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About this submission

A mother must make a difficult decision when she's late for her job interview.
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Seen on HBO | Issa Rae Presents | Cinemax | Spectrum
Watch On Issa Rae Presents #ShortFilmSundays: youtu.be/GKs6CoIgnNo
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Short Film: http://www.vimeo.com/xay/ontime
Winner - Best Narrative Short Film - Financial Focus Film Festival
Winner - Best Director - Sunscreen Film Festival West
Winner - Best Actress - Grand Off Film Festival, Poland
Winner - 1st Place Student Short Films - Magnolia Independent Film Festival
Winner - 2nd Place Super Shorts Category - Anchorage International Film Festival
Winner - Student Shorts - Denton Black Film Festival
Winner - 3rd Place - Audience Awards Social Political Shorts Film Festival
Finalist - HBO Short Film Competition
Finalist - American Black Film Festival
Finalist - SAG AFTRA Short Film Showcase
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Feature Film Screenplay
Winner - Screencraft Drama Competition
screencraft.org/2018/12/18/2018-screencraft-drama-screenplay-competition-winner-announced-2/
Winner - The Film Empire Diversity Competition
thefilmempire.com/diversity-screenwriting-winner/
Winner - Ivy Film Festival Graduate Feature Competition
Finalist - Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition
atlantafilmfestival.com/atlff-news/2019/2/22/2019-atlanta-film-festival-screenplay-competition-finalists
Finalist - Hollywood Talent Summit Screenplay Competition
web.archive.org/web/20190214033311/https://www.hollywoodtalentsummit.com/
1st Round - Sundance Screenwriter's Lab
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Bringing Light to a Problem:
On Time follows the life of Renee Johnson, a mother forced to make a dangerous decision for the sake of her child. Six months unemployed and desperate, Renee realizes this isn't the life she want for her seven-year-old daughter, Imani. Renee receives an interview for a job, but doesn't have the funds to keep her in daycare. So on a hot, searing Los Angeles day, Renee leaves Imani in the car as she goes in for her interview. Renee lands the job, but walks outside to find cops breaking into her car to take Imani away. Renee watches as her child is taken away, and she's arrested for trying to find a better path for herself and her daughter. For many, our protagonist's only crime was being black, poor, and female. For others, regardless of her situation, her decision was reprehensible. Still, it is not cut and dry. While the inspiration for the story found help, I want to follow the normal trajectory. Where most parents are on their own.

The Breakdown:
On Time came into fruition through researching stories of the juvenile dependency court as well as foster families, and foster homes. Many people (and most audiences) have never seen the reunification process for parents and children, children's court, the workload of children protective services caseworkers, or the overwhelming disparity parents of color find themselves in when dealing with juvenile court. I want to bring these problems out in the open. An audience should leave this film emotionally moved, with an open mind to learning more about the legal system for parents and children in regards to the reunification process.
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ontimethemovie.com
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XLNB

Creator

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Xavier Burgin attended The University of Alabama before being accepted into USC’s School of Cinematic Arts for TV & Film Production. He nurtured his creative process there, discovering a love for writing and directing. Now, he's a Sundance Lab Fellow with a following of over 60,000, an HBO Finalist, a Ryan Murphy Television Half Foundation alumni, and a director on the Emmy nominated series, Giants. Xavier is a fellow of The Sundance Institute's YouTube New Voices Lab where his series, Late Registration, was selected. Xavier shadowed on the set of American Horror Story as a member of the RMTV Half Foundation, a diversity mentorship program created by Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story, Scream Queens). Xavier’s feature script, On Time, has won The Film Empire’s diversity competition and Screencraft’s drama competition. Xavier has also been a semi-finalist for ABC|Disney’s Directing and Writer Programs, Sony’s Diverse Director’s Program, and Viacom’s Emerging Directors Program. Xavier’s feature documentary, Horror Noire, which documents the history of Black Americans in the horror genre, will premiere on Shudder TV in 2019. Xavier directed Episode 204: Lights Out and Episode 207: Okay In the Silence, of the Emmy nominated series, Giants, currently on Issa Rae’s Color Creative. The series has been picked up for television via TV One. On Time, Xavier’s proof of concept for his feature script of the same name, was an HBO short film finalist, was an Audience Award Social Political Film Festival Jury Winner, netted him a Best Director award at Sunscreen Film Festival West, and won Best Actress at Poland’s Grand Off Film Festival. It premiered on HBO and has been seen on Cinemax and Spectrum. Olde E, his thesis film, was a semi-finalist for the 43rd Student Academy Awards and chosen for Ryan Murphy’s Director’s showcase. Other, his film about Black America’s two voices, has been featured on Shadow & Act, Bossip, and Colorlines. Xavier has also amassed a following of over 60,000 plus followers on twitter through his long form stories, landing him features on sites such as NPR, Buzzfeed, Complex, Global Grind, and more. Xavier has worked with Kevin Hart’s LOL Network, AMC, Shudder, Baron Davis’ No Label, Stage 3 Productions, Bazelevs (Wanted, Unfriended), Blavity, Riveting Entertainment, Google, Lenovo, Coca-Cola, The Distinguished Filmmakers’ Network, and Oscar Mayer as a director, writer, cinematographer, and/or writer. Xavier strives to bring an emotionally, powerful aesthetic through drama, and a pleasantly gut-aching, hilarity through comedy. Above all else, he currently works towards building an artistic resume highlighting his unique, and progressive sensibilities.