One of Us
A white mother experiences her black son face police brutality...over the phone.
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B. AllenDirectorMentee
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B. AllenWriter
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B. AllenProducerMentee
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Mario TolliverProducerMentee
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Mandy CorbettKey Cast"Theresa"All Things Must Pass
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Mario TolliverKey Cast"Gabe"Rumors of Wars
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Nick BowmanKey Cast"Perry"
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Mike FinnKey Cast"Cop #1 (Voice)"
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Nicole PringleKey Cast"Cop #2 (Voice)"
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Tim DaustDirector of PhotographyThe Walking Dead: Behind the Dead
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Ryan McDougallProduction SoundRivals
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Emily Herold1st AC
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Mae ManningEditor
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Deanna SchaekelSet DecorationsEmpire Vampire
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Katie ThierrienMake-Up ArtistKratos: A God of War Story
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Eli James MaxeyGafferDonors
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Chase WaldroupGrip
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Wesley HillProduction Assistant
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Randa Manning-JohnsonProduction Manager
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Project Type:Short
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Genres:Thriller, Suspense
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Runtime:8 minutes 43 seconds
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Completion Date:January 12, 2019
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Production Budget:4,700 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Shooting Format:RED
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
A native Chicagoan, Brandon Allen (writer/director) moved to Atlanta, GA to further his independent storytelling career. He earned a bachelor' s degree in communication management as well as Home Inspector, Roof Inspector and Mold Inspector certifications to put food on the
table while pursuing his craft. Allen's feature screenplay, Mentee was recognized as the top screenplay in the state of Mississippi and awarded the Mississippi Film Grant, which enabled him to make the project his directorial debut. Later, he reconceived the screenplay as a one-hour drama pilot which became a semi-finalist in the 2018 MACRO Ventures and Black List pilot competition. Most recently, his short film One of Us won a Sundance Co//ab competition.
Writing and Directing this project was fun but complicated for me personally. I knew I wanted to add my voice to the subject matter and tell a side of Police offices Vs. AA males that isn't touched on but definitely exist. Finding the tone was easy but finding the balance of how the characters responded to one another without it being too on-the-nose or extremely cliche. From mellow-drama to subtext, I wanted to make sure I did things with a purpose to better tell the story. I believe the biggest decision I made was to not show the altercation happening on the other end of the phone but allow the story to be told from one perspective, the parents. I felt this was the best way to tell the story. I love the growing process of becoming a filmmaker and this film stretched muscles that will help me grow strong.