Pan African Film Festival 2019 – 83 Days
A short film/proof-of-concept about the youngest person in U.S. history to be put to death by electric chair.
Interview with Director/Producer Andrew Paul Howell
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
My great uncle was Clerk of the Courts and played a part in the injustice in voter registration in the segregated south. I feel it is my duty to help bring these stories to life to ensure we do not make these same mistakes again.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
If you are a lover of history or passionate about social justice, this story, as sad as it is true, will show you a piece of our history that has been buried for decades.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
83 Days is about humanity. If we cannot be treated equally, regardless of race, sex, religion, etc., we will never be able to move forward.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
When Ray Lenard Brown started writing this script over seven years ago he had no idea the impact it would have on his life. While researching he found pertinent information that led him to abandon the script temporarily to help in the efforts of getting George Stinney, Jr. exonerated. Unable to stray from his original story, Summer Michele Howell came onboard to cut the full script down to the short, proof of concept we have today. And the two have partnered to rework and rewrite the full feature that is just waiting to be told. All we need is an investor to help bring this story to life. And with the exoneration of Junior seventy years after his execution, we can now leave our audiences with a bit of hope that, even though it may be too late for Junior, justice can be served.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
83 Days is very somber. There are regularly tears in the audience. Some have said you don't enjoy it, you experience it; and that it felt like thirty minutes of an Oscar-nominated film. We have been well received and most leave thanking us for making this story known.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
We knew we had the responsibility of telling an important story so the feedback has been encouraging that maybe this is the perfect timing and the hearts of the people are right to acknowledge a wrong and try to move past it.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
83 Days still needs funding to make the feature film. The more people aware of this story, the better chance we have of finding that investor and sharing this story with the world.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Investors and distributors! We are looking for $3,000,000.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We hope 83 Days will bring awareness to our own history and create an opportunity for dialog between parents and children on how to handle confrontation by law enforcement.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What lessons can be learned from this event in 1944 and what changes need to be made to our criminal justice system so we don't continue making these same mistakes?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
83 Days feature film script is complete. We are looking for a $3m investor to help bring it to life. Andrew & Summer Howell are also currently working on "Ink to Ashes", a mini-series based on the Tulsa race riot of 1921, another historical moment that has been stricken from text books. The most affluent black community, referred to as Black Wall Street, was under attack and 35 square blocks burned to the ground. We have a complete pitch packet and much of the script written. We are looking for $26m to make the 6-12 episode mini-series.
Interview: February 2019
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
83 Days
A short film/proof-of-concept about the youngest person in U.S. history to be put to death by electric chair.
Length: 29:18
Director: Andrew Paul Howell
Producer: Ryan Dennett-Smith, Lucius Baston, Autumn Bailey
Writer: Ray Lenard Brown & Summer Michele Howell
About the writer, director and producer:
ANDREW PAUL HOWELL has been a member of the film and television community for over 20 years. He developed his lighting skills working his way through the electric department before finally returning to his first love, photography. Working alongside Emmy nominated director, Richard Lopez, for many years, Andrew grew from working as his Gaffer, to ultimately becoming his DP. Together, Rick and Andrew create many acclaimed TV series; most notably History Channel’s Emmy award-winning miniseries “The Men Who Built America”. Through this project and many others, Andrew developed extraordinary skills, excelling in the art of making period films. Andrew’s love of creating beautiful images can be witnessed on History Channel, Discovery Channel, AMC, H2, CMT, TMC. 83 Days is Andrew's directorial debut.
RAY LENARD BROWN fell in love with film and began writing short stories when he was 11 years old. Since that time he has published three novels. He has been working on 83 Days for seven years and was pivotal in helping get Junior exonerated. 83 Days Short Film is SUMMER MICHELE HOWELL's first produced narrative work and will be Andrew and Summer's debut as a writer / director team. She cannot wait to share 83 Days Feature Film, which she completed writing with Ray; along with many other narrative works still in development.
Key cast: David Keith (Mayor Jenkins), Brett Rice (Sheriff Hawkins), Matthew Bellows (Deputy Clarkston), Dejean Deterville (George Stinney, Jr), Lucius Baston (Al Johnson), Steven Reddington (Dan Gray, Jr), Nadej Bailey (Maggie Stinney)
Looking for: sales agents, distributors, buyers
Facebook: 83 Days
Twitter: @83DaysFilm
Instagram: @83DaysMovie
Website: https://www.83daysfilm.com
Other: IMDB
Made in association with: 3rd Shift Media
Funders: self-funded
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? International Houston Black Film Festival/ Houston, TX- 3/28-31; Crossroads Film Festival/ Jackson, MS- 4/11-13; ME Film Festival/ Milledgeville, GA- 4/23-28