On Time (Short Film)

Bringing Light to a Problem:
On Time follows the life of Renee Johnson, a mother forced to make a dangerous decision for the sake of her child. Six months unemployed and desperate, Renee realizes this isn't the life she want for her seven-year-old daughter, Imani. Renee receives an interview for a job, but doesn't have the funds to keep her in daycare. So on a hot, searing Los Angeles day, Renee leaves Imani in the car as she goes in for her interview. Renee lands the job, but walks outside to find cops breaking into her car to take Imani away. Renee watches as her child is taken away, and she's arrested for trying to find a better path for herself and her daughter.

For many, our protagonist's only crime was being black, poor, and female. For others, regardless of her situation, her decision was reprehensible. Still, it is not cut and dry. While the inspiration for the story found help, I want to follow the normal trajectory. Where most parents are on their own.

The Breakdown:
On Time came into fruition through researching stories of the juvenile dependency court as well as foster families, and foster homes. Many people (and most audiences) have never seen the reunification process for parents and children, children's court, the workload of children protective services caseworkers, or the overwhelming disparity parents of color find themselves in when dealing with juvenile court. I want to bring these problems out in the open. An audience should leave this film emotionally moved, but with an understanding of the legal system for parents and children in regards to the reunification process.

The story will revolve around Renee and Imani, the mother and daughter. This is a story centering on a parent of color fighting to regain her child. In my artistic statement, I speak of oppression, but I'm not trying to paint an institution as unfair, but objectively portray the system. That alone will bring out the apparent injustices.

Our main character Renee, is a woman who views life differently from me. Rather than accuse the system, she wishes to show she can work in it to succeed. This is where her ideology and mine come to a head. By doing whatever is necessary to provide, she sets herself into this downward spiral, but the audience must see the system has forced her into this situation, though she see it as only her fault.

The tone of this film is serious, and pensive. It is denoted by the belief in hard work and hope, that's dashed by reality. The visual style will be a dichotomy of color. The people, places, and locations that are precious to Renee will be warm, red. The people, places, and locations that are dangerous to her, will be cool, blue. The visual style will also be reminiscent of cinema verite, where the camera leads us to truth.
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(1) School you attended while the film was made/script was written. - USC School of Cinematic Arts
(2) Whether the school you have listed is an undergraduate college or university or a graduate college or university (i.e. film school). - Graduate College
(3) Country in which the school you attended is located. - USA