Disciples of a Craftsman

The Event
The grand premiere of Disciples of a Craftsman kicks off a series of screenings aimed at both introducing the film to audiences and using it as a tool for those serving their communities. Future screenings will feature “Clips+Convo” panels aimed at promoting community engagement and mobilization.

Much of the cast and crew will be in attendance to celebrate the first showing of the film, which will include the only Q&A with the full trio of directors! The team will be in town all weekend celebrating the film’s release and local art!

The Story

Disciples of a Craftsman is a timely film centered around the ideas of hope, community, and redemption. It’s the second film from Hatching Chick Media Group and HT’s Idle Mind. The film follows Maurice, played by Timothy L. Brooks, in his wayward journey during the days following his father’s death. Maurice returns to a community filled with laughter, love, and violence, greeted by his two longtime friends, Dahm played by Jataun Gilbert and Angela played by Jyoti Swamy. We watch Maurice trudge through 5 of the longest days of his life as he navigates the chaos of James County, the fictional 10th bay area county.

Brooks, a Sacramento native, reprises the role of Maurice, first seen as a supporting character in “Samantha & The Fishermans’ Dream.” He looks forward to expanding on the groundwork that’s already been laid for the character while introducing the audience to the much different world of James County. “Samantha & The Fisherman’s Dream” was derived from ancient pastoral poetry. Lead writer, HT, says: “Ancient authors wrote pastorals as a way to build up to ‘epics’. Disciples of a Craftsman is our epic.”

The People

The film creates a lively world around Maurice that has just as much to say as Maurice’s journey through its unpredictable and opinionated cast of characters. The film’s dynamic ensemble showcases a ton of local Northern California talent, including Jyoti Sawmy, Donald Ray Antoine, Sarina Krastev, Billie J. Simmons, Jabari Knight-Jenkins, Richard “Poerich” Lewis, Javon Joe-Smith, & Jamarcus Oliver while mixing in rising stars from out of town such as Jataun Gilbert, Lizeth Lopez, Robert Déon, Hailey Cox, and Hayley McPike. This group creates the uniquely absurd world of James County (AKA JC) that Maurice must navigate.

Disciples of a Craftsman was created by the directing trio of Claire Evans, Dania Denise, & HT. This unconventional structure created a collaborative environment for both cast and crew to thrive. As part of this collaboration, several members of the cast participated in writing workshops where they both provided feedback and refined their characters. The talented crew also includes editor Benjamin Shafer, producers Andrea Tapia and Jevohnte Fields, and music producer Rapheal Gavin who also plays that character of Rufus.

The How
The film looks to bring a uniquely Northern California vibe to the big screen developed through the team’s unique production style inspired by the Third Cinema movements of Latin America. As part of this, the production emphasized loca locations, filming across Northern California including Stockton, Oakland, Merced, and Suisun City. Along with the local cast and crew, the movie was created through support from local businesses, sponsors, and individual donors. The film was made possible from community support, and the film’s release is designed to give back to these communities, and leave a positive impact in each place it screens.

This August we invite you to come and be encouraged by Maurice’s journey. It’s not always about the big win, it starts with convincing each other to join the fight.