LIGHT HEART the Film
Donation protected
THE STORY
When Fatima finds the heart of the world it’s up to her and her sister, TT, to save it from The Dark Energy force.
Fatima is getting bullied at school by a girl named Jessica. After witnessing her big sister get knocked down, TT takes matters into her own hands when she tries to use the heart to defeat Jessica. Luckily, Fatima stops her before things get out of hand.
The girls are sent home all the while TT sneaks out on a quest to find Jess for round two, but when The Dark Energy emerges the girls are faced with bigger problems than a school bully.
WHY THIS STORY?
This story is personal to me because I see myself in these young girls. It's extremely important to me to show humanity in young people of color. Society has a way of demonizing young black and brown kids no matter what the situation is. In creating this film, Light Heart, my goal is to pour light and love into people's hearts. I want to be able to bring an element of connection and empathy for these characters. Bringing them to life will reveal to the world little black girls can also be smart, cool and fierce. As a filmmaker, it is my responsibility to represent our youth in a positive light and show not only society, but also young black and brown children, that their lives matter too.
-Assata Jackson
Writer & Director of Light Heart
THE PERKS
$5
For a cup of coffee, this perk will get you a personal shoutout on social media. #GoLightHeart
$25
All of the above and a Light Heart writing pen.
$50
All of the above and a Light Heart mug.
$100
All of the above, Light Heart tote bag and your name in the film credits.
$500
All of the above, direct link to the film and Light Heart #RepresentationMatters T-shirt.
$800
All of the above, Associate producer credit.
$1,500
All of the above, an autographed Light Heart poster from cast & crew, and an Executive producer credit.
Meet The Crew
WRITER/DIRECTOR
Assata Jackson, a native of Long Island, New York, Assata holds a B.A in communications with a focus in broadcast production from Bethune-Cookman University. While there Assata wrote and produced, Show Me What You Got, a school televised program. She had the opportunity to intern at Black Entertainment Television and work on shows like Bobby Jones Gospel, 106 & park, and With Or Without. She recently interned at one of the top management companies in Hollywood, The Gotham group.
As an MFA film student at the University of Southern California, Assata dedicates her life to making a difference through filmmaking. Her short film Kwame was accepted into the DC Black Film Festival 2017 and Rapport Film Festival. She hopes to inspire, educate, and motivate people through her work.
PRODUCER
Megan Sousa, born Megan Ashley Sousa, hailing from Connecticut, is a SAG-AFTRA actor, voice over talent, comedian, writer, host and producer known for her lead role in "Zero" (2012), which premiered at the American Black Film Festival landing a 2-year broadcast on HBO, HBO GO and Cinema and now airs on Aspire TV.
Megan has worked with award-winning film directors such as Regina King, Chris Robinson, John Swetnam, Terri Timely, Kimberly Townes, Ryo Rex, Nia Phillips, Juel Taylor, Hunter Lee Hughes, Derek Dow and Carey Williams.
She expanded her portfolio in producing behind the lens with short films The Virgin Michael Short starring Malcolm David Kelley, executive produced by Bow & Arrow. And she also wrote, starred and produced a comedy series Fred Unplugged, inspired by her stand-up comedy beginnings. Megan has a Co-Star role in the new ABC TV show "Ten Days in the Valley" (2017) and in the feature film "Guys Reading Poems" (2017), currently playing in select theaters. Megan landed ABC Pilot "The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez" (2016) playing alongside Gina Torres. She produces, writes and performs in a live variety show with her comedy troupe, Cornbread Kitchen, monthly at Upright Citizens’ Brigade.
PRODUCER
Nicole L. Thompson is a filmmaker born and raised in Newark, New Jersey. From a young age she developed a passion for television and filmmaking. She received her Bachelor of Arts from The College of New Jersey where she majored in Communications Studies with a concentration in Radio/TV/Film. She also studied filmmaking at Northumbria University in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. She is currently studying at the University of Southern California where she is pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts in Film & TV Production at the School of Cinematic Arts. At USC she proudly serves as the president of the African American Cinema Society.
PRODUCER
Juliette Beneich was born and raised in Paris, France, by a musician mother and a photographer father. After growing up surrounded by art in every form, she decided to pursue a career in filmmaking, which she started at Paris 8 with a license, before moving to Los Angeles and attending UCLA Extension for a Directing Certificate. Juggling between Directing, Producing and Editing, she started a Master of Film & Television Production at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, from which she will be graduating in May. While in Paris, Juliette assistant produced seven short films screened at the Cannes Film Festival, and in LA she worked on the Award-Winning film Lalo's House, directed by Kelley Kalí as well as the feature film All About Nina, which hit theaters in Fall 2018. She is mentored by Jon M. Chu (director of Crazy Rich Asians) and Dominique Besnehard (producer and creator of Call My Agent, available on Netflix). From there, only the wind knows where it will take her.
CO-PRODUCER
Originally from the East Bay Area, Zoë Alyce Salnave has worked in film and creative writing since she was 14 years old. Her passion for filmmaking grew as a young documentarian producing narratives rooted in issues of diversity, community, sustainable living, and urban rehabilitation. Her work has been recognized at film festivals across the world and she has won several awards for her documentary work with urban development, community gardening programs, and raising awareness of youth initiatives in Berkeley and Oakland, California.
She was accepted to the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts in 2016 and has since been honing her craft in Writing, Directing, and Producing narrative film while earning her Masters in Los Angeles. She will be a recipient of an MFA in Film and Television Production in May 2019. Salnave explores the genres of drama, comedy, and the combination of the two while telling stories from underrepresented perspectives and communities. She is pursuing episodic television production and feature filmmaking at USC. Zoë is dedicated to storytelling that is diverse, inclusive, and progressive, using her experience and education surrounding cultural studies and poetic storytelling. She is invested in showcasing people in real-life situations that reflect the nuance and complexity of our world while combining the timelessness of comedy and real-stakes drama through a diverse lens with strong female characters at the center.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Tiffany Spriggs is an Oakland-born graduate of San Francisco State University’s department of Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts. She first dove into the arts in middle school, where she became involved in music and production through student orchestras, stage management, and set design. With her talent and drive established at an early age, Tiffany committed herself to create content that starts conversations and incites change. Tiffany is currently living in Los Angeles, where she works as a Production Assistant for The Dr. Phil Show when she isn’t producing, directing, or writing original screenplays. She’s working toward creating a production company that will open the door to young voices who are looking for a place to be heard.
Thank you for watching!
We need YOUR help in bringing this vision to life.
Every share counts. Every tag counts. Every donation counts.
Check in for updates throughout our campaign.
#GoLight #LightHeart
#RepresentationMatters
When Fatima finds the heart of the world it’s up to her and her sister, TT, to save it from The Dark Energy force.
Fatima is getting bullied at school by a girl named Jessica. After witnessing her big sister get knocked down, TT takes matters into her own hands when she tries to use the heart to defeat Jessica. Luckily, Fatima stops her before things get out of hand.
The girls are sent home all the while TT sneaks out on a quest to find Jess for round two, but when The Dark Energy emerges the girls are faced with bigger problems than a school bully.
WHY THIS STORY?
This story is personal to me because I see myself in these young girls. It's extremely important to me to show humanity in young people of color. Society has a way of demonizing young black and brown kids no matter what the situation is. In creating this film, Light Heart, my goal is to pour light and love into people's hearts. I want to be able to bring an element of connection and empathy for these characters. Bringing them to life will reveal to the world little black girls can also be smart, cool and fierce. As a filmmaker, it is my responsibility to represent our youth in a positive light and show not only society, but also young black and brown children, that their lives matter too.
-Assata Jackson
Writer & Director of Light Heart
THE PERKS
$5
For a cup of coffee, this perk will get you a personal shoutout on social media. #GoLightHeart
$25
All of the above and a Light Heart writing pen.
$50
All of the above and a Light Heart mug.
$100
All of the above, Light Heart tote bag and your name in the film credits.
$500
All of the above, direct link to the film and Light Heart #RepresentationMatters T-shirt.
$800
All of the above, Associate producer credit.
$1,500
All of the above, an autographed Light Heart poster from cast & crew, and an Executive producer credit.
Meet The Crew
WRITER/DIRECTOR
Assata Jackson, a native of Long Island, New York, Assata holds a B.A in communications with a focus in broadcast production from Bethune-Cookman University. While there Assata wrote and produced, Show Me What You Got, a school televised program. She had the opportunity to intern at Black Entertainment Television and work on shows like Bobby Jones Gospel, 106 & park, and With Or Without. She recently interned at one of the top management companies in Hollywood, The Gotham group.
As an MFA film student at the University of Southern California, Assata dedicates her life to making a difference through filmmaking. Her short film Kwame was accepted into the DC Black Film Festival 2017 and Rapport Film Festival. She hopes to inspire, educate, and motivate people through her work.
PRODUCER
Megan Sousa, born Megan Ashley Sousa, hailing from Connecticut, is a SAG-AFTRA actor, voice over talent, comedian, writer, host and producer known for her lead role in "Zero" (2012), which premiered at the American Black Film Festival landing a 2-year broadcast on HBO, HBO GO and Cinema and now airs on Aspire TV.
Megan has worked with award-winning film directors such as Regina King, Chris Robinson, John Swetnam, Terri Timely, Kimberly Townes, Ryo Rex, Nia Phillips, Juel Taylor, Hunter Lee Hughes, Derek Dow and Carey Williams.
She expanded her portfolio in producing behind the lens with short films The Virgin Michael Short starring Malcolm David Kelley, executive produced by Bow & Arrow. And she also wrote, starred and produced a comedy series Fred Unplugged, inspired by her stand-up comedy beginnings. Megan has a Co-Star role in the new ABC TV show "Ten Days in the Valley" (2017) and in the feature film "Guys Reading Poems" (2017), currently playing in select theaters. Megan landed ABC Pilot "The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez" (2016) playing alongside Gina Torres. She produces, writes and performs in a live variety show with her comedy troupe, Cornbread Kitchen, monthly at Upright Citizens’ Brigade.
PRODUCER
Nicole L. Thompson is a filmmaker born and raised in Newark, New Jersey. From a young age she developed a passion for television and filmmaking. She received her Bachelor of Arts from The College of New Jersey where she majored in Communications Studies with a concentration in Radio/TV/Film. She also studied filmmaking at Northumbria University in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. She is currently studying at the University of Southern California where she is pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts in Film & TV Production at the School of Cinematic Arts. At USC she proudly serves as the president of the African American Cinema Society.
PRODUCER
Juliette Beneich was born and raised in Paris, France, by a musician mother and a photographer father. After growing up surrounded by art in every form, she decided to pursue a career in filmmaking, which she started at Paris 8 with a license, before moving to Los Angeles and attending UCLA Extension for a Directing Certificate. Juggling between Directing, Producing and Editing, she started a Master of Film & Television Production at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, from which she will be graduating in May. While in Paris, Juliette assistant produced seven short films screened at the Cannes Film Festival, and in LA she worked on the Award-Winning film Lalo's House, directed by Kelley Kalí as well as the feature film All About Nina, which hit theaters in Fall 2018. She is mentored by Jon M. Chu (director of Crazy Rich Asians) and Dominique Besnehard (producer and creator of Call My Agent, available on Netflix). From there, only the wind knows where it will take her.
CO-PRODUCER
Originally from the East Bay Area, Zoë Alyce Salnave has worked in film and creative writing since she was 14 years old. Her passion for filmmaking grew as a young documentarian producing narratives rooted in issues of diversity, community, sustainable living, and urban rehabilitation. Her work has been recognized at film festivals across the world and she has won several awards for her documentary work with urban development, community gardening programs, and raising awareness of youth initiatives in Berkeley and Oakland, California.
She was accepted to the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts in 2016 and has since been honing her craft in Writing, Directing, and Producing narrative film while earning her Masters in Los Angeles. She will be a recipient of an MFA in Film and Television Production in May 2019. Salnave explores the genres of drama, comedy, and the combination of the two while telling stories from underrepresented perspectives and communities. She is pursuing episodic television production and feature filmmaking at USC. Zoë is dedicated to storytelling that is diverse, inclusive, and progressive, using her experience and education surrounding cultural studies and poetic storytelling. She is invested in showcasing people in real-life situations that reflect the nuance and complexity of our world while combining the timelessness of comedy and real-stakes drama through a diverse lens with strong female characters at the center.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Tiffany Spriggs is an Oakland-born graduate of San Francisco State University’s department of Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts. She first dove into the arts in middle school, where she became involved in music and production through student orchestras, stage management, and set design. With her talent and drive established at an early age, Tiffany committed herself to create content that starts conversations and incites change. Tiffany is currently living in Los Angeles, where she works as a Production Assistant for The Dr. Phil Show when she isn’t producing, directing, or writing original screenplays. She’s working toward creating a production company that will open the door to young voices who are looking for a place to be heard.
Thank you for watching!
We need YOUR help in bringing this vision to life.
Every share counts. Every tag counts. Every donation counts.
Check in for updates throughout our campaign.
#GoLight #LightHeart
#RepresentationMatters
Fundraising team (2)
Assata Jackson
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
Tiffany Nicole
Team member