My Brother's Chain of Command

Overwhelmed by local protests and talks of impending wars overseas, Quinn returns home to find her brother, Zahir, who has enlisted in the military. As she confronts him about his decision, their emotional clash unravels the complex forces—personal, political, and racial—that drive Zahir’s choice to serve, forcing both siblings to confront the sacrifices demanded by patriotism in a divided world.

  • Zayla Bryant
    Key Cast
    "Quinn Johnson"
  • Grant Tomlinson
    Key Cast
    "Zahir Johnson"
  • Jonathan Jordan
    Key Cast
    "Cashier"
  • Anya Dillard
    Director
  • Anya Dillard
    Writer
  • Enid Dillard
    Producer
  • Jean Pierre Dillard
    Producer
  • Zayla Bryant
    Creative Direction by
  • Symphony Thompson
    Creative Direction by
  • Anya Dillard
    Location Scouting
  • Zayla Bryant
    Location Scouting
  • Anya Dillard
    Editors
  • Anya Dillard
    Titles & Graphics
  • Anya Dillard
    Sound Design
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Production Budget:
    5,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Rutgers University Newark
Director Biography - Anya Dillard

Anya Dillard is a 21-year-old community organizer, social entrepreneur, model, and multimedia storyteller. She is also the founder of The Next Gen Come Up – a 501(c)3 nonprofit that encourages young people to explore creative activism and pursue social entrepreneurship — and the CEO of Jenevesque Media LLC — a multimedia production house striving to amplify globally marginalized voices and utilize immersive media to eradicate implicit bias eradication and foster cross-cultural understanding. Directing numerous narrative and nonfiction short films, Anya primarily centers themes of kinship, triple consciousness, patriotism, and black femininity, in her work. Her films strive to take subversive or poetic approaches to stories whose socio-political themes may otherwise be diluted by traditional narrative conventions.

Anya has worked under filmmakers like Maxi Cohen – as a post-production and administrative intern, Jordan Peele – as an impact intern at Monkeypaw Productions, and Roger Williams – as a production & archival intern at One Story Up Productions. She has also worked as an assistant director, public relations coordinator, cinematographer, and screenwriter for several student films, including A Letter to God by Zayla Bryant, Crossroads by Darion Cotton, and GO by Dusan Brown (currently in post-production). Anya is a recent graduate from The Academy of Motion Pictures Gold Rising Fellowship, a BLACK GIRLS ROCK (Black Girls Lead) Alum, and a graduating senior honors college student at Rutgers University Newark double majoring in Journalism and Film Production.

Throughout her career, Anya has specialized in utilizing media as a tool to mobile, educate, and empower communities worldwide. On top of her career in film, Anya has over 15 years of experience as an impact strategist and community organizer. Her nationwide service work, international human rights advocacy, and creative amplification efforts have earned her features in numerous publications including The Washington Post, CNN, MSNBC, Elle, Seventeen, and Glamour Magazines. Upon completing her bachelor’s degree, Anya plans to pursue a master’s in Production.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

“As someone who was born into a big Afro-Caribbean family full of black artists, and educators, storytelling was always a talent – or rather, a superpower – that my family held in very high esteem. As I grew into myself as a young woman, became more socio-politically engaged, and formed my own complex opinions about the world around me, visual storytelling became something that I found strength, clarity, and solace in.

I grew up being exposed to the work of filmmakers like Spike Lee, John Singleton, and Oscar Micheaux. It was because of this and my parents' commitment to empowering me in my Caribbean heritage that caused me to develop such an untameable imagination, an insatiable desire to see into the deepest crevices of reality and excavate their contents.

I have always been fascinated by the ways the media has been used to oppress and empower marginalized people throughout history. I want to grow into a change agent who utilizes the media as a conduit for their liberation.” - Anya Dillard