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Logline

A guarded man forms a quiet, transformative bond with his neighbor, discovering that tending to life—plants, people, and memory—can open even the most protected heart.

Synopsis

Synopsis
First Fruit is an intimate, character-driven short film set within the shared spaces of a Mid-City Los Angeles triplex. Paul, a guarded man in his forties, has recently moved into the downstairs unit, carrying with him an unspoken history and a carefully maintained distance from others. His refuge is the small garden behind the building, where tending plants offers structure, quiet, and control.

One afternoon, Paul intervenes to save a struggling grasshopper from drowning in a fountain—an instinctive act that surprises even him. The moment is interrupted by Andrea, his neighbor, whose warmth and ease contrast Paul’s reserve. Though their interaction is brief, it marks the beginning of a subtle, unfolding connection.

As days pass, Paul and Andrea coexist across a shared fence, their lives intersecting through music drifting through open windows, mirrored rituals of gardening, and moments of quiet observation. Their bond deepens without urgency or declaration, rooted instead in stillness, attentiveness, and mutual respect.

Andrea’s vitality begins to waver, introducing an undercurrent of vulnerability that neither names aloud. Paul, faced with the limits of what he can protect or save, must confront his instinct to retreat. Through small gestures—tending Andrea’s garden, holding space in silence, honoring what is fragile—Paul discovers that care itself is a form of courage.

Anchored by the original poem First Fruit, the film reflects on inheritance, survival, and the grace found in nurturing life, even in the presence of loss. First Fruit centers Black interiority and tenderness, offering a meditation on connection as both risk and gift.

Meet the Filmmakers

“BJ” Rouse — Writer/Director/Producer
Beverly “BJ” Rouse is a Los Angeles–based writer, director, and producer focused on intimate, character-driven storytelling that centers Black interiority, care, and lived experience. First Fruit is a deeply personal project reflecting her commitment to restraint, observation, and emotional truth. Rouse is a Director’s Guild of America signatory under the DGA Experimental Contract and is producing First Fruit under a SAG-AFTRA Short Project Agreement with Film Independent Fiscal Sponsorship.

Lenny Payan PGA — Producer/First Assistant Director
Producer / First Assistant Director
Lenny Payan is a Director’s Guild of America member and an experienced producer and First Assistant Director. His producing credits include the Academy Award–nominated feature American Fiction. Payan brings extensive on-set leadership, scheduling expertise, and production management experience, supporting a disciplined, artist-focused production environment on First Fruit .

John Simmons — Cinematography Consultant
John Simmons, ASC, is an accomplished cinematographer, acting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and member of the American Society of Cinematographers. He has received three Primetime Emmy nominations, winning the 2016 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography, and was honored with the 2019 Kodak Cinematography Mentor of the Year Award. Simmons was also nominated for a 2005 BET Comedy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. As a consultant on First Fruit, he advises on visual approach, camera strategy, and tone, supporting the film’s emphasis on stillness and emotional clarity.

Paul Morales— Director of Photography
Paul Morales, Local 600, is a Los Angeles–based cinematographer whose work spans narrative film, documentary, and commercial projects. His collaborations include award-winning productions, including work for NASCAR that received Emmy recognition. As Director of Photography on First Fruit, Morales brings a thoughtful, restrained visual sensibility aligned with the film’s quiet, observational storytelling.

Yaminah McKessey — Post-Production Supervisor
Yaminah McKessey is an experienced post-production supervisor with a strong background overseeing post workflows for both independent and large-scale productions. She has held a long-standing role at Netflix, supporting high-level post-production processes and delivery standards. On First Fruit, McKessey oversees post-production from edit through final deliverables, ensuring the project meets professional and festival-ready standards.

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.