I need to make a short film like I need another hole in the head, but…there’s this idea that has literally been burning-up my gray matter for the better part of a decade. In 2002 I went so far as to write a 3-page treatment, which was subsequently lost in one of many 
computer upgrades. I’ve made seven short films so my focus is generally feature films, but this particular idea –let us call it Moonlight Prodigy– is more suitable as a feature.
Like my current film project, “Legend of Black Lotus,” “Moonlight Prodigy” is what I call film festival fodder. It’s the kind of story and concept that programmers eat up. All of my previous films have been genre stuff, which I like, but let’s face it who doesn’t want to have a short film accepted into Sundance or Slamdance based on its emotional, slice of life theme.
So..while I haven’t yet decided to actually go ahead and make this film, it would be cool to do it now while I am in the throes of pre-production with “Black Lotus”. There are some things that I am committed to, however. One this is, I’ve decided that my cast will be entirely African American. While the story isn’t necessarily “Black” per se, I have not yet made a film with predominately and primarily Black people. Being a Black writer/director has allowed me to submit to certain “Black themed” film festivals, but you’d never guess “Black” when looking at my cast.
But color is just a small part. I’m going to reduce my main cast to just four people and keep the film’s running time under 22 mins. I literally want to wreck people’s emotions for 20 mins, roll credits and then send them on their merry way. I already know who I’ll ask to shoot it, and this is one film for which I might jump back into the editor’s seat — just for the first cut.
Then of course there’s the thing about raising money and blah blah blah, which I don’t yet know how I will handle. I need a Greyhound bus for this shoot. Where the EFF do I rent a Greyhound? And casting? Casting should be fun since my main cast is very young (for me).
If I somehow jump into gear and actually write the story down by September 20th (my personal deadline) I might consider taking this challenge on. But if I don’t complete a rough draft by the 30th I will put a pin in this idea, stick it to the wall and wait until the time is right.
