Black Man Films’ “Silent Partner” begins production this week in New York City, marking the feature directorial debut of accomplished DP Eric Branco.

Based on the Academy Award®-qualifying short film of the same name, “Silent Partner” is written by actor and Black Man Films co-founder Roderick Lawrence, James J. Johnson and Branco. 

Rounding out the cast are: Stephen Hill (“Magnum P.I.”), Haskiri Velazquez (“Saved by the Bell”), Welker White (“The Irishman”), Karen Aldridge (“Fargo”), Isabella Pisacane (“This is the Night”) and Shoshana Bean (“Wicked”). Casting is by Bess Fifer and Aaron Schoonover of Fifer and Associates.

Director Branco’s previous film and television credits as DP include “Let the Right One In,” “Bupkis,” “Clemency” and “The 40-Year-Old-Version.” His work on “Story Ave” recently netted him an ASC Spotlight Award nomination, as well as a Special Jury Award for Cinematography at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival. 

“Silent Partner” centers around a Black attorney (Lawrence) in New York who is thrust into a stand-your-ground case by a senior partner (Perry). He is asked to defend a white woman who has murdered a Black teen. The story focuses on the attorney’s moral struggle, his relationship with his wife (Heyward) and the Black professional experience of microaggressions in the workplace and systemic racism in the justice system.

The original short film, created by and starring Lawrence and lensed by Branco, screened at 21 festivals (four Oscar qualifying), earning eight awards and nominations. It additionally was a finalist in the HBO Max Latino Short Film Competition, before qualifying for the Oscars.

“Silent Partner” is produced by Lawrence and Salma Qarnain of Black Man Films and co-produced by Cameron Tyler Carr (“Harlem Fragments”) and James L. Walker Jr. (“MJ: The Musical”). Qarnain is managed by Multi-Ethnic Talent.

In his work as a highly-acclaimed actor, Lawrence has performed in stage productions including playing Ike Turner in the National Tour of “TINA: The Tina Turner Musical” and receiving the Best Actor Award from the 2022 BronzeLens Film Festival. Lawrence is represented by Douglas, Gorman, Rothacker & Wilhelm (DGRW).

Qarnain is a Pakistani American interdisciplinary storyteller, producer and actor. In addition to her work on Black Man Films’ “Silent Partner” and “Speak Up Brotha!,” she recently starred in Broadway’s Tony Award-winning “Life of Pi” and holds a holds a B.S. from Stanford, an S.M. from MIT, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.