Drama • Short film
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PROJECT SUMMARY
Dana Wise grapples with the emotional ups and downs of taking care of her schizophrenic 19 year old son. Her love allows her to ignore the severity of KJ’s illness until he has a violent outbreak that puts his life in jeopardy. Dana, then makes an extreme, unconventional choice to help save and protect her son from himself. However, that choice could ultimately change their lives forever.
Writer, Director Tomeka M. Winborne has created this film to bring awareness to the trauma and mental health challenges caregivers often quietly experience while caring for their loved ones.
PROJECT MISSION
Our mission for “Wise Love” is to bring awareness and to honor the sacrifices that many caregivers make to care for their loved one. We seek to highlight the issues and encourage better self care and support systems for caregivers with this movie.
In many situations, the caregivers’ mental health is sometimes compromised due to their lack of self care because they devote most of their energy to ensuring that their loved ones are cared for and safe. Our team hopes that after viewing this film, people will:
- honor the caregivers in their lives
- be more conscious to also check on caregivers and provide relief to them
- inspire caregivers to make time to take care of themselves during their caregiver journeys
- caregivers will feel that they are not alone and that we see and hear them
- caregivers will find or create support systems during and maybe after their journeys
- normalize mental health in the communities of Black and brown people. There should be no shame in our family members suffering with mental health
Why Stories Like This Matter
Stories like “Wise Love” matter because this is a topic that is overlooked in our conversations. Many caregivers suffer in silence and feel isolated in their caregiver journey. Caregivers sacrifice their time, resources, physical and mental energy to be there and support their loved ones. But, we need to be there for them in their time of need so they have the support in those challenging moments. This film, Wise Love, is to start a conversation that brings awareness to the sacrifices and mental health issues that many caregivers endure while gracefully caring for their loved ones.
Tomeka M. Winborne is a writer/director/producer. She considers herself a social impact filmmaker. Additionally, she’s in post-production for a short film, “WISE LOVE.”
2005, Tomeka wrote her first novel “WHERE MY STRENGTH COMES FROM”. After getting an eight state book signing deal with Waldenbookstore, she was inspired to see her stories on visual mediums.
In 2009, she wrote and directed her first short film, “PASS ME BY.” Since then, she has directed two commercials, one PSA and three additional short films that center around social issues including “AGED OUT” which was selected in the 2018 BronzeLens and CineOdysee Film Festivals. Additionally, “AGED OUT” was used for the Department of Human Services and other nonprofits to bring awareness to young adults aging out of the foster care system.
Tomeka was selected as a participant in the “AWD Directing the Actor Lab-2021” six month hands-on lab taught by Jennifer Warren, AWD Chairperson and Founder and University Southern California Professor. Currently, Tomeka has several industry mentors and a career coach that is helping her navigate to accomplish her goals to direct episodic TV and film.
Tomeka serves as the Board of the ALLIANCE OF WOMEN DIRECTORS and chairs the South Branch and the Black Directors Advancement Initiative. She is also a member of WOMEN OF COLOR UNITE, BROWN GIRLS DOC MAFIA, and THE VIDEO CONSORTIUM.
Previously, Tomeka served as a board member on the Hampton Roads Chapter of the VIRGINIA PRODUCTION ALLIANCE board in 2015. She has volunteered as a film reviewer for SOUTHERN ARTS and THE MID-ATLANTIC FILM FESTIVAL.
Gleana Albritton is a producer, writer and a reformed marketer having worked for many years as a digital media & marketing exec in the entertainment and technology space – including AMC Networks International, Twitter, A+E and fuse TV. In 2017 she launched her production company, Sisu Media Group to create, develop and produce content for and about women. “Walking The Dog While Black” #WTDWB was the first project Gleana directed, produced and co-wrote through her company.
Most recently Gleana produced award winning web-series “Grounds” written by playwright and TV writer, Natalia Temesgen. When not directing, writing, or producing her own projects- Gleana can be found on set working with up-and-coming filmmakers primarily as an Assistant Director. Gleana has been an Associate Programmer for the Bentonville Film Festival and has written about TV/pop culture with bylines in Metro NY, CultureSonar, and Levo League (defunct). In addition to her work as Communications Chair for Alliance of Women Directors South she is a member of Women of Color Unite/The JTC List, and Digital Cinema Society.
Gleana is currently developing narrative feature film (Love at the Roots), episodic (Blended the webseries), and short film projects (Wise Love & The Chaplain).
Alexxiss Jackson is a Director of Photography and Camera Operator with over 15 years of experience in the industry, as well as an Adjunct Cinematography Professor at Spelman College.
She is a member of the Society of Camera Operators (SOC), Sporas, and the International Collective of Female Cinematographers (ICFC).
She has served as Director of Photography on numerous pieces, ranging from narrative films, commercials, branded content, music videos, and more. She has lensed for entities such as Vogue Magazine, BET+/Tyler Perry Studios, and Kroger. Her work has been recognized by a number of international bodies, including film festivals across the United States, Canada, Australia, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Spain, the Netherlands, and the UK.
She holds a dual degree in Film/Video Studies and English from the University of Michigan. She also completed the Summer Film Program at the University of Southern California. Alexxiss was spotlighted on Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls in March 2018. Also in 2018, she was invited to speak publicly at TERMINUS Conference+ Festival, where she presented a seminar entitled “Cinematography: Crafting a Look with Lenses and Filters”, which was very well received.
IMDb – Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Kelli and her family eventually found their way to the west coast. Kelli graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature, but it was her teen acting jobs on shows such as Saved by The Bell the College Years, Blossom and The Parenthood (With Robert Townsend) that solidified her plans to make Los Angeles home. Kelli has played opposite Sandra Bullock in the feature All About Steve and opposite Robert DeNiro in the popular film Little Fockers. She has appeared in dozens of television titles including Dexter, Prison Break, Scrubs, Prison Break, Will & Grace, Frasier, Criminal Minds, Private Practice, CSI Miami, Shameless, Jane the Virgin, Brooklyn 99, Animal Kingdom and Superstore. Kelli has also had recurring roles on Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy, Gortimer Gibbons Life on Normal Street, Bosch, The Fosters, as well as playing Jon Voight’s girlfriend on Ray Donovan. When not spending time in front of the camera, Kelli enjoys traveling, cooking and riding roller coasters with her son, Apollo.
- Christopher Ammanuel – Kevin “KJ” Wise Jr.
- Ryan Robertson – Kevin Wise Sr.
- Troy Faruk – Richard
Samantha Hunter – Line ProducerErica Colquitt – 1st AC
Elizabeth Gottshall – 2nd AC
Sandra Turenne – Sound
Ariel Driskell – Script Supervisor
Alexa Hiramitsu – Gaffer
Itzel Fernandez – G & E Swing
LeTrese Freeman – Set Design
Fileeta Christian – Hair and Make-up artist
Shanaya Steave – Custom Designer
Gladys Edeh – BTS Photographer
Damita Howard – Stunt Coordinator
Elle Hughes – Casting Director
Lex Benedict – Editor
Emily Bailey – Colorist
Terea Tarver – Music Supervisor, Composer and Sound Design
Chaun Pinkston – Executive Producer
Tiona Brady – Executive Producer
