A Calm, Cool Face
Wildwood, New Jersey | Film Short
Drama
Mitchell and his brother Darrell take a trip to their childhood beach. What begins as a carefree weekend slowly turns dark as Mitchell notices disturbing changes in his brother. As they reconnect, buried emotions surface between them; Mitchell is forced to confront a horrifying, unavoidable truth.
A Calm, Cool Face
Wildwood, New Jersey | Film Short
Drama
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
19 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$3,375
Goal: $13,184 for production
Mitchell and his brother Darrell take a trip to their childhood beach. What begins as a carefree weekend slowly turns dark as Mitchell notices disturbing changes in his brother. As they reconnect, buried emotions surface between them; Mitchell is forced to confront a horrifying, unavoidable truth.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Mitchell and Darrell are brothers, best friends, and two guys who aren't very good at talking about what's really going on inside.
When they take a nostalgic trip to the beach boardwalk their mother took them to as children, what begins as a carefree weekend of music, arcades, laughter, and old memories slowly takes a darker turn.
Mitchell notices disturbing changes in his brother's behavior. Darrell, once withdrawn and anxious, suddenly moves through the world with reckless confidence. As the brothers reconnect along the shoreline, buried emotions and unspoken pain surface between them. Mitchell begins to realize that his brother is hiding something, and the truth threatens to change both of their lives forever.
This story, A Calm, Cool, Face, is created by us, Darius Charles (D.C.) Lewis & Aaron Wilson Watson, two friends and filmmakers from New Jersey.
Aaron (right) and Darius (left) at Darius' bachelor party in Wildwood, NJ (where the film will be shot!)
We are both guys who love to laugh and have fun, but we know what it's like to mask our pain in an effort to avoid vulnerability or as a way to "show strength", and we regret the emotional distance that's created from that masking. We also know what it's like to have a brother who is your closest friend, who gets all of your pop culture references, and who will be by your side no matter what; but yet, even they can't get you to fully open up.
Darius (right) and his brother Malcolm (left) at Darius' wedding.
Aaron (left) and his brother Anson (right) at Anson's college graduation.
We poured our life experiences into Darrell and Mitchell's story.
Mental illness is an issue that can affect men and women at alarming rates, however, men's mental health is often overlooked. Specifically among black men, less than 30% of us who live with a mental health condition receive treatment.
Studies also show that black men and characters of color remain severely underrepresented when mental illness is portrayed onscreen.
A Calm, Cool Face explores these issues through an intimate story about two brothers who love each other deeply, but struggle to communicate what they're really feeling. Rather than approaching mental health as a statistic or an abstract issue, we're telling a story rooted in our own experiences with vulnerability, brotherhood, and the pressure men can feel to keep their struggles hidden.
We know what it means to desire a close emotional bond but feel unequipped to create it.
This film is for anyone who feels the same way, or who knows someone who does.
Wildwood, NJ is a breathtaking beach and boardwalk town on the southern end of Jersey. When you step into Wildwood, surrounded by seagulls, the hypnotic wave of the ocean, and the saturated neon lights of the boardwalk, you feel this instant wave of nostalgia, innocence, and a connection to nature.
These elements will translate beautifully on screen and immerse the viewer in the exact feeling that we want them to experience: a wave of comfort, reconnection, and belonging that Darrell and Mitchell feel when they step out onto the boardwalk, but contrasted with the darker, unspoken tension that sits between them.
D.C. Lewis - Writer/Co-Director
Darius' previous work was a feature documentary, Eye to Eye, which was awarded Best Documentary at the 2023 Manhattan Independent Film Festival. The film explored his family's struggles and perseverance throughout the pandemic, dealing with the issues of police brutality, grief, and mental health. With A Calm, Cool Face, Darius brings that storytelling experience to a deeply personal story about brotherhood, vulnerability, and the emotional barriers that can exist between the people we love most.
Aaron Wilson Watson - Co-Creator/Co-Director/Cinematographer
Aaron is an accomplished video producer & director who previously served as the Deputy Director of Video for the Biden-Harris Administration. A Calm, Cool Face merges his incredible visual & production expertise with his own personal connection to the story.
Cordelia Donovan - Producer
We are so excited to work with Cordelia Donovan (a fellow New Jersey-an) on this film as our producing partner! She is incredible and has the same desire for storytelling as us. Among many projects, she produced the acclaimed crime thriller Respect the Jux (2022), currently streaming on Starz and Amazon Prime, and Heart of the Shore (2015), a documentary that explored the recovery efforts along the Jersey Shore following Hurricane Sandy and the communities impacted by it.
Because we believe so much in this story, we have already committed $8000 of our own funds to make this project happen. We have finished securing our locations, shot-listing, have assembled our crew, and are nearly done with our casting process. However, we are currently seeking $13,184 in order to support our production costs and allow us to cover all filming expenses.
Our film is fiscally sponsored by From the Heart Productions, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which means that any contributions made to us are fully tax deductible!
Your gracious contributions would help us cover the following expenses:
- Film Equipment: $2,025
- Water Safety (Lifeguards,Safety Coordinator, etc.): $2,260
- Food: $1,200
- Crew: $1,950
- Insurance & Liability Policy: $2,129
- Housing: $2,600
- Transportation: $500
- Props & Wardrobe: $500
*(If you'd like a more itemized breakdown of our budget and how you could contribute, please visit our wishlist section!)
Our production timeline is as follows:
October 8th-11th, 2026 — Production
October 20th–December 31st, 2026 — Post-production
January 2027 — Festival submissions
Beyond the festival circuit, we hope to partner with mental health organizations and community groups to bring the film to audiences and create space for conversations about vulnerability, brotherhood, and mental health.
Where we hope to take the film:
o BlackStar Film Festival (early submission: January 2027)
o Sundance Film Festival (shorts program, early submission: July 2027)
o Tribeca Festival Shorts (extended deadline: February 2027)
o American Black Film Festival (extended deadline: February 2027)
o SXSW (early submission June 2027)
If our campaign is successful, our stretch goal is an additional $5,000. This allows us to pay for critical post-production needs, such as professional color correction & color grading (to give a cinematic look to the film), professional audio design & mixing (the sounds of the waves, the boardwalk, shifting sands, and the seagulls filling the eerie silence among the brothers), compositional score, and festival submission fees. This will allow us to fully realize our cinematic aesthetic & emotional atmosphere for our story.
Sometimes, the people closest to us are the ones we have the hardest time asking if they are okay. Sometimes, we might feel its easier to suffer in silence, even when we need support.
Help us tell that story. Here's how you can support us:
Pledge: Any pledge amount will help us to make this film happen! Thank you so much for your generosity!
Follow our journey on Seed & Spark: Every follow we get on this platform matters! Once we past 250 followers, we will unlock creator rewards from Seed & Spark that will go toward our campaign!
Share our campaign: Instagram is where you can get immediate updates on the film! Even if you can't give monetarily, please share, share, share our campaign with others to help us reach our goal, via social media, email, word of mouth, however you want!
Here is an example. Feel free to copy & paste or change up however you like:
Help filmmakers @dclewis_ and @awilsonw by supporting their short film A CALM, COOL FACE! It's a story that tackles mental illness and is about a young man who suspects his brother is hiding a dark, life-changing secret. Join them on @seedandspark: tinyurl.com/calmcoolface
We would be forever appreciative! Follow us at:
If there are any outside organizations (nonprofits, academic institutions, businesses, etc.) that are interested in contributing or hosting a screening, please email [email protected]
THANK YOU!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Aquatech Underwater Camera Housing
Costs $950
Essential custom waterproof housing to protect our camera package while capturing critical, cinematic scenes directly in the water.
Steadicam Stabilizer
Costs $250
Specialized rig to keep the camera steady to build emotionally tense, uninterrupted moving tracking shots along the beach shore & boardwalk.
EZ Rig Body Support
Costs $135
Structural support vest for our camera operator to safely handle a heavy camera package over long days filming on shifting sand.
Cooke Prime Lens Package
Costs $460
Industry standard, premium cinema lenses to give our boardwalk and shoreline environments a deeply nostalgic, rich, feature film aesthetic.
High Speed Master Hard Drives
Costs $250
High-speed, rugged storage drives to secure, mirror, and safely store our 4k digital files straight from set.
4-Night Production Team Base Camp
Costs $2,600
Central housing hub near our Wildwood NJ Beach location to lodge our cross-state cast and core creative heads safely together.
Catering & Craft Services
Costs $1,200
Full high nutrition meals and hydration options to sustain our cast, crew, and water safety team over labor intensive days outdoors.
Props & Wardrobe
Costs $500
Specialized props & wardrobe needed to establish the world and identity of the two brothers, such as Darrell's cherished cross necklace.
Set Insurance and Liability Policy
Costs $2,129
Essential film production insurance policy for our equipment package, locations, and providing legal cast/crew security.
Water Safety Team
Costs $1,600
An elite safety coordinator & lifeguards dedicated to auditing risk and maintaining absolute safety during complex shoreline scenes.
Production Assistants
Costs $900
Vital crew members managing daily setup, crowd control on a public boardwalk, and moving heavy equipment through sand.
Stills Photographer
Costs $450
A professional on set visual archivist capturing crucial behind-the-scenes photos and video.
Location Sound Recordist
Costs $600
Dedicated sound recordist to cleanly capture crucial emotional dialogue over ambient ocean waves, wind, and boardwalk environment noises.
Transportation Costs
Costs $500
Transit support to transport core crew & cast members safely to set.
Thermal Wetsuits
Costs $660
Key scenes take place in the ocean in October; the temperature of the water will drop. Wetsuits keep body temp regulated and all talent safe
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Writer/Co-Director: Darius Charles (D.C.) Lewis is an award winning filmmaker, writer, and educator based in New York City. His first feature documentary, “Eye to Eye”, explores an African American family’s struggles and perseverance throughout the pandemic, dealing with elements of police brutality, mental health, and grief. It premiered at the Manhattan Independent Film Festival and won the 2023 award for Best Documentary.
Co-Creator/Co-Director/Cinematographer: Aaron Wilson Watson is a seasoned producer, digital generalist, and photographer. He previously served as the Deputy Director of Video in the Office of Digital Strategy at The White House, where he told the story of the Biden Harris Administration in the digital space. Aaron has worked at Tribeca Film Festival, CBS and Mass Appeal. His films have played at the Newark International Film Festival, New Jersey Independent Film Festival and International Social Change Film Festival.
Producer: Cordelia Donovan, a dynamic businesswoman, award winning producer, advocate, and entrepreneur, is driven by her passion for business, beauty, and film. With a diverse background spanning beauty, finance, film, TV, medical, legal, and fashion industries, she established Cordelia Donovan Inc., a public relations and marketing firm. Her mission is to empower businesses to "Make Big Happen" through her unique blend of strength and charm.
Cordelia is an accomplished entrepreneur and film producer, with notable works like "The Lost Book of Rap," "Circles," and "Respect The Jux," along with the touching documentary "Heart of The Shore." In 2015, she wrote, directed, and produced the off-Broadway play "Sister’s Keeper" as part of the Theater of the New City’s Dream Up Festival.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Mitchell and Darrell are brothers, best friends, and two guys who aren't very good at talking about what's really going on inside.
When they take a nostalgic trip to the beach boardwalk their mother took them to as children, what begins as a carefree weekend of music, arcades, laughter, and old memories slowly takes a darker turn.
Mitchell notices disturbing changes in his brother's behavior. Darrell, once withdrawn and anxious, suddenly moves through the world with reckless confidence. As the brothers reconnect along the shoreline, buried emotions and unspoken pain surface between them. Mitchell begins to realize that his brother is hiding something, and the truth threatens to change both of their lives forever.
This story, A Calm, Cool, Face, is created by us, Darius Charles (D.C.) Lewis & Aaron Wilson Watson, two friends and filmmakers from New Jersey.
Aaron (right) and Darius (left) at Darius' bachelor party in Wildwood, NJ (where the film will be shot!)
We are both guys who love to laugh and have fun, but we know what it's like to mask our pain in an effort to avoid vulnerability or as a way to "show strength", and we regret the emotional distance that's created from that masking. We also know what it's like to have a brother who is your closest friend, who gets all of your pop culture references, and who will be by your side no matter what; but yet, even they can't get you to fully open up.
Darius (right) and his brother Malcolm (left) at Darius' wedding.
Aaron (left) and his brother Anson (right) at Anson's college graduation.
We poured our life experiences into Darrell and Mitchell's story.
Mental illness is an issue that can affect men and women at alarming rates, however, men's mental health is often overlooked. Specifically among black men, less than 30% of us who live with a mental health condition receive treatment.
Studies also show that black men and characters of color remain severely underrepresented when mental illness is portrayed onscreen.
A Calm, Cool Face explores these issues through an intimate story about two brothers who love each other deeply, but struggle to communicate what they're really feeling. Rather than approaching mental health as a statistic or an abstract issue, we're telling a story rooted in our own experiences with vulnerability, brotherhood, and the pressure men can feel to keep their struggles hidden.
We know what it means to desire a close emotional bond but feel unequipped to create it.
This film is for anyone who feels the same way, or who knows someone who does.
Wildwood, NJ is a breathtaking beach and boardwalk town on the southern end of Jersey. When you step into Wildwood, surrounded by seagulls, the hypnotic wave of the ocean, and the saturated neon lights of the boardwalk, you feel this instant wave of nostalgia, innocence, and a connection to nature.
These elements will translate beautifully on screen and immerse the viewer in the exact feeling that we want them to experience: a wave of comfort, reconnection, and belonging that Darrell and Mitchell feel when they step out onto the boardwalk, but contrasted with the darker, unspoken tension that sits between them.
D.C. Lewis - Writer/Co-Director
Darius' previous work was a feature documentary, Eye to Eye, which was awarded Best Documentary at the 2023 Manhattan Independent Film Festival. The film explored his family's struggles and perseverance throughout the pandemic, dealing with the issues of police brutality, grief, and mental health. With A Calm, Cool Face, Darius brings that storytelling experience to a deeply personal story about brotherhood, vulnerability, and the emotional barriers that can exist between the people we love most.
Aaron Wilson Watson - Co-Creator/Co-Director/Cinematographer
Aaron is an accomplished video producer & director who previously served as the Deputy Director of Video for the Biden-Harris Administration. A Calm, Cool Face merges his incredible visual & production expertise with his own personal connection to the story.
Cordelia Donovan - Producer
We are so excited to work with Cordelia Donovan (a fellow New Jersey-an) on this film as our producing partner! She is incredible and has the same desire for storytelling as us. Among many projects, she produced the acclaimed crime thriller Respect the Jux (2022), currently streaming on Starz and Amazon Prime, and Heart of the Shore (2015), a documentary that explored the recovery efforts along the Jersey Shore following Hurricane Sandy and the communities impacted by it.
Because we believe so much in this story, we have already committed $8000 of our own funds to make this project happen. We have finished securing our locations, shot-listing, have assembled our crew, and are nearly done with our casting process. However, we are currently seeking $13,184 in order to support our production costs and allow us to cover all filming expenses.
Our film is fiscally sponsored by From the Heart Productions, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which means that any contributions made to us are fully tax deductible!
Your gracious contributions would help us cover the following expenses:
- Film Equipment: $2,025
- Water Safety (Lifeguards,Safety Coordinator, etc.): $2,260
- Food: $1,200
- Crew: $1,950
- Insurance & Liability Policy: $2,129
- Housing: $2,600
- Transportation: $500
- Props & Wardrobe: $500
*(If you'd like a more itemized breakdown of our budget and how you could contribute, please visit our wishlist section!)
Our production timeline is as follows:
October 8th-11th, 2026 — Production
October 20th–December 31st, 2026 — Post-production
January 2027 — Festival submissions
Beyond the festival circuit, we hope to partner with mental health organizations and community groups to bring the film to audiences and create space for conversations about vulnerability, brotherhood, and mental health.
Where we hope to take the film:
o BlackStar Film Festival (early submission: January 2027)
o Sundance Film Festival (shorts program, early submission: July 2027)
o Tribeca Festival Shorts (extended deadline: February 2027)
o American Black Film Festival (extended deadline: February 2027)
o SXSW (early submission June 2027)
If our campaign is successful, our stretch goal is an additional $5,000. This allows us to pay for critical post-production needs, such as professional color correction & color grading (to give a cinematic look to the film), professional audio design & mixing (the sounds of the waves, the boardwalk, shifting sands, and the seagulls filling the eerie silence among the brothers), compositional score, and festival submission fees. This will allow us to fully realize our cinematic aesthetic & emotional atmosphere for our story.
Sometimes, the people closest to us are the ones we have the hardest time asking if they are okay. Sometimes, we might feel its easier to suffer in silence, even when we need support.
Help us tell that story. Here's how you can support us:
Pledge: Any pledge amount will help us to make this film happen! Thank you so much for your generosity!
Follow our journey on Seed & Spark: Every follow we get on this platform matters! Once we past 250 followers, we will unlock creator rewards from Seed & Spark that will go toward our campaign!
Share our campaign: Instagram is where you can get immediate updates on the film! Even if you can't give monetarily, please share, share, share our campaign with others to help us reach our goal, via social media, email, word of mouth, however you want!
Here is an example. Feel free to copy & paste or change up however you like:
Help filmmakers @dclewis_ and @awilsonw by supporting their short film A CALM, COOL FACE! It's a story that tackles mental illness and is about a young man who suspects his brother is hiding a dark, life-changing secret. Join them on @seedandspark: tinyurl.com/calmcoolface
We would be forever appreciative! Follow us at:
If there are any outside organizations (nonprofits, academic institutions, businesses, etc.) that are interested in contributing or hosting a screening, please email [email protected]
THANK YOU!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Aquatech Underwater Camera Housing
Costs $950
Essential custom waterproof housing to protect our camera package while capturing critical, cinematic scenes directly in the water.
Steadicam Stabilizer
Costs $250
Specialized rig to keep the camera steady to build emotionally tense, uninterrupted moving tracking shots along the beach shore & boardwalk.
EZ Rig Body Support
Costs $135
Structural support vest for our camera operator to safely handle a heavy camera package over long days filming on shifting sand.
Cooke Prime Lens Package
Costs $460
Industry standard, premium cinema lenses to give our boardwalk and shoreline environments a deeply nostalgic, rich, feature film aesthetic.
High Speed Master Hard Drives
Costs $250
High-speed, rugged storage drives to secure, mirror, and safely store our 4k digital files straight from set.
4-Night Production Team Base Camp
Costs $2,600
Central housing hub near our Wildwood NJ Beach location to lodge our cross-state cast and core creative heads safely together.
Catering & Craft Services
Costs $1,200
Full high nutrition meals and hydration options to sustain our cast, crew, and water safety team over labor intensive days outdoors.
Props & Wardrobe
Costs $500
Specialized props & wardrobe needed to establish the world and identity of the two brothers, such as Darrell's cherished cross necklace.
Set Insurance and Liability Policy
Costs $2,129
Essential film production insurance policy for our equipment package, locations, and providing legal cast/crew security.
Water Safety Team
Costs $1,600
An elite safety coordinator & lifeguards dedicated to auditing risk and maintaining absolute safety during complex shoreline scenes.
Production Assistants
Costs $900
Vital crew members managing daily setup, crowd control on a public boardwalk, and moving heavy equipment through sand.
Stills Photographer
Costs $450
A professional on set visual archivist capturing crucial behind-the-scenes photos and video.
Location Sound Recordist
Costs $600
Dedicated sound recordist to cleanly capture crucial emotional dialogue over ambient ocean waves, wind, and boardwalk environment noises.
Transportation Costs
Costs $500
Transit support to transport core crew & cast members safely to set.
Thermal Wetsuits
Costs $660
Key scenes take place in the ocean in October; the temperature of the water will drop. Wetsuits keep body temp regulated and all talent safe
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Writer/Co-Director: Darius Charles (D.C.) Lewis is an award winning filmmaker, writer, and educator based in New York City. His first feature documentary, “Eye to Eye”, explores an African American family’s struggles and perseverance throughout the pandemic, dealing with elements of police brutality, mental health, and grief. It premiered at the Manhattan Independent Film Festival and won the 2023 award for Best Documentary.
Co-Creator/Co-Director/Cinematographer: Aaron Wilson Watson is a seasoned producer, digital generalist, and photographer. He previously served as the Deputy Director of Video in the Office of Digital Strategy at The White House, where he told the story of the Biden Harris Administration in the digital space. Aaron has worked at Tribeca Film Festival, CBS and Mass Appeal. His films have played at the Newark International Film Festival, New Jersey Independent Film Festival and International Social Change Film Festival.
Producer: Cordelia Donovan, a dynamic businesswoman, award winning producer, advocate, and entrepreneur, is driven by her passion for business, beauty, and film. With a diverse background spanning beauty, finance, film, TV, medical, legal, and fashion industries, she established Cordelia Donovan Inc., a public relations and marketing firm. Her mission is to empower businesses to "Make Big Happen" through her unique blend of strength and charm.
Cordelia is an accomplished entrepreneur and film producer, with notable works like "The Lost Book of Rap," "Circles," and "Respect The Jux," along with the touching documentary "Heart of The Shore." In 2015, she wrote, directed, and produced the off-Broadway play "Sister’s Keeper" as part of the Theater of the New City’s Dream Up Festival.