Private Project

Cicadas

Ray and Melanie Fox are the family’s self-appointed “leaders” after the death of Grandaddy Fox. They’ve taken meticulous detail in planning the first official family reunion in 12 years. Family members have traveled from across the country for this occasion including their son Rory and his longtime girlfriend, Alice. What happens when egos clash and tempers flare as a family tries to reassemble for the first time 12 years after the death of their beloved patriarch? Truths they've been hiding from themselves and each other make their way to the surface.

  • Alexandria Collins
    Director
  • Jared Culp
    Director
  • Jared Culp
    Writer
  • Alexandria Collins
    Writer
  • Jared Culp
    Producer
  • Alexandria Collins
    Producer
  • Dawnie Jefferson
    Producer
    Rainbow Bridge
  • Marcus Ellison Jr
    Key Cast
    "Rory Fox"
  • Lauren du Pree
    Key Cast
    "Alice"
  • Vanessa Dale Wood
    Key Cast
    "Melanie Fox"
  • Aaron Coleman
    Key Cast
    "Ray Fox"
  • Tehillah De Castro
    Director of Photography
    How to Blow Up a Pipeline, Grace
  • Ryan Bremond
    1st Assistant Director
    Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce, Earth Mama
  • Troy Josiah Lewis
    Editor
    Daughters, Tahara
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Family Drama, Slice of Life, Black Stories, Black Family, African American Stories, Dramedy, Comedy
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes 33 seconds
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.66:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Alexandria Collins, Jared Culp

Alexandria Collins is an award-winning director, screenwriter, and producer based in Los Angeles. She is currently in development for the feature adaptation of her horror short project, Reborn, and is attached as the writer and director.

She was recently named Best Director at Katra Film Series and Best Female Director at the Venice Shorts Fest for her film, WOMAN TO WOMAN (2021). Woman to Woman has also won Best International Short at the BIFA-Qualifying Manchester Film Festival and Best Short Film at the Tokyo International Film Festival.

In 2020, Alexandria wrote and directed a horror short for 20th Digital and Hulu titled REBORN. It was selected for several national and international festivals including Canneseries, ScreamFest and Hellifax.

Alexandria’s comedic digital series, Goals N’ Shit, which she created and stars in, is streaming online after being named one of Seed & Spark’s ‘Favorite Teasers’ and raising over $20,000 via crowdfund.

Alexandria hails from Tallahassee, FL where she attended Florida A&M University earning a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Her thesis documentary LOVE PLUS, chronicling the relationship highs and lows of plus-sized women, won the 1st place Associated Press Award for Best Documentary.

Jared Culp is a storyteller and designer based in Los Angeles, CA. Raised in Dallas and Washington DC he started his career in Architecture receiving both a bachelor's from Howard University and a master's from Columbia University in Architectural Studies. He has practiced User Experience Design and Qualitative Design Research and has been able to pursue and better understand the industry through his work at Netflix. In addition to UX he has been able to capture the human experience through his work as a researcher and professor at the University of Texas. Over the past few years he has turned his work comprehending nonfiction into inspiration for fiction writing pilots and short screenplays. He is currently developing a short “Cicadas” set to go into production in 2023.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The film's creators Jared Culp (designer/first-time filmmaker) and Alexandria Collins (writer/director) are inspired by the domestic inner lives of people. The project is a love letter to the black family. As two southern black Americans, this is a new fresh perspective on our experiences.