home,
Away
"home, Away" is an allegorical drama exploring the internal worlds of Casper and Star, two young Black men struggling beneath the "unseen burdens" and toxic expectations of traditional masculinity.
The narrative is centered around a chance, late-night encounter on a fog-covered football field. We are introduced to the characters through the profound, unspoken weight they carry into the space- voiced by spoken word artist as their inner thoughts. The story follows a layered "unmasking." The tension of performing in the space—a place of impact and rigid rules—slowly dissolves as Casper and Star cautiously navigate each other's presence. "home, Away" revolves around the intersection of Black masculinity, queer identity, and mental health. I am tackling the specific "emotional stifling" that Black men are taught to endure, highlighting how vulnerability is often viewed as a liability rather than a strength.
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Our Team
The brilliance across this team knows no creative bounds. Across platforms and disciplines, our incredible team of creatives have been featured in national commercials, award shows, collaborated with Grammy award winning artists, and continue to shape a new era of artistry that allows bold and beautiful stories like "home, Away" to be told with honesty and authenticity.
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Director, Writer
Jamal Wade
Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jamal Wade is a multi-hyphenate creative and graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA). His work has been recognized with a CMA nomination for Video of the Year for his contribution to Willie Jones' "American Dream" music video. He is dedicated to crafting narratives that foster healing and authentic connection within Black and queer communities.
Director of Photography
Gabriel Aruajo
Since he was a kid, Gabriel's fascination with filmmaking was set in stone. Growing up in Massachusetts as a first-generation child of Brazilian immigrants, films became his companions, paving the path to a love for visual storytelling. Now based in Los Angeles, he's on a mission to merge diverse influences into his cinematic narratives.
He believes in authentic storytelling that resonates deeply, capturing candid human moments while preserving each frame's beauty. Gabriel is driven by the perfect blend of storytelling finesse and technical prowess, dedicated to transforming concepts into complete visual experiences.
Actor, Dancer - Casper
Gbari Gilliam
Gbari Gilliam, a professional dancer hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, is currently based in Los Angeles, CA. He pursued his passion for dance at UCLA, obtaining a BA in Dance in 2016, and has since excelled in an array of styles, including West African Dance, Ballet, Modern, Hip-hop, House, Waacking, Locking and more. G’bari has appearances in films such as The Color Purple, and A Jazzman’s Blues, commercials for Adidas, WSS, and more, and performances alongside renowned artists such as Bad Bunny, Michaela Jae, Mariah The Scientist, Janelle Monae, Joey bada$$, Mya, and Billy Porter.
Actor, Dancer- Star
Sherman Wood
Sherman DeWayne Wood ,took his first dance class at Divine Dance Institute at the age of nine under the direction of Amanda F. Standard. Starting with African and tap dance, he was encouraged to try modern and ballet and has been in love ever since. He began to seriously train in ballet while studying at Body Arts Dance Studio in Guam through middle school and at The Duke Ellington School of the Arts , where he studied in the dance department under Charles Augins, graduating in 2011. Sherman attended the Ohio State University & graduated from The Boston Conservatory 2015. He has toured with the Lion King Rafiki Tour, Ronald K Brown, Spectrum Dance Theater and Cirque Du Soleil. He has also worked with many artist including Rihanna, Debbie Allen, Tom Cruise, Earth Wind & Fire, Young Posse & more.
Composer
Matt Composure
Matt Composure (Matthew Compo) is an American composer, arranger, and Billboard-charting producer known for his work across contemporary music, fashion soundtracks, and hip-hop. He has served as a music director and producer, including work with artist Kevin Gates. e composed the original scores for dance and fashion films, such as Áo Dài for Peter Do’s FW24 collection and the performance film Transient choreographed by Samuel Schler.
Musician
Joe Lyle
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Musician
Torrey Brown
Producer/Singer/Songwriter Torrey has been making waves in the music industry his entire career. During that time he has achieved many accolades such as working and playing for Grammy nominated artist. Torrey graduated from LSU in 2016 with a bachelors in music. He then attended UT Arlington where he was awarded his Masters degree in jazz piano performance in 2019.
Recently Torrey played the National Anthem for the NFL Hall of Fame game with HoF inductee Demarcus Ware. Torrey also worked with Grammy nominated acapella group "Kings Return" and played for Grammy nominated Timothy Britten and Shabach, Stellar Award winning Chester D.T. Baldwin, and Grammy award winning Myron Butler. As a producer/music director Torrey also worked with the Dallas Mavericks to create their Black History Month presentation.
Torrey prides himself on his love for making music regardless of the genre and on being able to do all things in music. Torrey has worked on projects in neosoul, jazz, pop, R&B, gospel, contemporary christian, house, folk, experimental and more!
Spoken Word Artist- Casper
City James
City James is a visionary LA-based director known as madebyJAMES. As a first-generation Guyanese-American, he's on a mission to craft thought-provoking, story-driven pieces. His creative passion is an unwavering fire that fuels his knack for seamless execution and effective leadership, allowing him to head countless successful sets as founding parter of BASEWOOD productions.
He is well known for crafting impactful narratives, creating beautiful portraits, and using zoom lenses to bridge distances and create intimacy in any situation. City James has left his mark globally, collaborating with NFL, Reebok, Adidas, Honda, Red Bull, and top music labels. Through his unique lens and expansive reach, City James is able to lend a voice to the underrepresented and illuminate their shared humanity.
Spoken Word Artist- Star
Johnny Laveie
Johnny Laveie is an artist, creator, and performer known for immersive live shows, music, and comedy. They are recognized for projects like "Kintsugi: A Queeroe's Journey" and the interactive adult-children's show "Thoughts and Ponderings"