STONE

a southern black teenage girl must find new ways to retain her dignity after she is caught making out in the church bathroom during wednesday night bible study.

  • miles isaiah freed
    Director
  • miles isaiah freed
    Writer
  • Victoria Lartey
    Producer
  • Ayannah Settle
    Producer
  • Ashanti Harris
    Key Cast
    "Monica"
  • Maurice L Weathers
    Key Cast
    "Deacon"
  • Erika Degraff
    Key Cast
    "Lorraine"
  • Carleek Owens
    Key Cast
    "Darrell"
  • Kamayah Kahri
    Key Cast
    "Kiana"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Drama
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 29 seconds
  • Production Budget:
    11,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - miles isaiah freed

Growing up in Mississippi and Alaska, as a result of the military, miles isaiah freed is a filmmaker and artist based in Atlanta, GA

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Director Statement

My father was a preaching minister in Southern Mississippi then Alaska. Growing up in the black church I found the community to be warm, expressive, and an important tool to edify members of the black community to live earnest lives, but I also encountered disparities when it came to the punishment/correction of young boys and young girls, along with disparities with regard to who is allowed to advocate for themselves. I am telling this story now and in this way to process both of these aspects of the community that I found true in my experience and to do so with Love and care.

Stone is an adaptation of the passage in John 7:53-8:11 (woman caught in the act of adultery) formatted within a coming of age story about Monica, a Black teenage girl, who is discovering ways to retain dignity after she is caught in a shameful situation of making out with a boy in church. At its core this story examines a surprisingly common traumatizing experience for youth in the Black church through the lens of a Black teenage girl.

I hope to capture both the warmth and love within the community along with the tension and disrespect that the youth experience as they struggle to combat shame and disrespect in hopes to gain fairness. What excites me about directing this film is balancing the uniquely warm drama comedy tone that has a hint of twilight zone weirdness that I wrote into the story.