Black Man, Black Man
Phoenix, Arizona | Series
Comedy, Drama
This is the pilot episode for an episodic sci-fi dramedy series that tackles the "what if" question: What would happen if we walked in someone else's shoes? The series is a surreal journey that explores day-to-day societal constructs and the dynamics of culture, race, class, and community.
Black Man, Black Man
Phoenix, Arizona | Series
Comedy, Drama
1 Campaigns | Arizona, United States
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This is the pilot episode for an episodic sci-fi dramedy series that tackles the "what if" question: What would happen if we walked in someone else's shoes? The series is a surreal journey that explores day-to-day societal constructs and the dynamics of culture, race, class, and community.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Black Man, Black Man is a Co-Media Production
Black Man, Black Man is the story of Weston Clark, a highly successful, self-made, entrepreneurial executive whose personal life is in shambles. After encountering a mysterious gentleman, Weston is selected into a program designed to establish allyship by forcing individuals to live as another race.
Race. Yes, race. It's a topic many people, especially in the United States, would rather avoid altogether. However, color is a God-given part of what it means to be human, and unless you are colorblind, we all see color. We don't go to wildflower fields to observe gray tulips. Nor do we sit on the edges of cliffs to observe opaque sunsets.
Color is beautiful and necessary.
While race is a social construct devised to divide, demean, and destroy – color exists to add wonder and variety to our human experience. It's only due to the unimaginable history surrounding race and the deep roots embedded in our subsequent societal structures that being honest about it can get messy. A line from the poem “Human Family” by the late great Maya Angelou serves as a marker for our show, “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.” It is in this spirit we embark on this journey.
Shows like Atlanta and Black Mirror are inspirations for their outside-the-box approach. Although they often depict humanity's ugly and self-serving nature, we still connect with the stories because, deep down, we recognize and resonate with the truth they carry. We hope our story can bring a similar level of conviction and connection.
Check out our LOOKBOOK HERE for more information on how we plan to bring this creative vision to life. Follow us on Instagram: Co-Media Instagram to stay current on the project. #blackmanblackman NOTE: We are collaborating and raising funds through our non-profit partners at Glow Frame Initiative. All 'sponsor incentive tiers' will be tax-deductible through Glow Frame.
WESTON, 30s, is a successful ‘self-made’ entrepreneur. He’s hardworking, obsessive, maniacal, and determined. While these characteristics make him a great entrepreneur, they haven’t translated as naturally to marriage and fatherhood. As such, his personal life is falling apart. His marriage is ending, and his relationship with his son is nowhere near where he’d like it to be. He wants to change, but is it too late?
C.C, late 20's, is ready to take on life independently and discover who she is apart from Weston. She’s very family-oriented and grew up in a competitive upper-middle-class household. She met Weston in college, where they dated on and off for a year until she became pregnant with their son, Jarett, when she was only 19. Motherhood forced her to grow up quickly, and she missed out on time for self-discovery. Now, she’s taking online courses to finish her degree and starting a 'beauty bar' business. She's dating again and has a better understanding of herself. She's the type of person who values time well spent over possessions.
Most of our budget will be allocated to our cast/crew and production team. Your contribution will help fund this pilot and ensure that the talented professionals taking the time to shoot with us are getting paid for their hard work!
We are currently finalizing pre-production and plan to begin shooting in March 2025! After that, we will complete the pilot’s post-production steps and secure festival submissions for 2025! We also plan to host several screenings here in Phoenix and pitch to streamers/networks. We will also stream the pilot on our platform co-media.co.
Development/Production: This includes our Arizona Film Commission submission that guarantees us location permits and secures the lodging and flights for the cast/crew. Crew & talent pay, camera/lighting/grip equipment + shipping fees, props, wardrobe, transport, picture cars, catering, keeping our crew hydrated, etc.
Post-Production: Includes labor, editing equipment/software, music composition, color correction, royalty, licensing fees, etc.
Insurance: Maintains the safety of our equipment and crew for our production.
Screenings/Festivals: We plan to host several screenings and attend TV show-specific festivals. This covers festival and screening fees, DCP Fees, and touring fees!
Look & Feel
Our look and feel are inspired by old cinema glass. We want to shoot on Black Wing Tribe 7s because of the focal length, unique character, and tuning capabilities. The goal is to capture everyday life in profound ways. Framing and blocking will be voyeuristic, utilizing the camera as a 'fly on the wall.' We want to experience and observe these worlds along with our characters.
- Modern Subject (Experiencing the worlds via our characters)
- “Fly on the wall”
- Exploring worlds with the use of depth, reveals, and wide angles
- Camera as a 3rd person
Lighting & Color
We will utilize color to guide the eye and depth staging. Color will contrast the various worlds of our characters, bringing vibrancy against an analogous and almost muted use of color in other scenes. The pilot will be shot in Phoenix, Arizona. Phoenix is the 5th largest city in the United States and is largely misrepresented in the national discourse. The desert is resilient and stubborn; the city and state are still relatively young and finding themselves, making for an ideal backdrop for our characters.
- Naturalistic
- Story-Driven
- Larger format (grab attention)
- Utilize High CRI (Skin Tones)
- Bounce (Diffusion Fabric)
MEMORIES & SYMBOLS
One aspect of the pilot episode and the show, in general, is the use of memories in the form of flashbacks and dreams. Weston’s memories will be shown as POV flashbacks—snapshots of a former life. We will express these visually using soft focus and shooting at 60fps when applicable.
-
The American Flag - A connecting presence in each world, representing a dichotomy of hope, pride, freedom, disappointment, fear, and subjugation.
Corporate Buildings | Offices | Suburbs—Capitalism and Commerce - Community and Family. Weston wants it all, but can he have everything?
Thank you!
We appreciate you reading about our project and hope you will take a moment to contribute to Black Man, Black Man. Simply liking and sharing this page goes a long way toward making this pilot episode a reality! We need your help to make this happen!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Screenings & Festivals
Costs $1,500
This will help cover screening, festival submission, DCP Fees, and touring fees.
Cash Pledge
Costs $25
This contribution can go towards any expense related to the pilot. Thank you!
Camera & Lenses
Costs $4,000
We need an industry-certified camera along with specific cinematic lenses to capture visually stunning shots.
Catering
Costs $1,500
This will help cover the cost of feeding our cast and crew and ensure everyone remains hydrated while shooting.
Post-Production
Costs $2,750
The work doesn't end when we’re done filming. This helps support the coloring, editing, and sound mixing of the pilot.
Permits & Fees
Costs $2,225
This goes towards Film Commission Fees for securing location permits and other miscellaneous shooting costs in various establishments.
Flights & Lodging
Costs $2,000
This will safely get our cast/crew to Arizona and ensure everyone has a place to stay.
Cast & Crew
Costs $10,000
Help us pay our amazing cast and crew for their work and expertise.
Share this update!
About This Team
LAD MAKINDE
Writer/Director
Lad is a writer/director whose interest in storytelling began in adolescence after his late Father brought home Jurassic Park on VHS. He's a co-founder of Co-Media and has directed several web series, national commercials, and brand campaigns for almost two decades. His original screenplay #AFTER was a semifinalist selection for the Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards (2020). Black Man, Black Man is his first original narrative story for television.
DABI ADEYEMI
Executive Producer
Dabi is a co-founder of Co-Media and has worked as a producer, DP, director, writer, and editor for the last decade. He is also the founder of The Goat Is A Lamb and Musicshed. Dabi loves the power of a good story and believes wholeheartedly that storytelling builds community.
IRIN DANIELS
Executive Producer
Irin is the founder of Marmera Films and an accomplished director, producer, writer, and businessman. He has directed several feature films, most recently all the season 1 episodes for Churchy (BET). He is also the founder of the non-profit Glowframe Initiative, which empowers creatives from underserved communities with hands-on experience in the film/AV industries.
NIKI CHRISTIAN
Producer
Niki is an Emmy award-winning television producer with over 20+ years of experience managing all aspects of production for nationally and internationally broadcast documentaries, television shows, live newscasts, and promotional spots. She is a dedicated leader and team player with exceptional budget management skills. Niki is passionate about connecting with people and thrives on telling compelling community stories and crafting narratives that resonate deeply.
MONTI WASHINGTON
Actor/Producer
Monti is a well-accomplished SAG actor with over 30 credits to his name. He runs a successful motivational speaking business, traveling across the country and sharing his inspirational story with young people. He will play a lead role and serve as a producer for the series.
NORMAN TOWNS
Actor/Producer
Norman is a SAG actor and former college athlete who returned to his birthplace of Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting and entertainment. With stand-up comedy as his foot in the door, Towns caught the eye of Hollywood and has since appeared in numerous TV shows and movies, including HBO's Insecure, Showtime's The Affair, and TruTV's Those Who Can't. Norman will play a lead role in the series.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Black Man, Black Man is a Co-Media Production
Black Man, Black Man is the story of Weston Clark, a highly successful, self-made, entrepreneurial executive whose personal life is in shambles. After encountering a mysterious gentleman, Weston is selected into a program designed to establish allyship by forcing individuals to live as another race.
Race. Yes, race. It's a topic many people, especially in the United States, would rather avoid altogether. However, color is a God-given part of what it means to be human, and unless you are colorblind, we all see color. We don't go to wildflower fields to observe gray tulips. Nor do we sit on the edges of cliffs to observe opaque sunsets.
Color is beautiful and necessary.
While race is a social construct devised to divide, demean, and destroy – color exists to add wonder and variety to our human experience. It's only due to the unimaginable history surrounding race and the deep roots embedded in our subsequent societal structures that being honest about it can get messy. A line from the poem “Human Family” by the late great Maya Angelou serves as a marker for our show, “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.” It is in this spirit we embark on this journey.
Shows like Atlanta and Black Mirror are inspirations for their outside-the-box approach. Although they often depict humanity's ugly and self-serving nature, we still connect with the stories because, deep down, we recognize and resonate with the truth they carry. We hope our story can bring a similar level of conviction and connection.
Check out our LOOKBOOK HERE for more information on how we plan to bring this creative vision to life. Follow us on Instagram: Co-Media Instagram to stay current on the project. #blackmanblackman NOTE: We are collaborating and raising funds through our non-profit partners at Glow Frame Initiative. All 'sponsor incentive tiers' will be tax-deductible through Glow Frame.
WESTON, 30s, is a successful ‘self-made’ entrepreneur. He’s hardworking, obsessive, maniacal, and determined. While these characteristics make him a great entrepreneur, they haven’t translated as naturally to marriage and fatherhood. As such, his personal life is falling apart. His marriage is ending, and his relationship with his son is nowhere near where he’d like it to be. He wants to change, but is it too late?
C.C, late 20's, is ready to take on life independently and discover who she is apart from Weston. She’s very family-oriented and grew up in a competitive upper-middle-class household. She met Weston in college, where they dated on and off for a year until she became pregnant with their son, Jarett, when she was only 19. Motherhood forced her to grow up quickly, and she missed out on time for self-discovery. Now, she’s taking online courses to finish her degree and starting a 'beauty bar' business. She's dating again and has a better understanding of herself. She's the type of person who values time well spent over possessions.
Most of our budget will be allocated to our cast/crew and production team. Your contribution will help fund this pilot and ensure that the talented professionals taking the time to shoot with us are getting paid for their hard work!
We are currently finalizing pre-production and plan to begin shooting in March 2025! After that, we will complete the pilot’s post-production steps and secure festival submissions for 2025! We also plan to host several screenings here in Phoenix and pitch to streamers/networks. We will also stream the pilot on our platform co-media.co.
Development/Production: This includes our Arizona Film Commission submission that guarantees us location permits and secures the lodging and flights for the cast/crew. Crew & talent pay, camera/lighting/grip equipment + shipping fees, props, wardrobe, transport, picture cars, catering, keeping our crew hydrated, etc.
Post-Production: Includes labor, editing equipment/software, music composition, color correction, royalty, licensing fees, etc.
Insurance: Maintains the safety of our equipment and crew for our production.
Screenings/Festivals: We plan to host several screenings and attend TV show-specific festivals. This covers festival and screening fees, DCP Fees, and touring fees!
Look & Feel
Our look and feel are inspired by old cinema glass. We want to shoot on Black Wing Tribe 7s because of the focal length, unique character, and tuning capabilities. The goal is to capture everyday life in profound ways. Framing and blocking will be voyeuristic, utilizing the camera as a 'fly on the wall.' We want to experience and observe these worlds along with our characters.
- Modern Subject (Experiencing the worlds via our characters)
- “Fly on the wall”
- Exploring worlds with the use of depth, reveals, and wide angles
- Camera as a 3rd person
Lighting & Color
We will utilize color to guide the eye and depth staging. Color will contrast the various worlds of our characters, bringing vibrancy against an analogous and almost muted use of color in other scenes. The pilot will be shot in Phoenix, Arizona. Phoenix is the 5th largest city in the United States and is largely misrepresented in the national discourse. The desert is resilient and stubborn; the city and state are still relatively young and finding themselves, making for an ideal backdrop for our characters.
- Naturalistic
- Story-Driven
- Larger format (grab attention)
- Utilize High CRI (Skin Tones)
- Bounce (Diffusion Fabric)
MEMORIES & SYMBOLS
One aspect of the pilot episode and the show, in general, is the use of memories in the form of flashbacks and dreams. Weston’s memories will be shown as POV flashbacks—snapshots of a former life. We will express these visually using soft focus and shooting at 60fps when applicable.
-
The American Flag - A connecting presence in each world, representing a dichotomy of hope, pride, freedom, disappointment, fear, and subjugation.
Corporate Buildings | Offices | Suburbs—Capitalism and Commerce - Community and Family. Weston wants it all, but can he have everything?
Thank you!
We appreciate you reading about our project and hope you will take a moment to contribute to Black Man, Black Man. Simply liking and sharing this page goes a long way toward making this pilot episode a reality! We need your help to make this happen!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Screenings & Festivals
Costs $1,500
This will help cover screening, festival submission, DCP Fees, and touring fees.
Cash Pledge
Costs $25
This contribution can go towards any expense related to the pilot. Thank you!
Camera & Lenses
Costs $4,000
We need an industry-certified camera along with specific cinematic lenses to capture visually stunning shots.
Catering
Costs $1,500
This will help cover the cost of feeding our cast and crew and ensure everyone remains hydrated while shooting.
Post-Production
Costs $2,750
The work doesn't end when we’re done filming. This helps support the coloring, editing, and sound mixing of the pilot.
Permits & Fees
Costs $2,225
This goes towards Film Commission Fees for securing location permits and other miscellaneous shooting costs in various establishments.
Flights & Lodging
Costs $2,000
This will safely get our cast/crew to Arizona and ensure everyone has a place to stay.
Cast & Crew
Costs $10,000
Help us pay our amazing cast and crew for their work and expertise.
Share this update!
About This Team
LAD MAKINDE
Writer/Director
Lad is a writer/director whose interest in storytelling began in adolescence after his late Father brought home Jurassic Park on VHS. He's a co-founder of Co-Media and has directed several web series, national commercials, and brand campaigns for almost two decades. His original screenplay #AFTER was a semifinalist selection for the Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards (2020). Black Man, Black Man is his first original narrative story for television.
DABI ADEYEMI
Executive Producer
Dabi is a co-founder of Co-Media and has worked as a producer, DP, director, writer, and editor for the last decade. He is also the founder of The Goat Is A Lamb and Musicshed. Dabi loves the power of a good story and believes wholeheartedly that storytelling builds community.
IRIN DANIELS
Executive Producer
Irin is the founder of Marmera Films and an accomplished director, producer, writer, and businessman. He has directed several feature films, most recently all the season 1 episodes for Churchy (BET). He is also the founder of the non-profit Glowframe Initiative, which empowers creatives from underserved communities with hands-on experience in the film/AV industries.
NIKI CHRISTIAN
Producer
Niki is an Emmy award-winning television producer with over 20+ years of experience managing all aspects of production for nationally and internationally broadcast documentaries, television shows, live newscasts, and promotional spots. She is a dedicated leader and team player with exceptional budget management skills. Niki is passionate about connecting with people and thrives on telling compelling community stories and crafting narratives that resonate deeply.
MONTI WASHINGTON
Actor/Producer
Monti is a well-accomplished SAG actor with over 30 credits to his name. He runs a successful motivational speaking business, traveling across the country and sharing his inspirational story with young people. He will play a lead role and serve as a producer for the series.
NORMAN TOWNS
Actor/Producer
Norman is a SAG actor and former college athlete who returned to his birthplace of Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting and entertainment. With stand-up comedy as his foot in the door, Towns caught the eye of Hollywood and has since appeared in numerous TV shows and movies, including HBO's Insecure, Showtime's The Affair, and TruTV's Those Who Can't. Norman will play a lead role in the series.