The Making of Honorable
Beschermde donatie
THE FILM
Summer of 1964, a fractured brotherhood hangs in the balance.
Two months after he denounces the Nation of Islam and nine months before his assassination, MALCOLM X SHABAZZ has a chance encounter with his estranged mentee and brother MUHAMMAD ALI. In the last year of his life, a transformed Malcolm (38), on his return from his pilgrimage to Mecca, makes a brief stop in Ghana to visit his dear friend Maya Angelou (36) who has been living there for the past 2 years. Floating off the heels of his recent heavyweight boxing win, Ali (22), begins his tour of West Africa in Ghana.
When their paths cross at the Ambassador Hotel in Accra, Malcolm’s warm welcome is met with a cold shoulder and even colder retort: “Brother Malcolm, you shouldn’t have crossed the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.” From all appearances, their split has now been made public.
"HONORABLE" is a re-telling of an actual event. The film begins at this pivotal moment when the clever thinking of Dr. Angelou turns a tense misunderstanding into a discreet invitation. Honorable journeys through blind loyalty, fatal truth, and abiding love in hopes of answering the question: Will they choose to reconcile a forbidden brotherhood before it’s too late?
THE INSPIRATION
This film is a story of second chances, motivated by personal experience. I resonated with Ali’s grief of a friend and teacher gone too soon, and the regret of not doing more with the time given to him. Five months before I began writing this script, I received the news that my friend and peer in this acting industry died at the age of 27. Although 3 years my junior, I credit him as one of the reasons I’m an actor and screenwriter today. As I learned more about the surgical deconstruction of Malcolm and Ali’s brotherhood, I was compelled to rewind time and reimagine the closure Ali yearned for in his autobiography.
THE NEED
Pre-production began in March and despite the pandemic, we've kept our hand to the plow. We are a team of 9 crew members and are fully cast!
Our 3-day shoot begins on July 17-19th. Yes, we are just 28 days from production! Early contributions are vital for us to continue!
$3,500 - (this covers the expenses below)
PRE PRODUCTION:
•Personal Protection Equipment (masks + gloves + disinfectants + soaps + hand sanitizer for cast and crew, which will be required onset as a safety precaution)
•Equipment rental fee, Insurance, Location fees, Craft Services, Production design + costumes, and props.
•The expense of organizing a GoFundMe, such as paying the Campaign manager and team, GoFundMe fees, and website.
POST PRODUCTION:
•Video Editing
•Graphic Artist
•Music Composition
•Color Grading and Correction
•Archival Footage Licensing/Stock Footage
•Photographer for Promotional Shoot and Movie Poster
Curious how we’ll spend additional funds? Check out our stretch goals below!
INCENTIVES: (let's keep things interesting)
•$10 - digital copy of Honorable
•$25 - previous reward + 1 ticket to the premiere
•$45 - digital copy + 2 tix to the premiere + special thanks in the end credits
•$150 - digital copy + 2 tix to the premiere + special thanks + Zoom Q&A with film crew/Producer
•$250 - digital copy + 2 tix + special thanks + Associate Producer credit of the film
THE PEOPLE
ZACHARY CLARK - LINE PRODUCER
Zachary Clark is an actor, model, and host from St. Louis, MO. His range includes hosting local television shows like “Close Up," to modeling in national commercials for ATT and Hallmark; to acting alongside John Goodman and portraying Alec Burks on NBC’s Chicago Fire season 6 finale. Clark established his film career in 2010 with the movie “Joint Body” starring Mark Pellegrino & Alicia Witt. After making his theatrical debut in 2017, Zachary later portrayed Martin Luther King Jr. in Jeff Stetson’s “The Meeting.”
MARIAH RICHARDSON - DIRECTOR
A native of St. Louis, Missouri. Mariah received her BA in Communications from the University of New Mexico and an MFA from Smith College in Playwriting. Mariah is writer/director/producer of 4 short films, 5 of Cups, The Prince, Beautiful Hands, and Lies We Tell Ourselves. Beautiful Hands and Lies We Tell Ourselves both screened at the St. Louis International Film Festival. Mariah is the playwright of the plays: all that…, Sistahs Indeed!, Delilah’s Wish, ¡Soy Yo!, Idris Elba is James Bond, Chasing the White Rabbit, Queen of the Ville: The Annie Malone Story, Functional: The Thelonious Monk Story, Love at the Rivers’ Edge, and most recently, Suffer the Children.
NKOSI ROMA - CINEMATOGRAPHER
Nkosi Roma is a husband, father, and follower of Christ. Raised in Colorado with a camera in his hand, Nkosi enjoys telling experimental and entertaining narratives. His work is characteristically unique while maintaining a grounded sense of reality.
A LETTER FROM OUR WRITER AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Potential Contributors,
My purpose in telling this film is two parts: to amplify the visibility of black stories by black creators and to illustrate the power of reconciling with someone who has different beliefs before it’s too late.
I will need help from all St. Louisians, historians, actors, storytellers, and organizers. We will need help from everyone who shares in our passion to center black narratives within the arts. In an industry where the perspective of the world is molded by white men, Honorable pushes back against this norm by being a female-led team ranging in age and shade.
While COVID-19 continues to impact us all disproportionately, your contribution to the Honorable campaign is what will bring this story to life. So whether it’s $5 or by word of mouth, every act of support gets us closer to the finish line because the film will not be the same without you.
I invite you to join us during this campaign to help produce a work of integrity and vision in order to complete the film.
Best,
Mia Bible
RISKS & CHALLENGES
Throughout this process, the timing of the pandemic and social unrest called into question if moving forward with the campaign was the right move to make. Yet, the unwavering support from you affirmed that the completion of “Honorable” is essential. I believe in the story, the ability of my crew, and the talent of my cast.
To reach for over 3K in 30 days is a feat within itself without the additional factors I couldn't have planned for when I began writing Honorable in September of 2019.
The opportunity for black stories to be adequately funded and broadcasted does not come by often in Missouri. St. Louis is an overtly divided city that undervalues the power of black storytelling even though we have produced artists whose work has defined a generation like Dr. Maya Angelou. Honorable needs your contribution to be made, but we call for your voice in order to be heard. To amplify this film across all social networks, please share our campaign and follow our pages below.
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Potential Contributors,
My purpose in telling this film is two parts: to amplify the visibility of black stories by black creators and to illustrate the power of reconciling with someone who has different beliefs before it’s too late.
I will need help from all St. Louisians, historians, actors, storytellers, and organizers. We will need help from everyone who shares in our passion to center black narratives within the arts. In an industry where the perspective of the world is molded by white men, Honorable pushes back against this norm by being a female-led team ranging in age and shade.
While COVID-19 continues to impact us all disproportionately, your contribution to the Honorable campaign is what will bring this story to life. So whether it’s $5 or by word of mouth, every act of support gets us closer to the finish line because the film will not be the same without you.
I invite you to join us during this campaign to help produce a work of integrity and vision in order to complete the film.
Best,
Mia Bible
RISKS & CHALLENGES
Throughout this process, the timing of the pandemic and social unrest called into question if moving forward with the campaign was the right move to make. Yet, the unwavering support from you affirmed that the completion of “Honorable” is essential. I believe in the story, the ability of my crew, and the talent of my cast.
To reach for over 3K in 30 days is a feat within itself without the additional factors I couldn't have planned for when I began writing Honorable in September of 2019.
The opportunity for black stories to be adequately funded and broadcasted does not come by often in Missouri. St. Louis is an overtly divided city that undervalues the power of black storytelling even though we have produced artists whose work has defined a generation like Dr. Maya Angelou. Honorable needs your contribution to be made, but we call for your voice in order to be heard. To amplify this film across all social networks, please share our campaign and follow our pages below.
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Organisator
Mia Bible
Organisator
St Louis, MO