Charlie and the Hunt is the fantastical journey of Charlie Miles, a little African-American girl with a taste for adventure. One day, Charlie is playfully spinning in her front yard, experiencing her world from her point of view. As a CODA (Child Of Deaf Adult) kid, she uses American Sign Language while communicating with her deaf mother and sometimes playing with Shirley, her mischievous dog. After seeing her mom frantically search for a meaningful bracelet, Charlie hides that she is responsible. So, on a journey to recover the lost item, Charlie takes off into the wild. She follows her homemade treasure map and disappears into a lush forest filled with breathtaking landscapes and towering waterfalls. While admiring the beauty of nature, she must avoid danger and overcome her biggest fear to find her way to a treasure more priceless than she could ever imagine.

Charlie and the Hunt is a beautiful and delicately constructed auditory and visually powerful narrative of Black joy. Charlie’s character is inspired by my niece and brother that both live with disabilities. This piece is an ode to the Black Joy movement and celebrates the happiness and freedom that undergird social justice. As our nation grapples with systemic racism, I created a short film that centers on the outdoors and adventure as an integral part of the Black experience. In this film, Black characters get the same happy narratives that aren't often told. Charlie’s cultural connection to the deaf community is never directly mentioned but is championed by her sense of family and exploration.

Jenn Shaw is a Black Reel award-winning NYC writer/director and alumna of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Her passion for crafting strong character-driven stories is evidenced in her work for clients including Facebook, Capital One, KIA, USAA, Complex, Pizza Hut, and Verizon; as well as her narrative and documentary films for companies such as ESPN and NFL Network. She has written and/or directed several documentary films, over 30 brand spots, and over seven narrative short films exhibiting at major festivals including Pan African, Hollyshorts, and Martha’s Vineyard African American. Her film $15 Kicks was executive produced by legendary director Spike Lee, and it earned her a selection in Shoot Magazine’s New Director DGA Showcase and a Black Reel Award for Best Independent Short Film. Other accolades include being a 2x participant of the American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at Cannes Film Festivals.

My desire to find humor in the world is why I write stories about everyone. BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and differently-abled characters showcase as prominent multi-dimensional characters. As I continue to be inspired by my brother, who lives with Down’s syndrome, my work gravitates towards disabled characters that see the world differently. Their value is not because of their disability but because their neurodiverse view of the world is so valuable.

Charlie and the Hunt will be casting an inclusive actress that represents a spectrum within the deaf community. The exterior will include beautifully wooded outdoor locales to tell the story of Charlie and Shirley's adventure. Interiors will reflect the family's culture and taste, giving viewers a window into Charlie's happy home. 

With the help of the Women In Media CAMERAderie Initiative, writer and director Jenn Shaw will bring Charlie and the Hunt to production with a diverse, passionate and inclusive team of filmmakers to create this magical story. Women In Media champions emerging voices, creative talents, women-identifying, and gender non-conforming filmmakers.  

We are currently in Pre-Production and with your generous donation, we will be able to shoot Charlie and the Hunt from August 13-15th, 2021 in Los Angeles. We are excited that the world is opening up again, but rest assured that we will be following all COVID safety protocols. Your help will also allow us to submit Charlie and The Hunt to festivals worldwide.