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About Black Sheep
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Synopsis
When a young girl with Tourette's encounters a struggling street performer on a city bus, a quirky and inspirational friendship is formed causing the world around them to alter in unexpected ways.
In this film Amanda, a smart but awkward teen with Tourettes, meets hippy street musician Jasmine, and an unlikely friendship is formed. When Amanda meets Jasmine's friends who inhabit a circus co-op she discovers that in San Francisco counter culture, weird is the new normal. Her conservative Christian mother, however, is determined to keep her away from what she believes to be pot-smoking, hedonistic, homosexual freaks.
By seeing past the Tourette’s, Jasmine finds Amanda to be an intelligent, witty and interesting young girl. Through simple acceptance and friendship Amanda’s self confidence builds. Amanda’s new found quirky confidence inspires Jasmine to share her art with the world. This inspirational friendship then begins to affect everyone around them.
This script is smart, witty and touching and it essentially depicts what I think San Francisco is all about; a place where everyone can find acceptance.
Each person’s uniqueness should be accepted and even celebrated. By being just as curious about the things that make us different as we are about ways to blend in, even something as socially awkward as Tourette’s can be a source of inspiration.
Director Statement
I couldn't sleep one night and ended up watching a late-night news segment about a group of girls in a small Midwestern town who developed Tourette's Syndrome at the same time. The news segment focused on whether the girls were "faking it" and how to "fix them." I remember thinking, "Seriously? Who cares?" Why aren't we asking, "How do we accept and accommodate these young, vulnerable beings?" and "What might it be like to see each other's differences as interesting and essential?"
I imagined these girls' jerky movements being turned into a dance or performance. I stayed up the rest of the night writing the first draft of the film. The resulting script is smart, witty, touching, and essentially depicts what I believe San Francisco is all about: a place where everyone can find acceptance.
Pitching the idea to a film co-op gathered an enthusiastic volunteer crew. Chloe Jean Jarvis's song, "Black Sheep," fit perfectly, and she also ended up playing the lead role, Jasmine. After months of preparation, casting, storyboarding, and set building, I showed up for the first day of filming and literally cried at the enormity of what we had all created.
The filming journey was delayed due to a new business venture and COVID-19. But after eight years, I'm proud and excited to share this sweet, quirky, unique story.
This film represents one of my core beliefs: that each person’s uniqueness should not only be accepted but also celebrated. By being just as curious about the things that make us different as we are about ways to blend in, even something as socially awkward as Tourette’s can be a source of inspiration and connection.