Private Project

Three's A Crowd

A teenage overachiever attempts to reconcile the relationship between her dad and newfound brother while dealing with sexual abuse in the mother's home.

  • Chanessa Richa'rd
    Director
  • Chanessa Richa'rd
    Writer
  • Jonathan Berenstein
    Writer
  • Chanessa Richa'rd
    Producer
  • Cymya Johnson
    Key Cast
    "Andrea"
  • Antonio Charity
    Key Cast
    "Jamie"
  • Dareionte' Kinder
    Key Cast
    "Brandon"
  • Gentel Sherrie
    Key Cast
    "Level Headed Stepper"
  • Ayanna Lock
    Key Cast
    "Popular Kid Stepper"
  • Tanazjha Washington
    Key Cast
    "Follower Stepper"
  • Karla Blumenberg
    Key Cast
    "Chaundra"
  • Chris Petow
    Editor
  • Joel Guzman
    1st AC
  • Mr. Benjiii
    1st AD
  • Nehemyah Gray
    Script Supervisor
  • Kara Grimes
    MUA
  • Jessica Munoz
    2nd AC
  • Year Itzel
    2nd AC
  • Zachary Chen
    DP
  • Taylor Shart
    Set Design
  • Raza Rizvi
    Set Design
  • Jonny Williams
    Casting Director
  • Brenda Maben
    Wardrobe
  • David Parker
    Wardrobe
  • Evan Hartney
    Sound Mixers/Boom Operators
  • Su Lee
    Sound Mixers/Boom Operators
  • Jarrod Stuckey
    Gaffer
  • Megan Corcoran
    PA
  • Samantha Duran
    PA
  • Mike Majors
    BTS
  • Nae Sewell
    BTS
  • Tyler Cooper
    BTS
  • Anthony Purnell
    Grip
  • Ty Willy
    Original Music
  • Jason Harris
    Original Music
  • Odinero
    Original Music
  • Awleen
    Original Music
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 6 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 30, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • LA Shorts International Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    July 28, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Micheaux Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    October 21, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Las Vegas Black Film Festival
    Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Ann Arbor Black Film Festival
    Ann Arbor, Michigan
    Midwest Premiere
  • Atlanta Short Film Festival
    Atlanta
    Best Proof of Concept
  • California Women's Festival
Director Biography - Chanessa Richa'rd

Chanessa Richa'rd has forged a distinctive path into filmmaking, beginning during graduate school where she created a documentary aimed at helping high school students weigh the advantages and drawbacks of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) versus Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). Drawing on her background in psychology, she delved deeper into her subjects, culminating in a second documentary that tackled important yet often overlooked issues within the Black community.

Her journey has been enriched by advising, mentoring, and coaching college students, experiences that honed her leadership skills in facilitation, team building, time management, and logistics across diverse backgrounds. Her passion lies in nurturing growth in others, which she views as her superpower. For Chanessa, filmmaking is a collaborative endeavor, where she channels her openness and skills to weave compelling narratives.

Proudly incorporating her personal experiences and challenges into her craft, Chanessa has written and directed two narrative shorts: "Her Prerogative" and "Three's A Crowd". These films serve as platforms for important conversations within the Black community and provide visibility for Black queer individuals. Her master's degree in leadership complements her role as an effective and influential director, guiding her crew through every stage of filmmaking with empowerment and purpose.

Chanessa's ultimate goal is not just to complete projects, but to leave a lasting impact on her team, enhancing their strengths and preparing them for future endeavors. Her commitment to fostering talent extends beyond her films, aiming to elevate her crew members regardless of their future collaborations.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Three’s A Crowd was born out of necessity — it was something I had to create to heal. It is my story. Growing up, I lived at the intersection of pain, love, and fractured family ties. My father was a constant presence in my life, yet absent in my brother’s. That contrast — how two children could have two vastly different experiences of the same parent — is at the core of this film.

Writing it was not easy. Both my father and my brother have since passed away, and I wanted to honor them in a way that showed their humanity — their flaws, their complexities, and the love that existed even in the midst of conflict. At the same time, I was navigating my own history of abuse and what it meant to carry those invisible scars while trying to mediate between the people I loved most.

This film is my attempt to give voice to those who grew up in families where love and pain were inseparable, where abuse and silence left lasting marks. It is for anyone who has struggled with complicated grief, fractured families, or the longing to be seen.

Ultimately, Three’s A Crowd is about survival, compassion, and the complicated ways we carry those we’ve lost. In telling this story, I wanted to make sense of my own history, but also to create space for others to feel seen in theirs.