Line of Sight Film "Follow-Up"

Posted Saturday, September 28, 2024 5:03 am

By Dierdre R. Parker, Entertainment and Arts Editor

As promised in an article in last October’s issue entitled “The 48-Hour Film Project” (page 20), we are not going to leave you hanging. Here is the follow-up to the article about A.M.E. Zion filmmakers Marvin Askew II and his wife, Johnette Warren-Askew, from St. Paul’s in Buffalo, NY, and their film Line of Sight. The vision has grown, and you can still be a part of this amazing story.

First, a quick recap. This couple entered a film competition where they had to write, film, and edit a seven-minute short film in 48 hours. They would be competing with teams of filmmakers around the city for a chance to compete with filmmakers from around the world. Johnette and her writing team, which included Rev. Craig Douglass and YPC president Jonathan Douglass, wrote the short film Line of Sight. Then, digital cinematographer Marvin and the team filmed and edited. Johnette was also the film’s director.

So what happened? Well, do you believe in blessings in disguise? The team felt like they had a strong production entering the competition. They had to use a specific line of dialogue, prop, character, and the genre provided at the beginning of the 48 hours. The premier went great, and they received many compliments. However, at the next event that revealed the top ten films and nominations for individual awards, the team felt snuffed. Until they found out they were disqualified. Turns out the actress who said the line of dialogue added a word to the line and caused the film to be taken out of contention for the top awards. However, the judges loved the film so much and felt bad for having to disqualify it that they gave the film an honorable mention in all of the categories in which it would have been nominated. Those awards included cinematography, editing, graphics, leading performance, supporting performance, and audience award, and the team won the best movie poster. So, although they didn’t win, they had a phenomenal short film on their hands. It worked to their benefit because it fired up their team and made the film one of the more talked about entries. They then rode that momentum and excitement into the pre-production of the feature-length version.

There was so much excitement surrounding the production that the cast and crew wanted to continue to work on it to create a feature-length version. People from other teams also asked to be a part of it.

Johnette quickly gathered the other writers back to the table. They would meet on Sunday afternoons, and then she would write for the week, bringing it back the following Sunday for feedback and ideas on moving forward with the script. They set a shoot date and began crowdfunding for their second feature film, though it would be their first with a hired crew, this large of a cast, and this many cast members, locations, and the need to ask for help from strangers to bring the dream to fruition. They have produced several short films and feature The Glass Floor; however, this is different. This would be the largest project that they’ve taken on. Ever.

Line of Sight is about a young mother whose son is kidnapped at the tender age of six. After ten years of struggling with that trauma and to get the police to do right by her son’s case, she moved to another city to try to get a fresh start. However, she runs into a sixteen-year-old who looks like he could be her son, according to an AI-generated photo. Pitting two mothers against each other. “This is an opportunity to highlight local black-owned businesses and indie music artists, plus bring on two of our high school students to learn on set. Most importantly, it sheds some light on a serious problem facing our city and the world. That is missing and exploited children. Not to mention some other mental-health issues we were able to touch on.” Their passion is making films that matter. The new feature film brought together more than 60 cast and crew members, with additional extras.

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“This was hard and honestly sometimes scary. Part of me was worried if my body would hold up to filming for 12 hours several days in a row for a month straight. But I had to trust and believe God would sustain me. I don’t believe he gave us these talents without the ability to use them. Plus, we were blessed to have some wonderful people working with us. I don’t know if we would have gotten this far without them. God’s favor is amazing.” Johnette has Systemic Lupus and developed Lupus Nephritis, which sent her into acute renal failure in 2006. She would end up on dialysis a few years later and spend seven years on dialysis. She received the gift of life and a second chance by way of a kidney transplant in 2018. That is another story for another day. But physically, this film would be a challenge as she deals with chronic pain and fatigue. But like many things before, she says God sustained her through it. The couple leaned on each other and God and pushed through.

The film is currently ninety-five percent filmed, and the couple is currently crowdfunding the rest of the finances to finish the project. “I have faith that God didn’t bring us this far to take us back again.” There is an IndieGoGo page set up for people to help complete this film. Funds will pay for cats and crew payment, set building materials for the last scene, post-production editing, sound design, music licensing, promotion, and distribution. The couple says any amount will help them reach their goal.

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You can view trailers from the footage that they have already filmed to see the quality of production Marvin, Johnette, and the Expressed Entertainment team are doing on the film’s website at www.lineofsightfilm.com. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram @lineofsight24. Along with learning more about the project, see articles and news clips with the couple and learn how you can support them.