We're greenlit for production! But we still need $9,300 to complete the film.

We'd like to thank our family, friends, and supporters for a successful Seed&Spark campaign; together we raised $7,000. This second push is intended to give those who didn't get a chance to donate to the film another opportunity to support.

Here's how you can answer our call

PRODUCTION: These are credit card expenses we are looking to cover retroactively before the end of the year

G & E Gear: $2,817
Worker's Comp: $777.27
Three Portable Drives: $694.54

POST PRODUCTION: These are roles we still need to pay to complete the film

Editor: $500
Sound Design: $500
Music Composition: $500
VFX Supervisor and Artists: $1,000
Colorist: $300
Poster: $200
Trailer: $300
Festival Submissions: $1,700

ABOUT OUR FILM

Logline: Nia's return to her grandmother's farm goes horribly wrong when the cows go missing without a trace. In her attempts to find them before sunrise, she discovers that Pearl’s strange stories may be more than delusions and are tied to the very place Nia's trying to leave behind.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Title: When the Porch Light Flickers

Format: Proof of Concept Short

Genre: Grounded Sci-Fi, Family Drama

Tone: Absurd, Heartfelt, Eerie

Duration: 15 minutes

Comps: Sorry to Bother You, NOPE, All Roads Taste of Salt

Status: Fundraising / Preproduction

Production: October 9 - 11, 2026

Adia Ivey, Director Statement: This film is a reflection on what "home" means to me, particularly during these times of political and economic upheaval. On one hand, I take pride in the deep history of resilience among Black artists and creators in the most uncertain times. On the other hand, the sense of exhaustion from enduring life in this country has frequently left me feeling confined and isolated.

I want this film to show the difference between using one’s labor for productivity in the day-to-day grind, often resulting in psychological alienation, versus labor as creation and process, which can bring us closer to the land while being more present with the world and ourselves. Furthermore, I wish to reassure Black viewers that we are not alone in facing the world – our ancestors have always been by our side. We just need to take a moment to listen.

Thank you for the continued support as we bring this film to life.

With Gratitude,

Adia Ivey, Writer, Director, Producer

Kaiulani Bush, Executive Producer, Midnight Lantern Productions

Daniel Leighton, Executive Producer, Midnight Lantern Productions

Natasha Phicil, Producer & Line Producer

Kenyetta Johnson, Locations Manager & Co-Producer

Ani Stephenson, Associate Producer & Production Coordinator

Jamai Fisher, Associate Producer & 1st AD

Principal photography is scheduled for Oct 9-11, 2026. If you're interested in donating, now's the time! All donations $250 and above qualify for tax exemption through our fiscal sponsor, Black Alphabet!

🐄 IG @miscellino.productions

BLACK ALPHABET

Have you ever felt invisible in the stories you love? For Black LGBTQ+ people, this feeling is all too common. We rarely see our true selves represented on screen or stage, and that gap has real consequences. Every story left untold is a missed chance for someone to feel seen. Black Alphabet was created to change that narrative and give our community the spotlight it deserves.

In 2013, a group of Black LGBTQ+ friends in Chicago started a small film festival to showcase stories about people like us. What began as a conversation about the lack of Black queer films blossomed into the Black Alphabet Film Festival (BAFF) – Chicago’s first Black LGBTQ+ film festival. The impact was immediate: filmmakers found a platform, audiences saw themselves reflected, and a long-silent community voice grew louder. BAFF’s early success proved that when you shine a light on hidden stories, whole communities come alive.

Over the years, that single festival grew into Black Alphabet NFP, an international movement using arts, media, and wellness to uplift Black LGBTQ+ lives. We realized our stories span many forms – film, literature, performance, dialogue, and beyond. So we expanded our programming to meet those needs, all while keeping our original vision at heart. Today, Black Alphabet is proud to be the world’s oldest and largest Black LGBTQ+ focused arts organization, recognized in 2023 by the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame. But our true pride comes from the people we serve every day.

When The Porch Light Flickers Film Fundraiser

Donations and in-kind services welcomed!