This film explores the fragility of innocence and the harsh realities of being Black and disabled in America. While this film will highlight this plight, our main focus is to celebrate the people striving to maintain joy in a world that continues to break their hearts.

In her bedroom, 7 year old Levi (BLACK) wakes up and her eyes land on the calendar marking her late mother's birthday. With more excitement than usual, she rushes into her Dad, Leon's, bedroom and wakes him up. Leon who is deaf, signs to her to go finish her morning routine. After finishing her daily affirmations, Levi reaches under her bed and pulls out a box. Inside there's jewelry, photos, a doll, and a cookbook. As she looks through the cookbook, she lands on a pie recipe. She asks her Dad Leon if they can bake it in honor of Mom's birthday and he agrees. After breakfast, Levi and Leon head out to get the ingredients for their cake. However, on their way back from the store, Leon gets pulled over by a Cop, and Levi's life changes forever as the innocence of her youth is ripped away. 

THE CHARACTERS 

LEVI LAWSON,7, BLACK, is an outgoing, curious little girl. She’s affectionate, optimistic and sassy. Needless to say, a daddy’s girl. While she’s never met her mother, she loves learning about her. Only having one parent, her biggest fear is losing him, so she holds on tight with love. Although she’s sheltered, she remains curious and fearless.

LEON LAWSON, EARLY 30's, BLACK, DEAF,  is a family-oriented man’s man, a wellrespected mechanic in his community. His exterior is tough but he’s sensitive. He’s charming and patient but has his own insecurities of not being a good enough parent. Unfortunately, his wife, who he met in high school, died after giving birth to their daughter. Now living as a single father, he’s slightly overprotective of Levi because she’s all he’s got.

OFFICER WHITE, 30's, WHITE, MALE, has a pictureperfect family that he loves, a wife and two kids. However, he is a modern-day racist in plain sight. Ex-military suffering from PTSD turned police officer who is ignorant to many minority groups. He is a very prideful, entitled, boisterous republican man who has a strong prejudice against people of color.

Fourth of July weekend in 2020, at least 6 children were killed by gun violence across the nation. The daughter of Philando Castille witnessed his murder during a traffic stop. George Floyd was murdered in front of his entire community like a modern day lynching and if it wasn’t for the bravery of 17-year-old Damella Frazier, we would not have seen the day that his murderer was charged. Jacob Blake was shot in the back in front of his three children, 3, 5 and 7.

This film is acknowledging a small portion of the consequences we are charged with being Black in America. Not to mention the double minority of being Black while deaf or hard of hearing in America like 64-year-old Pearl Pearson, who was beaten by Police Officers because he could not hear them and “resisted arrest”. In many cases like this one, the Officers were not well equipped to communicate with people with such disabilities and that is unacceptable.

We are all suffering from PTSD and instead of healing and changing, We are just passing along the trauma to our children. I write this from the perspective of the little girl in our story, Levi, to show how fragile innocence is in this world. While Levi is a fictional character, her story is one shared by many young girls in this country. Memories mold you into who you are, and trauma should not be the initiation fee to growing up. It isn’t a badge of honor. With this film, I hope to shed light on the things of which are most neglected and begin a healthy dialogue about the effects of police brutality and violence on our youth.

While I'm a filmmaker, I am also a film student at New York Film Academy. This film serves not only as my final thesis project before my graduation in the summer but also the calling card to my professional filmmaking career. I'm excited to show my audience the high calibur filmmaking that students are capable of - even with a limited budget. Making a film is a challenging, yet exhilerating feat, but it is a worth it when there's a story like Imprint that needs to be shared with the world.

WE CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOU!

If you are wondering, "Girl, why didn't you save your money?" I did! Unfortunately, the $5,000 I have saved myself is not yet meeting all of our needs! We are currrently in Pre-Production for our film - securing funding, casting, location scouting, hiring our crew. We will be shooting our film, March 19-20, 2022. Following production and post production, we will prepare to go on a festival run where the film will also have it's debut premiere. Your contributions will help offset our production costs which are include but are not limited to: 

• Paying Cast and Crew : $3000
• Insurance: $1000
• Equipment Rental: $1000
• Post Production (Editing, Color Correction, Sound Design): $1000

Your contributions will also ensure that we can obtain the best equipment and tools needed to safely do our best work amid the Covid-19 Pandemic. Our Covid Safety Plan includes temperature checks, mask mandates on set, and providing PPE for all cast and crew. We will also ensure that we are complying with the health protocols outlined in the State of Georgia Film and Television Production Best Practices. A COVID Compliance Officer will be on set ensuring that covid protocols are followed and available should any health issues arise.

How can you help? 

• By investing in our film and suppporting our fundraiser, you will be helping to bring Imprint off the page and onto the silver screen. Check out our incentives! 
• Share on social media and help us spread the word! 
• Share any resources that you may have that could help us! 

Social Media Prompt

Feel free to copy and paste this example below to help spread the word:

Help filmmaker @jasjetoi by supporting her short film IMPRINT that follows the journey of a widowed father who is forced to unfold the concept of racial divide to his impressionable daughter after a life threatening experience! Join them on @seedandspark at: www.seedandspark.com/fund/imprintshortfilm

My heart is already so full as my friends and colleagues agree to be apart of the team that brings Imprint to life. I’d love for you to be a part of that as well! Thank you!

With Love,

Jas Je'Toi