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Logline

An 11-year-old musician defies her father and forms an unexpected bond with a disabled, houseless violinist.

Synopsis

We open on Diego (40s), a houseless violinist playing with striking beauty on a Downtown Los Angeles street. He has one hand on the strings; the other arm is fitted with a spatula-like prosthetic that allows him to bow the instrument. Despite his circumstances, Diego plays with joy and quiet fulfillment.

In a luxury downtown condo, Melody (11) practices violin while her father Rafael (40s) accompanies her on piano. He is both parent and teacher. Their lesson is interrupted by a call revealing Rafael is the lead chair of the local orchestra.

Days later, while walking through DTLA, Melody grows bored as Rafael chats with an acquaintance. A haunting melody drifts through the street. Melody follows the sound and finds Diego playing. Without speaking, she pulls out her violin and joins him, mirroring his improvisations. Diego tests her with subtle shifts in rhythm and she keeps up. It’s a conversation in music. The moment is cut short when Rafael pulls Melody away, warning her about strangers. Melody defends Diego’s talent. Rafael dismisses him: if he were truly good, he wouldn’t be on the street.

A week later, Melody overhears Rafael on the phone about an orchestra member that has quit. Auditions are coming.

The next morning, Melody practices a piece her late mother loved. Rafael is moved, then joins her on piano. Together, they begin rehearsing the duet.

Later, Melody ventures out alone. She finds Diego and silently hands him a folder of sheet music before walking away.

Meet the Filmmakers

Andrew Reid— Director
Originally from Jamaica, Andrew Reid is a physically disabled writer/director who immigrated to the United States at age 10. He uses the visual medium to craft genre-bending narratives and untold stories within the world of disability.

He holds an MFA from the USC School of Cinematic Arts and was honored with the DGA Student Award for his thesis film, ASIA A. His latest short, IRON LUNG, earned the Grand Jury Prize for Best Unstoppable Short at the 2025 Slamdance Film Festival. He has also earned nominations at the NAACP Image Awards, Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, Student Academy Awards and the Best of NewFilmmakers LA. His award-winning films have been showcased at more than 90 film festivals worldwide.

Reid’s recent accolades include being selected for the Mental Health Storytelling Initiative, Gotham Week Project Market, Sundance & Disney Project Advancement and Completion Fund, SFFilm Rainin Filmmakers with Disabilities Grant, the Spinal Cord Injury Artist Innovator Fund, Inevitable Foundation Elevate Collective and the Arts Council of Long Beach Creative Corps.

Learn more at www.ReidtheStory.com.

Brian Grigsby — Producer
Brian Grigsby (he/him) is a Pittsburgh-raised, Los Angeles-based producer who advocates for unique stories told in captivating ways. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and was nominated for a NAACP Image Award for his short film Blackout. Grigsby is a Sundance and Film independent alumni, having participated in the 2022 Sundance Producer’s Intensive Fellowship as well as Film Independent’s Project Involve program in 2020. He has produced projects for the NFL, NBA, HBO, and NBC, among others. His company, Nelson Studios, specializes in narrative content that enhances unheard voices and inspires audiences through stories of perseverance, redemption and faith.

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.