Pull Up a Seat — Why We’re Making About That Time

What happens when four Black filmmakers — Jonathan (Writer/Director), Deonna (Producer), Sam (DP), and Matthew (Producer) — sit down and have an honest conversation about making their first feature film? You get Pull Up a Seat, our podcast-style roundtable where we speak on the nerves, our journey, and the unapologetic purpose behind About That Time.

This film isn’t just a movie for us. It’s a moment.

First Times, Long Roads

For all of us, About That Time is our debut feature. The first time our names land on a full-length project. The first time we’ve all linked arms not just as creatives, but as co-builders of something bigger than ourselves. And yeah — it’s terrifying.

As Matt said, it’s “like a pit in your stomach — that make it or break it feeling.” Sam echoed it too — not because we’re not ready, but because this story matters. It’s not just a film. It’s a dream decades in the making.

But it also feels right. Because it’s not about proving we’re ready. It’s about proving what’s possible when we move in rhythm.

The Why

It started with Friday movie nights. With grandpa on the couch, cousins on the floor, and stories that stuck with you for years. Our dream is to make something that gives that feeling back — something joyful, heartfelt, and healing.

And About That Time is just that. A cookout. A portal. A time-bending journey through grief, laughter, and the stories Black families carry. It’s also about return. 

To memory.

To family.

To the parts of us that deserve to be seen and celebrated.

It’s funny. It’s messy. It’s real.

From Isolation to Ecosystem

Deonna spoke on it in the episode — about being one of the few Black women in her film program. About the pressure to show up perfect. How filmmaking often felt like a fight — to be seen, to be trusted, to be believed in. And yet here we are, years later, in a creative circle where that belief is mutual, built-in, and loud.

That’s what Kickphase is about. It’s not just a studio — it’s an ecosystem. A place where Black stories aren’t just told, they’re protected. Where we’re not just waiting for Hollywood to let us in. We’re reimagining what Black creative legacy can look like when the ownership stays in our hands.

What We Want This Film To Do

For Sam, it’s the launch of a full-time DP career. For Deonna, it’s stepping fully into her directorial voice. For Matt, it’s a move toward producing animated stories that reflect his roots.

And for all of us — it’s a milestone we’re claiming on purpose.Not just for the credits, but for the future collaborators who will walk through the doors we’re opening now.

Why We’re Sharing This Now

Because the cookout has started.

And before we ask you to bring something to the table, we wanted you to hear why we’re cooking in the first place.

This podcast is the beginning of a bigger invitation: to support the film, yes. But also to join a movement that’s bigger than one story. One team. One moment.

To pull up a seat to something real.

This isn’t just a podcast episode.

It’s a cultural timestamp.

A reflection of where we’re at, what we’ve been through, and where we’re going next.

And it's an invitation to join a movement that’s bigger than one film, one set, or one team.

We’re not just making a movie.

]🎬 Support the film on Givebutter: givebutter.com/aboutthattime

🎧 Listen to the full conversation: https://youtu.be/yQlFX7hPCsg

📬 Sign up for updates + reflections like this: kickphase.com/connect