Columbus native Damon Mosley returned to the 20th Street block where he grew up in the historic Bronzeville neighborhood after decades away in New York, Los Angeles and Peru. When he arrived in 2011 he found many of the storefronts and high‑rise apartments of his childhood either vacant or demolished, a change he described as a “reverse archaeological dig” where each corner revealed something missing.
Mosley recalled a corner store that once sold his mother 7‑Up and saltine crackers, a building that later collapsed, and the twin high‑rise Sawyer Towers where he delivered newspapers for his grandfather. “When your community isn’t brought along with the change, you feel unseen,” he said.
From memory to screenplay
Those memories sparked the idea for a new film project that Mosley calls “20th Street,” a story that will focus on the people who remain in the neighborhood despite the loss of brick‑and‑mortar. The concept, first conceived nearly a decade ago, is meant to be an action‑packed tribute to the 2015 B‑movie Kung Fury, with actor Darryl Dunning II slated to play Jaden, an everyday resident who dreams of defending his block from invaders.
Dunning, also a Columbus native who grew up on the Near East Side, echoed Mosley’s observations. “Coming back, it felt like a ghost town in spots,” he said. “I want to make a story that cements our homes in something no one can take away.”
Community‑focused storytelling
Both men say the project’s core mission is to make people from overlooked communities feel seen. Mosley noted that success is often measured by how far someone can leave the neighborhood, a mindset that can damage a person’s psyche. After mission trips to Peru, he realized he could make a difference right at home, helping neighbors on either side of his street.
Dunning’s path to acting began with childhood games of “I Love You Most” and later led him to Los Angeles, where he pursued television roles while rejecting producers who tried to script his real life. He believes acting is a way to make one person feel seen, a principle that aligns with the project’s goals.
Production hurdles and future plans
Development of “20th Street” has been slowed by financial constraints, a back injury Mosley suffered on a Christmas‑film set, and the recent death of Dunning’s partner, who was diagnosed with stage‑four colorectal cancer shortly after giving birth to their son.
Despite these setbacks, the collaborators remain optimistic that the story could take shape as a film, a television series, or a hybrid as early as next year. They hope the project will not only entertain but also preserve the narratives of Bronzeville’s longtime residents, ensuring their experiences are recorded for future generations.
Original reporting: Matter News (Columbus) — read the source article.
