In this comedy horror tale, three Black friends wake up to a nightmare — a dead white woman on the floor of their Airbnb. Tensions rise, sweat beads and accusations fly, but they slowly come to a terrifying truth — this house is killing white women!

Interview with Director/Actor Jerah Milligan

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

Thank you. This short was actually a part of series that James Carr, James III, Jon Braylock and myself wrote way back in 2016. I wanted to make the short film because I have always believed in how funny and poignant that idea was. I love the idea of creating art that doesn't poke fingers at other people but is a reflection of ourselves. I don't believe that anyone is perfect and this project allowed us to have a conversation about both race and gender in a comical way.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

Audiences will laugh, learn, and be shocked by the twist ending. I want the audience to have a good time watching Mahogany Drive. That's the importance of cinema: to entertain and educate. I believe we've accomplished that task with our film.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

I've learned that most things I write and want to direct in the future all feature: hope. I'm not interested in making an audience sad for sad's sake. I want to showcase Black stories in a variety of ways while also showing that this is something that can make our audience smile.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

We originally wrote this script so long ago that when it became time to adapt it for the short we need to make cuts to tighten the screenplay while also updating the dialogue to match the changing social-political climate of our current time.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

So far the feedback has been positive. Honestly, I'm just proud of the work our cast and crew have done on the short. As long as they're happy - I'm happy.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

I would love to get more eyes on the short so that our cast and crew's work can be seen by more people. We are also looking to turn the short into a feature so any press to help find financing would be much appreciated.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

The more festivals we get into and the more positive press we receive help us when it's time to pitch our feature to production companies.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

I would like this film to start a conversation. No one's perfect and I think it's ok to learn to become a better person. I want people to see that this movie could have easily gone in one direction but we didn't. We turn those judgemental pointing fingers back to ourselves.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

How often do you think about helping or caring for someone else?

Would you like to add anything else?

Naw, I think that's it! I just hope everyone enjoys the film!

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

We are working on two features. One is a feature version of Mahogany Drive and the other is a comedy set in the tech world.

Interview: January 2023

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

Mahogany Drive

Length: 13:00

Director: Jerah Milligan

Producer: Blaine Morris, James Carr and Jerah Milligan

Writer: James Carr, James III, Jonathan Braylock and Jerah Milligan

About the writer, director and producer:

JERAH MILLIGAN is a Washington D.C.-born actor, comedian, director and producer. Jerah was recently admitted into the prestigious Viacom’s Viewfinder: Emerging Directors Program. His directorial credits include Astronomy Club for Netflix, Showtime’s Desus & Mero and MTV’s Wild ‘N Out. Jerah is a co-host of the podcast Black Men Can't Jump in Hollywood, a podcast that addresses the greater cinematic diversity problems at length. The show has evolved into an intersectional ally that focuses on different cultural perspectives in film. He was recently profiled in Variety's Comedy Impact Report with his sketch group Astronomy Club -- Jerah co-created, directed and starred in Astronomy Club: The Sketch Show with Netflix, which was executive produced by Kenya Barris and Dan Powell. He has also produced shows for MTV, the CW, MTV2, VH1, and Spike TV. He’s currently in development on his new show Sherlock Homies with a confidential streamer.

JAMES CARR, JAMES III, JONATHAN BRAYLOCK, and JERAH MILLIGAN are a writing and performing group named Black Men Can't Jump. They're written a web series with Seriously.TV and has a Comedy Central Snap Chat series called Keepin a Brotha Down. They use social commentary, genre, and comedy to create stories that are funny with a message.

Key cast: James III (James), Jonathan Braylock (Jon), Jerah Milligan (Jerah), Olivia Wendt-Fijal (Emily), Cop 1 (Addie Weyrich), Cop 2 (Margaux Calla Susi), Scientist (Tessa Hersh)

Looking for: distributors and buyers

Instagram: @mahoganydrivefilm

Hashtags used: #comedy #diversity #thriller

Funders: Indiegogo

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?

We are in Slamdance this January and will be at the Pan African Festival in LA this February.