Private Project

Live With It

After Teresa tells Derrick they’re finally starting a family, his inability to shed his shady past erupts in deceptive misfortune that he now must live with.

  • Fowzi Abdelsamad
    Director
  • Fowzi Abdelsamad
    Writer
  • Gary Long
    Cinematographer
  • Jeffrey Lindsay Relf
    Executive Producers
  • James McNinch
    Executive Producers
  • Karen Pittman
    Executive Producers
  • Laura Michelle
    Executive Producers
  • Roderick Martin
    Executive Producers
  • Vatche Giragossian
    Producer
  • Fowzi Abdelsamad
    Producer
  • Samori Dobson
    Key Cast
    "Derrick"
  • Jessica Betts
    Key Cast
    "Triggs"
  • Trenyce Cobbins
    Key Cast
    "Teresa"
  • Marcus Adams
    Key Cast
    "Mason"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes 4 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 14, 2021
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital & Film
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Fowzi Abdelsamad

Fowzi was born in Saudi Arabia and raised in Los Angeles. An NBA hopeful, he played professional basketball internationally throughout Europe, South America, and the Middle East. After studying the art of screenwriting, with undeniable talent, he honed his craft and voice as a writer/director, eventually hanging up his sneakers, leaving one dream to conquer another.

Having worked with powerhouses F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton), Dominique Telson (The Best of Enemies), Greg Carter (A Boy, A Girl, A Dream), and Deshon Hardy (Dear Best Friend), Fowzi completed commissioned work, and was a staff writer for top rated UMC TV Series, "5th Ward," starring Mya, Carl Anthony Payne, and Chris O'Neal. He wrote and directed the 2020 short film thriller "Catching Up," starring Thomas Q. Jones and Deji LaRay (both from Bounce TV's hit show "Johnson"), which garnered a Best Actor nomination for Jones, and took home the Best Short Film Award at the Academy accredited BronzeLens Film Festival. The short was also an official selection of LA Shorts International Film Festival along with several others.

Fowzi's currently commissioned to adapt "Life is Raw," the autobiography of reformed "OutLawz" rapper, Mutah Shabazz Beale into a limited TV series.

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Director Statement

I believe how we think, act, dream, live, and love is a result of the choices we make during our life's journey. What differentiates us are our life's setups, for example, growing up black or white, financially secure or poor, in a happy home, broken home, foster care system, or even experiencing trauma of any kind, it's those circumstances that shape us and it's the choices we are offered and the decisions we make that can build us or break us. That’s exactly what Derrick is faced with in this film. After learning he'll be a father, his self worth became meaningful, another life now needs him, but he's in a very risky business. Derrick's choices are to either go home or make this last trip as he knows his now growing family will need the money. This is a simple setup for a big decision, that can represent many situations. I'd like "Live With It" to be perceived as a metaphor for the types of choices we all have to make during our lives. Whatever we end up choosing can steer us on one path or another. Whatever we end up choosing, we have to live with.