Making a movie can be difficult -- so can starring in one. Shawn Cornelius, a Bronx filmmaker, is trying to wear both caps and many others as he puts the finishing touches on his first feature film, set to premiere in January.

"This project has been sitting for almost 20 some odd years", says Cornelius. His work is a play he wrote back in college at Shaw University, now titled "Whatever It Takes the Movie: When Blood Runs Cold" produced, directed and starring the 54-year old Olinville resident.
"As I was doing other people's projects it was like, oh, maybe you can do your own thing, and people kept asking 'when are you gonna do yours?" says Cornelius.

It seemed like he never would, doing stand-up comedy for 26 years. But this year he got together with co-writer and co-star Omar Moore.

"I didn't just want to make a film, an entertainment film, I wanted it to do something, I wanted it to help people", says Cornelius.

Which is why the movie, filmed largely in the Bronx, tackles certain issues such as alcoholism, domestic violence and mental illness.

"Everybody in the film is really doing whatever it takes to be successful at what they're doing, even the villains." As is Cornelius, who's been doing whatever it takes these past six months to see his vision become reality.

He hopes the movie will eventually make it to streaming services like Netflix, but for now, the new trailer drops on Oct. 20.