SF Black Film Festival x Roxie Theater Pop Up Screening

Lynn, a rookie journalist, gets assigned on her first week to do an exclusive with Duffman Brown, a failed college football star. The narrative that her boss gives her to follow quickly falls apart as Duffman sees right through her attempts to make him look like a bad guy. Lynn learns who Duffman really is and changes the narrative of his article, her boss isn’t happy about this or Lynn’s new attachment to Duffamn. After Duffman attempts to use Lynn as a suicide note, the two of them build a friendship while he’s in recovery. They agree to embark on a journey together to ensure that this will not happen to any other black boys like Duffman, suffering from mental health challenges.

Marc Stallion is a multifaceted performing artist and writer. He was born in Chicago, Illinois. In 2017, he graduated with his bachelor’s in Acting in Los Angeles, CA. While studying he had the opportunity to direct and produce several of his own plays, and live productions while also being cast in commercials, films, video games, and TV pilots. In
2020 Stallion graduated with a dual-focused Masters in creative writing & contemporary Media. Shortly after he received a Post-Masters in Pedagogy and published his 2nd book. He now lives between Los Angeles and Port-au-Prince Haiti where he acts as the Founder & Executive Director of his Non-profit Foundation “I Got Next”, which focuses on community and youth development through STEM and the Arts.

I lied. When people ask me if this story reflects my life, I’ve told them “no”—proving the very reason why I think that this project is vital. We don’t talk. This project is indeed a part of me. I wrote this film to shed light on the silence that plagues our communities. I have grappled with internal struggles, battling suicidal thoughts and questioning the meaning of existence in my own life. However, through my experiences, I have become an unexpected voice of reason, talking individuals out of hard decisions and suicide. This dichotomy has been my silent burden, one that I’ve concealed for so long. This conversation is deep, it’s sensitive, it’s unfamiliar and fragile. Who wants to talk about this shit? No one! Especially in the black community, and even worse… young black boys. The innumerable emotions and feelings that remain buried inside the minds of young black boys manifest through poor decision-making.
Through this project, I aim to break the stigma and silence surrounding mental health in the black community, especially among young black boys. I want to foster a space where open, honest conversations about our experiences, flaws, and emotions are not just welcome but celebrated. The character of Duffman Brown is not a reflection of who I am, but a representation of the collective experiences and struggles within our community. I believe this film is a vital platform to encourage our younger generation to speak up, to embrace their voices, and to find strength in their stories. This project is not just an artistic endeavor but a call for growth and understanding.