Talking about delayed gratification is like telling a horror story—the suspense is real. But this story? This one has momentum.
At the end of 2023, I made myself a promise: finish a feature film script by December 31st. Done. But in the process, I felt the urge to experiment. To write something that didn’t answer to the academy or follow film school formulas. I wrote Quieted in a few hours.
Turns out, that experiment hit a nerve.

Quieted is a surrealist short film that explores what it feels like to be Black, brilliant, and barely tolerated in academic spaces.
It follows Dr. Zora Johnson as she navigates microaggressions, imposter syndrome, and institutional erasure—with moments that bend time and perception. Inspired by real conversations, field notes, and years of cultural observation, this script wasn’t just a creative exercise—it was a spiritual purge.

Despite being drafted quickly, Quieted found its audience: 🏆 Winner – Best Drama Script – Hollywood Just4Shorts (2025)
🥈 Finalist – Urban Mediamakers Film Festival (2024)
🎬 Nominee – Best Script – Cannes Independent Shorts (2024)
⭐ Official Selection – ETHOS Film Awards (2024)
It’s proof that stories about power, bias, and resilience in the ivory tower resonate far beyond the quad.

My films often blur the line between documentary and fiction. With Quieted, I chose magical realism to make the invisible visible—to show how silencing works, how memory distorts, how truth gets trapped.
This is not just a concept piece. It’s a reflection of lived experience—mine, and many others’. It’s the weight of trying to belong in spaces never built for us.

In late 2023, I gave myself a deadline: finish a feature film script before the year ended. And I did. But finishing a script is only Act One. What comes next? Rewrites, real-world logistics, and the leap from page to production.
To get my reps in, I wrote two short scripts--Fowl Play and Quieted—and threw myself into the deep end.
Spoiler: Fowl Play became more than practice. It became my first produced film.

As a cultural anthropologist, I’ve always been fascinated by how Black couples navigate attention and affection. With Fowl Play, I wanted to capture those dynamics through the lens of game day—where sneakers, fried chicken, and competitive affection all take center court.
This wasn’t just a story about sports or love. It was about ritual. Humor. Timing. Communication. All the unspoken rules that define modern Black relationships.

Writing the script taught me the beats. Directing the film taught me the rhythm.
We used direct address, sports commentary, and a single-location shoot to highlight how love becomes its own kind of performance. The set design reflected intentional intimacy: rose-pink vanity, framed sneaker walls, and all.
Every detail mattered—because Black love deserves to be rendered with specificity, care, and joy.

Fowl Play has already been recognized: 🏆 Semi-Finalist – 29th Annual Fade In Awards (2025)
🎥 Official Selection – Best Shorts Competition (2025)
And this is just the beginning. I’m submitting it to more festivals, planning community screenings, and exploring panel discussions on Black love and cultural storytelling.