Growing up in Waukegan in the 1990s, Joshua Mallet made movies in his basement and started his own record label — RiP Records — while still a student at Waukegan High School.

Finding it more practical to record music in his bedroom than to make movies around town, Mallett embarked on a recording career, becoming a Christian hip-hop artist and earning consideration for Grammy awards.

Though he made music videos, he never forgot his moviemaking experience. Mallett is currently making his first feature-length film in which he is the screenwriter, director and producer. While fictional, he said it is based on people and activities he knew as a youngster in Waukegan.

“I decided it’s time,” Mallett said. “It is going to be one day or day one,” he added, as he is putting all his creative energ

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