WATCH "PLEDGE: LOOKS ARE DECEIVING" HERE: Help raise funds for the production cost of the original vampire HBCU series, "Pledge: Change is Good." The goal of the series, "Pledge", is to explore a fictional species of black vampires who face black problems. We want to show the world that our struggles are real and they matter. This series is not just about entertainment; it's about starting a conversation, raising awareness, and inspiring change. Donation Milestones: At $5K, we raised enough to feed our cast & crew for the entire 2 week shooting schedule! At $8K, we raised enough to lock in our locations, set dressing and props! At $10K, we've raised enough to secure professional hair, makeup, and wardrobe stylist! At $12K, we've raised enough to hire our professional sound mixer & composer to score the film! Cast of "Pledge: Looks Are Deceiving" Prequel (Pictured: Kendrick Denose, Lotanna Muonagor, Alexys Johnson, G Anthony Joseph, Joshua Anyasike, and Julious Alexander) Mission Statement: We believe that this series has the potential to appeal to a wide audience, including fans of both supernatural dramas and stories that explore the unique experiences of HBCU students. By showcasing the challenges and triumphs of these students in a creative and engaging way, we hope to raise awareness about the importance of HBCUs and the value they bring to American higher education. Conceptual Basis: For centuries, vampires have been portrayed as creatures of the night who fear sunlight and drink blood. What if there was an HBCU of vampires? They would rock gold-grilled fangs, throw the best day parties, and have a plug at the red cross blood drive. In this series, we explore the unique story of black student vampires and how they are breaking the mold of traditional and mythical stereotypes in vampire culture. The series, tentatively titled, "Pledge," is a supernatural drama that takes place on a fictional HBCU campus. It follows the lives of a group of students who discover that some of the fraternities and sororities on campus are actually run by vampires. As they navigate the dangerous world of vampire fraternities, they also face the challenges of college life, including classes, relationships, and personal growth. Tone Our series will dive into internal conflicts such as toxic masculinity, mental health stigma, and substance abuse, as well as external issues such as systematic oppression, adolescent homelessness, and gang violence. We want to portray the struggles of our characters in a raw and authentic way. Overview: The series takes place in Transylvania County, North Carolina in the fictional town of Crainsville. Most of the story unfolds on the fictional HBCU campus of E. C. Brooks University, where we are introduced to our protagonist, Deonte Lewis, a college freshman who seeks revenge against a group of students responsible for his older brother's death. He discovers that these students are in a vampire fraternity and decides to infiltrate and expose them by pledging. As Deonte dives deeper into the world of the black vampire community, he discovers that there is more to the group than he initially thought and that his quest for revenge may have unforeseen consequences. History: This series historical preface dates back to 1837, when African students studying in Transylvania were informed of the first American black institute, Institute for Colored Youth, now know as Cheyney University in Pennsylvania. Soon after the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, the rise in opening HBCU’s intrigued the now-vampire African community to migrate to the U.S. Thereafter, Vampire community leaders began the establishment of black vampire fraternities to further protect their culture, secrets, and lifestyle from the outside world. Chi Alpha Nu Pi derives from its English translation “vamp” and was founded as the first black male vampire fraternity followed by its soror counterpart: Eta Alpha Nu Pi, translating to “gamp”, which was founded as the first black girl vampire sorority. Theme: Throughout the script, each of the challenges is deep-rooted in the reoccurring theme that change is good. In an effort to ground this supernatural world in reality, the staples in this story focus on an array of internal struggles, which are addiction, grief, or an identity crisis via external conflicts, such as being hazed, getting expelled, and exposing the truth. The series explores how embracing change can lead to a greater sense of self-acceptance and empowerment through the perspective of black young people. Our protagonist undergoes a dramatic mental and physical transformation when he turns into a vampire. This change is framed as a positive one, amplifying the idea that change can be scary and overwhelming at first, but ultimately lead to growth and new opportunities. Characters: Protagonist: Deonte “D” Lewis, 17 We are introduced to Deonte after his only brother’s funeral and before the barrel of a 9mm glock. He must choose between enduring abuse from his uncle or joining his brother in death. Interrupted by his brother’s widowed girlfriend, he follows down the path of revenge by becoming a college freshman and pledging the fraternity responsible for his brother’s death. Love Interest: Jaylin Mack, 20 Jaylin falls in love with Deonte, a freshman, and tries to encourage him to join the Chi Alpha Nu Pi brother fraternity. As an Eta Alpha Nu Pi herself, she is highly involved in the Greek community and plays an active role in recruiting new members. Her role as a love interest creates tension and conflict as Deonte navigates his feelings for her while also trying to find his place in the fraternity. Antagonist: Charles "CJ" Brooks, 21 As the leader of the fraternity, CJ takes his role very seriously and is determined to maintain his position at any cost. He is a shrewd and calculating individual who always thinks two steps ahead of his opponents, which makes him a formidable adversary. Mentor: Gregory "Greg" Prichard, 39 Greg is secretly a vampire who was outcasted for wanting to expose CJ's father for committing many crimes through the Alpha Chi Nu Pi chapter when he was in school. Despite his supernatural abilities, he has chosen to live a life of anonymity and serves as a janitor on campus. He understands the power dynamics of the university and is aware of the secrets that the fraternity has been trying to keep hidden for years. Sidekick: Jamal King, 19 As a a character who is naive, optimistic, and always willing to help others, Jamal serves as the sidekick to Deonte, the main character, and the newest member of Alpha Chi Nu Pi. As Deonte's best friend, Jamal is always there to offer support and guidance. He is fiercely loyal to Deonte and will do anything to help him achieve his goals. Despite his flamboyant appearance and outgoing personality, Jamal is an outcast and is struggling to find acceptance. He is bisexual, which makes him feel even more isolated and alone. However, his desire to fit in and be accepted by others motivates him to become a part of the Alpha Chi Nu Pi brotherhood. Rival: Jasmin Mack, 20 Jasmin's position as President of Eta Alpha Nu Pi has made her full of hubris and pride. She believes that she is untouchable and that her word is law. She has made CJ, her boyfriend, promise not to induct Deonte into his fraternity and will stop at nothing to make sure that he keeps his word. Jasmin's desire for power and control has made her a formidable adversary, and Deonte will have to tread carefully if he wants to come out on top. Stock Parent: Uncle Henry, 57 Uncle Henry's story arc is focused on his struggle with alcohol addiction, which follows him after his vampire transformation into an addiction to drinking blood. Throughout the story, he experiences highs and lows, ultimately leading to his transformation into a better person mentally and physically. Ally: Breonna “Bre” Hamilton, 19 Bre is introduced as the positive, selfless, and glass-half-full personality before she faces the tragedy of losing her boyfriend, Tre, sending her into a spiraling state of widowhood. Breonna's story is one of overcoming tragedy and finding a new purpose in life. Confidant: Joseph White, 45 Mr. White is the only white teacher at this HBCU. He is also an alumnus of the university, which gives him a unique perspective and connection to the school and its students. Joseph is a wise and knowledgeable character who is often sought after for guidance and advice. He is seen as a mentor and teacher, possessing an abundance of wisdom and insight. Joseph also happens to be obsessed with discovering the truth about the existence of black vampires. Foil: Natalie "Nat" Thompson, 20 Nat's journey begins at Brooks University, where they found their calling in social media after two years of struggling with their identity. They are a free-spirited and restless round character who uses social media as a coping mechanism for their struggle with identity. Award Winning Sizzle Reel Short "Pledge" (5 minutes): Proof Of Concept Prequel "Pledge: Looks Are Deceiving" (18 minutes: Development: In July last year, Ariel K. Harris wrote and directed the short film, “Pledge,” which was used as proof of concept for an original TV series idea. The sizzle reel, consisting of a single scene, won multiple awards at a few lower-level film festivals: Best female filmmaker and best horror short, best sound & music, and audience choice at another. After its festival run, we submitted for a 100-person test screening to collect data. We used this feedback to complete 7 full episodes, which have now been arranged into a 4-part limited series tentatively named, "Pledge: Change is Good." Why Now? Join us in breaking barriers and shattering stereotypes in the entertainment industry! It's been 50 years since the first on-screen black vampire appeared in William Cranes' 1972 Blacula film, and since then, only 25 black vampires have graced our screens. Meanwhile, the Twilight Saga features a whopping 58 non-black vampires. Moreover, there have only been 10 TV or film references to HBCU Greek life, starting with Spike Lee's 1988 School Daze. It's time to change that with our groundbreaking new series, "Pledge." Featuring an all-black cast, Pledge will not only entertain but also promote representation and inclusivity. With your help, we can make history and bring diversity to the forefront of the industry. About Director: Ariel K. Harris started as a freelance videographer in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2014. Falling in love with the art of filmmaking at a very young age, she thrives to create the perfect visual for each of her projects. During her military service, she had the chance to produce hundreds of projects across the U.S. having well-diversified skills in writing, directing, cinematography, and editing. Ariel has both an eye and a passion for all things film. Currently attending The Los Angeles Film School, "Pledge: Looks Are Deceiving" is her graduation thesis used as a proof-of-concept for a full Vampire HBCU series that she wrote after the success of her single scene short, "Pledge" filmed as a collaborative class project in 2024. She is the sole creator of the story and writer of the shorts and full series. Director's Statement: "My goal for 'Pledge' is to tie a knot in history between two things I love. I can identify with every emotion I’ve given to these characters. I have been through every scenario I’ve written into their lives. And I believe my truth will individualize this 'vampire show' from the rest. I know that representation, imagination, and relatability are the ingredients of something powerful and I want to give that to my community. I want to give BLACK to my community." ***All camera equipment, lighting equipment and grip gear will be provided free of charge by The Los Angeles Film School*** Our Team: Our team is a dynamic and passionate group of filmmakers who are committed to bringing a never-before-seen black story to the screen. Our team is comprised of U.S. Mili Veterans, The Los Angeles Film School students and HBCU Alumni who have joined forces to create something truly unique. Our journey began as a class project, which evolved into a single-scene short film sizzler that quickly gained traction and captured the attention of our audience. The positive feedback we received inspired us to develop the project further. We are proud to say that our hard work has paid off after winning four awards at our first festival run in 2024; a testament to the dedication and talent of our team. We have a deep understanding of the black experience and we are committed to bringing it to life in a way that has never been seen before. We are passionate about our craft and we believe in the power of storytelling to inspire change. Our team is dedicated to bringing diversity and inclusion to the forefront of the film industry and we are committed to telling stories that matter through our fully-developed series, "Pledge." Thank you for considering supporting our team. Your contribution will help us to continue bringing diverse and powerful stories to the screen. (Cast & Crew of Proof of Concept Prequel "Pledge: Looks Are Deceiving" 6/11/2024) We need your support! In conclusion, we cannot make this project a reality without your help. Our team consists of passionate and dedicated individuals from diverse backgrounds such as filmmaking, activism, writing, law, architecture, art, and cultural theory. We are reaching out to you to join forces with us! We sincerely appreciate your willingness to support us in this endeavor. Together, we can provide a platform for these important stories to be seen and heard. Thank you for joining us in creating this black vampire show. (Director Ariel K. Harris and the Cast of Pledge: Looks Are Deceiving at the Screening. 7/3/2024) FOLLOW US ON ALL PLATFORMS FOR MORE BEHIND THE SCENES, MERCH, AND CAST/CREW INFO: CLICK HERE FOR TIKTOK CLICK HERE FOR INSTAGRAM CLICK HERE FOR YOUTUBE Disclaimer: no raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or promotions are offered in exchange for any donations made to your LFEBridge.
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