Private Project

The Celebration

"The Celebration" is dramatic short film about a mother and father battling lingering trauma as she endeavors to create a joyous high school graduation celebration for their son.

  • Michael Brown
    Director
    25 To Life, Thousand Lights of Sun
  • Mike L. Brown
    Writer
    25 To Life, Thousand Lights of Sun
  • Margie Merritt
    Producer
    Good Morning America, Soul of a Nation, Mike Tyson: The Knockout, The Real Queens of Hip Hop: The Women Who Changed the Game, Thousand Lights of Sun, Xonerated: The Murder of Malcolm X and 55 Years of Justice
  • Justyn T. Davis
    Cinematographer
    Dear Edward, The Informer, BlacKkKlansman, The Perfect Find, 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards
  • Shanae Christine Harris
    Key Cast
    "Gina "
  • Jonathan "Jas" Anderson
    Key Cast
    "Paul"
    Crown Heights, Love Beats and Rhymes, Brooklyn's Finest
  • Christopher Poindexter
    Executive Producer
    Brooklynification
  • Kameron Townsend
    Executive Producer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 36 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 31, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    19,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Arri Alexa Mini, 4k
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Big Apple Film Festival
    New York
    United States
    December 9, 2024
  • Micheaux Film Festival
    Culver City
    United States
    October 28, 2024
Director Biography - Michael Brown

Mike L. Brown attended Howard University and NYU’s graduate film school where he studied under celebrated filmmakers such as Spike Lee and worked on the documentary WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Later, Michael received support from the Sundance Documentary Institute, Firelight Media, Ford Foundation, and Tribeca All Access for his directorial debut, the feature documentary 25 TO LIFE (previously on NETFLIX). Michael’s latest short film THOUSAND LIGHTS OF SUN premiered on REVOLT TV.

Michael believes great filmmaking is a combination of art, intellectual engagement, and entertainment. This philosophy informs his artistic approach. In order to make a compelling film, he employs all cinematic tools to reach the heart, mind, and soul of the audience.

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Director Statement

"The Celebration" is a deeply poignant and emotionally resonant short film that explores the harrowing journey of a mother and father navigating profound grief. In the face of unbearable pain after losing their son to gun violence, the mother pushes forward with the plans for his high school graduation celebration—many months after his untimely death which is not revealed until the end the film. This film serves as a tribute to parents and families who have endured the unimaginable loss of a child to senseless violence.

My inspiration to create this film was born from the vicarious trauma I felt as the world mourned Mike Brown Jr. of Ferguson, Missouri. Mike Jr. was just 18 years old, full of promise, and bound for college when his life was tragically cut short by gun violence. The sorrow, anger, and collective grief in the wake of his death stirred something deep within me. In "The Celebration," I sought to echo that pain while exploring a spectrum of emotions—from joy to grief—in memory of lives lost too soon.

At its core, this film unpacks the deep, often inexpressible sorrow that comes with such loss. Yet, it also offers a space to honor the beauty and joy of life, and the unbreakable bonds of familial love. It aims to hold in tension these two conflicting emotions—grief and love—while exploring how we remember and honor those we've lost.

Merging a raw, truthful narrative with a glimmer of what life might look like in a life free from violence, "The Celebration" invites viewers to reflect on the fragility and strength of life. Ultimately, it stands as a call to hope for a future where such tragedies cease to exist, while honoring the memories of those we have lost.