Black Rose is a short film about one woman who boldly exercises her right to body autonomy in order to claim her own path in life, despite what others might think or believe. Though the story is couched in the world of MMA, this theme could apply to any woman, in any career, at any age – especially now, in a time when access to basic, necessary, healthcare for everyone in America who is capable of pregnancy has been severely restricted.

With the help of our community, our team plans to produce Black Rose as a short film this September. Your fully tax-deductible contribution will ensure that we can bring this story to life! 

“
It’s one thing to fight for other people, but fighting yourself is different. If you’re fighting yourself, who wins? Who loses?” – Rhonda ‘Rowdy’ Rousey

Angela would have been among the first female MMA stars, but after years of battling through the training, her injuries, and her addictions, she gave it all up for a ‘normal’ life. Ten years later, after Angela and her husband try and fail many times over to have a baby, Angela decides to embrace what she believes to be her true calling, and the stage persona that comes with it; a vicious fighter whose battle-name is ‘Black Rose,’ so called for the imminent demise of her opponents. 

But.

Just when Angela is on the precipice of stardom once more, she discovers she is pregnant. What she does next will not only change the course of her own life, but it might just change the history of  MMA, and the world as well.

When I was five years old, I started to watch boxing on TV with my father. We would perch on the couch together, shell peanuts, and eat them with a glass of sprite. Dad would explain the finer points of the sport, happy to share one of his passions, though I was not a boy.

One day, my father decided that if I was so interested in boxing, perhaps it was time to teach me some. He stood me up, folded my little hands into fists, and showed me just how and where to throw punches. He taught me how to move my feet, how to pivot my hips, how to be dominant with just a look. 

Years later, I would have to prove myself as a martial artist and fighter to men who did not think women belonged. So, I know what it’s like to be both supported by, and to come into conflict with men in the sport. I know first-hand the kind of struggles women go through training, attempting to build relationships, families, and balance careers. 

My script is principally about a woman’s fundamental right to body autonomy, an issue which is extremely important to champion now, after the fall of Roe v. Wade.

Through my character, Angela, the audience will experience and understand what it is like to be a woman who is labeled as a villain for choosing herself and her body over the will that others might have for her. My hope is to show my female (and pregnancy-capable human) audience that I see them, hear them, and am doing my part to further this important conversation. I also intend to reach a wider audience that will relate to Angela in different ways.

MERRIDITH ALLEN (WRITER/DIRECTOR) - Merridith Allen is a New York City girl from a big, loud, Jewish, theater family. She started her journey in the arts at a young age, and now has an extensive background in martial arts, acting, dramatic writing, directing, and producing. Merridith’s passion for telling stories about women wrestling with their demons led her to develop stories that focus on female-driven martial arts, drama, action, and dramedy. As a playwright, Merridith's work has been produced nationally and abroad. Excerpts can be found in over a dozen anthologies through Smith&Kraus Publishers. As an award-winning screenwriter, Merridith’s work has been recognized in the top tier of such organizations as The Austin Film Festival, The Stowe Story Labs, Screencraft, The Black List, and The Made in a New York Writer’s Room fellowship, among others. Further, Merridith has been the recipient of several prestigious writing fellowships from such organizations as The Sewanee Writers Conference, VCCA, and the San Miguel Writers Conference. When she’s not trying to change the world on the page, stage, or screen, Merridith’s many day jobs have included story consultant, audio description writer, creative writing teacher, and yoga and martial arts instructor.

YUSUF OLANREWAJU (DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY) - Yusuf Olanrewaju (Lanre), hails from the western part of Nigeria, where he first developed a passion for film. With the unwavering support of his family, Lanre embarked upon a creative journey that brought him to every corner of the world, including representing Nigeria at the Cannes Film Festival, studying filmmaking and visual effects in India, and finally landing in Los Angeles to pursue his passions full-time. As a video generalist, Lanre is responsible for all areas of video production, such as 2D and 3D animation, and filmmaking. 

CAITLIN DAVIS (PRODUCER) - Caitlin Davis is a multi-hyphenate producer and writer whose work spans from sitcoms to documentaries for leading companies, including Netflix, Disney Channel, AwesomenessTV, and Funny or Die. Her short film "Noor" was produced in partnership with Women in Media, CBS Studios, and NBCU. Caitlin was a finalist for the Shondaland Women Directors Mentorship in 2023. 

ADAM MITROPOULOS (PRODUCER) - Adam Mitropoulos is a two-time Emmy winning writer/director/producer with over a decade working at major studios like CBS, Paramount, VH1, Foodnetwork and more. He is also the co-creator of the indie horror anthology “The Nexus” available on Amazon Prime and Tubi.

STEVEN LLOYD BENNET (EDITOR) - Steven Lloyd Bennett is an award-winning filmmaker born and raised in New Rochelle, NY. 'The City on the Sound' located on the outskirts of New York City. A son of Jamaican immigrants, his father a mechanic and his mother running a daycare business, Steven knows the value of hard work. Steven is the founder of JusB Films. A film production company that has to date made eight short films, a multiple award winning web-series, and is in development on two feature films.

NICK DOSTAL (FIRST AD) - Nick Dostal is an accomplished director with extensive experience in the theatre and film industry. Known for his multifaceted talent, Nick Dostal has made significant contributions as a writer, director, producer, and actor. In 2016, Nick Dostal’s short film “There I Go” garnered critical acclaim and won multiple awards, showcasing his storytelling prowess and directorial vision. With a strong foundation in various aspects of the industry, he continues to bring compelling stories to life and is thrilled to be assisting Merridith Allen in her directorial debut in “Black Rose.”

ROBBIE DAW (PRODUCTION ASSISTANT) - Robbie is a screenwriter who began his career as an executive assistant at Summit Entertainment (La La Land, The Hurt Locker) and worked in production for the E! channel before starting a decade-long ride as a journalist. In addition to writing horror, he and co-writer Tyler Steeler won the Producers Guild Of America's PGA Create Fellowship and placed as finalists for the Academy of Motion Pictures' Nicholl Fellowship with their dramedy feature script Doublewide Dreams.

- Securing talent

- Compensating Crew

- Production equipment and logistics

- Locations

- Meals and  Craft Services

- Set design, props, and costumes

- Post Production (Editing, Color, and Sound Mix)

We thank you for your time, attention, and support. Together, we will create a film that will literally and metaphorically fight for all generations of women.

To see us in action, follow our production at @blackrose_movie on Instagram!