Hello Myspace Friends,
My name is Maurice Ballard from Bensonhurst Brooklyn. As a child I grew up in Bedford-Stuyvesant Brooklyn. My mom was a heroin addict that eventually died of Aids and my father is now serving 50 years in Elmira Correctional facility, I was born in prison. After moving into my biological Grandmother home and hoping to see a better world i knew i needed individual attention after being neglected for so long. At my grandmother home she would care for ten grand kids as her kids were all addicts as well and eventually all of them died of Aids. After discovering my talents in sports and trying out for teams in Bensonhurst which i was the only black kid on the team i became family with one particular Italian family, the Dimino's. A great family that decided to come into my life and show me a better world after noticing my family situation. I was unofficially adopted into family at 8 years old in the early 80's during the time of the, Yusef Hawkins killing. A young black kid that was chased to his death by a group of Italian kids. I played Baseball, and Basketball at Xaverian High School were the famous, Chris Mullin attended in the early 80's. I focused on athletics all my life and knew one day i would be playing professional sports. During my freshmen year on my 19th birthday I found out i was born in prison which really gave me a different perspective on life. I then decided to write and express my feelings on paper because i knew I had no one to speak to. At this time my mom had died of Aids, My adopted Mom died of breast cancer and now i had to deal with these three tough situations alone. Today I've put sports second in my life learning how to become a father and learning how deal with everyday life. I've been in the film business since 1995. My first script "The Ballard of Bensonhurst" starring, Taral Hicks and directed By Bill Duke. A story about my Italian family raising a black child during a racial time period in Bensonhurst and how they stood up for me being, BLACK. Also a film called "Precious" about the sister of rap star "Nelly" and her fight with cancer. Then a script on one of the biggest and most oganized gang in america called "Gangster Disciples" that had over 30,000 members and was led by one leader, Larry Hoover. As for novels i adapted into screenplays a novel by Donald Goines starring "DMX" and directed by Bill Duke. I hope I can capture a bunch of good friends as i continue to fight to make a change in this film business
and show hope to our future kids. Until we speak everyone continue great success and never give up GOD is watching.
GodBless
MauriceBallard
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