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“The fear of a secret being exposed has stopped many people from being free,” said Brown. “My motivation for
writing this was to help others find therapeutic healing and peace. The response has been overwhelming.” A
storyteller from an early age, Brown is a self-trained filmmaker and writer, and his quest to bring the written
word to film began in earnest when he lost his job four years ago. His search for the medical history of his
biological father, who he has yet to find, inspired him to write the script.
Shot on a minimal budget and in a mere four days around downtown Dallas, this story centers on mentally
ill Michael, played by Shaun Baker, and his sister Oakland, played by Khadijah Karriem, who is his primary
care-taker. Rounding out the cast are Karen Malina White, Victor Williams and Grover Coulson.
Baker, a seasoned actor based in Los Angeles, did research for his character Michael by observing
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) patients and reading clinical research. His character witnessed
a traumatic event at a young age involving his father, trapping Michael in a world of watching cartoons,
eating pudding and seemingly confined to a wheelchair. “It is a powerful piece,” said Baker. “It
reinforced for me that speaking the truth can create spiritual wellness and bring everything full circle to
heal yourself.” Longtime friends with Karriem, she approached him with the project and he came onboard.
“She is a powerful actress, everyone involved was wonderful.”
Karriem drew from her many years as a skilled actress for her character and also her own personal journey as
a single mother of an 18 year old son with disabilities. “Michael is a very hands-on director, very prepared.
We discussed at great length the emotional side of Oakland,” said Karriem. “There are many challenges
and lots of sacrifice being the primary caregiver of someone you love with disabilities. I am very proud to be a
part of this film.”
Poorchild Films and Starving Actors Films pulled this gripping film together. “We as a people pattern
ourselves after what we see,” says Sharice Chasi, one of the producers. “Our motivation is to offer real stories
that deal with real issues. There is an art to quality storytelling. We worked as a true team on all levels to create
a film that may help someone one day.”
Brown agrees that a movie can have a healing message. “When faced with a challenge and your faith is
being questioned, it is often family and friends who reach out to help, to pull us back to reality and find
peace. That is what we wanted to portray. There is always hope.”
For more information and to see a clip of the film, please visit
http://www.poorchildfilms.com or
http://www.starvingactorsfilms.com.
This article originally appeared in the fall
print edition of Equanimity Magazine. |
