A People's Story

"A People's Story"

Is a heartfelt story of resilience, hope, and love that follows the journey of the Marting's - Vonrick, Lara, and their children, Byron and Shareen, a close-knit Caribbean American family. After 25 years of building a comfortable life, Vonrick and Lara hope to see their children achieve traditional career success, but Byron and Shareen push back against the "family plan" for their lives, opting instead to carve out their own life paths.

This unique immigrant story highlights the unexpected challenges the family faces as they navigate the tension between cultural expectations and individual dreams, all while striving to preserve traditional values, heritage and familial bonds in the pursuit of the American dream.

"A People’s Story" underscores the power of love as the ultimate force that binds families together, enabling them to overcome obstacles, and serves as a reminder that even the most carefully laid plans can encounter unforeseen setbacks.

Our Origin Story

We are a diverse group of aspiring storytellers from Africa - Ethiopia, Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan, the Caribbean - Dominica, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States.

Initially, we wrote without structure, freely expressing our unique voices and sharing our scripts in both English, Amharic, and Trinbagonian creole and patois, receiving constructive feedback that informed our revisions. Through this process, we learned scriptwriting concepts like the art of “showing, and not telling,” a form of visualization that brought our stories to life. Two to three times a week, we were immersed in classic American and international films, which we analyzed and critiqued as a class. We focused on the director’s intent, use of lighting, sound, camera positioning, and editing techniques, all of which sharpened our understanding of cinematic storytelling.

As we grew closer through weekly sessions, a collaborative energy emerged, leading to a scriptwriting challenge. Drawing on the storytelling skills we had developed, we wrote our own unique individual stories and the selected script culminated in a collective film project. This exercise birthed "A People’s Story," marking a pivotal moment in our workshop.

This ongoing collaborative spirit deepened our connections and fostering a supportive community of artists committed to each other's projects. As we move into post-production and editing, we aim to strengthen a network of Black independent storytellers and filmmakers dedicated to advancing Black independent media.

Our Team

A melting pot of young talent and creativity, uniting aspiring producers, directors, writers, cinematographers, and actors to bring this vision to life. As a vibrant collective of diverse storytellers and filmmakers each representing a unique cultural background from Africa, The Caribbean and America.

This diversity is our greatest strength bringing fresh cultural perspectives, and creative talents to the project. We are united by our passion for authentic storytelling that reflects the richness of our experiences. Ensuring that every aspect of the film is infused with depth, nuance and a true reflection of the worlds we represent.

Together we are a “Sankofa Film Collective” committed to producing original and impactful cinema that amplifies and celebrates rich, vibrant stories that resonate throughout our communities.

Budget

We set a fundraising goal of 30,000K in order to complete our film! All donations will go towards pre-production, principle photography and other post production costs and needs. Our budget breakdown is as follows:

Equipment Rentals 42.5%

Most of us are emerging filmmakers who don't own the needed equipment this film requires to be completed. Funds will cover the cost of cameras, lighting, sound equipment, and other technical gear essential for a high quality production. This allows us to achieve the desired look and sound for our film while maintaining quality production standards.

Production Costs 32.3%

Include materials for set design, props, and decor, as well as on-set craft services to provide meals and refreshments for the cast and crew.

Talent & Crew 18.1%

Funds for local talent and crew recruitment will support hiring skilled professionals from the community, ensuring an authentic representation of the area's culture and talent while boosting the local economy and providing industry opportunities.

Location 6.6%

Our story unfolds in locations that reflect the warmth and vibrancy of Caribbean American culture and family life. Funding these locations will help us authentically portray family gatherings, shared meals, and everyday experiences, immersing the audience in the richness of this culture.

Legal 0.5%

Funds are allocated to cover insurance and essential safety measures, such as liability insurance, and on-set safety protocols. These measures are vital for maintaining a secure and compliant production environment during filming.

Your support will directly contribute to creating a visually stunning and immersive film. By contributing to this campaign, you’re not only backing "A People’s Story" but also supporting a collective of emerging storytellers and filmmakers.

The equipment and resources will be shared among participants for future projects, helping us grow a strong network of Black independent filmmakers. Every dollar brings us closer to telling authentic, innovative, diverse and original stories that celebrate our heritage. Together, we can bring these stories to life.

Why It Matters?

This film illuminates a dynamic space where the diverse experiences of the African Diaspora, amplifies cultural narratives, and elevates the importance of one's connection to heritage, while developing critically aware storytellers and filmmakers. It shapes a future where Afro-Centric voices are celebrated and heard, utilizing film as a means to challenge and redefine mainstream narratives of Black people and their families.

Be a part of our journey!

Every contribution, no matter the size, will bring “A People’s Story” to life!

Click “ Donate Now” to contribute and join our journey. Help to share this compelling story with the world!

Other contributions can include:

Even if you can’t donate, you can still make a huge impact by sharing our campaign with friends, family and social media use #APeoplesStoryFilm to amplify our film and reach a wider audience.