Unconditional
On its surface, some may initially think Unconditional is a short about a heist. What is so compelling about this story is the multilayered relationships that are explored in this short film. Our protagonist Amari is a tortured individual who finds himself entrenched in a world that yields material spoils but leaves him emotionally embattled. Searching to balance the desires of his heart with the realities of his relationships, he makes a decision that tests the bounds of being Unconditional.
This short is especially powerful as it is told through the interpretation of first-time actors who also double as the writers of this powerful artwork that was shot over the course of 16 hours and produced by the Kids in the Spotlight Organization.
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Grant HousleyDirectorRite of Passage
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Nehemyah GrayWriter
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London JonesWriter
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Jameah PalmerWriter
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Sci ProudWriter
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Brooklynn ReignWriter
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DJ RussellWriter
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Tiffany ThomasProducerUnbraided
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Amber HarrisProducerRite of Passage
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Grant HousleyProducerRite of Passage
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Mike TranottiProducerOne Dark Night
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Justin DicksonProducerSnowfall
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Jude JonesKey Cast"Young Amari"
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Danielle MarieKey Cast"Miss Walker"
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Antonio CharityKey Cast"Mr. Palmer"
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Sci ProudKey Cast"Donte"
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DJ RusselKey Cast"Zaire"
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London JonesKey Cast"Amari"Rite of Passage
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Brooklynn ReignKey Cast"Laylani"
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Project Type:Short
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Runtime:18 minutes 53 seconds
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Completion Date:October 19, 2023
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Production Budget:4,000 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:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
Director/Producer/Writer Grant Housley found success early in his career by gaining the interest of Hollywood creatives with a script he penned while still in film school. His talents continued to afford him career changing opportunities to work at prominent studios like Disney Studios and his current place of employment, Paramount Pictures where he worked on some of the biggest films and most critically acclaimed television series in the world.
As a filmmaker, he has directed for scripted television, made for tv movies, music videos, and several award-winning short films with some of Hollywood’s most elite filmmakers such as Robert Munic (Empire, Power Force), and Lee Aronsohn (Two and a Half Men, Big Bang Theory). Grant also shares his experiences and lends his professional talents in classrooms, conferences, and workshops around the world. For the past 10 years, Grant has acted as the Executive Creative Director for Del-York Creative Academy, the premier filmmaking school in Africa. Using curriculum he developed, Grant has instructed over 3,000 students from the US, UK and Africa; many of whom have achieved notoriety with work screened in theaters globally and on platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, contributing to the rise of the new Nollywood industry seen today. His tremendous efforts have garnered him the prestigious 2019 Most Influential Person of African Descent nomination by the UN.
Grant continues to work on his craft and is working diligently on two projects currently in pre-production: an untitled feature scheduled for release in 2024 and a streaming series
he has developed.
I am always inspired by a really good story; particularly ones that allow me to tap into several areas of emotion. Unconditional examines the complexities of relationship dynamics – mother and son, friends and family, and right versus wrong. I wanted to explore how these connections inform life and death decisions often presented to urban youth.
This story allowed me to tap into several areas of emotion all of which shows up on screen. The body of work is reflective of the compelling script written by underserved youth.