BLACK BEAR

Writer/Producer/Submitter Statement:

Originally written 10 years ago, the BLACK BEAR story (previously entitled "Winter Seisin") is as relevant today as it has ever been: a woman’s fight for life in a man’s world - which, in 2025, one would think unnecessary, but, sadly, continues to be one of the most pressing issues of the day.

One of the main reasons I got into producing films is to give voice - a stronger voice - to those demographics who are traditionally underrepresented in Hollywood, and to create opportunities for myself to play the type of roles that I might not otherwise get to play in a major studio production.

So when my friend and frequent collaborator, Amil Dave, challenged me one night with a prompt to write something with the following three elements: a strong female lead, a mystery, and fog - I took to it right away, consistent with my personal and professional mission. I felt it important to practice what I preached in terms of feminism, in the broadest sense of the word, and was guided, in part, by what is commonly referred to as the Bechdel Test, when I set out to begin writing. This test measures whether or not a movie portrays women in a way that is sexist or otherwise characterized by gender stereotyping; and, in order to pass the test, a work must feature at least two named women, who talk to each other about something other than a man.

That inspired me to write the first installment to this trilogy, entitled THE REMAINDERMEN (which Amil shot and directed). Here, we are introduced to our two main characters: STEVIE and BRETT BODINE, two sisters who find themselves alone against the world, and who, orphaned at a young age, come to find out that they are now trespassers on their own childhood home and land. Both refusing to accept reality, the sisters are conflicted about what to do. When their instincts for fight or flight kick in, Stevie tries to run, but Brett insists on standing her ground. This drives a further wedge between the sisters, who have already grown distant in the years since their parents’ passing, and have been living entirely different lifestyles.

Complicating their dilemma is that every male character in this story is presumptively an enemy. Their late father, we learn (in THE REMAINDERMEN), never wanted girls, and so gave both his daughters traditionally “boy” names. Moreover, the Bodine patriarch did not believe that women should own land, and therefore made provisions in his will that the Blackacre estate should only pass to a male heir. Since there was none at the time of his death, it was unclear who owned Blackacre. And that was the premise for the prequel to THE REMAINDERMEN, entitled BLACKACRE.

In those chapters, we are also introduced to ANDREW HSU, a “city” lawyer who shows up in their one-traffic light town. He offers to help Stevie sort things out, but Brett is very unwelcoming to the outsider, and distrusts his motives in getting involved.