The Conversation
Sparrow and Finch Films is many things.
We <write><produce><direct> theater and digital media.
We <create> and <curate> art exhibits and community events.
We are a production company that creates and curates inspirational art and media that promotes social justice awareness and action. We are also the primary production arm of Urban Artivist Academy.
This is our visual index to showcase our projects, both big and small and whatever new creative inspirations and partnerships that are purpose aligned.
KITTY
PRE-PRODUCTION
A young Caribbean girl falls for a charming and seductive older man, who forever changes the trajectory of her life over one summer. .
A young Carib-being girl, Adah falls hard for Osa, a charming and seductive older man, who manipulates her simmering limerence over the course of a summer resulting in life altering consequences. Naive longings quickly whirlwind into an illicit relationship far beyond any teenage ability or control. Adah’s and Osa’s story is anchored in the redemptive love of Vera, Adah’s mother, bent on protecting her daughter’s future by any means necessary.
2023
Home SOON
2021
Winner of BEST ACTRESS, BEST EMANCIPATORY FILM - London Indie Short Film Festival 2022
Official Selection of The Oscar Micheaux Film Festival, The San Francisco Black Film Festival, Ocktober Film Festival, Women of African Descent Film Festival and more..
Set at the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement, a weary mother's fears and desires for her mentally distressed son’s future hang in the balance while awaiting his arrival home. HOME SOON examines a family’s collective, and unprocessed trauma, which is often eclipsed by police violence.
Nina has not seen or heard from her son Troy since the previous evening. His girlfriend Simone pops over for an unexpected visit in an attempt to locate her love who has uncharacteristically “ghosted” her the night before. Our drama depicts a pivotal moment where both women, in an attempt to reroute worry, hash out their differences in how they love Troy in his absence. Their exchange reveals fears, hopes and conflicting desires all left unresolved until his anticipated return home.
Nina and TroyBoy
2020
Slated to premiere at the 2020 Hollywood Fringe Festival had readings with Inkwell Theater's Virtual Playwright's Night and the Greater Film Fest 30 @30.
The play, Nina and Troyboy explores how mental health, racism, and religion collide to color the stark reality facing many young men, and their families across America.
Nina's son Troy has gone missing after an argument the night prior. His absence at his weekly meeting with his social worker puts him in direct violation of his parole agreement and further risks his freedom. With news of yet another unarmed Black man being shot by police, Nina is tempted to fear the worst and must rely on her faith for the preservation and salvation of her only child she’s struggled to raise in a "post-racial" America.
.jpg)
Known Novice Photography Exhibition
Zyquill
2019
An Official Selection of the 26th Annual BHERC African-American Film Marketplace and S.E. Manly Short Film Showcase & The 2020 Youth Diversity Film Festival
Filmed in 24 hours as part of the AT&T Create-A-Thon
Los Angeles. Zyquil is a farce, or a social statement asking the question:
At what cost will our attainment of knowledge supersede our ability to empathetically connect and thrive as humans?
After working a graveyard shift, Mhy arrives home to find her roommates awake yet still unable to offer emotional support through her most recent existential crisis. In her downward spiral, she questions whether her insatiable desire to consume information has hindered her ability to sleep and authentically connect. At what cost will she become Woke?
2019
Known Novice is a submission-based annual photography exhibition highlighting mobile phone photographers from youth and senior communities throughout the San Gabriel Valley.
The event showcases the work of professional and amateur photographers exploring portraiture, photojournalistic, and nature themes.
The event's mission is to celebrate untrained photographers of all ages and walks of life to extend the reach of their art beyond the mobile phone lens. It is a cultivation of cross-cultural and inter-generational conversations about visual art around San Gabriel Valley in community-based spaces.
The Life Unscripted Project
Seasons 1&2 2009-2011
Official selection of The Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival and The Urban Media Makers Festival in Atlanta, GA where it earned the Top Ten Youth Audience Award.
The Life Unscripted Project is a teen lead web series exploring issues and themes relevant to teen life while promoting positive choice alternates to peer pressure. The series navigates police profiling, cyber-bullying, race relations and the everyday challenges of being a teen growing up in New York City.
The series was also a special featured presentation screening at the MCNY 5th Annual Short Film Festival in New York City.
BACKGROUND/BIO
CONTACT
One Sunday afternoon, I watched as sparrows flew in and out of the tree in my backyard. They joyfully sang to one another while perched on the tree’s branches. Their song was simple and carefree. A touching reminder of how God created us also to simply "be" and in doing so, our needs will be cared for.
Immediately the gospel,"His Eye Is on the Sparrow" came to mind.
Upon closer observation, alongside each sparrow, was a different buddy bird playfully frolicking between the leaves or leading the duo in a high-speed chase.
After looking it up, I learned that these buddy birds were called Finches. Similar in size and almost identical in markings, yet lesser known than its more popular counterpart.
I can honestly admit to times in my life where I felt more like the Finch than the Sparrow. The lesser-known and, often overlooked one. Yet this "buddy bird" was still very much apart of the story and still very much a priority of its Creator.
Thus the vision of Sparrow and Finch Films was born.
The vision for the production and inclusion of the often untold and lesser-known perspectives on storytelling.
Our mission is to creatively produce "Finch" stories or the “other's” narrative and unique angle on life’s journey that leads to experiencing the redemptive love and unfaltering presence of God.
Our work affirms that as His Eyes are on the Sparrow, they too are on the Finch; and its song is as worthy, welcomed, and as deeply loved as it's counterpart.-
Maisha Azadi holds an undergraduate degree in T.V. Production from Morgan State University and an M.B.A. in Media Management from Metropolitan College of New York.
Her work in from of and behind the camera has been selected by Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival, Urban Media Makers, The San Francisco Black Film Festival, The Oscar Micheaux Film Festival, Women of African Descent and internationally at the Paris International Film Festival and London Indie Short Film Fest.