Flames

From Writer & Co-Director, Deondray Gossfield

Flames is a story about the insatiable need of and the insufferable indifference with male intimacy.

The ever evasive and evolving definition of masculinity was the seed of this piece. As I wrote and rewrote, the story grew into a complicated forest of emotions with branches that grew out in every conceivable direction.

I based the dynamics of Ahmad and Sadik on the complicated relationship I had with my best friend in high school. We had a relationship that was deep, emotional and unconditional, and though we’d done a lot to hurt each other, our bond was never broken. I wanted to explore the inexplicable devotion we
had for each other. I wanted to re-imagine our experiences through a creative lens and dissect the impetus of our complicated relationship that was equal parts love and toxic masculinity.
I set the scene in a forest as a metaphorical Garden of Eden to symbolize fertile ground for the creation of new thought without rules, doctrine and expectation. A place that is the antithesis of who they’ve become. Who would these men be without the weight of the concrete they come from? Would the wisdom of the trees and the freedom of the forest unchain them? What nutrients are growing underneath the soil, and if consumed, can they open Ahmad’s and Sadik’s eyes and minds? Can it enlighten them like Eve’s proverbial bitten fruit to see and untangle the knotted vines of “manhood” that keep them in boxes and rooted in ignorance?

From Co-Director, Quincy LeNear Gossfield

The direction of this piece was intentionally tempered and intimate. We really wanted to capture the spaces in between the lines. What’s not being said is more important than what is said.

We worked with our actors to really find those moments between breaths, pauses, glances and touch. Visually, our natural environment helps to emphasize the fish out of water tale; however, this is not a tale about being caught in a strange physical location but an emotional one. These two city boys walking
through the expansive woods with a giant Boom Box are in direct conflict with the sweeping beauty of their surroundings. Even still, they are defiant, and we wanted to capture that via wardrobe and art design. There was not an item of clothing, a color chosen, or any prop or set dressing that was not intentional. These smaller aspects to making a film are actually the cumulative parts that add to the overall experience.

We were fully supported through our process by our executives, producers, our talented crew and cast.It was a wonderful experience to have the finances, time, tools and support we had to be able to focus squarely on achieving our goals.