PERDIDO: REMOVING THE STIGMA OF MENTAL ILLNESS
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama
Perdido is a film that explores how the stigma of mental illness and masculine ideals cause many African-American men to suffer in silence. This film addresses major misconceptions about mental illness; moreover, it reveals how the mental health of African-Americans is impacted by police brutality.
PERDIDO: REMOVING THE STIGMA OF MENTAL ILLNESS
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama
2 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $15,725 for post-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
72 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Perdido is a film that explores how the stigma of mental illness and masculine ideals cause many African-American men to suffer in silence. This film addresses major misconceptions about mental illness; moreover, it reveals how the mental health of African-Americans is impacted by police brutality.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
PERDIDO is a film about an African-American man who reluctantly seeks therapy when suppressed memories from his past are triggered by a tragic run-in with police.
Dear Supporters, 
WE DID IT! THANKS TO YOU!!!
We are excited to announce, that after almost a year of development and pre-production, we have completed production on our highly anticipated film, PERDIDO. This groundbreaking film will help remove the stigma of mental illness, especially among African-American men.
Thanks to the collective hard work and commitment of our cast and crew, we were able to film 30 scenes in only seven days in Chicago. Our cast included incredibly talented television actors and actresses such as Hannaha Hall (The Chi & Chicago Med), Reggie Watkins (This Is Us, Grey's Anatomy & Bosch), Fidel Vicioso (Shaft, Blue Bloods & Gotham), Eric Carter (FBI & NYPD Blue) and more.
This amazing cast gave us stellar performances. Some of them even dazzled us in the film's ballroom scene by dancing the oldest of all modern ballroom dances: the Viennese Waltz.
POST-PRODUCTION STAGE
We are now entering the most exciting stage in filmmaking: POST-PRODUCTION. Post-production is the stage of film production that comes right before distribution. Post-production is a comprehensive process that includes: creating original music, adding special effects, color grading and color correcting, incorporating sound design, and editing all the sound and video footage captured during production. This is a long and intensive process that requires tremendous collaboration.
HELP US CROSS THE FINISH LINE
While we were able to obtain our entire budget for production through crowdfunding; currently, we do not have a budget to complete post-production. With your support, we can hire a full post-production crew to complete this timely film.
Mental health is a national epidemic. For many African American men, limited access to mental health treatment is exacerbated by the stigma that comes from internalized shame and the lack of understanding that is prevalent in our communities. With your donation, we will use this film to help break the stigma by challenging masculine ideals, reducing misconceptions about mental illness, and showing the world that there is nothing wrong with seeking treatment.
Please join us in using the power of storytelling to encourage more African-American men to prioritize their mental health and stop suffering in silence. Now is the time for everyone to begin to speak more openly and supportively about mental health.
Sincerely,
Muhammad Bilal 
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Please share our film and crowdfunding campaign on your own social media pages and among your friends, family and colleages. Here are some examples of posts you can use to help us spread the word and meet our crowdfunding goal. Feel free to copy and paste them on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter!
I'm so excited to see the short film PERDIDO @bilalworldentertainment, by filmmaker Muhammad Bilal @the_blue_cave_ This film is about breaking the stigma of mental illness among African American men and encouraging them to stop suffering in silence.
Please support them on @seedandspark: https://seedandspark.com/fund/perdidofilm#
I just discovered PERDIDO @Bilal World Entertainment, a short film being by an amazing African American filmmaker, Muhammad Bilal. Support this short film! It will help break the stigma of mental illness, especially among African American men.
Join them on @seedandspark: https://seedandspark.com/fund/perdidofilm#
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Editor
Costs $3,000
Editors review footage and select scenes according to the vision of the director.
Online Editor
Costs $1,500
Online editors oversee the content on websites, also create the marketing materials for the film.
Sound Designer
Costs $3,000
Sound designers collect, edit, and create sound effects, ambient effects, etc for interactive media
Colorist
Costs $2,000
Colorists contribute to the mood and look of a film by defining its colors.
Film Composer
Costs $1,500
A film composer creates the musical score that accompanies a film, which is called the film score.
Film Festivals and Distribution
Costs $1,500
We will use this money to get our film out to the public.
Visual Effect Artists
Costs $3,000
VFX artists create photoreal, digitally-generated imagery & 2 and 3-dimensional model and animation.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
MUHAMMAD BILAL, Writer/Director/Executive Producer: Muhammad Bilal is a former teacher and principal who worked in public schools for 20 years. After completing his MFA in filmmaking at The City College of New York in June of 2020, he founded his own production company - Bilal World Entertainment. He is the writer, director and producer of The Blue Cave, a short film which has won 22 awards and has been accepted into more than 40 festivals, worldwide.
He, too, is the writer and director of SAPO, a short film that has already been accepted into the Micheuax Film Festival in LA and Festival of Cinema NYC in New York. Muhammad is an advocate of mental health accesss for all. He is also the writer, director and executive producer for Perdido.
He is a trained actors represented by Bravo Talent Management and Ambassador Talent Agents. He continues to work in education as an educational consultant in New York City.
DIONNA EL, Executive Producer & Script Supervisor: Dionna has volunteered at many community-based organizations, in some of the most vulnerable areas in Central Indiana, working to create impact for change. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for many years on initiatives involving workforce development, early childhood education, health and well-being, community empowerment, and grant management. Dionna maintains her role at United Way of Central Indiana in Indianapolis, Indiana while producing films for Bilal World Entertainment.
JEANETTE EL, Executive Producer & Second Assistant Director:Born in New Jersey, currently resides in Indianapolis with her two daughters and grandchildren. She works at the IUPUI library in Indianaopolis where she completed her bachelors degree. She is a big supporter and investor in fostering the dreams of others.
LAKEISHA HENDERSON, Executive Producer:Lakeisha is a Chicago native. She has worked with the elder population throughout Chicagoland. She is a supporter and advocate of mental health access for BIPOC.
AUSTIN VINAS, Director of Photography: Austin is aBboy, veteran, an electronic engineer turned cinematographer, and Steadicam operator. Austin has worked on several short films and music videos including the works of Room, A Christmas Wish, and Boxes of Chocolate. He has also worked with music artists such as Keith Sweat and Big Boi.
Miles Miller, Assistant Director: A filmmaker born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. He attended Columbia College Chicago where he focused on screenwriting, directing and production. He has been an active member of the film industry as a 1st AD for almost 7 years. He loves the collaborative side of filmmaking and is most happy when on set or preparing for an upcoming project. His favorite films are Menace to Society, Goodfellas, and Boyz in the Hood. He is a true film geek who has aspired to be in the business since he was a small child.
Jacob Brown, Sound Mixer: Jacob is a native of Chicago, IL he is known for his work on "Every 21 Seconds", "A Chance in the World", and "Most Guys Are Losers." Coming from a background in music he now works as a Production Sound Mixer and Re-Recording mixer on a variety of projects but is most well known for his work in long-form scripts and documentaries. - IMDb Mini Biography By: J. Smith
Emmanuel "Manne" Gomez, Grip:From Lake County, a Chicago-based Cinematographer. From a young age, he found that having an artistic outlet was the perfect way to express his thoughts, creativity, and imagination. He enjoys drawing, tattooing, photography, and video. After he first picked up a camera and started filmmaking, he hasn’t looked back since. Over the years, his work has enabled him to travel, to experience many locations, and to meet and work with some pretty wonderful people. His years of experience in the industry have taught him how to produce quality material on the tightest of schedules, and on various budgets. He will continue to practice his craft to make the best he can in any environment.
DANIEL JUANEZ, Gaffer:Daniel owns video production company, Esol Media. He provides clients from all walks of life with the highest quality video. Danny has been a gaffer for productions such as "Long Division" and "The Stars Between Us." He was also the cinematographer for a short film titled, "The Babysitter I."
BRYANT MCLEMORE SMITH, Costume Designer:A costume designer for the stars, Bryant McLemore Smith is a costume designer and actor, known for The Law of Moises (2019), Mollywood (2019), and Long Division (2022).
DAMANE HARRIS, Make-Up Artist:Damane Harris and attended Columbia College Chicago; she studied Cinema Art & Film and Theater Makeup design. She has been in the film and makeup industry for 12 years. She loves to express herself through her craft.
AISHA BILAL, Production Designer: Aisha lives in Chicago and works as a special events coordinator and consultant. This movie is near to her heart with the many experiences in her community and family with mental illness. She is a graduate of Roosevelt University in Chicago.
KEWON FEAZELL, Production Assistant:Kewon is a very ambitious young man who is eager to learn, especially about the film industry. He has dedicated himself to finding, learning, and mastering his style and voice as a filmmaker.
ERICKA CROSBY, Production Assistant:Ericka is a creative individual that loves decorating spaces and coordinating all types of events. She has a wide variety of administrative skill sets and can adapt to any situation. Most importantly, she has a servants heart and loves to assist others in accomplishing their goals. She is a problem solver and who thrives in helping people find solutions. She is also the owner of her own real estate company. This is the first film she has worked on as a production assistant.
PATRICK SUTHERLIN, Production Assistant: A long-time resident of Chicago. He grew up in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago. Patrick has served for over a decade in the US Navy. He is currently a photographer and he studies graphic design. He is a strong advocate of expanding access to mental health services for all.
DAMIEN SUTHERLIN, Production Assistant:A veteran of the Navy and lifelong resident of Chicago. He is a proud graduate of Du Sable High School and the founder of FullByrd Entertainment, a music label. He supports the greater availability of mental health services, especially for men. This is the second film he has worked on as a production assistant.
WILLIAM COBB, Production Assistant:A lifelong resident of Bronzeville neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. He is a proud graduate of Dunbar Vocational Career High School. William advocates for greater mental health accessibility, especially for African American men. He currently works at General Motors in the leasing and financing department. This is the first film he has worked on as a production assistant.
Post Production Team: 
KEITH CROCKET, Editor: Keith is a New York University trained filmmaker with over 25 years of editing experience. He has over 35 credits as an editor on feature and short films, both independent and studio. In his spare time, he simply likes to fly his plane across the country.
ALEXA BORDEN, Film Composer: Alexa L. Borden is an L.A.-based composer from Philadelphia, PA. She attended both Berklee College of Music and Moravian College for her bachelor's degree in Music Composition, and holds an MFA in Music Composition for the Screen from Columbia College Chicago. In addition to her solo work, Alexa also frequently collaborates on projects with fellow film composer, Connor Cook.
Alexa has used her love of classic rock music and her training in both classical and modern piano, harpsichord, and voice to compose music for a wide variety of projects, including short and feature films, musicals, and video games spanning many genres and styles.
EMAD AL KHATEEB, VFX Artist: Emad has over 7 years of experience in the design field, ranging from graphics, illustrations, photo retouching, VFX, compositing, motion graphics, designing and responsive websites. He has worked on multiple commercials and films, union and non-union, as a VFX Artist and/or Graphic Designer, as well as a DIT on-set. Emad has high technical skills in handling files and delivering projects in the proper format required.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
PERDIDO is a film about an African-American man who reluctantly seeks therapy when suppressed memories from his past are triggered by a tragic run-in with police.
Dear Supporters, WE DID IT! THANKS TO YOU!!!
We are excited to announce, that after almost a year of development and pre-production, we have completed production on our highly anticipated film, PERDIDO. This groundbreaking film will help remove the stigma of mental illness, especially among African-American men.
Thanks to the collective hard work and commitment of our cast and crew, we were able to film 30 scenes in only seven days in Chicago. Our cast included incredibly talented television actors and actresses such as Hannaha Hall (The Chi & Chicago Med), Reggie Watkins (This Is Us, Grey's Anatomy & Bosch), Fidel Vicioso (Shaft, Blue Bloods & Gotham), Eric Carter (FBI & NYPD Blue) and more.
This amazing cast gave us stellar performances. Some of them even dazzled us in the film's ballroom scene by dancing the oldest of all modern ballroom dances: the Viennese Waltz.
POST-PRODUCTION STAGE
We are now entering the most exciting stage in filmmaking: POST-PRODUCTION. Post-production is the stage of film production that comes right before distribution. Post-production is a comprehensive process that includes: creating original music, adding special effects, color grading and color correcting, incorporating sound design, and editing all the sound and video footage captured during production. This is a long and intensive process that requires tremendous collaboration.
HELP US CROSS THE FINISH LINE
While we were able to obtain our entire budget for production through crowdfunding; currently, we do not have a budget to complete post-production. With your support, we can hire a full post-production crew to complete this timely film.
Mental health is a national epidemic. For many African American men, limited access to mental health treatment is exacerbated by the stigma that comes from internalized shame and the lack of understanding that is prevalent in our communities. With your donation, we will use this film to help break the stigma by challenging masculine ideals, reducing misconceptions about mental illness, and showing the world that there is nothing wrong with seeking treatment.
Please join us in using the power of storytelling to encourage more African-American men to prioritize their mental health and stop suffering in silence. Now is the time for everyone to begin to speak more openly and supportively about mental health.
Sincerely,
Muhammad Bilal
Please share our film and crowdfunding campaign on your own social media pages and among your friends, family and colleages. Here are some examples of posts you can use to help us spread the word and meet our crowdfunding goal. Feel free to copy and paste them on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter!
I'm so excited to see the short film PERDIDO @bilalworldentertainment, by filmmaker Muhammad Bilal @the_blue_cave_ This film is about breaking the stigma of mental illness among African American men and encouraging them to stop suffering in silence.
Please support them on @seedandspark: https://seedandspark.com/fund/perdidofilm#
I just discovered PERDIDO @Bilal World Entertainment, a short film being by an amazing African American filmmaker, Muhammad Bilal. Support this short film! It will help break the stigma of mental illness, especially among African American men.
Join them on @seedandspark: https://seedandspark.com/fund/perdidofilm#
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Editor
Costs $3,000
Editors review footage and select scenes according to the vision of the director.
Online Editor
Costs $1,500
Online editors oversee the content on websites, also create the marketing materials for the film.
Sound Designer
Costs $3,000
Sound designers collect, edit, and create sound effects, ambient effects, etc for interactive media
Colorist
Costs $2,000
Colorists contribute to the mood and look of a film by defining its colors.
Film Composer
Costs $1,500
A film composer creates the musical score that accompanies a film, which is called the film score.
Film Festivals and Distribution
Costs $1,500
We will use this money to get our film out to the public.
Visual Effect Artists
Costs $3,000
VFX artists create photoreal, digitally-generated imagery & 2 and 3-dimensional model and animation.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
MUHAMMAD BILAL, Writer/Director/Executive Producer: Muhammad Bilal is a former teacher and principal who worked in public schools for 20 years. After completing his MFA in filmmaking at The City College of New York in June of 2020, he founded his own production company - Bilal World Entertainment. He is the writer, director and producer of The Blue Cave, a short film which has won 22 awards and has been accepted into more than 40 festivals, worldwide.
He, too, is the writer and director of SAPO, a short film that has already been accepted into the Micheuax Film Festival in LA and Festival of Cinema NYC in New York. Muhammad is an advocate of mental health accesss for all. He is also the writer, director and executive producer for Perdido.
He is a trained actors represented by Bravo Talent Management and Ambassador Talent Agents. He continues to work in education as an educational consultant in New York City.
DIONNA EL, Executive Producer & Script Supervisor: Dionna has volunteered at many community-based organizations, in some of the most vulnerable areas in Central Indiana, working to create impact for change. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for many years on initiatives involving workforce development, early childhood education, health and well-being, community empowerment, and grant management. Dionna maintains her role at United Way of Central Indiana in Indianapolis, Indiana while producing films for Bilal World Entertainment.
JEANETTE EL, Executive Producer & Second Assistant Director:Born in New Jersey, currently resides in Indianapolis with her two daughters and grandchildren. She works at the IUPUI library in Indianaopolis where she completed her bachelors degree. She is a big supporter and investor in fostering the dreams of others.
LAKEISHA HENDERSON, Executive Producer:Lakeisha is a Chicago native. She has worked with the elder population throughout Chicagoland. She is a supporter and advocate of mental health access for BIPOC.
AUSTIN VINAS, Director of Photography: Austin is aBboy, veteran, an electronic engineer turned cinematographer, and Steadicam operator. Austin has worked on several short films and music videos including the works of Room, A Christmas Wish, and Boxes of Chocolate. He has also worked with music artists such as Keith Sweat and Big Boi.
Miles Miller, Assistant Director: A filmmaker born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. He attended Columbia College Chicago where he focused on screenwriting, directing and production. He has been an active member of the film industry as a 1st AD for almost 7 years. He loves the collaborative side of filmmaking and is most happy when on set or preparing for an upcoming project. His favorite films are Menace to Society, Goodfellas, and Boyz in the Hood. He is a true film geek who has aspired to be in the business since he was a small child.
Jacob Brown, Sound Mixer: Jacob is a native of Chicago, IL he is known for his work on "Every 21 Seconds", "A Chance in the World", and "Most Guys Are Losers." Coming from a background in music he now works as a Production Sound Mixer and Re-Recording mixer on a variety of projects but is most well known for his work in long-form scripts and documentaries. - IMDb Mini Biography By: J. Smith
Emmanuel "Manne" Gomez, Grip:From Lake County, a Chicago-based Cinematographer. From a young age, he found that having an artistic outlet was the perfect way to express his thoughts, creativity, and imagination. He enjoys drawing, tattooing, photography, and video. After he first picked up a camera and started filmmaking, he hasn’t looked back since. Over the years, his work has enabled him to travel, to experience many locations, and to meet and work with some pretty wonderful people. His years of experience in the industry have taught him how to produce quality material on the tightest of schedules, and on various budgets. He will continue to practice his craft to make the best he can in any environment.
DANIEL JUANEZ, Gaffer:Daniel owns video production company, Esol Media. He provides clients from all walks of life with the highest quality video. Danny has been a gaffer for productions such as "Long Division" and "The Stars Between Us." He was also the cinematographer for a short film titled, "The Babysitter I."
BRYANT MCLEMORE SMITH, Costume Designer:A costume designer for the stars, Bryant McLemore Smith is a costume designer and actor, known for The Law of Moises (2019), Mollywood (2019), and Long Division (2022).
DAMANE HARRIS, Make-Up Artist:Damane Harris and attended Columbia College Chicago; she studied Cinema Art & Film and Theater Makeup design. She has been in the film and makeup industry for 12 years. She loves to express herself through her craft.
AISHA BILAL, Production Designer: Aisha lives in Chicago and works as a special events coordinator and consultant. This movie is near to her heart with the many experiences in her community and family with mental illness. She is a graduate of Roosevelt University in Chicago.
KEWON FEAZELL, Production Assistant:Kewon is a very ambitious young man who is eager to learn, especially about the film industry. He has dedicated himself to finding, learning, and mastering his style and voice as a filmmaker.
ERICKA CROSBY, Production Assistant:Ericka is a creative individual that loves decorating spaces and coordinating all types of events. She has a wide variety of administrative skill sets and can adapt to any situation. Most importantly, she has a servants heart and loves to assist others in accomplishing their goals. She is a problem solver and who thrives in helping people find solutions. She is also the owner of her own real estate company. This is the first film she has worked on as a production assistant.
PATRICK SUTHERLIN, Production Assistant: A long-time resident of Chicago. He grew up in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago. Patrick has served for over a decade in the US Navy. He is currently a photographer and he studies graphic design. He is a strong advocate of expanding access to mental health services for all.
DAMIEN SUTHERLIN, Production Assistant:A veteran of the Navy and lifelong resident of Chicago. He is a proud graduate of Du Sable High School and the founder of FullByrd Entertainment, a music label. He supports the greater availability of mental health services, especially for men. This is the second film he has worked on as a production assistant.
WILLIAM COBB, Production Assistant:A lifelong resident of Bronzeville neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. He is a proud graduate of Dunbar Vocational Career High School. William advocates for greater mental health accessibility, especially for African American men. He currently works at General Motors in the leasing and financing department. This is the first film he has worked on as a production assistant.
Post Production Team:
KEITH CROCKET, Editor: Keith is a New York University trained filmmaker with over 25 years of editing experience. He has over 35 credits as an editor on feature and short films, both independent and studio. In his spare time, he simply likes to fly his plane across the country.
ALEXA BORDEN, Film Composer: Alexa L. Borden is an L.A.-based composer from Philadelphia, PA. She attended both Berklee College of Music and Moravian College for her bachelor's degree in Music Composition, and holds an MFA in Music Composition for the Screen from Columbia College Chicago. In addition to her solo work, Alexa also frequently collaborates on projects with fellow film composer, Connor Cook.
Alexa has used her love of classic rock music and her training in both classical and modern piano, harpsichord, and voice to compose music for a wide variety of projects, including short and feature films, musicals, and video games spanning many genres and styles.
EMAD AL KHATEEB, VFX Artist: Emad has over 7 years of experience in the design field, ranging from graphics, illustrations, photo retouching, VFX, compositing, motion graphics, designing and responsive websites. He has worked on multiple commercials and films, union and non-union, as a VFX Artist and/or Graphic Designer, as well as a DIT on-set. Emad has high technical skills in handling files and delivering projects in the proper format required.