Serial Pictures has signed filmmaker Merawi Gerima for commercials, branded entertainment and music videos. This marks his first production company representation across these advertising and entertainment disciplines..
Already via Serial, Gerima has wrapped his first commercial, “Certified Lover Boy,” for Drake’s NOCTA X Nike line, launching the label’s custom AF1 in honor of Drake’s favorite childhood book “Love You Forever,” by Robert Munsch.
Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Gerima has seen his origin inform his work and his community-centered orientation. Gerima’s work focuses on going outside the boundaries of creative conventions to discover and cultivate an authentic storytelling accent.
Serial Pictures founding partner Violaine Etienne said of Gerima, “His work is evocative visually striking and sheds a light on important social issues. He is an important fresh artistic voice whom we are excited to introduce to the branded space.”
Gerima said, “Serial’s boutique, handcrafted, story-driven approach felt kindred from the outset. I’m proud to be working alongside some of the best producers and directors in the game.”
Residue, his hauntingly personal feature debut, was a communal endeavor shot in the neighborhood where Gerima grew up. Written and directed by Gerima, Residue follows aspiring filmmaker Jay (Obinna Nwachukwu) returning to his childhood neighborhood in Washington, D.C. that has been changed beyond his recognition. The film is an intense, thought-provoking, evocative and emotional story of social dislocation and broken lives set against the backdrop of gentrification in the District of Columbia.
Following its world premiere at the 2020 Slamdance Film Festival, Residue was honored with the festival’s Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature and the Acting Award for star Nwachukwu. Residue also was awarded Special Mention at the 77th Venice International Film Festival’s Giornate degli Autori and won the John Cassavettes Award at the 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards. The film was later acquired by Ava DuVernay’s Array and is currently streaming on Netflix.
Gerima has since directed television episodes for The CW series Naomi and OWN Networks’ Cherish The Day, created and produced by DuVernay. He is currently in post on his first music video.
Gerima grew up immersed in film. Prior to attending USC’s School of Cinematic Arts (encouraged by mentor filmmaker Bradford Young), he spent his childhood on film sets and in editing rooms with his filmmaker parents Shirikiana Aina and Haile Gerima. These legendary filmmakers of the LA Rebellion film movement have won multiple international awards for their best-known films Sankofa, Ashes and Embers, and Teza. They and Merawi Gerima all support each other’s films and provide support for other independent filmmakers through their non-profit film company, Positive Productions Inc.
Review: Director-Writer Megan Park’s “My Old Ass”
They say tripping on psychedelic mushrooms triggers hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia and nervousness. In the case of Elliott, an 18-year-old restless Canadian, they prompt a visitor.
"Dude, I'm you," says the guest, as she nonchalantly burns a 'smores on a campfire next to a very high and stunned Elliott. "Well, I'm a 39-year-old you. What's up?"
What's up, indeed: Director-writer Megan Park has crafted a wistful coming-of-age tale using this comedic device for "My Old Ass" and the results are uneven even though she nails the landing.
After the older Elliott proves who she is — they share a particular scar, childhood memories and a smaller left boob — the time-travel advice begins: Be nice to your brothers and mom, and stay away from a guy named Chad.
"Can we hug?" asks the older Elliott. They do. "This is so weird," says the younger Elliott, who then makes things even weirder when she asks for a kiss — to know what it's like kissing yourself. The older Elliott soon puts her number into the younger's phone under the name "My Old Ass." Then they keep in touch, long after the effects of the 'shrooms have gone.
Part of the movie's problem that can't be ignored is that the two Elliotts look nothing alike. Maisy Stella plays the coltish young version and a wry Aubrey Plaza the older. Both turn in fine performances but the visuals are slowly grating.
The arrival of the older Elliott coincides with her younger self counting down the days until she can flee from her small town of 300 in the Muskoka Lakes region to college in Toronto, where "my life is about to start." She's sick of life on a cranberry farm.
Park's scenes and dialogue are unrushed and honest as Elliott takes her older self's advice and tries to repair... Read More