Screening for A Cut Above: A Story About a Father and Son

The Central Library will host the debut film screening of A Cut Above: A Story About a Father and Son on Sunday, July 17, 3:30 p.m.

The 13-minute documentary deals with a Birmingham barber reconnecting with his biological father after years of no communication. This is the debut film for Kalisha DigiMedia. The founder of the production company, Kalisha Whitman, is a 31-year-old former reporter for NBC 13. Whitman is an Emmy-winning journalist who has been recognized by the Associated Press and the Alabama Broadcasters Association for her work.

A Cut Above was born out of Whitman’s natural curiosity. Whitman said she came up with the idea while sitting in the chair of her longtime barber, Taqee Salaam. An interesting man walked in and had a brief conversation with her barber.

“I asked Taqee about the man and he told me the man was his biological father,” Whitman said in an interview. “It was a fascinating story and the journalist in me kicked in. I asked if he would allow me to document his story, and he said yes.”

After 10 years working as an anchor and reporter, Whitman decided to go with her desire to start the production company sharing positive stories you don’t see on traditional news platforms. 

A self-described woman on the roam with her iPhone, Whitman filmed A Cut Above using her mobile device. “The landscape of journalism is changing. Capturing stories is a way of life. We are never not connected to our phones. So that’s why I did it,” she said.

Whitman started the documentary on May 27, and finished within a month. The screening this Sunday at the Central Library will be its debut. You can check out more details about the film at www.KalishaDigiMedia.com. 

If you are interested in submitting a story idea, e-mail Whitman at ideas@kalishawhitmanmedia.com.