Help Fund This Powerful Independent Black Film
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I’m Leon Oldstrong, a writer and director based in the UK. I’m raising funds to make the first in a series of three short films—each one telling a different story but all featuring layered, grounded Black characters rarely seen on screen.
I’ve worked on films recognised by BFI, Discovery Plus and Al Jazeera. My past work includes The Lies of Our Confines, a horror short that won Best Horror Film at the Dead Northern Film Festival, and Weathering, a documentary on racism during the COVID pandemic that was shortlisted at the New York TV & Film Festival.
This new short film is called He Was My Opponent Not My Enemy.
Isaac Hall Jr, a seasoned boxing champion, has just won what should be the greatest fight of his career. But his victory, has left his opponent in a critical condition. The crowd outside is chanting his name. Online, he’s being called “The Beast Slayer.” But inside that room, he’s wrestling with guilt, doubt, and what this victory has actually cost him.
Isaac is joined by his long-time coach and a flashy promoter—two men pulling him in opposite directions. One offers money, exposure, legacy. The other challenges him to take responsibility, to face the truth.
I’m working with a tight-knit team of amazing actors — Courtney Winston, Harrison Daniels and Keon Martial-Phillip. We’ve worked together before and built a real bond. We’re not waiting for someone to greenlight our stories. We’re making them ourselves.
We’re aiming to shoot in one night, using a single location, with a small, focused crew, but to bring this story to life properly, we need your help.
Your donation will help us:
- Hire experienced crew (cinematographer, sound recordist, etc.)
- Secure a realistic and atmospheric boxing gym or locker room
- Rent high-quality camera, lighting and sound equipment
- Cover transport, insurance, and location fees
- Pay for post-production, including editing, colour grade and sound mix
- Submit the film to top-tier festivals to reach a wider audience
We’re doing this independently—no studio, no network, just passion and purpose. Crowdfunding gives us the freedom to tell this story our way, without compromise.
We believe this story matters. If you believe in stories like this being told, please consider supporting the project. Every donation, big or small, gets us closer. And if you can’t donate, please share the campaign with others.
Thank you for supporting independent film.
Leon Oldstrong
Organizer
Leon Oldstrong
Organizer
England