Northville Native Raises $95K for Film on Gem Mining

Orin J. Mazzoni III, a Northville native whose family owns Orin Jewelers, is creating a documentary film on gemstone mining in East Africa. 

Mazzoni is the writer, director and producer of the film "Sharing the Rough" that will follow the story of a gem and the people who touch, or "share," in its transformation. According to the team, never before has a film documented this process from start to finish.

Mazzoni and his team sought the public's help through crowd-funding site Indiegogo.com. They exceeded their goal and raised over $95,000 before their campaign ended earlier this month. 

>>Find out more about the film in the video above. 

"Sharing the Rough" tells the story of how a gem travels from mine to market. The film will introduce viewers to the East African miners who bring the gems to the surface, the gem cutter who gives the gems their radiance and the jewelry designer who creates art to accentuate the gem's beauty. 

The team includes other locals like Lesli Thom — Livonia native, production manager — and Roger Dery, of Pleasant Ridge, Mich., who is an award-winning gem cutter featured in the film. 

Find out more about the documentary and the team behind the film at www.sharingtherough.com.