SYNOPSIS

A violent altercation between a police officer and an African-American man on a deserted country road has left one person dead. An interracial couple passing by must decide what to believe and what they are willing to do about it.

THE VISION

We wish it wasn’t necessary to tell stories like these in our country today. But the truth is, talking openly about race in America is vitally important to the future of our country. The people most affected by police/civilian violence need to
know that their neighbors care and will not just accept this future for them and their children. This film is unique because it uses the format of a thriller/suspense drama to take the audience through a heart-pounding, cinematic experience, that asks them to examine their own personal prejudices and fears by the end of the film. The film never gives viewers hard evidence or complete information to know who is guilty or innocent. It requires the audience to fill in the blanks. Our hope is that people will walk away from it arguing about what really happened and who was in the wrong-- and that those conversations will lead to some personal realizations about the judgements we make throughout our everyday lives. We can’t be silent about what is happening in our country. We, as artists, need to find new and creative ways to move audiences to self-reflection and, ultimately, change.

In line with the vision of this piece, we are in the process of hiring a diverse crew and production team representing a diversity of cultures, races, religions and gender identities. The production team (our three main producers) as well as part of the creative team (both directors) are all females. Since our project focuses on race, racial profiling and injustice, we would like to make sure that our crew has racial diversity. 

THE GOAL

We would like to complete the film in time for the Sundance Film Festival submission deadline in September 2017. We, as a team, have an extensive track record for completing projects like this on a similar timeline. “Interference” will also be submitted to the Tribeca Film Festival (co-director/producer Robin Rose Singer is an alumni), SXSW, Toronto International Film Festival and other international festivals. Once the film completes its festival run, we would like to release the movie online as it is intended to reach a wider audience and spark discussion and dialogue.

OUR TRACK RECORD

We as a team have completed three short-form projects (two short films and a half-hour pilot) together. We’ve each made at least a half dozen more with other people.
Past festivals: Tribeca Film Festival, Palm Springs, Cinevana, Hell’s Half Mile, BFI London Film Festival, ECU European Independent Film Festival and many more. We have acquired distribution deals for these projects in the US and abroad, on TV outlets, airlines, and more. We have three projects we have co-created coming to the TV and film festival circuit this year. Here are a few of those projects and some stills from our past work.

PRODUCTION BUDGET

TOTAL BUDGET: $26,736
TOTAL RAISED: $11,736
TOTAL OUTSTANDING: $15,000

BUDGET BREAKDOWN
PRE-PRODUCTION COSTS: $0
PRODUCTION LABOR: $5,800
PRODUCTION RENTALS: $4,886
ART/VANITIES DEPARTMENT EXPENSES: $1,650
LOCATION/TRAVEL EXPENSES: $8,500
TALENT LABOR: $0
MISCELLANEOUS: $800
POST-PRODUCTION: $5,100
TOTAL: $26,736

WHO WE ARE

ROBIN ROSE SINGER (writer/producer/co-director) is a Brooklyn-based filmmaker. Her short narrative "Aphasia" (which she wrote, acted in, and produced) made its world premiere in 2015 and was dubbed “one of the most provocative films of the Tribeca Film Festival” by Film Ink magazine. The film went on to screen at the Cannes Court Métrage, Palms Springs, Cinevana, and many more. Other filmmaking credits include: three documentaries currently in production, short action-comedy "Mr. Richardson,"and many more titles with filmmakers like Lauren Greenfield and Robinson Devor, both multiple-time Sundance alumni.
As a writer, Singer's feature-length screenplay "The Lions of Mesopotamia" was named Top 50 for the 2016 Academy Nicholl Fellowship, selected by Oscars voters from almost 7000 submissions. She was a 2016 fellow at the New York Stage and Film Screenwriting Lab where her mentors included Tony/Oscar/Pulitzer-winning writer, John Patrick Shanley, among many other notable filmmakers. She has been shortlisted for multiple honors including the Showtime/Tony Cox award at Nantucket Film Festival and the Sundance Screenwriting Lab. Her TV comedy Adult Behavior recently won the first ever Made in NY: Series competition, awarded by IFP and NYC MOME, and has already completed production in June 2017. Additionally, Singer works in commercial production, creating content for global brands like LG, Under Armour, Puma, Hennessy, Budweiser and many more. NYU alumni.

RÜYA KOMAN (producer/co-director) is a film producer, director and actress and the founder/president of Koman Filmworks. In 2016, Ruya made her directorial debut with a short film that she wrote, directed and produced, "Reunion", starring the legendary Judith Roberts and Margaret Reed. The film was an official selection at the 2017 ECU European Independent Film Festival.

In addition to "Reunion", Ruya has produced a number of award winning short films such as "Najmia", "One Second Changes Everything", "Before We Lose", "In the Life of A Child", "The Poem of A Memory" and "Remember to Love". "Before We Lose" was an official selection at the 2014 BAFTA and Academy Award affiliated Foyle Film Festival in Northern Ireland. "Najmia" was an official selection at the 2015 Interfilm Berlin Festival, 2016 Miami International Film Festival and the 2015 FOLCS Film Festival (Time Warner Center, NYC) and the film also won the Best Narrative Short Film Award at Chennai International Short Film Festival in 2015.

In 2016, Ruya started working closely with Robin Rose Singer; the two have already completed two short films ("Compatibility", "Mr. Richardson") and one pilot ("Man-Babies") together.

RABIA SULTANA (producer) is a British Archaeology graduate turned filmmaker. She realized how much she loved being behind the camera on a Roman Archaeological Excavation in Sanisera, Menorca, when she began filming the finds on the site and interviewing specialists. Pursuing filmmaking began as a way to merge her interest in history, anthropology, and research with her love of writing and visual storytelling. Rabia believes that visual media is one of the most powerful tools we have to entertain, teach and use as a platform to explore social issues, and everyday extraordinary lives. She is interested in both narrative and documentary films. Rabia is an award winning director, with her short film "Rosetta’s Blues" screening at the Cannes Court Metrage, LA Femme International Film Festival, UK Screen One Film Festival amongst others internationally. She currently directs for Brooklyn-based production company, Scordio Productions, while working heavily within production as a producer and assistant director on a range of accredited projects, from feature films and documentaries to short film and commercials. Rabia is based in NYC. 

JC RUSSO (associate producer) is an alumni of the Stella Adler Acting Conservatory and a current SAG actor.  JC has branched out with his film production company JR Proprietors, Inc. and has begun producing with several friends and former classmates.  This is his first production as an associate producer and he is happy to be a part of this very relevant and important suspenseful thriller!

JAMAL SOLOMON (director of photography): Being from Brooklyn has left an indelible mark on Jamal's cinematography:"Finding the beauty in that visceral environment and how the two interacted with each other was always fascinating to me. Even at a young age, when I didn't understand art, [I knew] THIS was ART."
Jamal has been working in the industry for 5 years in New York City, as well as internationally. Shooting short films, feature length movies, as well as artistic videos for brands and artists has brought him the insight of understanding the needs of all types of stories and genres. In 2014, he won the Zeiss Precision Image Award; and recently, his contibution behind the camera on the short film Flowers, allowed for the film to win Best Short at the American Black Film Festival. It is now slated to screen on HBO. For him, these momentous achievements cemented the belief that improvement is key and should be utilized in strengthening each and every frame.

To see Jamal Solomon's work please go to: http://blackborne.co/

THE CAST

Eric Wise (Stephen Hill)

Stephen Hill (SAG/AFTRA) is an award winning actor (Best Male Actor, ABFF Star Project 2010), known for solid work in a variety of roles in film, TV, theater, web series, etc. Recently cast in the lead role of York in the HBO mini-series, Lewis & Clark, he is also on HBO, in Pete Chatmon's BlackCard, and in the fifth season of Boardwalk Empire in the recurring role of Clarence, right hand man to Jeffrey Wright's, Dr. Narcisse. On Netflix, in Kiara Jones' Christmas Wedding Baby, Stephen gives a heartfelt and truthful performance in the lead role of Issac. Look out for him on Law & Order SVU, Blue Bloods, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Louie, Political Animals, and Unforgettable. Hill can also be seen embodying the role of Jackie Robinson in the award winning documentary, Jackie Robinson: My Story. Watch Stephen online in the soulful film Runaway, starring opposite Grammy nominated vocalist Carolyn Malachi, and in the hilarious series Fort Knox. Stephen considers it a privilege and and honor to play make believe for a living.

John Hughes/Associate Producer (Michael Chenevert)

Michael (SAG/AFTRA) grew up in the fervent city of Detroit, Michigan. His family has an ancestry in this country dating back as far as 1716. He attended University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy and further studied for his BFA at University of Detroit Mercy. Michael's family is active in city government and in the arts. At a very young age, Michael packed boxes of food for the under privileged at his family's community center. On weekends, Michael would hang in the wings of the Detroit Music Hall and watch the productions of playwright Ron Milner, a very good friend of Michael's family. In New York under the nickname "Detroit", Michael worked in the AD department of numerous TV/film projects. One of Ugly Betty's directors loved Michael's off camera read with Vanessa Williams so much that he encouraged Michael to audition more. Michael continues to land roles on stage, TV and film. He has written a one man show called "An Adam Experiment" that he has performed more than once at Harlem's World Famous Apollo Theater. In this play Michael portrays the politician and pastor form Harlem, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Michael is coached by the great Susan Batson and continues ongoing scene study at the Barrow Group with Seth Barrish and Lee Brock.

Angela Hughes (Ruya Koman)

Rüya Koman (SAG/AFTRA) is a film producer, director and actress. On the acting side, Ruya is currently developing her feature film (a biopic). In 2015, three short films that Ruya held the lead for have been selected as official selections at the following film festivals: 2015 Chain NYC Film Festival (The Poem of A Memory), 2015 Charleston International Film Festival (One Second Changes Everything), 2015 FARCUME Festival de Curtas-Metragens de Faro in Portugal (One Second Changes Everything), 2015 Regina International Film Festival in Canada (One Second Changes Everything), 2015 Alexandria Film Festival (The Poem of A Memory), Anchorage International Film Festival (The Poem of A Memory) and 2015 Shortcutz Amsterdam (Atrocitas).

Ruya Koman was also nominated for the "Best Actress Award" for her leading role in the feature length play "Second Seat" at the Winterfest Theater Festival. 

Ruya is coached by the legendary Susan Batson and formerly by Michael Beckett at HB Studios.

Officer Debra Williams/Associate Producer (Rissa Davis)

Rissa Davis (SAG/AFTRA) was born in NYC. She learned that she wanted to act when she used to go to the Hudson Guild Theatre as a little girl. There she did plays, camps, and dance classes. She later started training with Tina Satin, Denzel Washington’s acting coach as well as the legendary acting coach Susan Batson. She has done 4 films that went to NYC Film Festival, Blockbuster, Urban Film Festival and the California Online Viewer’s Choice Awards. Rissa has also been in a national Special K commercial.

Officer Jeffries (Todd Woodard)

Todd Woodard (SAG-AFTRA) most recently appeared in the film Magos: An Impossible Door. Past theatre credits include: The Brothers Karamazov at Russia's Moscow Art Theatre; the title roles of Woyzeck and Coriolanus at LaMaMa ETC, in the Atlantic Theater Company’s New Works Series; leading roles at the Metropolitan Playhouse, New Dramatists, NYC Fringe Festival. Todd trained with the Atlantic Theater Company and with Terry Schreiber.  As a Theatre Educator, Todd earned a Master's Degree in Educational Theatre from the City College of New York. He currently teaches for Lincoln Center Theater, Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), and DreamYard, the Bronx's largest arts organization, and has also taught for Metropolitan Opera Guild and Broadway Teaching Group.

The Sheriff (Kaysey Strong)

Julio Velez aka Kaysey Strong is a Hip- Hop music producer who has been writing and producing his own songs for over fifteen years. He has written and starred in several music videos and also appeared in the short lived Hip Hop Musical “Echo Park”, which ran for four months at the world Famous Apollo Theatre in 2000. He has released two Solo Albums through iTunes and CDBABY of his own label “Off the Cross Music” He toured all over the United States opening for such acts as “De La Soul and Digable Planets”. He is currently in post-production for an independent film that he wrote and directed called “Convicted”. It’s a drama where Kaysey plays a convicted felon recently released from jail trying to re-connect with his teenage daughter. The film is currently being submitted to film festivals: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5634442/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

In 2016 he appeared in the feature length play “Second Seat” at the Winterfest Theater Festival. He also appeared in the short film “Bonnie and Bonnie” where he plays a jealous boyfriend. 

Mike (Carter Redwood)

 A Pittsburgh native, Carter is a graduate of the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama and a Princess Grace Award Winner. He also trained at the Drama Centre London. On screen, he’s had guest starring roles on Blue Bloods, The Good Wife, and OITNB. You can also see him in "The Transfiguration" - an indie fresh off the festival circuit, including official selections in both Cannes and SXSW - and the upcoming film "The Yellow Birds,” opposite Jennifer Aniston and Alden Ehrenreich. Next up make sure to catch him in The Long Road Home, a new series coming to NatGeo! Social Media: @carterredwood

State Officer 1 (Odalis Urena)

State Officer 2 (John Zion)

Sheriff #2 (Eddie Fee)

Acting Coach (Susan Batson)

Actor, writer, director, producer, teacher, and coach Susan Batson has been called an "alchemist" by the New Yorker. In private consultation on film sets all over the world and in her New York acting studio, Susan Batson has enjoyed the privilege of working with Nicole Kidman, Juliette Binoche, Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Tom Cruise, Kerry Washington, Zac Efron, Chris Rock, Jamie Foxx, Sean Combs, Liv Tyler, Jennifer Connelly, Kirsten Dunst, Laverne Cox, Common, Janet Jackson, Rihanna and countless other actors searching for truthful connections between themselves and the characters they play. Nicole Kidman, who has worked closely with Susan for more than twelve years, hails her as a uniquely insightful acting coach with "a hell of a lot of pure talent," while Oscar winner Juliette Binoche praises Susan's ability to "shake you like a tree and get the fruits down." Susan Batson was publicly thanked by Kidman after receiving her Oscar for The Hours (2002), and by Tom Cruise in his Golden Globes acceptance speech for Magnolia (1999).

She graduated from Emerson College's Theater Arts Program and received a John Hay Whitney Fellowship to study with Uta Hagen and Herbert Berghof in New York. She was in the original cast of Hair and became a protege of theater legend Joseph Papp and Harold Clurman. She is a member of the Actors Studio and a recipient of a New York Drama Critics Award, an LA Drama Critics Award, and an Obie. She has worked with directors like Spike Lee, Michael Haneke, Erik Poppe, Kim Farrant, and Jane Campion to name a few. Susan Batson was also a producer of the hugely successful Broadway revival and television production of A Raisin in the Sun, (2007) (TV), starring Sean Combs. Susan Batson is the author of the book "Truth: Personas, Needs, and Flaws In The Art of Building Actors and Creating Characters" and has been profiled in the New Yorker, the New York Times, Variety, the Hollywood Reporter, and Backstage.

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