Experiencing Interruptions?

The Suburban Itch

With "introduction" by President Obama. An African-American college student puts herself at risk when she confronts police who harass a young man for "running while white" in a black neighborhood. Police reward Mary Beth Miles' noble deed by handcuffing her to the jogger, DeMarcus Malone, calling it "street justice." When Mary Beth must come home with this stranger in tow, things go even worse than expected as her father and DeMarcus, a reporter whose newspaper shut down, have an unpleasant history. Beyond the drama, "The Suburban Itch" takes on racial profiling with a spoof of a role reversal and hip-hop music to help the message go down.

  • Gary Moore
    Director
  • Gary Moore
    Writer
  • Jenni Bates
    Producer
  • Gary. Moore
    Producer
  • Charisse Norment
    Key Cast
    "Mary Beth Miles"
  • Derek B. Moore
    Key Cast
    "DeMarcus Malone"
  • Delvyn Brown
    Key Cast
    "James Miles"
  • Derek Moore
    Executive Producer
    Death by Shower, You Are My Network
  • Gary T. Moore
    Editor
    You Are My Network
  • Derek B. Moore
    Editor
    You Are My Network
  • Derek Moore
    Additional Camera
    You Are My Network
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Drama
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 32 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 12, 2015
  • Production Budget:
    25,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Temecula Independent FF of the Hollywood and LA Wine Country
    Temecula, CA
    June 11, 2015
    World
  • Film Fest 52
    Bethel, CT
    August 12, 2015
    Connecticut and NYC Area
  • Indie Memphis
    Memphis, TN
    November 8, 2015
    Tennessee Premiere
  • New Haven International FF
    New Haven, CT
    November 13, 2015
Director Biography - Gary Moore

Gary T. Moore makes films about social and economic injustice and uses humor and music to help the message go down.
A lifetime resident of Tennessee, Moore has been involved in communications and business. Communications work has ranged from sportswriter to speechwriter; from political campaign staffer to spokesperson for non-profits.
Moore operates Moore Media & Entertainment, Moore Media Strategies and non-profit Citizens Media Resource.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

What if George Zimmerman had been black and Trayvon Martin white...or "Trayvonna" Martin, a blond girl? Would things have turned out differently in Florida? Would our emotions change?

“The Suburban Itch” twists the all-too-familiar context of police hassling young, black men on the street. We flip the narrative on its head as three African-American college students witness police harassing a young, white man who was running through a black neighborhood. Two of the three figure he must be guilty of something, but the driver, protag Mary Beth Miles, sees something else – injustice – and the shit hits the fan when she confronts the police.

These images challenge viewers to examine if their emotions change when the only variable in a familiar scene is how a person looks.

"The Suburban Itch" is a short sample of larger projects we hope to produce that address social and economic injustice in America with humor and music. Using dramatization of an issue through film can make a greater impact on a viewer than all the telling and arguing and speech-making in the world.

Sound too heavy? Nah, it's still a comedy.