correspondent for the Daily Show) and Russell Simmons (founder of Def Jam) opened the premiere in New York, which was jammed – and the event was a very special evening for all who attended. On Monday night, we have a special screening at the Smithsonian for influencers and policy-makers in DC – and I am very much looking forward to that event as well.

Any last words?

I hope that lots of people will go to the theaters this weekend – for dates and times: http://ten9eight.com/film-dates-reviews/

Finally – being an entrepreneur is really someone who is an adventurer in life… willing to take risks and tackle and think creatively about obstacles and problems… and innovator. That topic really resonates throughout all of my films – the concept of overcoming obstacles.

Learn more about Mazzio in her Director’s Statement

Don’t miss out on an excellent film by Mazzio.  Go see Ten9Eight in theaters!

And, if you have not seen her previous films, order them here.