IN-DEVELOPMENT

THE PURPOSE OF WINTER (writer/director)

A mysterious creature triggers a dark descent into the past for an artist in the mountains of North Carolina. Unlocking the secret that could finally bring him peace.

Brad is currently developing his second narrative as writer/director, THE PURPOSE OF WINTER, based on his personal experience with child sexual abuse and sexual violence. A social impact film project created as a response to the child sexual abuse endemic. Connecting with survivors - and all types of audiences - through a journey of hope.

A visceral representation of trauma and its impact. Story as a compelling tool for outreach.

A space for individuals to consider experiences in their own lives that may have caused significant mental health challenges, with accompanying resources to address this public health crisis. Supported by a network of international issue non-profit organizations and experts.

The independent film project is being financed as a hybrid of tax-deductible contributions through donor-advised funds and conventional equity investors (with an AI capital angle). 

Contact Producer Eric Hollenbeck with Hollenbeck Film + Experience for more information.

READ “THE PURPOSE OF WINTER” SCREENPLAY

ACCESS “THE PURPOSE OF WINTER” DECK

IN-PRODUCTION

What is truth?

Today’s public discourse often eschews accuracy for a more convenient narrative. The temptation to spin a story based on what we want the truth to be instead of facing the situation head on, leaving those issues to further fester and decay.

BULLSH#T is an episodic audio documentary program that dives deep into this tendency from multiple perspectives, interweaving personal narratives as we explore our shared history and the continuing complexity of race in America.

Season One explores the 23-year development of the International African American Museum (IAAM), where a cross section of Charlestonians, including game-changers from the Civil Rights movement, work to hold the political guard accountable as the city builds a $120M African-American museum. Battling broken promises, false narratives, and other BULLSH#T along the way.

An old school feature-film documentary, in the vein of THE THIN BLUE LINE and PARADISE LOST.

A working-class family in South Carolina is falsely accused of raping and murdering multiple women over the course of two decades. When their young son became the next target, what factors converged to create this travesty, and what does that show us about the psychology of prejudice and dehumanization?

Timothy Da’Shaun Taylor’s mugshot was on national news when he and his father Shaun were accused of murdering and raping 19yo Brittanee Drexel. This was despite the Taylors having an ironclad alibi and the existence of an obvious suspect…who ended up being the guilty party.

According to the FBI, and then local and national media, Timothy and Shaun kidnapped Brittanee, gang raped her with a group of men, and were going to “trick her out” for pay. The Taylors’ then killed Brittanee in a fit of fury and dumped her body in an alligator pit.

None of that was true.

As the Taylors pursue a lawsuit against the FBI, this documentary film will tell their compelling story. Discovering the real Timothy – his experiences, his challenges, his flaws – in the process. Not the caricature created by law enforcement and the media to serve their interests.

And it will explore the psychology behind that dehumanization, interlacing visceral and analytical approaches as we examine the trappings of otherism and tribalism. These reflexive human traits that, when go unchecked, devolve into oppression, aggression, violent self-righteousness, and corruption.

Please review the project deck here for more info. Comment and query are welcome. Please reach out to brad@indiegrants.org.

Read reporting on the story by journalist Isaac Bailey, a Race in Media professor at Davidson University and producer on the TIMOTHY project:

The Charlotte Observer
The Sun-News (Myrtle Beach, SC)