The Dejon Simmons Story.
De’jon writes on his facebook page, November 11, 2011.
Yesterday I spoke openly on the radio for two and a half hours about my situation for the first time ever. It was beyond invigorating. The radio host was crying, my PR agent was tearing up & even those just at the station looking in, but they wasn’t crying out of sadness. You see, when you bring some real to a person without any distractions or spin, the connection is unbreakable. But hearing people call into the station asking me questions, sharing their own struggles LIVE on air made me realize something. Who I am, what I write, and what I do is WAY BIGGER than me now… Realizing that, I was left with the thought of knowing ‘Memoirs of my Scars‘ is way bigger than just a book, it’s a connection …
Articles
De’jon began writing as a therapeutic outlet.
His writing has given insight and inspiration to others erasing the physical appearance of him while letting readers find an image through his words.
Ten years of agony and hardship has lead to De’jon’s first published book (December 14, 2011) consisting of an intimate collection of poetry – ‘Memoirs of My Scars‘ – that follows his path of self-acceptance and self-expression.
Memoirs of My Scars was published by CKC BOOKS, Bermuda’s newest publishing company & can be found in e-book or paper back version @ amazon.com/Memoirs-of-My-Scars-ebook/… or lulu.com/shop/dejon-simons/memoirs-of-my-scars/paperback/…
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On February 7, 2012, Mohamed Nasheed resigned the presidency of the Maldives, an island group situated in the Indian Ocean, under threat of violence in a coup d’etat perpetrated by security forces loyal to the country’s former dictator. This is the story of his first year in office as he confronted a problem greater than any world leader has ever faced – the literal survival of his country and everyone in it. After bringing democracy to the Maldives after 30 years of despotic rule, Nasheed knew that a rise of three feet in sea level due to global warming would submerge the 1,200 islands of the Maldives. His year in office culminated in his trip to the Copenhagen Climate Summit, where the film provides a rare glimpse of the political horse-trading that goes on at such a top-level global assembly – including a last-ditch effort by Nasheed to craft an agreement, and save his country.
Bermuda (2012), 17 mins. Rated: PG
In parallel narratives Simon Bright tells the stories of Rhodesia’s transition to Zimbabwe and the personal journey of Robert Mugabe. Branded a terrorist, then knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, Mugabe was once viewed as a Western- oriented, sophisticated gentleman. The film tracks his Shakespearean rise and fall, speaking to his closest comrades and assembling an archive of southern African images to powerfully track each of the decades of Mugabe’s reign. The film dramatically illustrates his successful liberation and development of the country but also his ruthless and cunning retention of power at all costs, and Zimbabwe’s subsequent decline. Giving credit where it’s due, the film is an exploration of what happened to a promising African politician, revealing the behind-the-scenes jostling for power and Mugabe’s emergence as unquestionably one of history’s most canny, devious leaders.
Untouched for 50 years, a family finds a bundle of letters setting them on a journey into their past, and the rediscovery of a tragic love story amid the turmoil of World War II. Bermudian, Major Toby Smith lost his life at the battle of Overloon during the final Allied push for victory. This film weaves a haunting portrait etched in Toby’s own words through the letters he lovingly and dutifully wrote to his wife and five children as he agonised over loyalty to them and the war against the Nazis during four years of service abroad. This first-hand account uniquely re-captures the war-time era and its impact on a family, leaving a lasting legacy of what it means to serve one’s King and Country. Based on the book by Major Smith’s grandson, Jonathan Smith. Lucinda Spurling and Jonathan Smith will attend the screening.
In 2007, Queens Park Rangers Football Club, facing relegation and bankruptcy, was rescued by billionaires Flavio Briatore, Bernie Ecclestone, Lakshmi Mittal, and Amit Bhatia. Their vision: to take a community of reluctant fans, semi-talented players and a roster of ever-changing managers from the Championship to the Premiership – the most lucrative promotion in competitive football. The new owners, risking ridicule and commercial failure, allowed cameras unprecedented access to record the roller-coaster ride. Filmmaker Mat Hodgson observes and listens in – eavesdrops, even – recording meetings, telephone conversations, matches and private chats that reveal the turbulent and dramatic developments in four seasons of QPR. Witness one of modern football’s most extraordinary stories, as manager after manager is fired and the club’s fans grow increasingly impatient. But when Neil Warnock becomes manager it looks like the tide might be turning.
Every year, thousands of aspiring dancers enter one of the world’s most prestigious ballet competitions, the Youth America Grand Prix, where lifelong dreams are at stake. In the final round, with hundreds competing for only a handful of elite scholarships and contracts, practice and discipline are paramount, and nothing short of perfection is expected. Bess Kargman’s award-winning documentary, First Position, follows six young dancers as they prepare for a chance to enter the world of professional ballet, struggling through bloodied feet, near exhaustion and debilitating injuries, all while navigating the drama of adolescence. A showcase of awe-inspiring talent, tenacity and passion,First Position paints a thrilling and moving portrait of the most gifted young ballet stars of tomorrow.
At a Sydney girls’ school, music director Karen Carey prepares her young orchestra for a performance at the Opera House. Believing in the transformative power of music, Carey insists upon a classical repertoire. She sets a dauntingly high performance standard and requires the participation of every girl in the school. The difficulty lies in convincing the girls to care as much as she does. Teenage rebel Iris delights in identifying and exploiting her instructors’ weaknesses. Star pupil Emily is outwardly more compliant, taking on leadership duties and performing a stunning solo. Technically brilliant, she must overcome her shyness and restraint to achieve genuine greatness. This moving and inspirational film is about talent, courage, rebellion, passion – and coming of age. Ultimately, it is about what is possible when you strive rather than taking the easy way out.
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has grown from a controversial sideshow into a billion dollar enterprise promising fame and fortune for the men who emerge as champions. This exhilarating sports documentary tracks young hopefuls Dustin Poirier and Albert Stainback as they try to fight their way to MMA’s big leagues. Training at the Gladiators Academy in Lafayette, Louisiana under the watchful eye of trainer, resident philosopher and UFC fighter Tim Credeur, they travel the state taking on all comers presented to them by promoter Gil Guillory. The film is an intelligent treatment of a controversial subject, humanising and making sense of a sport that some think as brutal. There are plenty of fights for MMA enthusiasts – but, at its heart, this rousing and suspenseful film is about the value of hard work, the importance of dreams, and the challenge of finding meaning and purpose in adversity. Who has what it takes to be the best?
