5.15.2026

 

Let me tell you a story:

 

Once upon a time, an 8-year old girl wrote in her diary that she'd tell her parents' story someday. I don't know what kinda kid is that obsessed with her parents but I guess I truly meant what I wrote. It only took me 22 years to actually put pen to paper, and I started writing in January 2022. 

 

Initially it was a personal passion project because I was deeply curious about who my parents were before they became Mom and Dad. I’ve always felt that my parents’ road to love was inspiring because it is rooted in friendship. And in a world full of romantic love stories, their genuine care for one another as individuals has always made me pause. I wanted to understand it, maybe unearth it to better explain it. I wanted to know who my parents were when they were young and figuring it out. I wanted to know what shaped them, what made them, and inevitably who they were when they found each other.

​

So what came out of that curiosity is BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT:  a feature film based on the true love story of Faith and Albert. The film spans three decades, from the 1960s through the early 90s, following them through their childhood to finding each other through military service, and daring to believe in a life together. It took me 4 years to complete the screenplay, I intend to direct it, and I intend to play my mom.

I'm sharing this now because the project has reached a real turning point. A line producer whose credits include MOONLIGHT (Best Picture Oscar 2017) and THE FLORIDA PROJECT has agreed to come on board to build the professional budget and production schedule. I have an editor and a cinematographer I trust deeply already attached. My editor has been generously working (for free) with me on this for nearly a year because she believes in it. And I've connected with a reputable entertainment law firm that specializes in packaging and sales for independent films.

This is huge!!!! The project finally has momentum and what it needs now is development funding to bring the package together. I'm raising $25,000 by July 1st to cover this phase of development. There are three tiers established to capture your support (click the link):
[1] $100 saying, "I See You”

[2] $500 saying, "I Got You”

[3] $1,000 saying, “I’m All In”

[4] custom amount saying, “I Wanna Give More”

 

Your support will be applied to development costs which include:  line producer fees, legal fees, editor fees, cinematographer prep and storyboarding, that will allow me to approach investors with more than just a screenplay, but a fully packaged project powered by my village. 

 

I ask that you also share my quest with your village, they may be interested in providing support for the next American classic too! 🎬

Whether you’re able to give or not, know that your support and belief are deeply appreciated. 


All Love, 
Assia