Private Project

Courage

Luke, a quiet 6 year old doesn’t get the love he needs, so he builds a relationship with his favorite superhero action figure, Captain Courage. He sees the world through the lens of this comic and uses it to cope with the world around him. Now Luke faces his biggest challenge, finding the courage to fight back against the scariest thing any kid has to deal with: His world falling apart.

  • Ryan Gomes
    Director
  • Ryan Gomes
    Writer
  • Jared Jorge
    Cinematographer
  • Ryan Gomes
    Producer
  • Robert Cunniff
    Producer
  • David-Matthew Barnes
    Producer
  • Ian Fidance
    Key Cast
    "Mike"
    The Last O.G., Late Night with Seth Meyers, Gilly and Keeves,
  • Ashley Ottesen
    Key Cast
    "Caroline"
  • Christopher Riley
    Key Cast
    "Luke"
    Dear Edward (Apple TV), Law & Order SVU, The Good Fight
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 42 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 29, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Fairliegh Dickinson University
Director Biography - Ryan Gomes

Ryan Gomes is a young Cape Verdean/American director born in Maine and raised in Rhode Island. He is passionate about the arts and about storytelling, so much that he started his own filmmaking non profit where he has served nearly 1000 young people.

Ryan ended up attending an arts high school in Pawtucket Rhode Island and later the University of Rhode Island for filmmaking, before attending Fairleigh Dickinson University for his MFA. Ryan is also a veteran, just recently ending his service as a Black Hawk mechanic.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The uncertainty of not knowing where home will be next is a reality many children grapple with. Too often, the adults who love them are consumed by their own stress and unable to provide the necessary support. I believed this story had to be told - the story of countless children navigating housing insecurity, and the profound ripple effects this experience has on them, their families, and their communities, largely unseen by the wider society.

My own life experiences have heavily influenced the creation of this film. However, my perspective was truly broadened by my time spent working in non-profit organizations within communities (including my own) that are deeply affected by these issues. Witnessing the struggles of children in the face of housing insecurity showcased the unyielding spirit of parents doing their best, and the remarkable resilience of the children who, despite sensing something amiss, ingeniously mold their world into a semblance of "normal."

My aspiration with this film is to illuminate the reality of everyday people confronting the possibility of being unhoused, and to reveal how the ingenuity and tenacity of children can redefine their world even when external circumstances threaten to upend them.