Pre-production has begun on a film depicting the Richmond 34, a group of Virginia Union University students who were arrested in 1960 for staging a sit-in at a lunch counter of the Thalhimers department store in Richmond.

On Feb. 22, 1960, a group of 200 Virginia Union University students went to the Thalhimers department store. The Richmond 34 was a small group of those students who chose to enter the building. Some of the students silently sat at a whites-only lunch counter to be served, others entered the Richmond Room, Thalhimers’ restaurant. They were asked to leave and—when they did not—they were arrested and charged with trespassing.

The movie, which will be filmed in Richmond, is set to begin production in November, with hopes of being finished by spring and released next year. The film will feature new information on the event that is not well known in the story of the Richmond 34.

“We have several people that are on board with us, [who are] ready and eager to get this production online because it is a real-life event, something that actually happened right here in Richmond,” LK Harris Sr., producer, writer and director of the film, said. “And the world should know about what these 34 students … did.”

Harris was approached by his close friend and founder of The LM Bray Jr. Foundation,Vincent Scott Bray, with the idea. Bray is the son of the late Leroy Bray Jr., a member of the Richmond 34 and the first student to be arrested.

Harris has experience in the industry, writing and directing the film “You Reap What You Sow,” starring the late Thomas Ford, who played “Tommy” on the television show “Martin.”

Harris also has experience in TV. He wrote, directed and hosted “The Impact of Reality,” a talk show that aired on WRIC in 2015.

Harris is hoping to raise at least $60,000 in donations through The LM Bray Jr. Foundation to help finance the film.

“We need people to get on board and understand that these young kids … fought silently. They fought against injustice silently. [They fought] against racism silently,” Harris said. “So that has to be known.”

A casting call for the film will be held Tuesday, Sept. 24, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Black History Museum, 122 W. Leigh St., Richmond. Ac-