What if your heart remembered what your mind had forgotten?

At a bus stop, an elderly Black man shares his most cherished love story—each time a little different, each time slipping further away. But love remains in the spaces memory cannot fill, refusing to fade.

In A Lovely Day, Tony discovers that love always finds a way back—even when everything else is forgotten, proving that even when the mind forgets, the heart remembers and brings us home.

This heartfelt senior capstone film is a story of loss, serendipity, and love’s persistence through Alzheimer’s disease.

Film Synopsis & Creative Vision:

Logline: An elderly man with Alzheimer's waits at a Chicago bus stop, eager to propose to his girlfriend, but as he shares shifting stories with strangers and loses his way, a young woman uncovers a shocking connection—he may be the father she never knew—sparking a bittersweet journey of rediscovery and family.

LOOKBOOK

Director Jillian Green’s intended visual style of A Lovely Day can be viewed through the LOOKBOOK HERE.

Jillian has also created a Sizzle Reel that’s a compilation of various movies that serve as inspiration for her and portray the mood and emotional impact she hopes our main character, Tony, will have on the audience.

SIZZLE REEL

Note: Films with Morgan Freeman in them are utilized in this Sizzle Reel, but the actor has no affiliation with this senior capstone project. You can view the SIZZLE REEL HERE.

Why A Lovely Day?

Alzheimer’s is often seen as a disease of forgetting, but A Lovely Day is about what remains. It tells the story of a man losing his past to Alzheimer’s, yet unknowingly reconnecting with the family he never knew he had. Even as Tony’s memories fade, the love he carries lingers, revealing the resilience of the human heart.

But, this story isn’t just about Alzheimer’s; it’s about all of us—how we hold onto the people we cherish, even when life tries to pull them away. Jillian Green’s senior capstone project is more than just an academic milestone—it’s a labor of love and a chance to bring awareness to a deeply human struggle.

A Lovely Day is a testament to the power of storytelling and its ability to make us feel, remember, and reconnect. Your support helps bring this heartfelt journey to life, ensuring that its message lingers long after the credits roll: even when memory fades, love remains.

Meet the Team:

Writer, Director, & Producer - Jillian Green:

Jillian Green is a passionate film student born and raised in Houston, Texas. She is currently attending Loyola University Chicago, majoring in Psychology and Film & Digital Media Production. Jillian is a multi-hyphenate filmmaker, showcasing her talents in writing, directing, cinematography, and producing. She thrives in creative communities and seeks opportunities where she can collaborate with like-minded and passionate individuals to execute a creative vision that inspires empathy, laughter, and reflection.

Recently, Jillian concluded production on her directorial debut short film “Strawberry Milkshake,” a love letter to women of color encouraging them to prioritize joy in the various forms it can be embodied, whether that’s through friendship, romantic relationships, or fulfilling dreams. Jillian was able to raise $2,625 in support for the film through GoFundMe last Fall. “Strawberry Milkshake” is currently in Post-Production and is expected to be released in April 2025.

This spring, Jillian is making her biggest film project yet–her senior capstone short film, A Lovely Day. This film means everything to Jillian, and she needs your help to bring it to life!

1st Assistant Director - Ashley Tyler

Ashley Tyler is an emerging writer and director, who is excited to tell stories that highlight the real lived experiences of black people in an authentic and unique way. In 2023, as a part of Free Spirit Media’s Industry Pathway Cohort, Ashley produced and directed the cohort’s annual short film project, ‘GETCHO’, which was recently selected to screen at the 2024 Micheaux Film Festival. She also developed a narrative short titled ‘Betts’ while participating in the University of Chicago Production Institute and Community Film Workshop. Ashley is currently developing a coming-of-age dramedy series, Stay Afloat; the script for which was an Official Selection at the Essence Film Festival. She is also developing a coming-of-age documentary that focuses on Chicago’s Black Coptic Church.

Director of Photography - Langdon Thomas Alger:

Langdon Thomas Alger is a Director of Photography with several years of experience in film. He’s passionate about storytelling through cinematography and enjoys collaborating on new projects. Langdon values the opportunity to work alongside talented creatives to help bring their visions to life.  

Line Producer - Ava Chandler:

Ava Chandler, originally from Miami, FL, is a senior at Loyola University Chicago studying Film and Digital Media and minoring in English. Ava has worked on countless student film productions at Loyola, fulfilling roles such as a writer, director, producer, editor, production designer, 1st AD, 2nd AC, script supervisor, and production assistant. She is eager to continue her filmmaking career by pursuing creative or logistic roles to make the world of filmmaking as exciting and accessible as possible. Ava loves to write, edit, exercise, hang out with her friends, and explore Chicago! She is incredibly excited to work on Jillian’s senior Capstone and can’t wait to see the final product!

Production Designer - Calista Cardenas

Calista is finishing her last semester at Loyola University Chicago majoring in Film & Digital Media and minoring in Sociology. She's excited to be a part of 'A Lovely Day' and is looking forward to working with the film's crew. Most recently, Calista wrapped on her capstone film 'Movie Night' that she wrote, produced, and directed. She wrote 'Strawberry Milkshake," a Loyola Collaboration Film, also directed by Jillian and worked as a Production Designer on another Collaboration Film, 'Revolution in Print,' this past fall. Calista loves all facets of filmmaking, but with production design, she loves the opportunity and challenge to bring a story's world to life.

Location Sound Mixer - Danielle Mickens

Danielle Mickens is the Sound Mixer for A Lovely Day. She is an aspiring documentary director and animation screenwriter. Danielle is fiercely passionate about the beauty of film and its impact on culture. She hopes to illustrate stories that open eyes, hearts, and minds while offering a good laugh.

When Danielle is not working, she loves lifting weights, practicing yoga, and rewatching films she has seen a zillion times. Dani is a homebody, but you might catch her at the beach or in a bookstore. She adores film photography, collecting funny-looking sticks, and ordering so many oysters at a restaurant that you question her sanity.

Editor & Composer - Alex Chen

Alex Chen is a film and pre-med student in his third undergraduate year at Loyola Chicago. He has several years of filmmaking experience on personal projects, as well as frequent collaborative effort with fellow Loyola students. Additionally, he has a personal passion for music production, releasing r&b projects under the name ‘Ayli’. As the head of post-production and composer for Jillian Green’s “A Lovely Day”, Alex is eager to be a part of the creative team and bring his skills in editing and production to bring the project to life.

We have a phenomenal crew for our film “A Lovely Day.” Stay tuned for updates and bios on the team!

Where the Funds Will Go?

All funding for this senior capstone project will go to the following project necessities:

Location Fees

Equipment Rentals

Actor Pay

Production Design (Props, Costumes, Set Design)

Food for Cast & Crew

Film Festival Submissions

Editing & Post-Production

Music Licensing

Help us bring this powerful story to life. Donate today in support of A Lovely Day Short Film and be part of a film that proves love never fades, even when memories do!

No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe.