Josephine Martin seated at a typewriter in a 1957 office

The Promotion

In 1957 D.C.’s Black Broadway, an anxious executive secretary vying for a life-altering bank promotion, enters a high-stakes musical battle against a sabotaging principality demon seeking to kill, steal, and destroy her ordained opportunity.

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Annapolis Film Festival Shorts Pitch Challenge Winner 2026

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1957Washington, D.C.

[ The story ]

Josephine Martin

Set in Fall 1957 D.C.’s Black Broadway, Josephine Martin, 32, executive secretary at Evergreen Bank, stands on the brink of a divine promotion. Ambitious and determined, she’s on the verge of becoming the first female junior loan officer, a breakthrough she knows is ordained.

Film strip with a wardrobe test for Josephine, a 1950s secretary on the phone, and a dancer in a sequined gown

Femme Fatale

But lurking in the midst of her pursuit of destiny is a principality territory demon named Femme Fatale, a 200-year-old master saboteur whose stronghold quotas for blocking prayers and releasing chaos on souls on U Street have been deemed insufficient for her recent promotion to Regional Status. After receiving a dire ultimatum from the Prince of the Air, her target is set on stopping Josephine’s life-altering opportunity. Fail, and it’s back to mundane desk duty in the Underworld.

Film strip of still frames from the world of The Promotion

Josephine is confronted with a decisive moment that forces her to reckon with the legal ground given to demonic principalities through the negative words spoken over one’s own destiny. She must choose between bowing to fear under the weight of a self-inflicted word curse and wielding the power of the tongue to boldly command victory in a high-stakes tap-dance duel.

Josephine defeats the enemy in a burst of vibrant Technicolor, secures her rightful promotion, and parades triumphantly down U Street, even as Femme Fatale searches for her next victim. Life and death are in the power of the tongue. Choose wisely.

FormatShort film

GenreMusical

SettingD.C.’s Black Broadway

EraFall 1957

[ Brand partners ]

Brands we would love to partner with

[ Brand partners ]

In good company.

The brands and organizations helping bring The Promotion to the screen, with a standing invitation for those who would like to join them.

An open invitation

Imagine your brand helping bring Black Broadway to the screen.

Partner with The Promotion through production support, in-kind contributions, corporate matching, or a campaign collaboration.

Start a partnership conversation

[ The world ]

Noir gives way to Technicolor.

“Life and death are in the power of the tongue.”

The Promotion reclaims the classic musical by setting a diverse supernatural noir against the historic elegance of Washington, D.C.’s U Street Corridor, most famously known as “Black Broadway.” Emulating the rigorous creative discipline of 1957 filmmaking, this diverse storytelling rejects stereotypical Old Hollywood roles to celebrate Black glamour through sophisticated period fashion, natural hair, an original score, tap, and vernacular jazz choreography.

As the story unfolds, the visual frame shifts from a stark black-and-white noir of spiritual confinement into an explosion of full Technicolor and VistaVision geometry. Combining the spectacle of The Band Wagon with the spiritual warfare of Cabin in the Sky and the moral tension of The Twilight Zone, this film holds a mirror to the supernatural battlefield to prove that our response to the spiritual realm determines our fate.

With God at the center, the film triumphs over fear and doubt, inviting families wanting wholesome narratives, creatives who feel stuck, and anyone seeking spiritual depth, courage, or a new beginning.

Black Broadway

A celebration of the U Street corridor and its cultural legacy.

AN ORIGINAL

An original period noir Technicolor musical bringing diversity back to the musical genre.

DUAL RELEASE

A short film and album paired together as one body of work set to inspire you to never give up on what God has set out for you to achieve.

[ Why now? ]

Why Now?

Historically, the Golden Age musical represented pure imagination, yet the institutional racism of the Hays Code legally enforced screen segregation and left up to eighty percent of early Black screen contributions entirely uncredited. Trailblazers like Juanita Moore, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Hattie McDaniel, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll, and Dorothy Dandridge each fought a systemic gauntlet of severe colorism, hyper-segregation, and flat typecasting, whether redefining subservient roles from within the system or boldly risking their careers to refuse them entirely, just to carve out a legacy for future generations.

War Paint Productions enters the frame right now to challenge that oppressive history by engineering a cinematic space that purely uplifts, actively subverting the restrictive archetypes of the past. Beyond reclaiming history, The Promotion is an urgent sanctuary of hope for a modern moment where fear convinces people to remain small. Josephine’s journey is for anyone who has reached the threshold of greatness and questioned their worth.

This film is a necessary declaration that your faith and destiny are worth fighting for, offering a faith-centered visual masterpiece that inspires one to dream again.

[ Mood board ]

The look of the picture.

A working collage of the film’s world (its streets, style, and color) pinned up as we build it.

[ Watch ]

A first look.

A glimpse into the world of The Promotion. The trailer will be featured here as soon as it arrives.

VIDEO COMING SOON

[ The filmmakers ]

The story architects

A team of filmmakers, performers, strategists, and partners bringing Josephine’s world to the screen.

Mannequin

WRITER · DIRECTOR · ARTIST

Credits include Watchmen, Underground, Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé, STAR, American Soul, Step Up: High Water, and Step Sisters. 2026 NNEXUS Incubator Lab Fellow and Annapolis Film Festival Shorts Pitch Challenge winner, making her directorial debut with this project and starring as Josephine.

Ben Cory Jones

SCRIPT CONSULTANT

Writer and co-producer on HBO’s Insecure, executive producer and showrunner of BET’s Boomerang, and producer of Netflix’s Step Sisters. Currently developing Briarcliff Prep with Disney Hyperion and producing Hey Friend.

Princess Mbanuzue Elemba

Producer

Award-winning producer and CEO of Beyond Castings and Productions with 12+ years of experience across film, television, and branded content, with credits including Hart to Heart, Sip and Smoke, Social Society, Assets Over Liabilities, and The Final Play. Recognized by Essence and Vibe for championing bold storytelling and diverse voices.

Pablo Burn

PRODUCER

Producer of Silence & Darkness (Shudder), co-producer of Young Men, and production supervisor on Jay Duplass’ The Baltimorons. With a decade in the NYC filmmaking scene and now based in Takoma Park, MD, Pablo brings hands-on experience across production and location management, taking projects from concept to screen.

Kiran Rhe

PRODUCER

DC-Baltimore-based producer with experience across film, television, documentaries, and commercial production, with credits including The Night Agent, Cross, Zero Day, White House Plumbers, American Crime Story, Rustin, The Baltimorons, and Young Men. With a background in acting, location management, and producing, she brings a creative and collaborative perspective to every project.

Reginald "RJ" Johnson

Choreographer · Creative Director

Elite choreographer, creative director, and performer with credits including BET’s American Soul, FOX’s Star, MTV’s Wild ’N Out, Coming 2 America, and The Color Purple. Dance captain for Jacquees and performer alongside Missy Elliott, VEDO, India.Arie, and Musiq Soulchild.

Morganne Norwood

Campaign Strategist

Campaign strategist, digital marketer, and visual storyteller with work spanning Tennessee State University, Leo Operations, and Washington Magazine, where she combines political communications, digital media, community messaging, videography, and journalism.

Lafayette Robinson

Brand Partnerships

As the founder of Phorce Media Group, he leads strategic partnership initiatives, corporate sponsorships, and audience brand integrations. Lafayette excels at bridging creative vision with business strategy, focusing his efforts on managing crowdfunding campaigns, securing investors, and building alliances with hospitality partners.

Cassandra Campbell

Marketing Strategist

Marketing strategist with over a decade of experience in brand management, cross-functional leadership, and large-scale consumer engagement across global technology and luxury brands. Her background includes TikTok, Meta, LVMH (Benefit Cosmetics), Pandora, and Yahoo, with expertise in platform monetization, audience engagement, and market expansion.

[ Casting call ]

Step into 1957.

Filming location: Atlanta, Georgia.

Production dates: December 8 to 19. Full availability for every date is not required.

Eliza

Black woman, late 20s. Sassy, sharp, and bold. An executive secretary at Evergreen Bank.

Mr. Jackson

Black man, late 30s. Precise, disciplined, and meticulous. Chief Loan Officer and Vice President of Evergreen Bank.

Mr. Franklin

Black man, late 50s. The powerful owner and President of Evergreen Bank. Sophisticated, authoritative, and commanding.

Dance Artist

Female, 5'5" and taller. All body types welcome. Preferred styles: Jazz, Musical Theatre, Heels.

Ensemble Cast

Black American, African Diaspora, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latino/Latina, Indigenous, Black Asian, and other POC. U Street business owners, patrons, bank customers, residents, nightlife patrons, pedestrians, and featured ensemble.

Casting submission form

Your details

Full name *

Phone number *

Email address *

Are you currently based in the Atlanta, Georgia area? *

Are you willing to work as a local hire? *

Role you are submitting for *

Submission materials

Upload headshot *

Upload full-body photo *

Acting reel or performance video (optional)

If available, submit an acting reel, scene, monologue, or other video that showcases your acting.

Dance video (dance artists)

Please submit a video showcasing your dance ability.

Production availability

Are you available December 8 to 19? *

December 8 to 19 is the overall production window. Full availability for every date is not required.

Anything else you would like the casting team to know?

Your photos and videos are kept private and shared only with the casting team.

[ Donate to the film ]

Put The Promotion in motion.

Help transform Josephine’s journey from black-and-white confinement into full Technicolor victory. Every dollar moves this production closer to the screen by supporting cast, crew, locations, original music, choreography, wardrobe, production design, and practical effects. Donations are processed through our fiscal sponsor, From the Heart Productions.

Where your money is going: pick the goal you want to bring to life

$25FEED A CREW MEMBERKeeps a member of our cast and crew energized on set with meals, coffee, and craft services.Fund this $50Rent rehearsal spaceBooks studio time so the cast can rehearse the choreography and blocking for The Promotion.Fund this $100SUPPORT ARTHelps supply our set with props ranging from typewriters and bank supplies to exterior set dressing, bookcases, desk rentals, and more.Fund this $250Support costumesDresses our cast in vintage style, from MGM-inspired gowns to exquisite tailoring and quintessential Old Hollywood glamour.Fund this $500BUILD THE PHYSICAL WORLD OF THE PROMOTIONFunds production design toward our practical soundstage sets such as Evergreen Bank, Femme Fatale's lair, a life-size typewriter, and more.Fund this $1000Bring it all to lifeSupports the talented artists bringing The Promotion to life. Funding ensures fair compensation for our dedicated cast and crew.Fund this

Want to give beyond a listed goal, or chip in any amount? Donate any amount securely through PayPal. This is the production's official donation channel. Thank you for backing the film.

[ Partnership inquiry ]

Partner with the film.

For brands, companies, and organizations interested in sponsorship, in-kind support, corporate matching, or a campaign collaboration. Our team will follow up personally.

The Promotion

Fund a goal.

Josephine Martin

Femme Fatale

Brands we would love to partner with

In good company.

Imagine your brand helping bring Black Broadway to the screen.

Noir gives way to Technicolor.

Black Broadway

AN ORIGINAL

DUAL RELEASE

Why Now?

The look of the picture.

A first look.

The story architects

Mannequin

Ben Cory Jones

Princess Mbanuzue Elemba

Pablo Burn

Kiran Rhe

Reginald "RJ" Johnson

Morganne Norwood

Lafayette Robinson

Cassandra Campbell

Step into 1957.

Your details

Put The Promotion in motion.

From the Heart.

Partner with the film.

Tell us about your brand