Love Me In The Light
District Heights, Maryland | Film Short
LGBTQ, Romance
Indie Maryland filmmakers tell a new, film noir-inspired romance that centers two protagonists you've never before seen in cinema.
Love Me In The Light
District Heights, Maryland | Film Short
LGBTQ, Romance
1 Campaigns | Maryland, United States
24 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$885
Goal: $1,000 for production
Indie Maryland filmmakers tell a new, film noir-inspired romance that centers two protagonists you've never before seen in cinema.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Maryland cinephiles "Zaire" and "Marcus" risk their health and friendships to share an evening, during the thick of the COVID-19 lockdown.
(teaser poster)
Logline
Quarantine distance unites two Maryland cinephiles who long for human comfort, behind and beyond closed doors.
Synopsis
Against the dystopian backdrop of the Covid-19 lockdown, Zaire and Marcus endure workplace woes, family nuances, and loneliness - leading them to connect on a dating app. The two risk their health and friendships to share an evening. Black cinema, poetry no-longer-in-print, and Black classical music (jazz) binds them in a night neither wants to end. But the moment there’s distance, doubts set in. One has the support of chosen family. The other’s ambivalence questions feasibility under the gaze of disapproving eyes. Will love’s uncertainty prove unbearable? Or will they reimagine possibilities for “the guy and girl next door?”
Black women of trans gender experience are literally dying in our community of Prince George's County, MD. Their lives are being stolen because of the shame that men who love them carry. With a Black trans love story, we can de-stigmatize these experiences by imbuing our portrait with an authentic depiction of a TLGBQ+ romance. Seeing oneself reflected on-screen has the potential to evolve one's perspective, and reexamine the ways one may choose to show up in the world.
So many threats grow in number by the day against people of trans experience. As the most marginalized group within our community, standing in solidarity with trans people is more urgent today than ever before. Cinema has proven to be the most powerful media to shift hearts and minds. With the immersive journey of our story, we aim to inspire others through a reflection of humanity, so that more lives are not lost to violent shame.
They say those who are closest to a problem are often best equipped to solve it. Iman's storytelling specifically focuses on the ways in which we oppress ourselves within our own communities. With a Black trans woman before and behind the camera, and a Black gender-nonconforming project lead who has openly had romances with Black trans women, we are best equipped to tell our own stories in this reimagined portrait.
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Mood Board - Tone and Style
dystopian. lonely. longing.
- Film Noir-Inspired approach without the detective, murder, scandal, etc. tropes.
- Using Covid-19 lock down to illustrate a universal loneliness
- Organic pacing - audience is on the actors’ time.
- Mostly static wide-angle shots, w/ minimal camera movement.
- Poetic blocking + actor staging
- Their world in the apartment is meant to feel larger than life!
Locations
Provided in-kind by friend of the story, we're embedding the narrative within a practical set in Prince George's County, MD - with a special on-location filming site in the metro area.
Cinematography
Lighting: Abundant use of practical lighting, with neg fill and bounce to effectively shape light.
Glass (lens): Viltrox 50mm 1.33x Anamorphic, with Viltrox ZMOVE Diopters for closer shots
Camera: Panasonic’s Lumix S1H (images out of this body have a poetic painterly aesthetic!)
Angles: Mostly Wide- and Medium angle shots, that shift/evolve with actor movement.
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Format: Digital, 4K UHD
Sound: Stereo
Color: Black x White
Expected Runtime: 25-30 mins
Poetry Licensing:
Our protagonists lean into the arts to navigate a rather isolating landscape. As such, we've requested licensing from respective literary houses to imbue the portrait with the ancestral guidance that carries "Zaire" and "Marcus" through. Poetry includes works from: Britteney Black Rose Kapri (the only poet above who's still alive) and Essex Hemphill, with pending licensure for bell hooks, Adrian Stanford, and David Frechette's artistry. We've embedded their poems as a way to keep our ancestors' work alive posthumously - imbuing the next generation with ancestral guidance that may otherwise be buried under mass book bans.
Our Promise to You:
We have entered the pre-production phase of our project. This campaign takes us from our planning phase into our execution phase. With a screenplay fully realized, casting completed, and funding in part provided by the Maryland State Arts Council, we're enlisting the public's support with raising funds that will finance the project through distribution.
Across a 5-month project, we're rehearsing and filming in July, editing our film in August, hosting a prescreening in September with a test audience, marketing our story on various TLGBQ+ podcasts in October, and releasing on 11/20/25 - Transgender Day of Remembrance.
The film will be available on 11/20/25 on www.lmitl.org FREE of charge for all viewers. This enables us to change hearts and minds without the limitations a paywall can put in place. But we need your help to do so. Here's when and what we're offering for your support!
Schedule for Seed & Spark Incentives:
• Instant Access: Iman’s Playlist, Short Films List, Screenplay Sample
• 07/2025: Table Read, Cameo
• 08/2025: Digital Posters & Prints
• 09/2025: Custom Look Book, Scene Preview, Signed Prints, Private-Audience Pre-Screen
• 11/2025: Special Thanks Film Credits, IMDb Film Credit, Post Release Virtual Hangout
Follow us on Instagram
@lovemeinthelight
Thank You!!!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Sound, Music & Poetry!
Costs $100
This covers buying a sound effects package, music & poetry licensing, in-scene audio and ADr.
Craft Services + Lodging + Travel
Costs $50
Craft Services + 1 night's hotel cost for Baltimore-based talent to meet a 5am call time in DC (to avoid filming in crowded summer streets)!
Administrative
Costs $100
Film insurance (3% of budget per Wrapbook.com) plus Prince George's County and District of Columbia filming permit fees
Talent (Filming)
Costs $450
Equitable talent pay across camera testing, film days, a voice over/ADR day, a photoshoot day for the film's poster, and basic editing!
Equipment Rental
Costs $200
A budget + schedule-friendly rental that includes a multi-camera rig + lens set, monitor, diopters, a gimbal, memory cards & lighting gear!
Editing
Costs $100
Covers editing in DaVinci Resolve to align our audio, sound effects, poetry, music and footage together in a final version and trailer cut.
Share this update!
About This Team
Carmen Banks (she/her)
Actress and Executive Producer, Cast as "Zaire" in "Love Me In The Light"
Carmen Banks is a captivating actress, model, and traveling esthetician whose passion for performance began at just three years old. A proud Black trans woman from Baltimore, Carmen brings fierce authenticity, emotional depth, and magnetic presence to every role. She has collaborated with major studios such as Netflix, Disney, BET+, and Paramount-gaining valuable experience and building a diverse portfolio of work in television, film, and digital media. Her work reflects a commitment to inclusive storytelling and powerful representation. Outside of acting, Carmen is also a licensed esthetician and beauty expert, blending creativity and care in every space she enters. As a community advocate, she uses her platform to amplify Black and LGBTQIA+ voices, aiming to create a more just and expressive world through her artistry. Carmen Banks is an undeniable talent and rising star, on a mission to tell stories that matter and inspire change both on screen and beyond.
Benji (he/him)
Actor, Cast as "Marcus" in "Love Me In The Light"
Benji is an emerging actor from North Carolina whose passion for performance has steadily transitioned from vision to reality. A proud Alumnus of North Carolina A&T State University, he transitioned after college to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, where he honed his professional skills and broadened his perspective before stepping into the world of film and television. Benji began pursuing his on-screen career in earnest over the past two years, steadily gaining experience and carving out a space in the entertainment industry. When he's not on set, Benji works full-time in the technical field, bringing a unique blend of precision and creativity to both his professional and artistic endeavors. His background in hospitality and travel also informs his dynamic presence and strong work ethic. With roots in the South, professional grounding in the nation's capital, and eyes set on the big screen, Benji continues to grow as an actor while balancing a multifaceted career.
His chemistry test with Carmen Banks (as "Zaire" in "Love Me in the Light") certifies that he'll grace many more pictures on your black mirror.
Iman DuPree (they/them)
Creator of "Love Me In The Light"
Iman became a DC/Maryland area transplant in 2010. They arrived to the city as a makeup artist before transitioning into technology. After nearly 10 years in IT consultancy, the MBA graduate and artist is bridging their experience in project management, and their commitment to creativity, to manifest intersectional stories through cinema. Their art can be perused at www.imandupree.org
Aaron Davis (he/him)
Aaron is a public health professional working in infectious disease prevention for over 15 years. A deep connection to community shapes his passions and desire to see people live and thrive . Aaron received his BS from Wittenberg University in 2005 and his MPH from Benedictine University in 2021.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Maryland cinephiles "Zaire" and "Marcus" risk their health and friendships to share an evening, during the thick of the COVID-19 lockdown.
(teaser poster)
Logline
Quarantine distance unites two Maryland cinephiles who long for human comfort, behind and beyond closed doors.
Synopsis
Against the dystopian backdrop of the Covid-19 lockdown, Zaire and Marcus endure workplace woes, family nuances, and loneliness - leading them to connect on a dating app. The two risk their health and friendships to share an evening. Black cinema, poetry no-longer-in-print, and Black classical music (jazz) binds them in a night neither wants to end. But the moment there’s distance, doubts set in. One has the support of chosen family. The other’s ambivalence questions feasibility under the gaze of disapproving eyes. Will love’s uncertainty prove unbearable? Or will they reimagine possibilities for “the guy and girl next door?”
Black women of trans gender experience are literally dying in our community of Prince George's County, MD. Their lives are being stolen because of the shame that men who love them carry. With a Black trans love story, we can de-stigmatize these experiences by imbuing our portrait with an authentic depiction of a TLGBQ+ romance. Seeing oneself reflected on-screen has the potential to evolve one's perspective, and reexamine the ways one may choose to show up in the world.
So many threats grow in number by the day against people of trans experience. As the most marginalized group within our community, standing in solidarity with trans people is more urgent today than ever before. Cinema has proven to be the most powerful media to shift hearts and minds. With the immersive journey of our story, we aim to inspire others through a reflection of humanity, so that more lives are not lost to violent shame.
They say those who are closest to a problem are often best equipped to solve it. Iman's storytelling specifically focuses on the ways in which we oppress ourselves within our own communities. With a Black trans woman before and behind the camera, and a Black gender-nonconforming project lead who has openly had romances with Black trans women, we are best equipped to tell our own stories in this reimagined portrait.
Mood Board - Tone and Style
dystopian. lonely. longing.
- Film Noir-Inspired approach without the detective, murder, scandal, etc. tropes.
- Using Covid-19 lock down to illustrate a universal loneliness
- Organic pacing - audience is on the actors’ time.
- Mostly static wide-angle shots, w/ minimal camera movement.
- Poetic blocking + actor staging
- Their world in the apartment is meant to feel larger than life!
Locations
Provided in-kind by friend of the story, we're embedding the narrative within a practical set in Prince George's County, MD - with a special on-location filming site in the metro area.
Cinematography
Lighting: Abundant use of practical lighting, with neg fill and bounce to effectively shape light.
Glass (lens): Viltrox 50mm 1.33x Anamorphic, with Viltrox ZMOVE Diopters for closer shots
Camera: Panasonic’s Lumix S1H (images out of this body have a poetic painterly aesthetic!)
Angles: Mostly Wide- and Medium angle shots, that shift/evolve with actor movement.
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Format: Digital, 4K UHD
Sound: Stereo
Color: Black x White
Expected Runtime: 25-30 mins
Poetry Licensing:
Our protagonists lean into the arts to navigate a rather isolating landscape. As such, we've requested licensing from respective literary houses to imbue the portrait with the ancestral guidance that carries "Zaire" and "Marcus" through. Poetry includes works from: Britteney Black Rose Kapri (the only poet above who's still alive) and Essex Hemphill, with pending licensure for bell hooks, Adrian Stanford, and David Frechette's artistry. We've embedded their poems as a way to keep our ancestors' work alive posthumously - imbuing the next generation with ancestral guidance that may otherwise be buried under mass book bans.
Our Promise to You:
We have entered the pre-production phase of our project. This campaign takes us from our planning phase into our execution phase. With a screenplay fully realized, casting completed, and funding in part provided by the Maryland State Arts Council, we're enlisting the public's support with raising funds that will finance the project through distribution.
Across a 5-month project, we're rehearsing and filming in July, editing our film in August, hosting a prescreening in September with a test audience, marketing our story on various TLGBQ+ podcasts in October, and releasing on 11/20/25 - Transgender Day of Remembrance.
The film will be available on 11/20/25 on www.lmitl.org FREE of charge for all viewers. This enables us to change hearts and minds without the limitations a paywall can put in place. But we need your help to do so. Here's when and what we're offering for your support!
Schedule for Seed & Spark Incentives:
• Instant Access: Iman’s Playlist, Short Films List, Screenplay Sample
• 07/2025: Table Read, Cameo
• 08/2025: Digital Posters & Prints
• 09/2025: Custom Look Book, Scene Preview, Signed Prints, Private-Audience Pre-Screen
• 11/2025: Special Thanks Film Credits, IMDb Film Credit, Post Release Virtual Hangout
Follow us on Instagram
@lovemeinthelight
Thank You!!!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Sound, Music & Poetry!
Costs $100
This covers buying a sound effects package, music & poetry licensing, in-scene audio and ADr.
Craft Services + Lodging + Travel
Costs $50
Craft Services + 1 night's hotel cost for Baltimore-based talent to meet a 5am call time in DC (to avoid filming in crowded summer streets)!
Administrative
Costs $100
Film insurance (3% of budget per Wrapbook.com) plus Prince George's County and District of Columbia filming permit fees
Talent (Filming)
Costs $450
Equitable talent pay across camera testing, film days, a voice over/ADR day, a photoshoot day for the film's poster, and basic editing!
Equipment Rental
Costs $200
A budget + schedule-friendly rental that includes a multi-camera rig + lens set, monitor, diopters, a gimbal, memory cards & lighting gear!
Editing
Costs $100
Covers editing in DaVinci Resolve to align our audio, sound effects, poetry, music and footage together in a final version and trailer cut.
Share this update!
About This Team
Carmen Banks (she/her)
Actress and Executive Producer, Cast as "Zaire" in "Love Me In The Light"
Carmen Banks is a captivating actress, model, and traveling esthetician whose passion for performance began at just three years old. A proud Black trans woman from Baltimore, Carmen brings fierce authenticity, emotional depth, and magnetic presence to every role. She has collaborated with major studios such as Netflix, Disney, BET+, and Paramount-gaining valuable experience and building a diverse portfolio of work in television, film, and digital media. Her work reflects a commitment to inclusive storytelling and powerful representation. Outside of acting, Carmen is also a licensed esthetician and beauty expert, blending creativity and care in every space she enters. As a community advocate, she uses her platform to amplify Black and LGBTQIA+ voices, aiming to create a more just and expressive world through her artistry. Carmen Banks is an undeniable talent and rising star, on a mission to tell stories that matter and inspire change both on screen and beyond.
Benji (he/him)
Actor, Cast as "Marcus" in "Love Me In The Light"
Benji is an emerging actor from North Carolina whose passion for performance has steadily transitioned from vision to reality. A proud Alumnus of North Carolina A&T State University, he transitioned after college to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, where he honed his professional skills and broadened his perspective before stepping into the world of film and television. Benji began pursuing his on-screen career in earnest over the past two years, steadily gaining experience and carving out a space in the entertainment industry. When he's not on set, Benji works full-time in the technical field, bringing a unique blend of precision and creativity to both his professional and artistic endeavors. His background in hospitality and travel also informs his dynamic presence and strong work ethic. With roots in the South, professional grounding in the nation's capital, and eyes set on the big screen, Benji continues to grow as an actor while balancing a multifaceted career.
His chemistry test with Carmen Banks (as "Zaire" in "Love Me in the Light") certifies that he'll grace many more pictures on your black mirror.
Iman DuPree (they/them)
Creator of "Love Me In The Light"
Iman became a DC/Maryland area transplant in 2010. They arrived to the city as a makeup artist before transitioning into technology. After nearly 10 years in IT consultancy, the MBA graduate and artist is bridging their experience in project management, and their commitment to creativity, to manifest intersectional stories through cinema. Their art can be perused at www.imandupree.org
Aaron Davis (he/him)
Aaron is a public health professional working in infectious disease prevention for over 15 years. A deep connection to community shapes his passions and desire to see people live and thrive . Aaron received his BS from Wittenberg University in 2005 and his MPH from Benedictine University in 2021.