Like Father, Like Son
by Steve Macario
Steve Macario
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Like Father, Like Son
by Steve Macario
Steve Macario
Follow
I was inspired to write this story when I came across an article about a senseless act of police brutality towards a nineteen-year-old Black male - who was raised by a white (adoptive) family. Here's my question: is White liberalism enough to raise a black child in a racially divided America?
I was inspired to write this story when I came across an article about a senseless act of police brutality towards a nineteen-year-old Black male - who was raised by a white (adoptive) family. Here's my question: is White liberalism enough to raise a black child in a racially divided America?
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Story
Mission Statement
I'm a Black Brazilian filmmaker dedicated to challenging and exploring the Black American/Pan African narrative in film and media. Our crew consists of mostly people of color including African American, Latinx, Middle Eastern, Asian American and Native American.About The Project
A white liberal mother desperately tries to protect her black adopted son by reconnecting him to his biological father - to the dismay of the boy's adopted father.
The Story
Amanda is a white adoptive mother of a 7-year-old Black son, Will. As Will's 7th birthday approaches, she feels compelled to connect him to his biological father in the midst of constant news cycles about police brutality against young Black men. Will's adoptive father, Liam disagrees with her strategy but has no choice in the matter. Will's bio father, Roy, happily shows up to the family's celebration with his pregnant Black wife, Lucia. Family gatherings are rarely easy, and this one is no different. What was supposed to be a lovely, fun birthday party, gets turned into a passive-aggressive war of egos with both men marking their territory over the young boy.
The Reason I'm Making This Film
I was inspired to write this story when I came across an article about the brutal beating of nineteen-year-old Black male,Alex Landau, by police officers in the Denver Police Department. Alex suffered repeated injuries to his face requiring him to go into surgery immediately. This senseless act of violence occurred all because a young Black male exercised his legal right to ask for a warrant before having his car searched.Even though Alex Landau’s case follows the pattern of police brutality incidents against Black males in this country, what struck me about this case is that Alex was the adopted by a white family. The article mentioned how his white adoptive mother had her entire worldview shattered after that horrific tragedy against her son. She was honest enough to say that she had never once talked about race with him and that she never expected anything like this would happen to her child.
Seeing this complicated relationship made me wonder what if she did try to educate her son and give him the tools to try to prevent something like this to happen? Weeks later, the first draft of the script for Like father, like son was born.
Director's Statement
As a Black Brazilian filmmaker, I always seek to tell stories that challenge the Black American narrative in a fresh, bold way. My identity does not fit the mold of "Blackness" in this country, so stories that really intrigue me tend to revolve around that as well. This story puts conversation surrounding police brutality and Black Lives Matter into a new context. The white characters are in the middle of the crisis, not indirect bystanders because one of their own might be affected. On the other hand, most of the conversation surrounding racial profiling and interactions with police have been from a low socioeconomic perspective. We are raising awareness that even middle/ upper-class Black folks are at risk of being unfairly profiled by law enforcement.
Black children of white adopted parents are also susceptible to the same treatment that other Black people have to endure. A lot of white adoptive parents tend to fall under the myth of "post-racial" or a "color-blind" society, but that is not the reality we or these adopted children live in.
Black children, regardless of their parent's race, should be aware of Black culture, history, and pride. Sadly, they should also be aware that society may treat them differently because of their Blackness. Adoptive parents of children of any race, but especially Black children must take the time, to be honest, and open because their children's lives are at stake.
I sincerely hope Like Father, Like Son will open a conversation about transracial adoption. Being adopted by a white family will not give Black children the privilege of not being seen as a perpetual threat by the outside world. So, let's protect these kids with some truth.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you will contribute and join us in this battle.
Incentives
$10
Thank You!
Every bit counts. You get a Thank You shout out on our Social Media.
$25
Exclusive Link
You will get a shout out on social media as well as an exclusive link to the movie, and get to see the film before anybody else.
$50
Autographed Poster
You will receive all of the perks in previous levels, plus a film poster signed by the Director and the Cast.
$100
Name in the Credits
You're one of our biggest supporters. To show you our gratitude you will receive all of the perks from previous levels, PLUS we will add your name to the ending credits of the film.
$500
Associate Producer
We are very grateful for your support. At this level, you will not only be one of the first ones to see the completed film, you will also receive an Associate Producer credit in the ending credits of the film as well as on IMDB and the website for the movie.
$1,000
Wrap Party
We are so grateful for your support!
At this level, you will receive all of the previous incentives as well as an invitation to our wrap party. You will also be invited to join us for a special Cast and Crew screening in Los Angeles (Travel not Included)
$5,000
Executive Producer
Wow! Thank you so much, you're officially an Executive Producer. You'll get your name at the beginning of the credits, and your own IMDB page. For your generosity, we'd like to invite you to visit us on the set and to an exclusive screening in Los Angeles. As well as 2 tickets to our Film Festival Premiere! (Travel not Included)
Claimed: 0 of 5
$7,000
Spend the Day on Set and Sleepover
You are AMAZING!
To show you our gratitude you will receive the Executive Producer Package. You will also receive 4 tickets to our film's premiere. You are invited to join us while we film and spend the night at our location. (Filming is taking place at the end of March. Travel not included.)
Claimed: 0 of 3
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
Thank You!
Every bit counts. You get a Thank You shout out on our Social Media.
$25
Exclusive Link
You will get a shout out on social media as well as an exclusive link to the movie, and get to see the film before anybody else.
$50
Autographed Poster
You will receive all of the perks in previous levels, plus a film poster signed by the Director and the Cast.
$100
Name in the Credits
You're one of our biggest supporters. To show you our gratitude you will receive all of the perks from previous levels, PLUS we will add your name to the ending credits of the film.
$500
Associate Producer
We are very grateful for your support. At this level, you will not only be one of the first ones to see the completed film, you will also receive an Associate Producer credit in the ending credits of the film as well as on IMDB and the website for the movie.
$1,000
Wrap Party
We are so grateful for your support!
At this level, you will receive all of the previous incentives as well as an invitation to our wrap party. You will also be invited to join us for a special Cast and Crew screening in Los Angeles (Travel not Included)
$5,000
Executive Producer
Wow! Thank you so much, you're officially an Executive Producer. You'll get your name at the beginning of the credits, and your own IMDB page. For your generosity, we'd like to invite you to visit us on the set and to an exclusive screening in Los Angeles. As well as 2 tickets to our Film Festival Premiere! (Travel not Included)
Claimed: 0 of 5
$7,000
Spend the Day on Set and Sleepover
You are AMAZING!
To show you our gratitude you will receive the Executive Producer Package. You will also receive 4 tickets to our film's premiere. You are invited to join us while we film and spend the night at our location. (Filming is taking place at the end of March. Travel not included.)
Claimed: 0 of 3
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
Steve Macario
Writer / Director
Moving to the United States at 14 with his younger sister and his father, Steve Macario set out to look for better opportunities for himself and his family in San Diego, California. As the only fluent English speaker of the family, Steve became the figurehead of the Macario household at a very early age. Thanks to his love of film and television, he was able to rapidly adapt to the American way of life. However, what was once just a language learning tool became a lifelong dream to the newly arrived immigrant. Performing in his first Shakespeare play only 6 months of being in the USA, he quickly fell in love with all kinds of storytelling. Two years later, Steve’s performance as the leading man, Che, in “Evita” earned him a Ben Vereen Award nomination and a National Youth Theatre Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical.
Since moving to Los Angeles to study at the prestigious University of Southern California, Steve Macario has focused on directing and writing for the screen. His complex identity as a Black Brazilian has inspired his body of work and led him to create stories that challenge the Black American narrative in a fresh, bold way. To this young artist, no topic is off limits. “Like Father, Like Son” is no exception. Inspired by stories like Alex Landau and many other transracial adoptees, Steve deliberately centered his latest project, "Like Father, Like Son," around the topic of police brutality and its impact on black males adopted by a conventional White American family.
Robert Arnold
Cinematographer
Native Chicagoan Robert Arnold has been a professional filmmaker for over 10 years. His passion for shooting independent short form cinema during his senior year of high school continued throughout his time at Columbia College Chicago where he received his Bachelors of Arts in Cinematography in 2008. While balancing his undergraduate studies, his ambition lead to an electrician apprenticeship on Fox Searchlight's Roll Bounce with world-renowned Steadicam operator, James Muro, as the cinematographer. Two years later, Robert was honored to join Chicago's I.A.T.S.E. Motion Picture Studio Mechanic film union.
In 2011, Robert graduated from the prestigious American Film Institute with a Masters of Fine Arts in Cinematography. Post graduation he was hired to operate on The Walking Dead and since then has experience on films and series such as LaLa Land, Fast and Furious 7, Scandal, and Big Little Lies. Robert Arnold is a professional member of the International Cinematographers Guild I.A.S.T.E Local Chapter 600 and member of the Society of Camera Operators. His mission is to help directors curate their visual styles and to serve interesting stories.
Mayon Denton
Producer
As a student at UCLA Mayon started his own Production Company. The company has produced music videos, commercials, documentaries, TV pilots and feature films. Mayon’s first feature film entitled “Against the Grain,” this coming of age film focuses on a young man striving to achieve his dream of becoming a Dr. against all odds.
The film was sold and distributed the Filmworks Entertainment and is available on Amazon Prime and Itunes.
Mayon went on to produce several other feature films titled, Fingerprints, In Neon Lights, Questions, Distortion, and Sensitivity Training. Sensitivity Training premiered at the LA Film Festival in 2016.
Mayon has also produced T.V. pilots and award-winning short films. In 2017 Mayon executive produced a T.V. pilot entitled How to Succeed at Birth that played on Direct T.V. as well as a short film titled “Lil Tokyo Reporter.” The latter is a 1935 period piece about a Japanese American activist that can be purchased on Amazon Prime. Mayon is currently attached to produce three feature films, Kingstown, Wedding Dreams, and Wait a Minute Mr. Postman. Mayon is also helming the production of a TV show titled Abaddon, with the writer of Barbershop. One of Mayon’s recent noteworthy projects titled Surviving was nominated for a Gotham award in 2016.
Mayon has also produced commercials and projects for Sony, Fox, FS1, Beach
Body, Motown, and Vibe.
Julia Balayan
Production Manager
Julia Balayan was born and raised in Armenia. She moved to the U.S. in 2010 in pursuit of a better and safe future. When Julia entered college to study film and discovered the boundless creative opportunities Film and Television production offers, her love for TV & Film became her passion. The energy on set with the fast-paced nature of the workflow attracted Julia from the beginning. Being a multitasker enabled Julia to both supervise and participate in the production.Working in the film industry for almost 3 years, Julia associate produced and production coordinated several projects amongst which is the music video 'G.O.A.T' by Eric Bellinger ft Teyana Taylor & Wale.
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