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Logline

In 1994 South Sacramento, 13-year-old Mona sneaks her mother’s lipstick, convinced it’s the secret to growing up — but one unforgettable night at the skating rink teaches her there’s more to womanhood than red lips, and more to her mama than she ever realized.

Synopsis

MONA follows thirteen-year-old Mona Smith. She’s quick-witted, curious, and desperate to be seen. As the oldest of three, she’s watched her mother, Pamela, hold their world together after love, music, and stability slipped away. Pamela once dreamed of being a singer; now her red lipstick is her way of feeling whole in a life that’s come undone. When Mona sneaks that lipstick for a night at the roller rink, she finally feels like “that Girl”. Radiant and confident — until her mother catches her in front of everyone. What begins as embarrassment turns into something deeper: an unexpected understanding between a mother and daughter, both trying to rediscover who they are. MONA is a funny, tender coming-of-age story about the moment you realize growing up and holding it together aren’t so different after all.

Meet the Filmmakers

DANIELLE MONÉ TRUITT — WRITER/ DIRECTOR/ ATTACHED AS PAMELA)
DANIELLE MONÉ TRUITT IS AN ACTOR, WRITER, AND DIRECTOR BEST KNOWN FOR HER STARRING ROLE AS SERGEANT AYANNA BELL ON NBC’S LAW & ORDER: ORGANIZED CRIME. A PROUD SACRAMENTO NATIVE, SHE BEGAN HER CAREER ON STAGE, EARNING AN NAACP THEATRE AWARD NOMINATION FOR THE MOUNTAINTOP. HER ACCLAIMED ONE-WOMAN SHOW 3: BLACK GIRL BLUES CEMENTED HER AS A POWERFUL VOICE FOR AUTHENTIC, EMOTIONALLY GROUNDED STORYTELLING. MONA MARKS HER DIRECTORIAL DEBUT — A DEEPLY PERSONAL COMING-OF-AGE STORY INSPIRED BY HER OWN CHILDHOOD. THROUGH HER WORK, TRUITT EXPLORES IDENTITY, WOMANHOOD, AND RESILIENCE, ALWAYS CENTERING THE BEAUTY, HUMOR, AND HEART, REMINDING AUDIENCES OF THEIR SHARED HUMANITY.

CRIS ELI BLAK — Co-WRITER
CRIS ELI BLAK IS AN AWARD-WINNING PLAYWRIGHT AND SCREENWRITER WHOSE WORK HAS BEEN PRODUCED OFF-BROADWAY AND INTERNATIONALLY, WITH PRODUCTIONS IN LONDON, AUSTRALIA, IRELAND, AND CANADA. HE IS THE INAUGURAL WINNER OF THE BLACK BROADWAY MEN PLAYWRITING INITIATIVE AND THE MUSE OF FIRE BIPOC PLAYWRITING FESTIVAL. CURRENTLY A STAFF WRITER ON THE STARZ SERIES POWERBOOK III: RAISING KANAN, BLAK BRINGS HIS SHARP, HEARTFELT STORYTELLING TO BOTH STAGE AND SCREEN. HIS WORK EXPLORES THE RESILIENCE, RHYTHM, AND HUMANITY OF BLACK LIFE, WITH CHARACTERS THAT REFLECT THE BEAUTY AND COMPLEXITY OF REAL PEOPLE.

CHERYL MARTIN — PRODUCER
CHERYL MARTIN IS THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF CMA ENTERTAINMENT, A LOS ANGELES–BASED TALENT MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCTION COMPANY. WITH OVER TWO DECADES IN THE INDUSTRY, SHE’S BUILT A REPUTATION FOR NURTURING AUTHENTIC VOICES AND GUIDING ARTISTS TO THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL. KNOWN FOR HER EYE FOR TALENT AND DEEP INDUSTRY INSIGHT, CHERYL BRINGS BOTH CREATIVE VISION AND BUSINESS STRATEGY TO THE MONA TEAM.

OKEMA T. MOORE — CONSULTING DIRECTOR
OKEMA T. MOORE IS AN EMMY-NOMINATED PRODUCER AND AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR WITH CREDITS ACROSS FILM, TELEVISION, AND DIGITAL MEDIA, INCLUDING BET, NETFLIX, PBS, AND DISNEY+. AS MONA’S CONSULTING DIRECTOR, SHE BRINGS SEASONED CREATIVE MENTORSHIP AND ON-SET GUIDANCE TO SUPPORT DANIELLE MONÉ TRUITT’S DIRECTORIAL DEBU

Auden Bui— Director Of Photography
Auden Bui (Director Of Photography) is an award-winning cinematographer, director, and visual artist known for her emotionally driven, cinematic imagery. A graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, she is the recipient of the DGA Student Award for her film The Lost City of Tomorrow. Her work has screened at festivals including Seattle International Film Festival, Newport Beach Film Festival, and LA Shorts, and spans narrative film, documentary, and commercial projects. Auden brings a thoughtful, character-centered visual approach to MONA, elevating intimate storytelling through nuanced composition and light.

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Contact

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