Film to be made chronicling new urban cultural phenomenon

Melee Entertainment, the producers behind You Got Served, and Shariff Hasan Productions are teaming up to produce the first feature film about the dance movement “Jerkin” that is exploding around the world. The “Jerkin” movement has been the focus recently of several high profile news stories including a feature in the Los Angeles Times, a cover story in the L.A. Weekly, and a feature on ABC News. In addition to dance, “Jerkin” also encompasses music, fashion, entrepreneurship and positive affirmation among teenagers.

“Jerkin” dance crews and music groups are now in every city in the United States and the movement has spread around the world with crews in Japan, France, Germany, Australia, China, Mexico and Canada. Page views on YouTube for “Jerkin” dance crews and music have reached over 300 million hits. The song You’re a Jerk by the New Boyz is currently #25 on the pop charts and has sold over 500,000 ringtones and downloads.

“Jerkin” was started by inner city teens in Los Angeles who needed an alternative to the gang culture that was decimating their neighborhoods. Instead of wearing baggy pants and white t-shirts, they started wearing skinny jeans and bright colors to differentiate themselves from gang members so they could avoid altercations and profiling from the police.

Todd Moscowitz is president of Asylum Records which is at the forefront of signing “Jerkin” music acts like the New Boyz. Hasan is an indie film maker who was teaching entrepreneurship in inner city schools and saw the Jerkin Culture first hand and wanted to get involved at it’s earliest stages. Mavrolas is the manager of the New Boyz.