Black Coffee
BLACK COFFEE is a scripted sitcom following the ventures
of four Howard graduates who open a black owned coffee
shop in the nation’s capital. Each driven by a unique motive,
these late 20-somethings come together to make their mark
in the city as proud entrepreneurs. As business picks up,
these first-time business owners face several unexpected
challenges in the diverse community of DC behind the capital.
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Jason PerezDirector
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George KhouriWriter
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Chrishaunda Lee PerezWriter
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George KhouriProducer
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Joshua TriplettKey Cast"Beachum"
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Dior AllenKey Cast"Dior"
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Keith CherryKey Cast"Keith"
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Norman JR McKenzieKey Cast"Norman"
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Matthew FallerKey Cast"Matthew"
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Christopher ParksKey Cast"Black"
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George KhouriKey Cast"Dashik"
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Jessica SullivanKey Cast"Heather"
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Jabari EverettKey Cast"Sherman"
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Zack KozlowKey Cast"Michael"
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Bianca LemaireKey Cast"Shanice"
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Chiquita FullerKey Cast"Erica"
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Chrishaunda Lee PerezKey Cast"Chrissy"
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Ashlyn McCormickKey Cast"Kendra"
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Cisco ReyesKey Cast"Cisco"
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Sarah Elizabeth DallasKey Cast"Sarah"
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Project Type:Television
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Runtime:19 minutes
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Completion Date:April 2, 2018
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Production Budget:20,000 USD
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Country of Filming:United States
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
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Capitol Hill Film FestivalWashington, DC
United States
June 13, 2019
Washington DC
Winner- Best Picture
Jason Perez is a filmmaker from the Bronx, who for over two decades has worked on a number of provocative films. He has served as director for several of OWN's "Super Soul Sunday Shorts”, various music videos and short films, and a new television comedy pilot, "Black Coffee". Jason began his professional career with Spike Lee’s 40 Acres and a Mule production company, as part of the production team on movies such as "25th Hour" and "Inside Man", to Spike’s most recent television project "She’s Gotta Have It" and critically acclaimed “BlackKklansmen” starring John David Washington. Jason previously worked with John David Washington as an Assistant Director for "Monsters and Men". Jason Perez has directed an impressive list of talent, including Oprah Winfrey, Questlove, and Cedric the Entertainer. Perez is currently in post-production for his debut feature documentary, “Sweet Hands”, about the complex life journey of a Bronx-born female boxer.
I wrote the screenplay, Black Coffee, after viewing the Greensboro lunch counter at the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC. I learned about the Greensboro Four and discovered the gravity of their protest in the Civil Rights movement. During my college years, I worked as a doorman for several black-owned establishments in Washington, DC. Realizing that black entrepreneurship is underrepresented on television, I took the opportunity to write a story about four black coffee shop owners to showcase the diversity of the nation’s capital. More importantly, this allowed me to show the progress that has taken place thanks to the Greensboro Four’s efforts. Rather than once not being allowed to dine restaurants, blacks now own them. This was the reality of the business I worked for that helped me pay my education.
Most series show DC through a strictly political lens, but the city is so much more than that. It’s one of the most diverse cities in the world that still maintains a local culture of its own. The world of Black Coffee that I created celebrates all of those elements. In an era where racial tensions are at an all time high, it’s important to show that we are more alike than we are different. Through comedic relief, my character interactions in black coffee show this in a beautiful way. I hope you enjoy Black Coffee. Welcome to DC behind the capital.
-George Khouri
Writer & Producer