IN-DEVELOPMENT

THE PURPOSE OF WINTER (writer/director)

Brad is currently developing his second feature-film as writer/director, THE PURPOSE OF WINTER, about an artist in the mountains of North Carolina who rekindles his passion for painting and unravels the mystery that may finally bring him peace.

With emotional authenticity, unique cinematic language, and magical realism, the film explores the complex ways adverse childhood experience impact us as adults, based on Brad’s personal experience with child sexual abuse.

The film will serve as an outreach tool for other survivors, with the backing and support of Darkness2Light, National Crime Victims Center, National Children’s Alliance advocacy centers, and top experts in the issue.

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

TIMOTHY (writer/director/editor)

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 that exists in all of us?

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 happened to be white.

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.

The Taylors were presented as murderous villains on national television. Received death threats throughout the ordeal. Lost their jobs and were ostracized by their community.

This would be a comedy of errors, if the reality wasn’t so tragic.

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.

Currently in-production, Brad and the Producers of TIMOTHY are seeking production and financial support, to be raised through grant financing, tax-deductible philanthropic contributions through donor-advised fund and fiscal sponsorship, and other contributions.

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)