Logline
After an inquisitive young girl is told that her recently deceased dad is now an ancestor spirit that she can feel whenever she needs, she tries to find his spirit before her first day of kindergarten.
Short Synopsis
In "Finding JaMia's Spirit," we follow the journey of JaMia, a curious and optimistic 5-year-old girl. After the loss of her father, JaMia grapples with the concept of him being in a "better place" and feeling abandoned right before her first day of kindergarten. With the guidance of her wise grandmother, Gam Gam, JaMia embarks on a search for her father's ancestor spirit. Through a series of heartwarming moments with her mother, Denise, and flashbacks of her father, JaMia discovers that her father's spirit is always with her, providing comfort and strength.
Director's Statement
My dad died from stomach cancer when I was 11. When I think back on it now, sometimes his death felt sudden, and other times it felt long and painful, but overall, it was a difficult loss. One of the things I absolutely hated was how every offer of condolence I received was that my dad “was in a better place.” Even at 11, I could not understand why my dad would willingly go to this “better place” and leave me, “his baby girl” behind. Practically, I knew what folks meant, but I didn’t understand why those were the chosen words of sympathy. This was my inspiration for “Finding JaMia’s Spirit.” I wanted to rethink how we communicate grief to kids and how they interpret and process loss and healing. This is a story that will resonate with families or anyone who has experienced loss, but particularly younger kids who might have a hard time understanding loss and need help with processing grief and moving towards healing.
-Candace D. Patrick
Writer/Director/Producer
Production Team
cast
Ashli Auguillard (AKA Ashli with an “i”) is an actor from the small town of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. She’s proudly the oldest of six siblings, and her hobbies include cooking, planting, and escape room games!
Ashli's acting journey started at the age of 11, where she landed a role in her first play, 'The Miser.' After attending LSU, Ashli made the leap to California in 2014 to pursue a full time acting career. You can find her shooting automatic rifles in the latest season of The Rookie and The Rookie Feds, guest starring across Nathan Fillion and Niecy Nash. She stands out as a new face on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, Season 11, holding her own with the likes of Larry David, Lucy Liu, and other heavy hitters. She also graces the screen in guest-starring and recurring roles on USA Network, the Hallmark Channel, Facebook Watch, Screambox TV.
Ashli also has plans to give back, but she isn't waiting for fame to make change. As CEO and cofounder of Oyo Market, an e-commerce platform for black owned products, she is already amplifying underrepresented communities in business. She hopes to expand her philanthropy as she rises, with a special and relatable place in her heart for impoverished black youth and the homeless community.
ABOUT THE ROLE OF DENISE
Black woman, 30s, exhausted, and lingering between the denial and depression stages of grief. While grieving the loss of her husband, Denise struggles with helping her daughter, JaMia, process the loss of her father.
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Copyright ©2023 Candace D. Patrick