Experiencing Interruptions?

How To Win

Magic is a nerdy high school senior tired of being in the “friend zone.” Suddenly, his dream girl is finally single and also invites him over her house to study. Now Magic must navigate the questionable advice of his friends along with his own insecurities and he prepares for the big night!

  • Rhasaan Nichols
    Director
  • Rhasaan Nichols
    Writer
  • Rhasaan Nichols
    Producer
  • Brittany McKeithan
    Producer
  • Dante Coleman
    Producer
  • Cameron Brown
    Key Cast
    "Magic"
  • Brittany McKeithan
    Key Cast
    "Alicia"
  • Terrell Donnell Sledge
    Key Cast
    "Chris"
  • Hyresh Davis
    Key Cast
    "Dre"
  • Rhasaan Nichols
    Key Cast
    "Blake"
  • Alice Wills
    Key Cast
    "Stephanie"
  • Ashley Williams
    Key Cast
    "Alicia's Mom"
  • Jabez Griggs
    Key Cast
    "Jordan"
  • Rachel Keller
    Key Cast
    "Girl 1"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    comedy, coming of age, high school, romance, urban
  • Runtime:
    16 minutes 34 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 2, 2015
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival
    Oak Bluffs
    United States
    August 15, 2015
    World
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Rhasaan Nichols

Rhasaan Nichols is a filmmaker straight from the heart of North Philadelphia. Upon graduating from Yale University in 2008 with a B.A. in Film Studies, he founded Nichols Makes Sense Productions with a vision to produce innovative media that seeks truth, inspires viewers and demands change.

His first documentary feature, Letters to My Sister, is a personal testament to the resilience of children with special needs— and their families. The film won the HBO Award for Best Documentary at the 2013 Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival among many other honors.

Rhasaan served as the Artist In Residence at Saatchi & Saatchi NY 2013-2014 where he trained in broadcast production and commercial directing. Following the fellowship he raised $10,000 in 10 Days on Kickstarter for his first narrative short, How To Win— now streaming on Issa Rae Productions.

His latest short documentary, Walking on Water: a Brief History on Black Surfers won the grand prize in the inaugural Race and Sport Around the Globe Short Documentary Competition, sponsored by Arizona State University.

Rhasaan has produced content for TV One, Motown Records, The National Affordable Housing Management Association and AARP— among other esteemed clients!

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The face of America is changing. Magic, Dre and Chris are All-American guys. They happen to be Black, but their histories, their experiences, their ambitions are all made in the USA.

Black teens are often portrayed as criminals or at-risk youth that need to be saved. This story is about Black kids just being kids, which is a privilege often not afforded to them.

How To Win is going to change the conversation on young Black men. When this short becomes a series, audiences will have the opportunity to get to know these characters over the years. They will gain access to their families, their interior lives, their insecurities and everything else that makes them human.