When Terrence gets asked out on a date on his last day of 8th grade, he has to figure out how to get a new bike to go riding with his crush. To help him, his older brother, Malik, devises a plan to rob their father of the (overdue) child support money while he's seemingly on vacation. But when they get to his house, Malik starts reliving some painful memories about why he hasn't returned to his father's house in over 4 years and Terrence realizes he may of fully misunderstood his father's life outside of their relationship.

This story is about the relationship between two brothers and their journey to understanding what they search for in a parental figure.

This short film means a lot to me, as it's a vulnerable story to tell. I just want to clarify that I've never actually tried robbing my father of his child support money. But the relationship with my father hasn't been a fun journey. So while the plot of this film may not be true to life, the dynamics between the brothers and between their father are very accurate to my own. 

I originally set out to make this into a feature film focusing on a completely different angle. But when I started writing this version of the story, it all just poured out of me and I realized this story is about the bond of these two brothers. 

Similar to Terrence, I grew up with a loving single mother and a distant father with a whole other family. The only father figure I had (for better or worst) was my older brother. Growing up, neither of us knew how to get through life. We leaned on each other when our parents weren’t around, despite the seven-year age difference between us.

(We just love to smile!)

And now watching my older brother being a father to his two beautiful children, makes me appreciate him even more. He's everything to his girls that our father couldn't be for us. This film is dedicated to my older brother, Brandon.

This short film's tone is sincere in its remembrance of familial heartbreak but hopeful in that it shows a way to overcome the past and grow. Elements of comedy are sprinkled in to give the story authenticity in the lives of these brothers. Because as serious as the story may sound, these brothers aren't shy about being goofy or silly around each other. They're more alike than they even realize.

Terrence learned how to be his authentic self because of Malik, but Malik needs Terrence to anchor him so he doesn't lose himself. 

Films referenced above: The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Brother, Sojourn, Don't Go Tellin' Your Mama, Bel-Air (Proof of Concept), Waves, and Moonlight.

Set in the present day, South Los Angeles. This film explores the nuances of brotherhood while tackling the sometimes difficult conversations about the expectations children have for their parents. It also reaches into the subconscious fears and terrors of reliving traumatic moments, especially from family members. 

To compare the tone of this short film to other films I feel connected to, it would be a mix of A24's "The Last Black Man in San Francisco" and "Moonlight."

The score for this short film is truly another character in the film. We plan to make it somber, unsettling, and orchestral. As the film follows Terrence and Malik on their journey of self-discovery, the score will elevate their emotions with beautiful strings and a capella vocals that feel larger than life.

We are excited to work with Evan Wright, an amazingly talented composer, to bring to life these emotions with his intricate compositions and music.

For our project to receive funding from Seed & Spark, we need to achieve a minimum of 80% of our goal amount within 30 days. If we fail to meet this target, we won't receive any funds at all.

Your contribution will be invaluable in helping us realize this project's full potential and ensuring our team members well-being. We are dedicated to balancing our resourcefulness with fair compensation, ethical work hours, rest, and the overall wellness of our cast and crew. The $15,000 you are helping us raise will be utilized for the following:

• Hiring a production crew
• Casting locally in Los Angeles
• Securing locations, authentic costumes, props, and equipment rentals
• Contingency plan

With our goal of $15,000, we can take the first step toward bringing this film to life. But with your support, we can aim even higher and unlock new possibilities for making this the absolute best version possible.

• At $20,000, we can pay the entirety of our post-production phase.
• At $25,000, we'll be able to add an extra day of shooting.
• At $30,000, we'll be able to insert a deleted scene...

PRE-PRODUCTION, July-August 2023

Writing and re-writing! I've gone through almost 10 drafts of this script, with feedback from trusted friends and professionals. This script currently sits in the Top 25% of all projects and the Top 18% in the "Short projects" category on Coverfly. One professional reviewer said the script was, “an emotionally satisfying and moving portrayal of brotherhood.” 

We are currently raising funds, casting, and scouting locations. When our principal cast and locations are secured by early July, we will finalize equipment and resources until our shoot in early September 2023. In the few weeks leading up to the shoot, I plan to hold intensive rehearsals with the cast to nail the emotions and performances of this family. 

PRODUCTION, Early September 2023

We will shoot on location in South Los Angeles, California for 3 days, mainly in Leimert Park and Baldwin Hills.

POST-PRODUCTION, September 2023

The post-production team consists of me...lol. Because of our minimum budget, I will take on most of the post operations. That's not to say I won't be actively getting feedback from our producing team and DP on the cuts up until the end of the month. If we're able to get over our minimum budget we can bring on some amazing Colorists and Sound Mixers we have ready to go. And by October — after color, sound mix, and minor VFX — we’ll be ready to submit the film to the fall festival deadlines.

DISTRIBUTION, October 2023 — November 2023

We’ll submit to festivals, hopeful for a world premiere at Tribeca or SXSW. We also plan to hit the festival circuit with regional, short-film-focused, and Black-focused film festivals. It’s also my hope to share this film throughout LA with screenings, as well as an online premiere.

Making My Brother & Me involves some risks, like what if a location, crew, or cast member drops out? Luckily, we've taken precautions, including getting insurance and planning for contingencies. We stay prepared! And please note, our incentives will be made with love. So supporting this film will fuel us while hopefully giving you (the backer) a sense that you're a part of something amazing!

The biggest concern, obviously, we have is the possibility of falling short of our funding goals. Such a setback could cause a delay in production, which would be disappointing but nevertheless, we are determined to make this film a reality and will do everything possible to achieve this, including strategic rewrites to explore alternative ways of faithfully bringing the story to life or taking a break to reassess and come up with a completely new approach. I have complete confidence in my team and myself to tackle these challenges with patience and diligence. And just so we're accountable, we will regularly update our backers and followers on social media about our progress.

The last (possibly the second best) way to help our project! It would mean so much to us if you could help spread the word about our project. Whether it's sharing on social media, sending out emails, or just telling your loved ones, your support would make a huge difference. Thank you for your cooperation and assistance!

Follow us on Instagram @mybrotherandmefilm. You’ll get project updates, introductions to key production team members, and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks!

Additionally, if you follow us on Seed&Spark and we reach 500 followers, we’ll be able to access perks, products, services, and festival waivers offered by Seed&Spark. And that's totally free to do!

Getting down to the bottom of this page tells me that you care, so I am grateful for your time and consideration. Even if you can’t contribute today, I hope you can stay in touch, continue to follow this film’s journey, and share with everyone you know! If you ever feel inclined, feel free to email me at [email protected] if you have any questions or just wanna chit-chat!