Chest Candy
Haunted by trauma, a Black army vet and father spirals into a psychological collapse, forcing the women closest to him to confront their shared grief and fractured bonds before it destroys their family.
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Robert X. GolphinDirector
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Robert X. GolphinKey Cast"Jace Collier"The Great Debaters, The Wire, John Adams
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Lauren Michelle MorganKey Cast"Aniyah Collier"Freshman Friday, Essential
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Joey CollinsKey Cast"Sgt. Triot"There is a monster, Broadway
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Antoinette GreeneKey Cast"Mrs. (Mom) Collier"We Own This City, Tyler Perry's 'Ruthless'
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Arianna PrattKey Cast"Nika Collier"Mother's Day, NOLA Tourism, Children's Hospital Nola
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Robert X. GolphinWriter
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Gail Y. BennettProducer
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Lauren Michelle MorganCo-Producer
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David LunaCinematographer
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Brian McKnight, Jr.Musical ComposerNote To Self, The Chi, The Power Universe
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Tania Romero1st Assistant Camera
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Latoya PrattMilitary Consultants
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S. Denice NewtonMilitary Consultants
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Robert L. MorganMilitary Consultants
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Robert Jones IIMilitary Consultants
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Dee HubayMilitary Consultants
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Kenny AndersonMental Health Consultant
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Project Type:Short
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Genres:Psychological Drama, Drama, Suspense
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Runtime:17 minutes 16 seconds
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Completion Date:February 4, 2025
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Sony FS7, BMPCC 4K
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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Digital Cinema Package:Unavailable
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Newark Independent Film FestivalNewark, Delaware
United States
August 16, 2025
Newark, Delaware Premiere
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (WINNER), COMMITTEE'S CHOICE AWARD (Nominated), SPIRIT AWARD (Nominated) -
The People's Film FestivalHarlem, NY
United States
May 31, 2025
World Premiere
BEST SHORT FILM (Honorable Mention) -
Black Indie Filmmakers Association Houston Film FestivalHouston
United States
HONORABLE MENTION -
Shaw University Film FestivalRaleigh
United States
October 18, 2025
Official Selection -
Raleigh Film & Art FestivalRaleigh, NC
United States
October 3, 2025
North Carolina Premiere
Official Selection -
Soo Film FestivalSault Ste. Marie, Michigan
United States
September 14, 2025
Michigan Premiere
Official Selection -
Rome Prisma Film Awards
Italy
Monthly Picks
Robert X. Golphin is a multi-award-winning actor/filmmaker whose work is rooted in the belief that storytelling has the power to provoke, inspire, instigate, and empower.
Best known for his role as Dunbar Reed in "The Great Debaters", alongside Denzel Washington, Robert’s career spans across acting, directing, writing, and producing, with performances that have earned him recognition on the international film festival circuit.
Robert’s work tackles a wide array of impactful social issues—ranging from AIDS, addiction, and body image to women’s rights, LGBT+ communities, sexual assault, and mental health. His multi award-winning short film "Essential" (2020), captured the intersection of the pandemic and civil unrest and demonstrates his commitment to telling stories that challenge societal norms and spark meaningful conversation. His feature length directorial debut, "Freshman Friday" (2020), an HBCU comedy, starred NAACP Theater Award-winner Jerrel O'Neal and international recording artist Brian McKnight Jr.
Robert is passionate about mentoring young filmmakers and creatives of all ages. He holds an MFA in Screenwriting, a B.A. in Theatre & Film (Magna Cum Laude), and a diploma in Creative Writing.
"Fight. Fight. Fight."
In "Chest Candy", the battle for healing, survival, and love is relentless—one that doesn’t always come with clear victories. It’s a story that cuts to the heart of every family navigating trauma, reminding us that while some battles may never fully end, the fight is always worth it.
This project is deeply personal and urgent, confronting the complex intersections of mental health, PTSD, and veteran reintegration, particularly within Black and military families. While I am not a veteran myself, I come from a family with deep military ties. Their experiences, both spoken and unspoken, have shaped my understanding of the silent struggles that many veterans endure. This film is my way of giving voice to those battles—both internal and external. It explores not just trauma’s grip on the individual but its ripple effect on families, relationships, and identity.
What began as a 30-second scene exercise has evolved into something much bigger—a necessary conversation in a world where mental health crises continue to escalate, disproportionately affecting communities of color and veterans. With "Chest Candy", I want to challenge audiences to examine their perceptions of mental health, privilege, and the unseen costs of service.
Visually, the film embraces a raw, naturalistic aesthetic—gritty, unpolished, and deeply immersive. In a festival landscape often dominated by glossy, high-definition polish, "Chest Candy" leans into a textured, lived-in feel. This isn’t a story that asks to be neatly packaged—it demands to be felt, to linger in the mind long after the credits roll. The choice to avoid a hyper-stylized look was intentional, reflecting the unfiltered reality of our characters’ struggles. The grain, the shadows, the imperfections—all of it mirrors the emotional weight of their journey.
More than just a film, "Chest Candy" is a call to empathy. It’s a tribute to veterans who have sacrificed more than we can imagine, to the families who bear that weight with them, and to the urgent need for better support systems. We consulted with veterans and mental health professionals throughout the process, ensuring that authenticity guided every step of the storytelling. This is not just about telling a story—it’s about starting a conversation that has been ignored for too long.
