Not Your Average Rom-Com

Zarah, a rom-com loving teenager, entertains herself with meaningless talking stages and "situationships", hoping for the love she sees on TV. It's hard to feel like that's possible when "happily ever after" never happens to people who look, or love, like her. In an attempt to find happiness, she navigates the societal stigmas placed on her, but must realize the only thing stopping her from finding it, is the lack of love she has for herself.

  • Aria Brooks
    Director
  • Aria Brooks
    Writer
  • LaToya Brooks
    Producer
  • Aria Brooks
    Key Cast
    "Zarah"
    Better Nate Than Ever, HSMTMTS, Harriet, All That
  • Nevaeh Y'Vonne
    Key Cast
    "Carter"
  • McKenna Weinbaum
    Key Cast
    "Natalie"
  • Jordan Paige Sudduth
    Director of Photography
    Aces, Rings
  • Jordan Paige Sudduth
    Editor
    I dream of a future, Is your school an A.S.S.E.T.
  • Gina Barone
    Production Team
  • Matthew McCord
    Production Team
  • Kendall Hanzlik
    Production Team
  • Jordan Rice
    Production Team
  • Deasia Mears
    Production Team
  • Ayatey Shabazz
    Music Composer
  • Devin Barkley
    Soundtrack Producer
  • Mariano Saulino
    Additional Music
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Romantic Comedy
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 59 seconds
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    50mm
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Homeschool
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Aria Brooks

Aria Brooks was destined for a career in entertainment. Born in Atlanta Georgia as the daughter of two Performing Arts educators, she began singing and dancing at a young age. Soon, she could be seen showcasing her talents in local musical theatre productions. At the tender age of 10, Aria made the decision to pursue acting as a career path and shifted her focus to TV and film projects. At 15, Aria is quickly establishing herself as a powerhouse in the industry. She was seen on the big screen with a pivotal role in the award-winning film Harriet. She played Anger, the niece of Harriet Tubman, who is part of the group she comes back to save. The all-star cast also includes Cynthia Erivo, Jennifer Nettles, and Leslie Odom Jr. Aria also brought her talent to television with a guest-starring role as Nola in the anthology series Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings. Each installment tells an inspirational story based on the singer’s song catalog. In Aria’s episode, her character has a dog that reminds Dolly of her childhood furry companion, Crackerjack. The show is streaming now on Netflix. Other onscreen credits include Saved in the City and Nocturnal just to name a few. Aria’s breakout role came when she landed a spot as a series regular cast member on Nickelodeon’s All That, a reboot of the classic 90’s comedy series. Known as the network’s version of Saturday Night Live, the hit show allowed Aria to hone her comedic talent alongside original cast member Kel Mitchell, who also served as an Executive Producer. She also starred as the female lead, Libby, in the Disney+ film Better Nate Than Ever alongside Lisa Kudrow, Rueby Wood, and Joshua Bassett. Aria also showcased her talent on the network as a guest star on season 3 of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
When she is not acting, Aria is making a name for herself as a recording artist. She released her debut EP castles pt. 1 and 2 and 'fairy tales' under the moniker ARIA, and it is available now on all streaming platforms. Aria is also an accomplished writer who has penned her own short film. Outside of acting, Aria loves to keep busy. In her spare time, she enjoys baking, doing crafts, filmmaking, making TikTok videos, and recording content for her YouTube audience. She and her family are also passionate supporters of the Kilgore Music Foundation, founded by famed saxophonist Ryan Kilgore, that aims to mentor, teach and inspire children to be lifelong musicians. She currently resides in Atlanta.

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Director Statement

I have always enjoyed creative storytelling, specifically through performing arts. When I realized I wanted to act, it was my goal to star in films that move people. As I made my way through the film/tv industry, I quickly realized it was not made for girls that look like me. Black and brown girls have always been forced to conform and accept that we are not Hollywood's standard. I am here to change that. I decided that if people weren't gonna cast me in dynamic roles because of my skin, I would write those parts for myself. This film reverses everything that the world has told black girls and the LGBTQ+ community for years. It proves that we are more than just the quirky best friends or the token minority.