Side Ninja is a seven-episode vertical series that blends comedy, romance, and the complications of modern dating. With episodes running under 10 minutes, the series delivers cinematic, character-driven storytelling in a short-form format built for today’s digital audience.

Created, written, and directed by Elton Holt, Side Ninja is a love letter to the Black relationship comedies that shaped him, from How to Be a Player and Two Can Play That Game. Blended with the honesty and relatability of modern shows like Insecure. Beneath the comedy is a story about vulnerability, ego, and the games we play to protect our hearts.

Tone & Influence: How to Be a Player meets Insecure.

Black audiences deserve more relationship comedies that feel authentic, stylish, and culturally specific. Side Ninja brings the spirit of the Black relationship films many of us grew up with into today’s dating culture and short-form landscape, while creating opportunities for talented Black creatives in front of and behind the camera.

Every dollar goes directly toward production. Your support helps cover cast and crew, locations, camera and lighting equipment, production design and wardrobe, insurance, meals, and post-production.

$12,500 — Enhance production design and wardrobe.

$15,000 — Additional production support, original score and festival submissions.

$20,000 — Expanded marketing, accessibility and additional crew support.

Side Ninja is moving on a tight production timeline, with filming beginning in mid-August and post-production continuing through the fall. While our goal is to raise as much as possible before cameras roll, the campaign will remain open throughout production and post-production. Every contribution along the way helps us cover production costs, post-production, marketing, festival submissions, and ultimately bring the finished series to its audience.

Side Ninja exists because people choose to believe in stories before the rest of the world sees them. Through our fiscal sponsorship with Fractured Atlas, eligible contributions are tax-deductible and help support production, post-production, marketing, and release.

Whether you donate, share the campaign, sponsor the project, or follow the journey, every form of support helps move Side Ninja forward.

Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @sideninjaseries for behind-the-scenes updates, cast and crew spotlights, and the road from production to release.