Roses

A young woman, Jessica, has recently been blinded through a tragic stroke and she struggles to deal with the emotions and shock that come from such a traumatic event. Through what seems like a chance encounter at a bus stop, Jessica meets Kevin, an African American gentleman from a previous generation who carries a shocking and unexpected secret of his own.

Together, they face difficult questions and forgotten memories, and ultimately, Kevin must face the shadows of his past so that Jessica may embrace her future. "Roses" deals with the timeless truths of forgiveness, redemption, and faith while challenging every viewer to dare to live beautifully.

"Roses" stars GregAlan Williams from "Remember the Titans" and "Million Dollar Arm" and holds over 120 acting credits. "Roses" also stars Rachel Hendrix lead actress from "October Baby" and "The Perfect Wave".

"Roses" won "Best Short Film" at the 2015 International Christian Film Festival and "Best Short Film" at the 2015 Christian Worldview Film Festival, both of which are among the largest Christian film festivals in North America.

  • Alex Lerma
    Director
    Beyond the Mask, Polycarp, Where Are You Bobby Browning, Princess Cut
  • Alex Lerma
    Writer
    Beyond the Mask, Polycarp, Where Are You Bobby Browning, Princess Cut
  • Paul Hastings
    Producer
    Wanted
  • GregAlan Williams
    Key Cast
    Remember the Titans, Baywatch, In the Line of Fire, Million Dollar Arm
  • Rachel Hendrix
    Key Cast
    October Baby, The Perfect Wave, Mountain Top
  • Chris O'Brien
    Key Cast
    His Brother's Keeper
  • Victor Moreno
    Associate Producer
  • Jurgen Beck
    Composer
    My Name is Paul, Standing Firm, Beyond the Mask, Love Covers All
  • Ethan Ledden
    Cinematography
    Woodlawn, Beyond the Mask, Love Covers All, The Penny
  • Amelia Austin
    Production Designer
    Firefly, Wanted, Indescribable
  • Ben Billups
    Film Editor
  • Andrew Bolzman
    Unit Production Manager
    Touched by Grace, The Ultimate Life, A Chance of Rain
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Christian, Disability, Faith-based, Family, Faith, Drama
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 1, 2014
  • Production Budget:
    25,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Los Angeles International Short Film Festival (Oscar qualifying festival)
    Los Angeles, CA
    September 6, 2015
    Official Selection
  • Christian Worldiew Film Festival
    San Antonio, TX
    March 14, 2015
    Winner - Best Short Film
  • International Christian Film Festival
    Orlando, FL
    April 24, 2015
    Winner - Best Short Film
  • International Christian Film Festival
    Orlando, FL
    April 24, 2015
    Winner - Best Actor - Short Film
  • Clean Shorts Film Festival
    Choctaw, OK
    United States
    April 2, 2016
    Winner - Best XL Short
  • Christian Media Association
    Dallas, Texas
    United States
    October 13, 2017
    Winner - Best Exhibition Film
  • International Christian Film Festival
    Orlando, FL
    April 24, 2015
    Nominated - Best Actress - Short Film
  • Attic Film Festival
    Austin, TX
    April 25, 2015
    Nominated - Best Short Film
  • Hill Country Film Festival
    Fredericksburg, TX
    May 1, 2015
    Official Selection
  • Austin Short Film Fest
    Austin, TX
    July 30, 2015
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Alex Lerma

Everyone has a story to tell. I love helping them tell it beautifully.

From marketing videos to Hollywood sets, I've helped make a lot of films over the last several years. I've discovered that passionate storytellers come in all shapes and sizes, from polished business executives to bushy-haired movie directors. If you have a story to tell, a message to share, let's get in touch.

Whatever the message, it's way more fun to share it together.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

In many ways our lives are defined by how we cope with the fear and uncertainty of the unexpected.

There are moments when life hurls the unexpected at us with such force that it rips apart the delicate facade of social perfection we have worked so hard to build and reveals without warning the true nature of who we are.

In the short film Roses, we meet Jessica in one such moment. In the span of just a few short weeks, a freak medical condition has taken her eyesight, and with it, the hopes and dreams of her future.

In the midst of this defining period she meets a stranger with an unexpected secret of his own.

At its core, Roses is a simple exploration of human nature. It uses a backdrop of pain to paint a portrait of hope.

Its beauty lies in its simplicity.

The simplicity of the concept gave us the opportunity to approach the project with an incredible standard of excellence. Our goal was to assemble the resources and team necessary to tell this story the way it should be told, with no shortcuts.

Almost two years in the making, Roses carries the dedicated touch of some of the finest artists in the film community. It features the all-star talents of Rachel Hendrix (October Baby) and GregAlan Williams (Baywatch, Remember the Titans) and a veteran production team of industry professionals.

Roses was an extraordinary collaboration. The timeless themes of redemption, forgiveness, and faith embedded in the story are gifts of wisdom from the tight-knit community from which the film was born. It is a collective expression of these values; an expression we hope and pray will resonate with any and all who experience the film.

- Alex Lerma, Director