Nia Rae Lambert
Nia Rae Lambert
Spelhouse Alumni Bring Atlanta to the Screen With “Storeman”
Spelhouse Alumni Bring Atlanta to the Screen With “Storeman”
Water boys, Waffle House and barbershops. All pieces of the puzzle that mesh to cultivate a cliche, yet accurate Atlanta experience. These familiar aspects of the city are at the center of “Storeman”, an upcoming short film that a team of emerging film-makers are currently fundraising to bring to the big screen.
Written and directed by Kevin Washington Jr., “Storeman” draws inspiration from a man the Atlanta native and Morehouse graduate (C '24) frequently stumbled upon growing up. The man, who was experiencing homelessness, sold snacks outside Washington’s neighborhood barbershop.
The plot is centered around Leon “Storeman” Brown, a homeless former basketball star living in the streets of Atlanta and selling snacks from his bike in hopes of amassing enough money for a doctor's visit to address his worsening health. Storeman finds the most success at a neighborhood barbershop, whose employees and patrons consistently support him. Along his route, Storeman crosses paths with CJ, a basketball star on the rise at Buckhead High School whose arrogance initially puts the two at odds.
Their conversation forces both men to confront the commonalities beneath their vastly different realities.
Their similarities extend far beyond basketball. Through his film, Washington critiques ideas of masculinity and self-reliance amongst Black men, challenging the belief that perseverance means enduring adversity alone rather than leaning on a village.
"I want to not only shed light on a side of the world that most people will never see, but also tackle some issues facing Black men, which are toxic masculinity and the idea that we can do everything on our own," Washington said.
This film hits especially close to home for Washington, whose work is rooted in his own upbringing. Rather than solely using Atlanta as a miniscule detail of the story, Washington pulls from the people, places and culture that have shaped him.
"Growing up, I witnessed firsthand what that [Black entrepreneurship] truly looked like, especially for people who weren’t as blessed with opportunity as others," he said. "Black entrepreneurship looks different in my city, whether it’s businessmen working corporate jobs, or people selling musk turtles on the side of the street – we get it however we can."
Washington is not tackling this project alone. Recent Spelman graduates and producers Nia Rae Lambert (C’ 25) and Kelsey Henderson (C' 24) have relentlessly worked alongside him to bring his vision to life.
All three are currently pursuing graduate degrees at the University of Southern California (USC), bringing their respective HBCU experiences to the forefront. The filmmakers’ shared connections to the AUC make Atlanta a particularly fitting city for their collaborative vision.
To bring this film to fruition, the creatives launched a Seed&Spark fundraiser campaign with a minimum goal of $20,000 to support production. Currently, the campaign has raised $17,575, placing the team within reach of its goal. These donations will cover the practical costs of bringing “Storeman” to the screen, including equipment, cast and crew travel, costumes, hair and makeup, permits and craft services.
For Washington, Lambert and Henderson, “Storeman” is an opportunity to preserve a version of Atlanta that resonates with them, while turning the camera toward people who are often visible within the city’s landscape, but whose stories are untold.
Water boys, Waffle House and barbershops. All pieces of the puzzle that mesh to cultivate a cliche, yet accurate Atlanta experience. These familiar aspects of the city are at the center of “Storeman”, an upcoming short film that a team of emerging film-makers are currently fundraising to bring to the big screen.
Written and directed by Kevin Washington Jr., “Storeman” draws inspiration from a man the Atlanta native and Morehouse graduate (C '24) frequently stumbled upon growing up. The man, who was experiencing homelessness, sold snacks outside Washington’s neighborhood barbershop.
The plot is centered around Leon “Storeman” Brown, a homeless former basketball star living in the streets of Atlanta and selling snacks from his bike in hopes of amassing enough money for a doctor's visit to address his worsening health. Storeman finds the most success at a neighborhood barbershop, whose employees and patrons consistently support him. Along his route, Storeman crosses paths with CJ, a basketball star on the rise at Buckhead High School whose arrogance initially puts the two at odds.
Their conversation forces both men to confront the commonalities beneath their vastly different realities.
Their similarities extend far beyond basketball. Through his film, Washington critiques ideas of masculinity and self-reliance amongst Black men, challenging the belief that perseverance means enduring adversity alone rather than leaning on a village.
"I want to not only shed light on a side of the world that most people will never see, but also tackle some issues facing Black men, which are toxic masculinity and the idea that we can do everything on our own," Washington said.
This film hits especially close to home for Washington, whose work is rooted in his own upbringing. Rather than solely using Atlanta as a miniscule detail of the story, Washington pulls from the people, places and culture that have shaped him.
"Growing up, I witnessed firsthand what that [Black entrepreneurship] truly looked like, especially for people who weren’t as blessed with opportunity as others," he said. "Black entrepreneurship looks different in my city, whether it’s businessmen working corporate jobs, or people selling musk turtles on the side of the street – we get it however we can."
Washington is not tackling this project alone. Recent Spelman graduates and producers Nia Rae Lambert (C’ 25) and Kelsey Henderson (C' 24) have relentlessly worked alongside him to bring his vision to life.
All three are currently pursuing graduate degrees at the University of Southern California (USC), bringing their respective HBCU experiences to the forefront. The filmmakers’ shared connections to the AUC make Atlanta a particularly fitting city for their collaborative vision.
To bring this film to fruition, the creatives launched a Seed&Spark fundraiser campaign with a minimum goal of $20,000 to support production. Currently, the campaign has raised $17,575, placing the team within reach of its goal. These donations will cover the practical costs of bringing “Storeman” to the screen, including equipment, cast and crew travel, costumes, hair and makeup, permits and craft services.
For Washington, Lambert and Henderson, “Storeman” is an opportunity to preserve a version of Atlanta that resonates with them, while turning the camera toward people who are often visible within the city’s landscape, but whose stories are untold.