Lessons From Dad
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Family
Being a parent is both wonderful and terrifying, and nothing can truly prepare you for that journey. This project is about a father that wants the best for his son, but may not know how to go about it. There aren't many films about single black fathers, and we think it's time to change that.
Lessons From Dad
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Family
Green Light
This campaign raised $5,200 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
72 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Being a parent is both wonderful and terrifying, and nothing can truly prepare you for that journey. This project is about a father that wants the best for his son, but may not know how to go about it. There aren't many films about single black fathers, and we think it's time to change that.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
what was the inspiration for this project?
When my father died he was due home that day. I was waiting for the call to pick him up, but instead, I received a call saying that he had passed away. The eternal optimist that I am, I thought that if I tried to bring him back the result would be different. So I rushed to the hospital and the first thing I did was ask to be alone with him so I could try to bring him back. Obviously, it didn’t work and my father died from cancer in June of 2004.
Grief and pain can sometimes make people act irrationally. That experience was the seed for this project. This project is part biographical, part fiction but explores pain and how it can be passed down from one generation to the next if we’re not careful. Ultimately, this piece is about a father that wants the best for his son, but may not know how to go about it.
why should you support this project?
There aren’t many stories about single black fathers and their perspective. As a parent, I acknowledge that I have absolutely no clue what I am doing; all I know is that I am doing my best. I hope this piece in some way resonates with parents and kids that will one day be parents, people looking to explore and break cycles of grief and trauma, and people interested in exploring emotional growth.
where is the money going?
This campaign will directly support both production and post-production.
For production:
we need to pay for insurance, camera + accessories like lenses, sound + lighting equipment, plus pay our team.
For post-production:
we need to pay for editing, sound, and music. We are fortunate that many people are donating their time to this project, but making a movie (even a short one) is still expensive!
If we raise any money over $6,000, we will be using that towards film festival submissions! We obviously want to share this story - and festivals are a great chance for us to do that.
how you can help!
Obviously, the biggest way you can help right now is pledging to our campaign. No amount is too small - we are thankful for $1! If you can't pledge right now, we totally get it. There are other ways to help!
You can still FOLLOW OUR CAMPAIGN (hit the big follow button at the top of our page) - when we reach a certain number of followers, we are eligible for additional perks from Seed&Spark. By following the campaign, you also will receive behind the scenes updates throughout the rest of pre-production, production, post, and you'll be the first to know about the premiere!
SHARING OUR CAMPAIGN on social media is also super helpful! It will help us reach a bigger audience of potential supporters.
And - check us out on INSTAGRAM and give us a follow over there - @lessonsfromdadshortfilm
FAQs
I want to pledge to your campaign! When will my card be charged?
Your card will be charged after our campaign is finished - March 8, 2020 - and only if we reach 80% of our goal, which is $4800!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
INSURANCE
Costs $1,200
We are a union production, and are required to cover worker's comp and general liability.
Camera + Accessories
Costs $2,000
We need to rent a camera, lenses, and all the other stuff that goes with it.
Crew
Costs $1,300
We gotta pay our crew!
Post-Production
Costs $1,500
We need to have the film edited, and gotta pay the awesome people who do that.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
AARON MORTON (Writer, Executive Producer, Actor) - Aaron is an actor, writer and artist born and raised in Plainfield, NJ. He holds an MFA in Acting from Columbia University. Film: Beauty (Written by Lena Waithe, Dir. Andrew Dosunmu), When They See Us (Dir. Ava DuVernay), Lost Girls (Written by Michael Werwie Dir. Liz Garbus). TV: For Life, Bull, Blacklist.
BRYNNE MCMANIMIE (Producer) - Brynne is an actor, producer, editor, and teaching artist. She has an MFA in Acting from Columbia University, and has appeared off-broadway, as well as on several TV shows, including The Mysteries of Laura, Elementary, and Bull. She has produced two web series, and has been the post-production supervisor for several short films and promotional videos. When she isn't acting and producing, she is teaching acting, music, and Shakespeare to students all over New York City.
ADEWALE OLUKAYODE (Director) - Adewale Olukayode is a writer, director, educator and comedian born in Nigeria and raised in New York. He studies at Columbia University’s MFA program for Screenwriting/Directing. His films address themes of justice, transformation and healing. His style is Influenced by African cinema, which he spoke passionately about at the College de France as a guest lecturer. Adewale won the 2019 Director’s Guild of America student award. His directing work has been nominated for two NY Emmy Awards, including “We are One” which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival at their Youth Initiative, and his latest short film “Home” is awaiting a festival run. He is also working on his first feature “East New York,” which won the Princess Grace-Louis Srybnik Award.
KHALEA ROBINSON (DP) - Khalea Ross Robinson is a graduate film student at NYU who has produced for 60 Minutes' digital platform, for Face The Nation on CBS, and for Tavis Smiley on PBS. She majored in Civil Engineering with a double minor in Political Science at French at MIT, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and as the 2011 Henry Ford II Scholar for attaining the highest academic standing in MIT's School of Engineering. She left the JD program at Harvard Law to pursue a career in media, and has been named a Blackhouse Foundation Fellow for Sundance 2020.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
what was the inspiration for this project?
When my father died he was due home that day. I was waiting for the call to pick him up, but instead, I received a call saying that he had passed away. The eternal optimist that I am, I thought that if I tried to bring him back the result would be different. So I rushed to the hospital and the first thing I did was ask to be alone with him so I could try to bring him back. Obviously, it didn’t work and my father died from cancer in June of 2004.
Grief and pain can sometimes make people act irrationally. That experience was the seed for this project. This project is part biographical, part fiction but explores pain and how it can be passed down from one generation to the next if we’re not careful. Ultimately, this piece is about a father that wants the best for his son, but may not know how to go about it.
why should you support this project?
There aren’t many stories about single black fathers and their perspective. As a parent, I acknowledge that I have absolutely no clue what I am doing; all I know is that I am doing my best. I hope this piece in some way resonates with parents and kids that will one day be parents, people looking to explore and break cycles of grief and trauma, and people interested in exploring emotional growth.
where is the money going?
This campaign will directly support both production and post-production.
For production:
we need to pay for insurance, camera + accessories like lenses, sound + lighting equipment, plus pay our team.
For post-production:
we need to pay for editing, sound, and music. We are fortunate that many people are donating their time to this project, but making a movie (even a short one) is still expensive!
If we raise any money over $6,000, we will be using that towards film festival submissions! We obviously want to share this story - and festivals are a great chance for us to do that.
how you can help!
Obviously, the biggest way you can help right now is pledging to our campaign. No amount is too small - we are thankful for $1! If you can't pledge right now, we totally get it. There are other ways to help!
You can still FOLLOW OUR CAMPAIGN (hit the big follow button at the top of our page) - when we reach a certain number of followers, we are eligible for additional perks from Seed&Spark. By following the campaign, you also will receive behind the scenes updates throughout the rest of pre-production, production, post, and you'll be the first to know about the premiere!
SHARING OUR CAMPAIGN on social media is also super helpful! It will help us reach a bigger audience of potential supporters.
And - check us out on INSTAGRAM and give us a follow over there - @lessonsfromdadshortfilm
FAQs
I want to pledge to your campaign! When will my card be charged?
Your card will be charged after our campaign is finished - March 8, 2020 - and only if we reach 80% of our goal, which is $4800!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
INSURANCE
Costs $1,200
We are a union production, and are required to cover worker's comp and general liability.
Camera + Accessories
Costs $2,000
We need to rent a camera, lenses, and all the other stuff that goes with it.
Crew
Costs $1,300
We gotta pay our crew!
Post-Production
Costs $1,500
We need to have the film edited, and gotta pay the awesome people who do that.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
AARON MORTON (Writer, Executive Producer, Actor) - Aaron is an actor, writer and artist born and raised in Plainfield, NJ. He holds an MFA in Acting from Columbia University. Film: Beauty (Written by Lena Waithe, Dir. Andrew Dosunmu), When They See Us (Dir. Ava DuVernay), Lost Girls (Written by Michael Werwie Dir. Liz Garbus). TV: For Life, Bull, Blacklist.
BRYNNE MCMANIMIE (Producer) - Brynne is an actor, producer, editor, and teaching artist. She has an MFA in Acting from Columbia University, and has appeared off-broadway, as well as on several TV shows, including The Mysteries of Laura, Elementary, and Bull. She has produced two web series, and has been the post-production supervisor for several short films and promotional videos. When she isn't acting and producing, she is teaching acting, music, and Shakespeare to students all over New York City.
ADEWALE OLUKAYODE (Director) - Adewale Olukayode is a writer, director, educator and comedian born in Nigeria and raised in New York. He studies at Columbia University’s MFA program for Screenwriting/Directing. His films address themes of justice, transformation and healing. His style is Influenced by African cinema, which he spoke passionately about at the College de France as a guest lecturer. Adewale won the 2019 Director’s Guild of America student award. His directing work has been nominated for two NY Emmy Awards, including “We are One” which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival at their Youth Initiative, and his latest short film “Home” is awaiting a festival run. He is also working on his first feature “East New York,” which won the Princess Grace-Louis Srybnik Award.
KHALEA ROBINSON (DP) - Khalea Ross Robinson is a graduate film student at NYU who has produced for 60 Minutes' digital platform, for Face The Nation on CBS, and for Tavis Smiley on PBS. She majored in Civil Engineering with a double minor in Political Science at French at MIT, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and as the 2011 Henry Ford II Scholar for attaining the highest academic standing in MIT's School of Engineering. She left the JD program at Harvard Law to pursue a career in media, and has been named a Blackhouse Foundation Fellow for Sundance 2020.