Contribute to the production of the short film VESTIGE

A young Black painter confronts his buried memories through his art, uncovering a past that refuses to stay hidden and a brotherly love that endures beyond violence.

From the Director:

"Vestige (noun)

A trace, mark, or visible sign of something that once existed but is no longer present.

Hi everyone, my is Ser Lance Walker, and I'm the writer and director of Vestige, a short thesis film created as part of my MFA program at the University of Miami.

Thank you for being here. Whether you found this project by chance or intention, your time, curiosity, and support mean more than I can fully express. Vestige is a deeply personal film, born from reflection, memory, and the quiet ways our past continues to live inside us; often long after we think we’ve moved on.

At its heart, Vestige is about what lingers.

I want viewers to envision a world where memory isn’t linear, where identity fractures and reforms, and where emotional remnants: love, grief, guilt, hope, manifest visually and psychologically. This film invites you into an intimate space: one where the past presses gently, sometimes uncomfortably, against the present, asking to be seen rather than erased."

Creative Team:

Director, Writer | Sér Lance Walker - Sér Lance is a visionary filmmaker who loves to challenge perception, memory, and the fragile boundary between what is real and what is imagined. Best known for editing the award-winning documentary News Without a Newsroom, he approaches storytelling with the precision of a documentarian and the ambition of a narrative director. His work blends cinematic scale with raw human honesty, using atmosphere, tension, and emotional architecture to build stories that linger like echoes. Sér Lance creates films that don’t just play — they haunt, they question, they stay.

Producer | Oana Martisca - An award-winning producer and director known for visually driven, human-centered storytelling through her company, 8finite Productions. Her debut feature documentary premiered at major festivals including Miami, Cambridge, and Hollywood Park and earned multiple honors, including Best Feature Documentary at the LA Film and Documentary Awards. With a background spanning journalism, social-impact filmmaking, and international creative work, she is recognized for her leadership, innovation, and commitment to stories that elevate underrepresented voices.

Director of Photography | Catherine Mairena - Catherine Mairena is a Miami-born cinematographer whose work explores the tension between reality and emotion, capturing moments that feel both intimate and mythic. A graduate of the University of Miami’s Motion Pictures program and currently pursuing her MFA, she shapes images with intention—using light, texture, and perspective to pull audiences into the psychology of a scene. Her films have screened internationally, including at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, the Madrid International Film Festival, and the Her International Film Festival | KYF, marking her as a visual storyteller drawn to the cinematic edges where character, truth, and atmosphere collide.

Production Designer | Xiaopei Wang - Xiaopei Wang is an international filmmaker whose work interrogates identity, ethics, and the blurred line between truth and perception. Transitioning from film marketing and cultural programming to directing, she trained across China, Japan, and the United States, developing a cross-cultural voice rooted in precision, symbolism, and emotional architecture. Her award-recognized short Fireside is currently on the festival circuit, guided by a female perspective and a global lens, Xiaopei creates films that confront contemporary issues with cinematic tension—stories that question, expose, and refuse to look away.

Assistant Director | Larry Flores II - Larry Flores II is a filmmaker and visual storyteller whose work seeks to disrupt perception, provoke thought, and invite audiences into worlds just skewed enough to feel unfamiliar. His journey began at Texas Christian University, where he first discovered his voice as a creator, and continued at the University of Miami, where he refined his craft and built a command of cinematic language grounded in intention, atmosphere, and emotional architecture. Drawing from personal history and cross-cultural experience, Larry constructs narratives that bridge regional identity with global perspective—films that challenge, resonate, and linger. Now evolving his craft into the world of advertising, he brings that same cinematic instinct to campaigns designed to inspire, captivate, and connect.

Frankie Midnight - Star - Frankie Midnight is an actor, filmmaker, and music artist from Miami Gardens, FL. His acting work spans across stage, commercial, and film. His stage work includes Juggerknot Theater Company,“Miami Motel Stories”, City Theater, “Three Little Birds”, and Art Prevails, The Happening Vol. 3: Black Like He. His commercial work includes principal roles in The Home Depot, Paramount+, NFL, Footlocker, Disney Cruise Line and, and Universal Orlando Resort. . His film work includes supporting roles in The School Duel, The Big Time, FTX: Descent Into Madness, and The Poison Garden, as well as lead roles in Free Jacob and Mumble: Fate of a Lost Icon.

Brayden Saintleo - Star - Brayden approaches every role with curiosity, discipline, and emotional honesty beyond his years, shaped by a deep love for the craft, extensive training, and diverse on set experience. In Vestige, he brings sensitivity and authenticity to the screen, powerfully supporting the film’s exploration of memory, connection, and inheritance, and stands as part of a new generation of artists who are thoughtful, committed, and unafraid to go deep.

Randy Coleman - Co-Star- Randy Coleman is a rising actor whose work is defined by discipline, transformation, and a commitment to craft. Over the past three years, he has trained under director Yonel Aris and refined his technique through workshops with acclaimed theatre artist Patdro Harris, developing a performance style rooted in emotional honesty and cinematic presence. His theatre work includes a supporting role in The Brothers Size by Tarell Alvin McCraney, as well as performances in Clyde's by Lynn Nottage under the direction of Stuart Meltzer. Most recently, he completed a twelve-show run of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, directed by Nicole Stodard.

Michael Adeshina - Co-Star - Michael Adeshina is an emerging actor and writer from Tampa, Florida, known for his passion for storytelling, natural charisma, and growing presence in the entertainment industry. His commercial work highlights his versatility, with principal roles in major campaigns for brands such as Puma and Stanley, while his film credits include Mid Life College, Lemmi Winks and The Deuce Rats, Sacrifice, Shade, and Bases Loaded. With a steadily expanding portfolio and a strong commitment to his craft, Michael is poised to make a lasting impact on both screen and stage as his artistic journey continues to evolve.

Funds raised will go toward essential production costs, including:

Cast and crew support — ensuring fair compensation for the artists bringing this film to life
Production design and art materials — particularly the visual world and painting elements central to the story
Camera, lighting, and sound equipment — to achieve a cinematic and immersive look
Locations, transportation, and meals — creating a safe and focused environment on set
Post-production — editing, sound design, color grading, and music that shape the film’s emotional core.

All donations are fully tax deductible to the extent permitted by law and will go directly to this production.

Miami Film Lab is a non profit working to support local filmmakers as they work to make a living telling Miami stories. We are not producing this project but are supporting the local filmmakers as they raise money for their independent production through our fiscal sponsorship program.

Vestige - Short Film Fundraiser

A Fiscally Sponsored Film