Introducing Justin
Current Projects
Getting Mom to Paris
A film about two siblings from a broken home reconciling on the journey to take their late mothers ashes to the place she never got to go but always dreamed of: Paris.
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Movie Title: Getting Mom to Paris
Genre: Comedy Drama
Length: Feature film
Plot:
An estranged brother and sister duo in their thirties travel across the world to fulfill their mother’s dying wish of having her ashes spread in Paris, France.
Completing this task brings up traumatic memories of growing up in a black family with an abusive father, sweet anecdotes of their mother, and sibling rivalry.
Set in the present day, "Getting Mom to Paris" explores the emotions of gratitude and grief, and how two siblings can cope so differently after a major loss - even though they both loved their mother equally.
For their mother, Paris was utopia - the place where the world was perfect. It was a dreamland away from pain and the stresses of a troubled marriage and financial insecurity. Because their mother needed to work several jobs to make ends meet, she was never able to fulfill her dream of making it to Paris.
Her son, Michael, a successful therapist suffers from crippling anxiety. He is judgemental and elitist. Lauren, his sister, is a public defender and lesbian feminist who resents her brother for the love that she feels she didnt get from her mother or father. They haven't spoken for 10 years.
The opening scene is the two siblings seeing each other for the first time in a decade at their late mother’s memorial service. Afterward, as they are going through her things, they find a letter addressed to both of them. This letter contains clear and simple instructions from their mother.
“You guys need to forgive, and move forward.
But seriously, you’ll have to because you’ll be taking my ashes to Paris. I want you to put them in the Seine.
Love,
Mom”
The film is an intimate look at how multidimensional families handle grief and a heartwarming account of
siblings reconciling amidst the beautiful backdrops of Pasadena, California, and Paris, France.
Micah
For the first time, the world will be granted access into the inner workings of a mega church staff through the eyes of their most recent hire, Micah.
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Show Title: “MICAH”
Genre: Comedy, Mini Series
Length: 20 minute episodes
Show Description: “Micah” is a comedy drama with inspirational undertones.
For the first time, the world will be granted access into the inner workings of a mega church staff through the eyes of their most recent hire, Micah.
“Micah” follows young black pastor, Micah Whitaker, who has recently taken a job as the new young adults pastor at an all white, large “mega” church in a suburb of Los Angeles. Micah is fresh out of seminary and eager to begin his new role at Blue Creek Church (BCC). BCC, a church that was once thriving, has recently been criticized for a lack of diversity and a failure to reach a young audience, causing their financial and membership numbers to decline rapidly. They are desperate to find a solution, and unbeknownst to Micah, their hiring him is their attempt to try to save the church’s image.
Micah’s character development unfolds as the audience learns that becoming a pastor is the path that he feels he is supposed to take, yet he struggles with wanting more for his life. He incessantly absorbs youtube motivational videos and podcasts. In his quest to feel better, he works out, gets morning sunlight, and tries to do anything he can to “hack” his way into reaching his higher self.
Simply observing his morning routine, one would think he is a superstar head pastor. Instead, he is the lowest paid pastor in an experimental, ornamental role. As he realizes the futility of his role, his discontentment grows.
As the “pastor of young adults”, and the first black pastor on BCC’s staff, he is confronted with how the church addresses, or rather doesn’t address issues of mental health, addiction, gender, love, identity, systemic racism, and more. While he intends to help the church face these issues, he realizes that BCC’s leadership isn’t really interested in changing anything at all.
Each episode humorously observes how Micah navigates church dynamics, his growing dissatisfaction with his job and life, and the impact he happens to have on the lives of young people that are seeking answers to questions about life, faith, and the world they live in.
Sapp Stories
A humorous and heartwarming one-man-show portraying different characters.
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Show Title: Sapp Stories
Genre: Series of Short Films, Anthology Format
Length: 20 minute episodes
Show Description: Sapp Stories is a series of short films based on different characters played by Justin Sapp.
We meet an old jewish man mourning the death of his wife, Lucy; a Vietnam War Veteran who finds deep meaning as a custom photo framer; a young black man aspiring to make it as a country music singer; and a desert gardener from Louisiana. Each one of them has a touching story that leaves the audience feeling inspired, hopeful, and connected to themselves and others. Not since Eddie Murphy have we seen a black man inhabit a variety of characters so effortlessly.
