Hi! You just made my day. I’m Millena Gay, and I’m grateful for the spirit of generosity that brought you here. Ruby’s Heart, my thesis film for UCLA’s Directing Certification Program (I graduated summa cum laude), is a tribute to one of the phenomenal women who made me who I am today…my beloved Grandmother, Ruby. You came this far, so please take a few more minutes to read my story and understand why your support of this film can help me change your life, or the lives of people you love.
Throughout my career, I have been drawn to stories that explore the deepest corners of the human heart. I have chosen to write, produce, and direct Ruby’s Heart because this film is not just for me, but for anyone who has had to navigate one of life’s most profound and traumatic experiences, the death of a loved one. Ruby’s Heart aims to honor that love and guide audiences through the roller coaster of emotions that accompany great loss.
At the center of the story is Benjamin (Obba Babatunde'), a widower whose wife, Ruby (Angela Gibbs), still lives on in his heart and mind. When his daughter (Dawnn Lewis) and grandson (Cory Havis) try to help him “move on” by setting him up on a dating app, Benjamin’s resistance is not mere stubbornness, but an expression of undying devotion. My desire is that audiences will leave the theater understanding two truths: that keeping a loved one’s memory alive means they are never truly gone, and that grief is part of our shared human experience.
On a deeply personal level, Ruby’s Heart is my own story. At fourteen, I lost my father and nearly took my own life to be with him. A simple prayer and the promise of the song “Say Amen” pulled me back from the brink. Most recently, in July 2024, I lost both my mother and grandmother—three days apart. The shock and devastation of losing them so closely together forced me into the darkest depths of despair once again. My grandmother, Ruby, was my anchor—my whole heart, and I was unable to be by her side during her final days.
Through Benjamin’s story, I hope to share the faith and comfort that come from believing our loved ones are now in a better place and will be there to greet us when our time comes. My goal is to create an emotionally resonant film that respects the rawness of pain while illuminating the possibility of renewal. I pray that through Ruby’s Heart, those who grieve find solace and the courage to believe in tomorrow. Thank you for your time, and if the spirit moves you, please bless Ruby’s Heart.