Sam's Hail Mary
New York City, New York | Film Short
Comedy, Other
What do icons like Britney, Beyoncé & White Jesus have in common? Fair features & nonstop media exposure. Sam’s Hail Mary navigates a child’s darkly comedic quest to embody them all. When the images we worship rarely reflect us, support a film reclaiming self-love as the ultimate inner Divinity.
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$2,193
Goal: $30,000 for production
What do icons like Britney, Beyoncé & White Jesus have in common? Fair features & nonstop media exposure. Sam’s Hail Mary navigates a child’s darkly comedic quest to embody them all. When the images we worship rarely reflect us, support a film reclaiming self-love as the ultimate inner Divinity.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Picture it: It’s 2004. You’re a seven-year-old “born-again” Christian. But when you’re not in Sunday school, you’re sneaking on MTV's TRL or BET's 106&Park. Gracing the screen, wind blowing in their hair, staring back at you is: Britney Spears. Cameron Diaz. Christina Aguilera. And then there are the black icons like Mariah Carey. Halle Berry. Beyoncé (duh). And, what's the common donominator? Light skin. Wavy hair. And a societal acceptance further affirmed by constant exposure in the media.
Who else also shares these features? Yep....Jesus. Well, White Jesus, that is… And, in your Black house, maybe even your black church, “Jesus was black!” But your brain's doing mental gymnastics trying to figure out “how was Jesus black if your Children’s Picture Bible depicts everybody as white?”
You were told “never question God” but you can’t help but wonder why you don’t look like them. Or better yet, why aren’t as many icons uplifted in your current everyday life that look like you?
Thank Goodness for darker-skinned icons like Brandy, Kelly Rowland, and Gabrielle Union. We’re not saying they didn’t exist. We're just saying they weren't embraced on the same massive scale, cross-culturally, as their lighter counterparts.
CUE: Sam-- the kid who gets good grades but "talks too much" on her report card. At 10 years old, her biggest flex is being the best reader in class and knowing The Proud Family theme song word for word. But in the early 2000’s, Sam still struggles to find validation in her own self-image. So what better way to gain shallow mass approval from everyone you know, than by landing the lead role in the school play? Unfortunately for Sam, thanks to her running mouth, she gets cast as one of the manger animals, “Donkey”. Meanwhile, her lighter-skinned friend, Deja, lands the lead role of “Mary", the Mother of God Himself.
A hierarchy is formed amongst the class. While everyone yearns for Deja’s attention, Sam wonders why someone just as chatty gets to be “Mary.” An Illustrated Children’s Bible of all-white portraits along with her friends' two-cents helps answer that question for her: Deja is "light-skinned-ded-ed" so she looks most like Mary and therefore deserves the role. Mrs. Isaac’s public punishment from earlier causes Deja to outcast Sam who is now seen as “bad” in the eyes of her peers. This exile coupled with her role as “Donkey” convinces Sam that God looks down on her just like everyone else.
Sam's Hail Mary follows the journey Sam takes as she grapples with the insecurity of not being “made in God’s Image.” Ultimately, Sam is willing to go to extremes to become her idea of who she thinks God & everyone else will love.
The way we see God and the Divine not only affects the way we see others, but also how we see ourselves. It doesn’t help when those beliefs are reinforced by media saturated with whiteness or proximity to it.
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The early 2000s was over 20 years ago (yes, we old!), yet these same sentiments still ring true today. It's spotted on your "For You" page on Instagram or even heard in a song lyric by your favorite Hip-Hop artist...
It’s 2026, but according to the last Representation Project, only 5.6% of black women held leading roles in popular films and 4 out of 5 of those roles were light or racially ambiguous women...
And where there's racism, whitewashing, racism, Western ideals of beauty, and oh yeah, more racism, their annoying lil cousin, Colorism, is trailing right behind it. But, Black Americans weren’t the only ones told by our elders to keep out of the sun in the summer and marry “light” to keep whitening the family line. Several miles away, on the other side of the world, lives a young girl being told she isn’t as worthy simply due to the deeper hue of her skin. That's why I think this piece will speak to a multitude of audiences from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and communities. It’ll speak to anyone who feels they don’t fit this rigid idea of what Western society tells us is worthy of value.
LOOK, I'M NO RAVEN BAXTER, BUT HERE'S...
Through surreal cinematic moments, Sam’s inner world will be depicted as a heightened reality. We'll be filming live action but overlaying the cinematography with a mix of special effects & animation to make pivotal moments in the script feel larger than life, reflecting the vast imaginations of young children & how moments like these may appear small & trivial to us adults, but can mean everything to a child.
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Much of the shots will be inspired by portraits of Christ and Virgin Mary depicted throughout history and from all over the world, including: the Byzantine & Renaissance era, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Colonial era (of course), and even modern day.
MULTI-CITY SOCIAL IMPACT INITIATIVE
Beyond the film itself, we’re also thinking about how this story can spark meaningful community conversations. We're building a multi-city, multi-film social impact campaign that will include other films with similar themes like ours with curated community experiences that include screenings, panels on representation, & workshops on self-worth, creating space for dialogue around self-image in a way that feels compassionate and inclusive. As we see a rise in our nation of white nationalism linked with conservative Christian evangelism, now more than ever we must instill in our communities the power of self-love, regardless of our background. Through this social impact initiative, we hope to create a safe space to invite communities of faith or otherwise to imagine more compassionate futures.
We can’t always control how popular culture depicts us, but through encouraging deep dialogue, meaningful representation, dismantling harmful narratives, and unlearning beliefs that make us feel unworthy, we can reclaim how we see ourselves. Perhaps we’ll discover that the worthiness, the divinity, even, that we constantly pursue outside ourselves has been within us, all along, if only we know where to look…
We are currently in pre-production for Sam’s Hail Mary with plans to film in New York City in November 2026. We've cast our lead actor to play Sam, Lathan Ava (Abbott Elementary, The Morning Show), and have hired key crew, including our cinematographer, Renee Nabinger (Black Cake, Fawn) & costume designer, Ari Fulton (Ricky, Nigerian Prince). We are seeking to raise $30,000 to support production costs to bring this film to life. Contributions are tax-deductible through our fiscal sponsorship with New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT), so YES, your donation is also a tax write-off!
We need your support to reach 80% of our goal ($24,000) to receive the funds from Seed & Spark. Otherwise, all funds raised get returned! But as you can imagine, we’ll be working with lots of children (with Tiktok attention spans...) so the more funds we raise, the more time we have to create the best version of this piece possible! The current goal of $30,000 is also the amount needed to get us through production. We will still need additional funds for post-production. So our stretch goal is: $45,000. Even if you can’t donate, following our Seed&Spark page and sharing with your network to get the word out is just as meaningful!
You can also support by following our Instagram and Tiktok accounts @samshailmary, where you’ll be introduced to the world of Sam & the Disciple Christian Academy’s kooky 5th-grade class. By default, following our page will get you your daily dose of that early 2000s nostalgia your heart’s been yearning for! :)
Thank you for joining us on a ride that’ll be even wilder than your scariest childhood Six Flags rollercoaster! We can’t wait to take you back to those lunchbox days, so we appreciate you taking us forward with the film!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera Rentals & Crew
Costs $6,300
On top of camera rentals (whew, New York ain't cheap!), we have a stellar camera team that we want to compensate adequately.
Lighting / Electric Rentals & Crew
Costs $4,890
Few things worse than sad lighting and a fabulous actress we can't even see.
Sound
Costs $2,450
Children on set plus a beautiful, yet cavernous church means the risk for muddy sound is high. Help us make our sound crisp!
Costumes & Makeup
Costs $2,500
Disciple Christian Academy's 5th grade class will need school uniforms and animal costumes for their Nativity Play. Can you support?
Meals
Costs $1,600
Hangry children (and adults) on set are a no-go. If local businesses would like to donate a meal and be featured in the credits, click here!
Production Insurance & Supplies
Costs $2,050
Big church, many children, expensive equipment. Non-negotiable.
Cast & Creative Team Support
Costs $7,560
Helps provide stipends and pay for our talented cast who are bringing these characters to life and our creative team.
Production Design
Costs $1,250
This goes towards our art department: props, rentals, personnel, and all materials needed to transform the space.
Airline Points
Costs $1,000
Three wise men once said, "Thou shalt not waste airline points! Share them with the team of Sam's Hail Mary to help get their crew to NY!"
Hard Drives
Costs $400
Sam's Mom cannot wait to share her baby's work with the world. Are there film teams in the tri-state willing to loan their hard drives?
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
The Who's Who of Sam's Hail Mary
Lathan Ava
Leading Role, Sam
Lathan Ava has been acting since the age of 5 and featured in over 20 commercials and numerous feature films and television shows. Highlights in her career include joining the cast of AppleTV's "The Morning Show" as Nicole Beharie's daughter, Naima. She's also worked alongside Quinta Brunson and Tyler James Williams in ABC's hit show "Abbott Elementary". You will soon see her starring in Elijah Davis' anthology feature film "Three Colors" alongside Loretta Devine and Sibongile Mlambo. Other notable feature films she will be seen in this year include Joshua Coates' feature film "Madonna Non Grata" opposite Tamara Taylor, Eric Roberts and Kris Lofton as well as "Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People" directed by Shinya Tsukamoto working opposite Tatyana Ali and Rodney Hicks. In Spring 2027, she’ll appear in her first studio feature, Warner Brothers new action thriller “F.A.S.T.” produced by Taylor Sheridan working alongside Brandon Sklenar, Lakeith Stanfield and James Claflin.
THE PRODUCTION TEAM
Daryl Bright Clay (she/her)
Director, Writer, & Executive Producer
(She/Her/That Gurlll) is a multidisciplinary artist: a producer, writer, and performer. Yes, she actually does wear multiple hats (or hairstyles) depending on the vibes. Hailing from the DC Metropolitan Area has helped contribute to her love of cultural storytelling mixed with a dash of wit and a lot of heart.
Daryl’s life has been shaped by the stories of those who came before her. Even her name, Daryl, carries a story. It belonged to a young uncle who passed away just months before she was born. Daryl grew up hearing anecdotes of him—stories filled with love, laughter, and promise. It was these stories she returned to, ones that instilled love and pride in her name and, by extension, herself. Through the legend wrapped in her name, Daryl discovered at an early age the power a story can carry—and it’s that same power that she channels into every story she tells.
As a founding member of CNT Productions, she has helped write, produce, & star in CNT Production’s sketch comedy series NOT YOUR TYPE , their live interactive show, THE SEX SCENE, & their choreopoem series OPEN, which has been featured in AFROPUNK, DEADLINE, & Gloria Steinem’s Ms. Magazine. With CNT partner, Ariel Zucker, she co-wrote a pilot called, GYNO, which was accepted to Gotham’s 2022 TV Film Lab & Project Market. Her contributions have been recognized by HBO, the American Black Film Festival, AT&T’s Awards for New Forms of Storytelling, & Sundance’s Horizon Awards.
Daryl was the production associate on APPLE TV+’s The Supermodels. She was also the showrunner’s assistant to Pulitzer Prize winner, Branden Jacobs Jenkins, who adapted Octavia Butler’s Kindred for FX/HULU. Upcoming projects include the 2025 Sundance official selection, GOODNIGHT, starring Dagmara Dominczyk (HBO’s Succession), Bentonville Film Festival selection, GET LOST directed by Victoria Pedretti (Netflix’s You), and MOONLUCK WONTON, created by Siddiq Saunderson (HULU’S Wu-Tang: An American Saga).
Much of Daryl’s work is rooted in encouraging self-love, reckoning with self-hate, and the messy truths in between — sparking connection and reflection on what makes us both beautifully contradictory and deeply human. Currently based in Brooklyn, she is a graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Carnegie Mellon’s School of Drama. She is also a member of New York Women in Television & Film (NYWIFT).
Ariel Zucker (she/they)
Line Producer
Ariel Zucker is an LA-based producer and director from Atlanta, powered by teamwork and well-timed snacks. A Gotham TV Expanding Communities Fellow alum, Ariel produces at Dropout TV, including the 2025 Webby People’s Voice Award-winning series Very Important People, along with Make Some Noise and Um, Actually. Ariel also served as Studio Director at Assembly House for the 107-day Harris/Walz campaign, calling up to 8 cameras for 6 shows a day and directing streams featuring Beyoncé, Maggie Rogers, Cardi B, Gracie Abrams, John Legend, and a lot of Bon Jovi.
A Carnegie Mellon alum (John Wells Directing Program + Heinz School of Business), their work has been recognized by Outfest, AT&T Film Awards, Screencraft, NBC Out, Huffington Post, Variety, and more. Their web series Day-Bi-Day won Best Web Series at SF Queer Film Festival, and their short This Is Not a Love Letter took home Best Experimental Film at Women’s Voices Now. They were also a 2022 PGA Innovation Award Finalist.
Eva Fabray (she/her)
Marketing Producer / Assistant Director
Eva Fabray is a writer, director, and producer currently living in Santa Monica, CA. She attended Iowa State University where she was Editor in Chief of an on-campus magazine and created a self-produced pilot, BROKE, that she wrote, directed, and starred in. BROKE centered around a young college student and her friends, navigating adult life with minimal funds.
Eva is most known for her work on ESSENTIALS (2022) starring Allison Torem and Austin Pendleton, ROAD HEAD (2023) and THE LAST INFANTRY (2025). Eva has also appeared in recurring background roles for THE CHI (Showtime) and EMPIRE (Fox).
She now works as an Assistant Director and Producer in Los Angeles. She is drawn to scripts with realistic dialogues, absurd comedies, and POC stories with positive outcomes. Eva also does work as a comedy writer and is currently working on multiple projects. She has produced a handful of short films and comedy specials in the past year. She is currently in the development process for her own short film Please, Call Me Back, which will be her directorial film debut.
Iris Beaumier (she/her)
Social Impact Producer
Iris is an actor/producer born and raised in New York City with Ghanaian and French roots. Her first Producer credit, GOODNIGHT, had its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival 2025, and the following March she produced SWEETWATER, TEXAS shot on 16mm out west in the Lone Star state. It premiered at Hof International Film Festival in Germany, then flew back home for The Big Texas Little Film Tour, a traveling showcase Iris co-produced featuring local films from across the state (get ready for year 2 of the tour, Fall 2026 y’all). Broadway acting credits include “The Little Prince” (Narrator Alt.). Off-Broadway she played Josephine Baker in “The Dark Star from Harlem” at LaMama Playhouse and won the AUDELCO/VIV Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical. Other stage credits include “Cabaret” (Sally Bowles, Asolo Rep), “Ragtime” (Sarah, Theatreworks Silicon Valley), and “The Colored Museum” (Lala, Studio Theatre). TV & Film: Blindspot (NBC), Alternatino (Comedy Central), Modern Love (Prime), and the documentary MARIANNE NOIRES, currently on exhibition at the National Museum for Immigration and History in Paris. She is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University’s Music Theatre and Environmental Studies programs.
Nikaya Manley (she/her)
Creative Producer
Nikaya is a producer, cinematographer, writer and director, born and raised in New York City. She believes deeply in the power of storytelling to build and heal communities and often uses her hometown as the backdrop of her own narratives. Nikaya is drawn to creating dramatic narratives - afrofuturistic in nature, centering 'odd' communities and unlikely pairings. She has many years of experience as a producer & production manager in the commercial and narrative spaces. Nikaya was a 2025-2026 BAFTA Scholar.
Nadia Delisfort (she/her)
Associate Producer
Nadia is a New York-based administrative creative and storyteller at heart, driven by a passion for bringing narratives to life, both on screen and onstage. She works in development at Maxine Productions, a production company under Sony Pictures Nonfiction.
Nadia’s diverse experience includes working on press for the Broadway productions of Yellow Face, Death Becomes Her, and Spamalot, as well as production managing the cast of Tony-winning Freestyle Love Supreme. Her meticulous planning and creative vision also extend to producing commercials and branded content for campaigns with brands like Lush, Van Leeuwen, and Raising Cane’s.
With her heart set on championing underrepresented voices, Nadia is so excited to be a Producer on Sam’s Hail Mary, a story she believes is so important for Black and brown girls everywhere who are questioning their worth in this complicated world. When she’s not working, a perfect day for Nadia ends with crossing a book off her list (hopefully one closer to 50 for the year) and falling asleep peacefully to her pug’s snoring.
OUR TALENTED CREW
Renee Nabinger (she/her)
Cinematographer
Renee is a narrative, music video, and commercial cinematographer based in Brooklyn, NY. Drawing from her rich background in oil painting, cultivated during her formative years at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Renee brings a unique artistic perspective to her cinematography. After honing her craft in visual arts, Renee transitioned her passion for storytelling into the realm of film, graduating with a degree in Film from Boston University. This fusion of artistic disciplines informs her cinematic approach, imbuing her work with depth, texture, and a distinctive narrative sensibility. Renee has worked with brands such as Samsung, Levi’s and Net-a-Porter, and with notable talent including Amanda Seyfried, Greta Lee, and Emily Blunt. When she is not on set, she is likely in search of the best dill pickles in the city or watching videos of pugs.
Ari Fulton (she/her)
Costume Designer
Ari is a New York–based costume designer for stage and film, known for her richly detailed and expressive design work. She has built a diverse career designing costumes both regionally and internationally.
Fulton earned her BFA in Costume Design from The Theatre School at DePaul University and went on to receive her MFA in Design for Stage and Film from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. In 2018, she earned her first feature film credit for Nigerian Prince, shot on location in Lagos, Nigeria, and executive produced by Spike Lee. The film was the inaugural recipient of the Tribeca and AT&T New Voices Award.
Her recent theatre credits include Disney’s Frozen, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Rent!, and Off-Broadway directed by Robert O’Hara. Her film work includes Cupids, directed by Zoey Martinson—part of Tribeca’s 846: Reclaiming Time for Stories of Black Love and Joy film series —and Ricky, winner of the Sundance Best Directing Award (2025).
Fulton is the proud recipient of the Black Theatre Coalition’s Costume Design Fellowship (2023) and the Lilly Creative Spirit Award (2017) for excellence in costume design. In 2021, she received the Broadway World Miami Award for Design of the Decade for her work on A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical.
A dedicated educator, Fulton has taught at the University of Connecticut, where she served as Interim Head of Costume Design (2020–2021). She currently serves on the faculty at Brooklyn College and the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Picture it: It’s 2004. You’re a seven-year-old “born-again” Christian. But when you’re not in Sunday school, you’re sneaking on MTV's TRL or BET's 106&Park. Gracing the screen, wind blowing in their hair, staring back at you is: Britney Spears. Cameron Diaz. Christina Aguilera. And then there are the black icons like Mariah Carey. Halle Berry. Beyoncé (duh). And, what's the common donominator? Light skin. Wavy hair. And a societal acceptance further affirmed by constant exposure in the media.
Who else also shares these features? Yep....Jesus. Well, White Jesus, that is… And, in your Black house, maybe even your black church, “Jesus was black!” But your brain's doing mental gymnastics trying to figure out “how was Jesus black if your Children’s Picture Bible depicts everybody as white?”
You were told “never question God” but you can’t help but wonder why you don’t look like them. Or better yet, why aren’t as many icons uplifted in your current everyday life that look like you?
Thank Goodness for darker-skinned icons like Brandy, Kelly Rowland, and Gabrielle Union. We’re not saying they didn’t exist. We're just saying they weren't embraced on the same massive scale, cross-culturally, as their lighter counterparts.
CUE: Sam-- the kid who gets good grades but "talks too much" on her report card. At 10 years old, her biggest flex is being the best reader in class and knowing The Proud Family theme song word for word. But in the early 2000’s, Sam still struggles to find validation in her own self-image. So what better way to gain shallow mass approval from everyone you know, than by landing the lead role in the school play? Unfortunately for Sam, thanks to her running mouth, she gets cast as one of the manger animals, “Donkey”. Meanwhile, her lighter-skinned friend, Deja, lands the lead role of “Mary", the Mother of God Himself.
A hierarchy is formed amongst the class. While everyone yearns for Deja’s attention, Sam wonders why someone just as chatty gets to be “Mary.” An Illustrated Children’s Bible of all-white portraits along with her friends' two-cents helps answer that question for her: Deja is "light-skinned-ded-ed" so she looks most like Mary and therefore deserves the role. Mrs. Isaac’s public punishment from earlier causes Deja to outcast Sam who is now seen as “bad” in the eyes of her peers. This exile coupled with her role as “Donkey” convinces Sam that God looks down on her just like everyone else.
Sam's Hail Mary follows the journey Sam takes as she grapples with the insecurity of not being “made in God’s Image.” Ultimately, Sam is willing to go to extremes to become her idea of who she thinks God & everyone else will love.
The way we see God and the Divine not only affects the way we see others, but also how we see ourselves. It doesn’t help when those beliefs are reinforced by media saturated with whiteness or proximity to it.
The early 2000s was over 20 years ago (yes, we old!), yet these same sentiments still ring true today. It's spotted on your "For You" page on Instagram or even heard in a song lyric by your favorite Hip-Hop artist...
It’s 2026, but according to the last Representation Project, only 5.6% of black women held leading roles in popular films and 4 out of 5 of those roles were light or racially ambiguous women...
And where there's racism, whitewashing, racism, Western ideals of beauty, and oh yeah, more racism, their annoying lil cousin, Colorism, is trailing right behind it. But, Black Americans weren’t the only ones told by our elders to keep out of the sun in the summer and marry “light” to keep whitening the family line. Several miles away, on the other side of the world, lives a young girl being told she isn’t as worthy simply due to the deeper hue of her skin. That's why I think this piece will speak to a multitude of audiences from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and communities. It’ll speak to anyone who feels they don’t fit this rigid idea of what Western society tells us is worthy of value.
LOOK, I'M NO RAVEN BAXTER, BUT HERE'S...
Through surreal cinematic moments, Sam’s inner world will be depicted as a heightened reality. We'll be filming live action but overlaying the cinematography with a mix of special effects & animation to make pivotal moments in the script feel larger than life, reflecting the vast imaginations of young children & how moments like these may appear small & trivial to us adults, but can mean everything to a child.
Much of the shots will be inspired by portraits of Christ and Virgin Mary depicted throughout history and from all over the world, including: the Byzantine & Renaissance era, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Colonial era (of course), and even modern day.
MULTI-CITY SOCIAL IMPACT INITIATIVE
Beyond the film itself, we’re also thinking about how this story can spark meaningful community conversations. We're building a multi-city, multi-film social impact campaign that will include other films with similar themes like ours with curated community experiences that include screenings, panels on representation, & workshops on self-worth, creating space for dialogue around self-image in a way that feels compassionate and inclusive. As we see a rise in our nation of white nationalism linked with conservative Christian evangelism, now more than ever we must instill in our communities the power of self-love, regardless of our background. Through this social impact initiative, we hope to create a safe space to invite communities of faith or otherwise to imagine more compassionate futures.
We can’t always control how popular culture depicts us, but through encouraging deep dialogue, meaningful representation, dismantling harmful narratives, and unlearning beliefs that make us feel unworthy, we can reclaim how we see ourselves. Perhaps we’ll discover that the worthiness, the divinity, even, that we constantly pursue outside ourselves has been within us, all along, if only we know where to look…
We are currently in pre-production for Sam’s Hail Mary with plans to film in New York City in November 2026. We've cast our lead actor to play Sam, Lathan Ava (Abbott Elementary, The Morning Show), and have hired key crew, including our cinematographer, Renee Nabinger (Black Cake, Fawn) & costume designer, Ari Fulton (Ricky, Nigerian Prince). We are seeking to raise $30,000 to support production costs to bring this film to life. Contributions are tax-deductible through our fiscal sponsorship with New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT), so YES, your donation is also a tax write-off!
We need your support to reach 80% of our goal ($24,000) to receive the funds from Seed & Spark. Otherwise, all funds raised get returned! But as you can imagine, we’ll be working with lots of children (with Tiktok attention spans...) so the more funds we raise, the more time we have to create the best version of this piece possible! The current goal of $30,000 is also the amount needed to get us through production. We will still need additional funds for post-production. So our stretch goal is: $45,000. Even if you can’t donate, following our Seed&Spark page and sharing with your network to get the word out is just as meaningful!
You can also support by following our Instagram and Tiktok accounts @samshailmary, where you’ll be introduced to the world of Sam & the Disciple Christian Academy’s kooky 5th-grade class. By default, following our page will get you your daily dose of that early 2000s nostalgia your heart’s been yearning for! :)
Thank you for joining us on a ride that’ll be even wilder than your scariest childhood Six Flags rollercoaster! We can’t wait to take you back to those lunchbox days, so we appreciate you taking us forward with the film!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera Rentals & Crew
Costs $6,300
On top of camera rentals (whew, New York ain't cheap!), we have a stellar camera team that we want to compensate adequately.
Lighting / Electric Rentals & Crew
Costs $4,890
Few things worse than sad lighting and a fabulous actress we can't even see.
Sound
Costs $2,450
Children on set plus a beautiful, yet cavernous church means the risk for muddy sound is high. Help us make our sound crisp!
Costumes & Makeup
Costs $2,500
Disciple Christian Academy's 5th grade class will need school uniforms and animal costumes for their Nativity Play. Can you support?
Meals
Costs $1,600
Hangry children (and adults) on set are a no-go. If local businesses would like to donate a meal and be featured in the credits, click here!
Production Insurance & Supplies
Costs $2,050
Big church, many children, expensive equipment. Non-negotiable.
Cast & Creative Team Support
Costs $7,560
Helps provide stipends and pay for our talented cast who are bringing these characters to life and our creative team.
Production Design
Costs $1,250
This goes towards our art department: props, rentals, personnel, and all materials needed to transform the space.
Airline Points
Costs $1,000
Three wise men once said, "Thou shalt not waste airline points! Share them with the team of Sam's Hail Mary to help get their crew to NY!"
Hard Drives
Costs $400
Sam's Mom cannot wait to share her baby's work with the world. Are there film teams in the tri-state willing to loan their hard drives?
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
The Who's Who of Sam's Hail Mary
Lathan Ava
Leading Role, Sam
Lathan Ava has been acting since the age of 5 and featured in over 20 commercials and numerous feature films and television shows. Highlights in her career include joining the cast of AppleTV's "The Morning Show" as Nicole Beharie's daughter, Naima. She's also worked alongside Quinta Brunson and Tyler James Williams in ABC's hit show "Abbott Elementary". You will soon see her starring in Elijah Davis' anthology feature film "Three Colors" alongside Loretta Devine and Sibongile Mlambo. Other notable feature films she will be seen in this year include Joshua Coates' feature film "Madonna Non Grata" opposite Tamara Taylor, Eric Roberts and Kris Lofton as well as "Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People" directed by Shinya Tsukamoto working opposite Tatyana Ali and Rodney Hicks. In Spring 2027, she’ll appear in her first studio feature, Warner Brothers new action thriller “F.A.S.T.” produced by Taylor Sheridan working alongside Brandon Sklenar, Lakeith Stanfield and James Claflin.
THE PRODUCTION TEAM
Daryl Bright Clay (she/her)
Director, Writer, & Executive Producer
(She/Her/That Gurlll) is a multidisciplinary artist: a producer, writer, and performer. Yes, she actually does wear multiple hats (or hairstyles) depending on the vibes. Hailing from the DC Metropolitan Area has helped contribute to her love of cultural storytelling mixed with a dash of wit and a lot of heart.
Daryl’s life has been shaped by the stories of those who came before her. Even her name, Daryl, carries a story. It belonged to a young uncle who passed away just months before she was born. Daryl grew up hearing anecdotes of him—stories filled with love, laughter, and promise. It was these stories she returned to, ones that instilled love and pride in her name and, by extension, herself. Through the legend wrapped in her name, Daryl discovered at an early age the power a story can carry—and it’s that same power that she channels into every story she tells.
As a founding member of CNT Productions, she has helped write, produce, & star in CNT Production’s sketch comedy series NOT YOUR TYPE , their live interactive show, THE SEX SCENE, & their choreopoem series OPEN, which has been featured in AFROPUNK, DEADLINE, & Gloria Steinem’s Ms. Magazine. With CNT partner, Ariel Zucker, she co-wrote a pilot called, GYNO, which was accepted to Gotham’s 2022 TV Film Lab & Project Market. Her contributions have been recognized by HBO, the American Black Film Festival, AT&T’s Awards for New Forms of Storytelling, & Sundance’s Horizon Awards.
Daryl was the production associate on APPLE TV+’s The Supermodels. She was also the showrunner’s assistant to Pulitzer Prize winner, Branden Jacobs Jenkins, who adapted Octavia Butler’s Kindred for FX/HULU. Upcoming projects include the 2025 Sundance official selection, GOODNIGHT, starring Dagmara Dominczyk (HBO’s Succession), Bentonville Film Festival selection, GET LOST directed by Victoria Pedretti (Netflix’s You), and MOONLUCK WONTON, created by Siddiq Saunderson (HULU’S Wu-Tang: An American Saga).
Much of Daryl’s work is rooted in encouraging self-love, reckoning with self-hate, and the messy truths in between — sparking connection and reflection on what makes us both beautifully contradictory and deeply human. Currently based in Brooklyn, she is a graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Carnegie Mellon’s School of Drama. She is also a member of New York Women in Television & Film (NYWIFT).
Ariel Zucker (she/they)
Line Producer
Ariel Zucker is an LA-based producer and director from Atlanta, powered by teamwork and well-timed snacks. A Gotham TV Expanding Communities Fellow alum, Ariel produces at Dropout TV, including the 2025 Webby People’s Voice Award-winning series Very Important People, along with Make Some Noise and Um, Actually. Ariel also served as Studio Director at Assembly House for the 107-day Harris/Walz campaign, calling up to 8 cameras for 6 shows a day and directing streams featuring Beyoncé, Maggie Rogers, Cardi B, Gracie Abrams, John Legend, and a lot of Bon Jovi.
A Carnegie Mellon alum (John Wells Directing Program + Heinz School of Business), their work has been recognized by Outfest, AT&T Film Awards, Screencraft, NBC Out, Huffington Post, Variety, and more. Their web series Day-Bi-Day won Best Web Series at SF Queer Film Festival, and their short This Is Not a Love Letter took home Best Experimental Film at Women’s Voices Now. They were also a 2022 PGA Innovation Award Finalist.
Eva Fabray (she/her)
Marketing Producer / Assistant Director
Eva Fabray is a writer, director, and producer currently living in Santa Monica, CA. She attended Iowa State University where she was Editor in Chief of an on-campus magazine and created a self-produced pilot, BROKE, that she wrote, directed, and starred in. BROKE centered around a young college student and her friends, navigating adult life with minimal funds.
Eva is most known for her work on ESSENTIALS (2022) starring Allison Torem and Austin Pendleton, ROAD HEAD (2023) and THE LAST INFANTRY (2025). Eva has also appeared in recurring background roles for THE CHI (Showtime) and EMPIRE (Fox).
She now works as an Assistant Director and Producer in Los Angeles. She is drawn to scripts with realistic dialogues, absurd comedies, and POC stories with positive outcomes. Eva also does work as a comedy writer and is currently working on multiple projects. She has produced a handful of short films and comedy specials in the past year. She is currently in the development process for her own short film Please, Call Me Back, which will be her directorial film debut.
Iris Beaumier (she/her)
Social Impact Producer
Iris is an actor/producer born and raised in New York City with Ghanaian and French roots. Her first Producer credit, GOODNIGHT, had its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival 2025, and the following March she produced SWEETWATER, TEXAS shot on 16mm out west in the Lone Star state. It premiered at Hof International Film Festival in Germany, then flew back home for The Big Texas Little Film Tour, a traveling showcase Iris co-produced featuring local films from across the state (get ready for year 2 of the tour, Fall 2026 y’all). Broadway acting credits include “The Little Prince” (Narrator Alt.). Off-Broadway she played Josephine Baker in “The Dark Star from Harlem” at LaMama Playhouse and won the AUDELCO/VIV Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical. Other stage credits include “Cabaret” (Sally Bowles, Asolo Rep), “Ragtime” (Sarah, Theatreworks Silicon Valley), and “The Colored Museum” (Lala, Studio Theatre). TV & Film: Blindspot (NBC), Alternatino (Comedy Central), Modern Love (Prime), and the documentary MARIANNE NOIRES, currently on exhibition at the National Museum for Immigration and History in Paris. She is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University’s Music Theatre and Environmental Studies programs.
Nikaya Manley (she/her)
Creative Producer
Nikaya is a producer, cinematographer, writer and director, born and raised in New York City. She believes deeply in the power of storytelling to build and heal communities and often uses her hometown as the backdrop of her own narratives. Nikaya is drawn to creating dramatic narratives - afrofuturistic in nature, centering 'odd' communities and unlikely pairings. She has many years of experience as a producer & production manager in the commercial and narrative spaces. Nikaya was a 2025-2026 BAFTA Scholar.
Nadia Delisfort (she/her)
Associate Producer
Nadia is a New York-based administrative creative and storyteller at heart, driven by a passion for bringing narratives to life, both on screen and onstage. She works in development at Maxine Productions, a production company under Sony Pictures Nonfiction.
Nadia’s diverse experience includes working on press for the Broadway productions of Yellow Face, Death Becomes Her, and Spamalot, as well as production managing the cast of Tony-winning Freestyle Love Supreme. Her meticulous planning and creative vision also extend to producing commercials and branded content for campaigns with brands like Lush, Van Leeuwen, and Raising Cane’s.
With her heart set on championing underrepresented voices, Nadia is so excited to be a Producer on Sam’s Hail Mary, a story she believes is so important for Black and brown girls everywhere who are questioning their worth in this complicated world. When she’s not working, a perfect day for Nadia ends with crossing a book off her list (hopefully one closer to 50 for the year) and falling asleep peacefully to her pug’s snoring.
OUR TALENTED CREW
Renee Nabinger (she/her)
Cinematographer
Renee is a narrative, music video, and commercial cinematographer based in Brooklyn, NY. Drawing from her rich background in oil painting, cultivated during her formative years at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Renee brings a unique artistic perspective to her cinematography. After honing her craft in visual arts, Renee transitioned her passion for storytelling into the realm of film, graduating with a degree in Film from Boston University. This fusion of artistic disciplines informs her cinematic approach, imbuing her work with depth, texture, and a distinctive narrative sensibility. Renee has worked with brands such as Samsung, Levi’s and Net-a-Porter, and with notable talent including Amanda Seyfried, Greta Lee, and Emily Blunt. When she is not on set, she is likely in search of the best dill pickles in the city or watching videos of pugs.
Ari Fulton (she/her)
Costume Designer
Ari is a New York–based costume designer for stage and film, known for her richly detailed and expressive design work. She has built a diverse career designing costumes both regionally and internationally.
Fulton earned her BFA in Costume Design from The Theatre School at DePaul University and went on to receive her MFA in Design for Stage and Film from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. In 2018, she earned her first feature film credit for Nigerian Prince, shot on location in Lagos, Nigeria, and executive produced by Spike Lee. The film was the inaugural recipient of the Tribeca and AT&T New Voices Award.
Her recent theatre credits include Disney’s Frozen, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Rent!, and Off-Broadway directed by Robert O’Hara. Her film work includes Cupids, directed by Zoey Martinson—part of Tribeca’s 846: Reclaiming Time for Stories of Black Love and Joy film series —and Ricky, winner of the Sundance Best Directing Award (2025).
Fulton is the proud recipient of the Black Theatre Coalition’s Costume Design Fellowship (2023) and the Lilly Creative Spirit Award (2017) for excellence in costume design. In 2021, she received the Broadway World Miami Award for Design of the Decade for her work on A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical.
A dedicated educator, Fulton has taught at the University of Connecticut, where she served as Interim Head of Costume Design (2020–2021). She currently serves on the faculty at Brooklyn College and the Fashion Institute of Technology.