What happens when we do something bad with good intentions? Poverty and crime go hand in hand. This story is set in the city of Chicago and on 20-somethings who want to have abundant lives where they give back to their communities. They are enticed by the world of scamming when their efforts to do the right thing fall flat. We meet our main character, Sage, when she’s finally on the straight and narrow, only to fall right back into old habits. Her mental health dwindles as she teeters on both sides of the law, especially when two ghosts from her past resurface.

Sage, 28, is a former con artist who is battling a severe anxiety disorder. Sage has moved back to Chicago for a fresh, crime-free start, working as a creative writing teacher at a local community arts center. This is the life she’s always wanted; it’s simple, fulfilling, and, best of all, LEGAL. Sage’s peace is interrupted when a dangerous friend from her past tracks her down. His visit is far from friendly as he blackmails her into spearheading the biggest con of her career: running scams on the Chicago elite. With her community art center in financial jeopardy, what better way to kill two birds with one stone? After all, this is the last time, right? Intoxicated by the con, Sage stumbles back into her old, exhilarating habits. Once her dangerous friend creates hiccups in her operation, it all crescendos, leaving Sage implicated in the crime by a CPD detective, who is, ironically, her ex-fiance. Sage has no choice but to absolve herself, at any cost. She betrays everyone in her corner and orchestrates a get-out-of-jail-free card, all for her love of money. At its core, Burning Sage is a crime drama about the exhilarating world of con artists, drama, and suspense. Underneath the surface, it addresses the ramifications and psychological effects of chronic poverty, racial disparities, and equity of resources in neglected communities.

'Burning Sage' highlights discrepancies in the distribution of wealth and how that affects the decisions of people in dire need, and touches on how we might be the one thing we’re afraid of. Think White Collar, Snowfall, and The Blacklist with a sprinkle of some Black Girl Magic. Burning Sage is full of thrills, drama, a splash of comedy, and of course, some toxic behavior that all of our therapists are trying to conjure out of us.

Burning Sage is a story for this exact moment because we're living in a time when identity, survival, and community are constantly being negotiated—often under pressure. In a world where women are expected to lead with grace while quietly carrying the burdens of generational trauma, economic disparity, and moral contradiction, our protagonist dares to blur the lines between hero and hustler. Burning Sage isn’t just a story—it’s a mirror. And right now, we need more stories that reflect the messy, brilliant, layered reality of people who don’t always get to be seen. We’re in a moment where community spaces are being erased, creative voices are being silenced, and survival often means bending the rules. It’s a story about hustle, healing, and the gray areas we all live in.

This series centers a flawed Black woman lead with depth, vulnerability, and drive—someone we don’t often get to see holding the reins of power and mess. It’s time for more stories that don’t clean up our edges, but instead say: “Look how powerful they are.” It also speaks to the collective craving for complex, imperfect women characters. Sage is brilliant, anxious, scrappy, and deeply flawed. She doesn't just fight the system—she bends it, reshapes it, and sometimes scams it for the greater good. We're also watching gentrification, burnout, and the exploitation of creativity unravel communities in real time. Burning Sage meets that moment with heart, hustle, and humor, asking: what does it really mean to “save” a community—and at what cost?

This isn't just entertainment. It’s a reflection of the modern-day survival playbook, dressed in sharp dialogue, bold aesthetics, and a protagonist you won’t forget. The stakes are real. With so much media playing it safe, Burning Sage dares to take risks. But we need your help to bring it to life outside the traditional system—on our terms, in our voice, and with a community that believes in stories that stir things up. If you’ve ever hustled for a dream, loved your people fiercely, or fought to make a way out of no way—this story is for you. Let’s tell it now. Together.

My favorite stories are those that incorporate the vast, complicated experience that it is to be human. To be a contradiction in so many ways. To be perfectly imperfect. To be powerful, yet incapable. To be both brilliant and naive. To live extraordinarily ordinary lives and vice versa. An experience that we all share, yet also one that is so uniquely individualistic that it separates some yet unites us all. On screen, I tend to fall in love with the characters and stories that embody these complexities and showcase such juxtapositions of good versus evil as good uniting with evil.

It is this fervor within that made Burning Sage an easy selection for me. And for such a storyline to be set in Chicago, my hometown and first love, elevated my fandom from appreciation to adoration. Each character’s battle is both internal and external, a fact that undoubtedly makes the story captivating and also relatable for the audience. From thievery and love triangles to friendship challenges and philanthropy and jealousy, Kimani Whitsey-Gully has packed a full punch with this one, and I am all things honored, grateful, and ripe to serve as both Director and a Producer on Burning Sage.

-Imanne R. Mondane, Director | Producer

With your support, we’ll bring the world of Burning Sage to life with raw emotion, unforgettable characters, and striking visuals—all grounded in the grit, beauty, and layered soul of Chicago’s South Side.

Your pledge directly fuels what matters most: talented actors and crew, real-world locations, high-quality camera gear, set design that honors the culture, authentic wardrobe, and thoughtful post-production.

Once the pilot is completed, we’ll submit it to top festivals, pitch to distributors and streamers, and most importantly, you, our collaborators, will be the first to see it. You’ll receive digital screeners and exclusive behind-the-scenes updates as we go. Transparency and community are at the heart of this project, and you’ll be with us every step of the way.

If we’re lucky enough to exceed our initial goal, our stretch goals include:

Funding a strategic marketing push to reach new audiences.
Hiring a composer for a bold, original score.
Enhancing production design for even more visual depth.
Shooting additional episodes to expand our story world. Sage has a lot more to say!
Upgrading camera and lighting gear for a more cinematic look.

But we can’t do it without you.

Here’s how to help:

Pledge whatever you can—every dollar brings us closer to our goal.
Follow the campaign to keep up with us and the project.
Share this project with friends, creators, and anyone who craves sharp, character-driven stories with heart, hustle, and stakes. And did we mention that your contribution is a tax write-off?! Yeah, a little something for you, too!

Let’s bring Burning Sage to the screen—together.

Burning Sage - Pilot

Team Members