Unspoken pain, hidden strength—discover the valleys Lee must navigate to heal and rise.
The Valley Beneath Us
A featured-length narrative film following Lee, an unemployed journalist, exploits his brother's vow of silence for a comeback story, only to uncover painful truths about his own childhood trauma.
Lee, an unemployed journalist, is living out of his late father's car in NYC. One day, he receives a letter from his mother, asking him to come home because his little brother has taken a vow of silence. Lee sees this as an opportunity to write a comeback story, only to uncover painful truths about his own childhood trauma once he returns home.
This film is a character study about grief, exploitative journalism, and father-son relationships.
The Story
Our film explores the hidden depths of the human mind, focusing on how unconscious memories and unresolved emotions control our actions. Through the lens of dementia and psychological fragmentation, we examine how past traumas shape our present, challenging viewers to confront the invisible barriers that prevent authentic self-expression and personal freedom.
Breaking traditional media representations, this film delves into the emotional complexity of Black masculinity. We follow Lee's journey from emotional detachment to vulnerability, challenging stereotypes and revealing the nuanced inner world of Black men often unseen in film.
While black cinema has certainly expanded in terms of representation over the last two decades, we still need to normalize black stories. We need more black stories that live in their own bubbles, without a need to be a shadow casted upon a white background. How many films can you name that feature both an all black leading cast and subject matter beyond drugs, violence, and poverty?
The Valley Beneath Us presents a compelling character study. Lee represents society’s tendency to sensationalize stories–to see those around us as characters to be used rather than complex human beings to be truly heard. Now, more than ever, we need to listen to and understand each other without ulterior motives.
From Anger to Forgiveness by Earnie Larsen is one of those purely remarkable self-help books that lives with you forever. I am deeply indebted to this piece of literature, and I have been meditating on a feature film based on this book for years now. Lee's journey in TVBU precisely reflects the book's title: he learns to reconcile with his past to transform the negative anger he bears into forgiveness for his family.
The main relationship in the film is between Lee and his little brother, Glenn. Despite being decades apart in age, they learn to speak to each other like twins. Films that pair young and old characters (The Pursuit of Happyness, Harold and Maude) bring a fresh dynamic to the screen, and my main purpose for bringing Lee and Glenn together is to push Lee closer to his inner child.
The atmosphere of this film will be largely dark and foggy, like Lee's memories. There will be elements of magical realism, momentarily catapulting us into surreal environments, only to jump back into a grounded reality.
Lee traverses through desolate beaches, empty houses, and rural dirt roads. Through his solo journey, he meets people that remind him he is never truly alone.
Storyboard Sample by Jonas Ma
A dream sequence within the film. Lee traverses through corridors, the ocean, and a church.
Would you like to support mental health awareness? Would you like to support the evolution of black cinema? Do you enjoy watching movies about family and love? Then making a contribution to this project is perfect for you! Please share with a friend and join the team!
Mission Statement Today, many of us dream of going viral, and Lee's story examines the effects of seeing others as stepping stones rather than complex individuals. Through his journey, we explore how past wounds influence present behavior, spotlighting the overlooked mental health challenges of Black men in America.
Context We are currently in pre-production of our project. We have casted all of our actors, and now we are securing locations and filling out paperwork to ensure our production is up to Union standards.
After we shoot the film in May-June, we will have a theatrical premiere in New York City. We will be submitting the project to film festivals, as well as working to land the project on a distribution platform. This way, you can watch the film at home any time you'd like.
We are working with Union actors, so we will abide by proper compensation and quality of work protocols. Your contribution will help ensure that we will have the tools to make our production as professional as possible.
Our target is $56,268, but as of now we aim to raise $19,000 in the next month. We will need to make deposits in March to ensure elements like payroll and Worker's Comp are all taken care of.
We want to maximize product quality while reducing cost; therefore, we have taken the time to consider each dollar that will be spent during the production. Your contribution will translate to a specific, essential second in each day of our production. Thank you.
If our project surpasses our funding goal, we will be able to submit our film to more festivals and properly pay crew members that will be making lower wages during production.
On behalf of the entire cast and crew, I would like to thank you for joining this project and making a contribution to our feature film. Creating a 90-minute film from start to finish is no small feat, and your help will make the process unfathomably easier. We are extremely passionate about this project, so thank you for your time and support, as it will help our efforts to start conversations about mental health and ultimately make a great film that speaks to the heart.
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Check out this campaign for The Valley Beneath Us, an independent, all-Black feature film set to premiere in Summer 2025. Any level of contribution helps!
