Private Project

Summer of Violence

In 1993, a college grad feels the wrath of her father when she refuses law school to focus on her poetry. Disowned, she moves to Denver and uses her creativity to speak out against the gang violence. When those close to her die, she finds herself in deep and spirals out of control. Reconciling with her family she self-acceptance, and within her a passion to live and honor those that can’t.

  • Nicki Micheaux
    Director
  • Nicki Micheaux
    Writer
  • Efuru Flowers
    Producer
    ThreeWays
  • Sean Riggs
    Producer
    Lazarus
  • Kasey Inez
    Key Cast
    The Sex Life of College Girls
  • Jahking Guillory
    Key Cast
    The Chi; Young, Wild, and Free
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Coming of Age, Drama, romance
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 46 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    March 29, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    975,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Red
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3, 16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Nicki Micheaux

Nicki Micheaux is a multi-talented artist who has established herself as a successful actress, director, writer, and producer. Her upcoming feature film debut, "Summer of Violence," promises to be a powerful addition to her already impressive body of work.
Micheaux was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and was exposed to the entertainment industry at a young age. She developed a love for storytelling and decided to pursue a career in filmmaking. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Boulder with a degree in Political Science, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams.
Nicki began her career as an actress and quickly moved up the ranks to star in the series "Lincoln Heights." Her talent and dedication to her craft did not go unnoticed, and in 2010, she made her directorial debut with the short film, "Veil." The success of the film led to her inclusion in the Disney Directing Program.
Nicki's directorial skills are also on display in her upcoming feature film, "Summer of Violence," which she wrote, directed, and produced. The film tells the story of a young black college graduate student who decides to forgo law school to pursue her passion for poetry. As gang violence erupts around her, she uses her creativity to unite those against the violence. However, as those close to her begin to die, she spirals out of control. The film is a poignant exploration of identity, self-discovery, and the impact of violence on a community.

In addition to her work in film and television, Nicki is also passionate about creating documentaries. She is currently directing her first documentary, which tells the story of three brothers healing from the trauma of abuse and 30 years of incarceration.

Micheaux is committed to creating stories that have the power to inspire and empower. With her new production company, she is dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive working environment on set and hopes to use her platform to bring more diverse voices and stories to the screen.

Nicki Micheaux is a talented artist with a unique perspective and a passion for storytelling. Her upcoming debut film, "Summer of Violence," is a testament to her skill and dedication to her craft, and it is sure to be a standout in her already impressive career.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I chose to direct this film because I wanted to tell the story of the craziest summer I ever had. I was a graduate student at the University of Colorado at Boulder. A campus of 25,000 and only 500 Black students. After 4 years there, one summer I made the decision, to stay in Colorado for the summer. I ended up staying with friends in Denver in the Five Points neighborhood, a Black neighborhood. I was loving the freedom of being on my own for the first time, surrounded by the beauty of Black culture, but it was also the most gang violence the city of Denver had seen. Gangs, drugs, guns, and police violence had the city in a frenzy of fear. It was dubbed the Summer of Violence and I was living in the middle of it.

I chose to write this film and dramatize that summer, to tell the story of a young woman starting off on her own hero’s journey to be an artist. She knows nothing of gangs or guns. Naive and innocent to a world that was so far from Boulder. I want the audience to experience the joy of having a dream as well as the crushing reality of the gun violence too many Americans have to endure. I want us to see how living with violence, surviving it, comes at a cost. I want us to see how challenging it is to find your own identity, when your daily struggle is for survival.

We root for our hero to not only survive the summer, but to not give up and live the life that’s expected of her. We root for her to keep daring to live her own life, by any means necessary. It’s a story of hope and resilience and the power of belief in your own inner voice. A voice that for women, particularly BIPOC women, is all too easily snuffed out. This movie is full of the intensity of every good summer, the beauty, the heat, the love and the innocence of youth.