PROJECT: WHEN GOD WENT SILENT

LOGLINE Antoine & Shantae Waters confront the man who took their mother’s life in his last hours on Death Row. The state has given them a "choice": sign off on clemency or allow the execution to proceed.

THE REALITY We know the numbers. Black people make up 13% of the U.S. population but account for 41% of the current death row population and 34% of executions carried out since 1976. We talk about the "school-to-prison pipeline" and "systemic failure," but we rarely see the emotional toll it takes on Black families.

WHAT THE FILM IS ABOUT When God Went Silent is a chamber piece set entirely in one room.

Antoine & Shantae Waters have lived for years with the trauma of their mother’s murder. Shantae copes through rage and the avid support of the Death Penalty; Antoine through faith and activism. They haven’t spoken in months.

James Johnson is scheduled to die at 11:00 PM & the only people who can stop it are the grieving children. As the clock ticks, what begins as a confrontation between victim and perpetrator ends with a twist that redraws the line between faith and vengeance.

WHY THIS STORY, WHY NOW? Urgency is the name of the game. We are scheduled to shoot in late 2026.

This film was born from one question: As a Black man, how do I face what God asks of me, versus what trauma does to me?

In our community, forgiveness is not simple. It is part spiritual resilience, part survival strategy, and part performance. We've been conditioned to offer forgiveness without accountability, and for generations, our grace has been celebrated and fetishized. Our capacity to endure atrocity has been mistaken for our consent to keep enduring.

While the culture expects us to turn the other cheek, I ask — can true healing exist in a system that demands our forgiveness while offering me nothing in return?

HOW YOU CAN HELP TODAY

Donate what you can: Every dollar counts.
Share this fundraiser: Blast it to your networks via email and social media.
Amplify the message: Share our posts.
- IG: www.instagram.com/armiehicksjr
Reach out for Partnership: Contact us at info@gold89films.com to discuss larger donations, company matching, corporate sponsorship, or grants.

WHERE IS YOUR MONEY GOING?

All money raised will go directly into the work. We are using these funds for:

Fair Wages: Paying our Black cast and crew what they are worth.
Production Value: Renting the cinema-grade gear needed to make this film festival ready.
Post-Production: Professional sound and color to ensure the message is heard and seen clearly.
Impact: Organizing community screenings in churches, schools, and grassroots orgs.

WHY THIS AMOUNT?

Independent films about racial justice and faith often rely on community funding. Large studios often shy away from the real, gritty truth of these conversations. By funding this ourselves, we keep the narrative in our hands.

THANK YOU for considering being a huge part of this success story. Let’s change the narrative together because you see the value in Black lives, Black faith, and the power of grace.

We’re ready. Let’s GO!

THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS, Armie Hicks Jr. & The When God Went Silent Team

Fiscal Sponsor: Grateful Film Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

EIN: 92-0785739 *All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

When God Went Silent

Raising $ and awareness for the abolition of The Death Penalty.

Team Members