ROATAN FILM PRODUCTION
Roatan Film Production was created by Vera Brooks. The company name is an homage to her mother who was born on the island of Roatan, Honduras in Central America. The mission of Roatan Film Production is to produce intelligent, entertaining films-- both narrative and documentaries. The projects will be filmed in Chicago for the big and small screen.
HISTORY
In 2002, after enrolling in a screenwriting class, Vera decided she wanted to take the next step and produce films of stories she'd written. Brooks produced two short films. They were shot on Mini DV. She hasn't looked back...
It Takes One to Know One (2002), a six minute comedic short that shows a young man obsessed with parking his car perfectly. While others watch, judge and mock him, we see the quirky habits that they possess. The film received an Honorable Mention in the Chris Wetzel Independent Comedy Award competition. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDfv6Sq7eyE
Four Young Trees (2002), is the first act of Vera's feature-length screenplay, Brother's Keeper. Four Young Trees explores the transition that takes place after Karen tragically loses her husband and must raise her four sons alone. Karen's resentment of her mother-in-law prevents her from accepting the offer of help. Karen soon finds out that she can't do it alone. Dolly must also convince her oldest grandson that her "tough love" is necessary. The family drama was accepted into the African American Women in Cinema 2005 Film Festival and Brother's Keeper, made it to the second round of the 2005 Austin Film Festival screenplay competition. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voLY3ZsoMyk
Americana Noir Vignettes (2013) are four short stories about the Madison family in the year 1968. Four vignettes that share a life lesson for the young (Vignette #1: The Recipe), the varied responses to an unexpected tragedy (Vignette#2: The Date), the inner thoughts of a damaged Vietnam veteran during the Civil Rights era (Vignette#3: The War Inside) and a parental debate over if the dreams of a child should be nurtured or negated (Vignette #4: Dreams).
These stories were written (or co-written) by Vera and co-produced with Zernul R. Shackelford Jr. (Vera also makes her directorial debut with "The Date", which was an official selection of the 2014 Black Harvest Film Festival.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es3M9QdV1H0
Cold Read (2014) Struggling actor James Smith gets more than he bargained for at an open casting call. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9XpEH0QADA
Khali's Homeschool Hijinx (2016) is a four part web series. Khali Johnson is not a happy camper when her mom decides to send her to the home of teacher Ms. Lydia with four other kids-- and a whole new educational routine. Breaking the fourth wall, Khali lets us know she's determined to return to public school "real soon", but not before she frustrates Ms. Lydia and her high minded nemesis Robert. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJIdgakTA_Y
Girls on the Block (2017) Girls On The Block is a short film. Girls on a block of Chicago's South Side try to support their friend Trina after the violent death of her brother by having a memorial service. They share memories, songs and tears-- and question how to change the all too frequent loss of loved ones from gang violence. https://youtu.be/CKM4CtuZOlE
Dad and I (2017) A TV series pilot. After being passed over for another promotion, Andre leaves corporate America and assists his best friend John, who is taking full time care of his nine year old daughter Max. While chauffeuring Max to and from school, Andre also hides his unemployment from his father. (Coming soon)
All Things EGOT (2018- present) is an entertainment web series. The episodes highlight the eighteen EGOT recipients with a retrospective of the projects that gained them EGOT (Emmy Grammy Oscar Tony) status. Also award predictions, recaps, and red carpet fashion critiques. Here click the link to visit our youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmD8yPwY_htjRWctxp5W19w
Vaccine Vignettes (2021) Vaccine Vignettes is an eight part anthology podcast. In the spring of 2020, four screenwriters challenged themselves to each create two stories that share fictional experiences and responses to life as Covid 19 vaccines are distributed—of any genre. After reading them together on Zoom, they discussed ways to produce them safely and a podcast was the perfect medium. Visit www.vaccinevignettes.com or soundcloud.com/vaccinevignettes
Mr. Raymond: Master Tailor (2022) A short documentary about Raymond Vazquez, who came to the U.S. from Mexico and despite the odds, started a successful tailoring business on one of Chicago's most elite retail communities. Watch the teaser.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AYLZhXXgDo (Coming soon)
Roatan Film Production was created by Vera Brooks. The company name is an homage to her mother who was born on the island of Roatan, Honduras in Central America. The mission of Roatan Film Production is to produce intelligent, entertaining films-- both narrative and documentaries. The projects will be filmed in Chicago for the big and small screen.
HISTORY
In 2002, after enrolling in a screenwriting class, Vera decided she wanted to take the next step and produce films of stories she'd written. Brooks produced two short films. They were shot on Mini DV. She hasn't looked back...
It Takes One to Know One (2002), a six minute comedic short that shows a young man obsessed with parking his car perfectly. While others watch, judge and mock him, we see the quirky habits that they possess. The film received an Honorable Mention in the Chris Wetzel Independent Comedy Award competition. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDfv6Sq7eyE
Four Young Trees (2002), is the first act of Vera's feature-length screenplay, Brother's Keeper. Four Young Trees explores the transition that takes place after Karen tragically loses her husband and must raise her four sons alone. Karen's resentment of her mother-in-law prevents her from accepting the offer of help. Karen soon finds out that she can't do it alone. Dolly must also convince her oldest grandson that her "tough love" is necessary. The family drama was accepted into the African American Women in Cinema 2005 Film Festival and Brother's Keeper, made it to the second round of the 2005 Austin Film Festival screenplay competition. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voLY3ZsoMyk
Americana Noir Vignettes (2013) are four short stories about the Madison family in the year 1968. Four vignettes that share a life lesson for the young (Vignette #1: The Recipe), the varied responses to an unexpected tragedy (Vignette#2: The Date), the inner thoughts of a damaged Vietnam veteran during the Civil Rights era (Vignette#3: The War Inside) and a parental debate over if the dreams of a child should be nurtured or negated (Vignette #4: Dreams).
These stories were written (or co-written) by Vera and co-produced with Zernul R. Shackelford Jr. (Vera also makes her directorial debut with "The Date", which was an official selection of the 2014 Black Harvest Film Festival.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es3M9QdV1H0
Cold Read (2014) Struggling actor James Smith gets more than he bargained for at an open casting call. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9XpEH0QADA
Khali's Homeschool Hijinx (2016) is a four part web series. Khali Johnson is not a happy camper when her mom decides to send her to the home of teacher Ms. Lydia with four other kids-- and a whole new educational routine. Breaking the fourth wall, Khali lets us know she's determined to return to public school "real soon", but not before she frustrates Ms. Lydia and her high minded nemesis Robert. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJIdgakTA_Y
Girls on the Block (2017) Girls On The Block is a short film. Girls on a block of Chicago's South Side try to support their friend Trina after the violent death of her brother by having a memorial service. They share memories, songs and tears-- and question how to change the all too frequent loss of loved ones from gang violence. https://youtu.be/CKM4CtuZOlE
Dad and I (2017) A TV series pilot. After being passed over for another promotion, Andre leaves corporate America and assists his best friend John, who is taking full time care of his nine year old daughter Max. While chauffeuring Max to and from school, Andre also hides his unemployment from his father. (Coming soon)
All Things EGOT (2018- present) is an entertainment web series. The episodes highlight the eighteen EGOT recipients with a retrospective of the projects that gained them EGOT (Emmy Grammy Oscar Tony) status. Also award predictions, recaps, and red carpet fashion critiques. Here click the link to visit our youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmD8yPwY_htjRWctxp5W19w
Vaccine Vignettes (2021) Vaccine Vignettes is an eight part anthology podcast. In the spring of 2020, four screenwriters challenged themselves to each create two stories that share fictional experiences and responses to life as Covid 19 vaccines are distributed—of any genre. After reading them together on Zoom, they discussed ways to produce them safely and a podcast was the perfect medium. Visit www.vaccinevignettes.com or soundcloud.com/vaccinevignettes
Mr. Raymond: Master Tailor (2022) A short documentary about Raymond Vazquez, who came to the U.S. from Mexico and despite the odds, started a successful tailoring business on one of Chicago's most elite retail communities. Watch the teaser.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AYLZhXXgDo (Coming soon)