Help Fund our Film “BATEAU”: A Gullah-Geechee Story

I’m Joshua Parks—a filmmaker, writer, and community organizer raised in Jacksonville, Florida. My Gullah-Geechee roots stretch over six generations to James Island and Sol Legare Island in South Carolina. Growing up, I heard family lore about my great-great grandfather, once enslaved in South Carolina and later a soldier in the 104th Regiment United States Colored Troops (USCT) during the Civil War, my great-grandfather who was a master fisherman, boat builder, and net maker, and his son—also a master fisherman—who tragically drowned at sea. These accounts inspired Bateau, a film that honors their memory and celebrates the resilience and cultural richness of the Gullah-Geechee people and their connection to Africa and the people of the Atlantic World.

Here are some images of my family who inspired this film:

About the Film

Bateau is a short film set during the Reconstruction Era in a Gullah-Geechee fishing community. It follows a young boy’s transformative journey after the loss of his grandfather, exploring themes of grief, resilience, and the unbreakable ties between land, water, and ancestry.

Why Your Support Matters

We are independent Black filmmakers and cultural workers committed to telling this story with authenticity. While the South Carolina Indie Grants have helped us start, we need your support to complete the film.

Our biggest costs include:

How You Can Help

Your donation will directly fund these vital set pieces and other production essentials like costumes, crew, and equipment.

Help us share BATEAU and bring Gullah-Geechee culture to the world through film.

Click “Donate” now to help bring this important film to life.

Thank you for your support,

Joshua Parks, Co-Director-Writer