Pearls

"What is the Price to be a Pearl?"

Pearls

"What is the Price to be a Pearl?"

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Proof of Concept Dark Comedy-Drama

More About Us

You’ve seen college, but not like this. Written by former Division 1 Collegiate Cheerleaders, this dark comedy-drama follows an elite group of athletes at the prestigious Tuttle University.  Late for the last practice of training camp, new freshman Sasha must battle her eclectic group of teammates and her icy coach to keep her spot on her image-focused, nationally-ranked cheer team in the vibrant, but turbulent city of Miami.

This short film will be used as a teaser/proof of concept for a longer series that has been in development since 2022. The series will focus on themes circulating around the college experience, both inside and outside of athletics.We will follow the team as they balance their sport whilst navigating their identities and becoming adults at the rigorous Tuttle University in Miami. Unlike other films/tv shoes featuring cheerleading, this show will feel authentic as the main cast will undergo rigorous training, accompanied by Division 1 cheerleaders as team members, to be able to perform actual stunting and tumbling skills.

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As we have wrapped filming on principal photography, we are now seeking finishing funds for our film. The funds raised will go toward:

  • Post Production
  • Coloring
  • Music Composition
  • Festival Applications
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Crew Biographies

BRANDI STEVENS

WRITER, DIRECTOR
Biography

TORREY CROSBY

CO-WRITER, PRODUCER
Biography

BRITTANY WILKINS

PRODUCER
Biography

ESHWA EKA

CO-PRODUCER
Biography

EDDIE MUSA

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Biography

Gallery

Director’s Note

My college tenure as a student-athlete at the University of Miami was a very unique experience. I was awarded an education from a Top 50 University (in which admission was granted based on academic achievement, not athletic), a chance to cheer at one of the most prolific college sports programs in the country, and was able to do it in the diverse, innovative, and vibrant city of Miami.  In the short film PEARLS, we strived to portray this experience in a humorous, and at times, dark light.

The most impactful part of my experience however was the family I made with both the team and coaching staff. On a diverse team, composed of athletes from different regions, cultures, class statuses and religions, our only commonality was this sport that we dedicated our lives to for so long. We all united together, because of the sport, but together we challenged each other athletically and personally. This made each of us grow so much as individuals that by the time graduation came, it was not the thought of never cheering again that brought us sadness, but knowing we had to leave each other. In this short, and the subsequent series to follow, while cheerleading is the backdrop, friendship is the story.

The perception of cheerleading in mass media is not representative of the actual athleticism of the sport. The days of “READY?! OKAY!” cheerleading is long gone. PEARLS shows not only the rigor of the sport from an athletic standpoint, but the intensity of competition the sport brings. As a former D1 cheerleader, it was important to show cheerleaders as multi-dimensional beings, who are not always as pristine as the ‘Pearls’ name states, especially during a crucial development phase such as college. They make mistakes, let loose and struggle to find their way as much as any college student or athlete.

Taking influence from dark-comedy/drama hits Succession and The Bear, and campy favorites Glee & HEATHERS, we combined dark, satirical humor with dramatic elements to create a campy, awkward, anxiety-inducing rollercoaster that we hope you enjoy.

Brandi Stevens
Writer | Director

Special Shout Out To

  • Life University Cheerleaders
  • Georgia Tech Cheerleaders
  • Spelman University Cheerleaders
  • Eagles Elite Cheerleading

Contact

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ABOUT US

  • Address: Atlanta, GA
  • Email: beestreetprod@gmail.com

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Crew Biographies

Brandi Stevens is a writer and director originating from Northern Florida. Combining her love of classic films with progressive ideologies, she creates intimate stories utilizing vibrant color palettes that evoke a feeling of timelessness. She is drawn to stories rooted in themes concerning self-discovery, relationship dynamics and social/political commentary.

 A graduate of the University of Miami with her B.S. in Film and Communications, it was there she developed her passion for filmmaking. As a sophomore, she wrote and directed the film Sweetheart, winning the award for Best Picture and Best Actress at the Scares and Scores Film Festival in Miami. Her most recent short film, Impression was an official selection for the Atlanta Film Festival and Richmond Film Network Festival (2023). She is currently in post-production on her next short film PEARLS, premiering later this fall. She continues to write, direct and produce independently and through her production company, Bee Street Productions, focusing on stories that showcase Women and People of Color in ways that deter from the status quo, but are in fact an accurate depiction of our lived experience.

Crew Biographies

Torrey Crosby is an NYU Stern MBA graduate specializing in entertainment, media, and technology and a first-time producer and writer based out of New York City. Torrey believes that storytelling, in all its forms, is the most powerful tool for conveying humanity and building community, and it is necessary to live a life of compassion and empathy. They intend to nurture understanding by helping people share their stories through the power of film and art to capture the nuances of the human experience, whether that be through directing, producing, writing, or creating spaces for others.

 Torrey hopes to produce storytelling that is engaging, thought-provoking, and emotion-evoking to craft an impact that is enduring and moves the culture forward. Eventually, Torrey would like to support others’ artistic endeavors while continuing to teach at the university level to support the next generation of creators and changemakers, establishing spaces for art and artists in a realm where they are often appreciated but undervalued.

Crew Biographies

Brittany Wilkins is a Producer in Atlanta, GA. After graduating from Georgia State University with her degree in film, she began working in film production in Atlanta in 2017. She has experience as a Production Coordinator & Producer’s Assistant on projects including Creed III, Black Adam & Bad Boys 4

Crew Biographies

Eshwa is a filmmaker based from Chicago. Discovering a passion for filmmaking after university, She moved to Atlanta to join the profession. She has worked as a 2nd Assistant Director, 1st Assistant Director and Producer.  She films emphasis on distinctive visuals, genre-mixing, black humor, and sudden tone shifts.

Crew Biographies

Creating visual pieces has been a dream of Eddie’s since a youth. Growing up in Silver Spring, Maryland afforded Eddie the opportunity to see and interact with a diverse outlook on the world. A child of Sierra Leonean immigrants, Eddie has utilized the framework of community building and maintaining relationships to amplify and secure work as a film multi- hyphenate. Those relationships and community coupled with his work ethic and hard skills has presented opportunities for Eddie to work on numerous projects with clients such as Paramount, NBC Universal, and BET, just to name a few. Upon graduating from Morgan State University, Eddie and his classmates created Musa Mali TV; a creative agency that produces innovative black visual stories.

He draws inspiration from 90’s black cinema, Italian neo realism of the 1940’s, and early 2000’s hip-hop music videos. Eddie is married to his lovely wife of three years and enjoys traveling, watching films, and spending time with family.