PROJECT [RED]
When a judgement call results in the death of a comrade, a hardened special ops leader, haunted by a debilitating blood disorder, struggles to complete a potential cure before the genocide of an entire community suffering from the same disease.
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Expanded from the award-winning, short film “SIP,” Project [RED] explores the struggle for identity, belonging, and empowerment, making it a poignant commentary on current social issues and the unyielding power of community in the face of adversity. "
mission statement
Inspired by lived experiences, the writer, director and producer, Jeffrey C. Woodson II, has crafted an honest and transparent story from a thirty-nine year battle with Sickle Cell Disease. With a deep respect and reverence for the art of filmmaking, Woodson weaves themes of identity, family and purpose within a tense, genre-bending thriller, set thirty-five years in the future.
Many of the scenes and sequences within the film mirror events from his own life, adding a layer of authenticity while highlighting an important conversation surrounding the medical and pharmaceutical industry’s treatment of individuals with chronic diseases.
the story
A gripping, action-packed thriller, Project [RED] weaves together themes of family legacy, identity, and collective resistance. It follows Marcellus “Marc” Satchel III, a man grappling with his family's profound history marred by systemic oppression and personal tragedy due to Sickle Cell Disease.
As secrets about his lineage and the existence of a formula developed by his cousin, TJ, are uncovered, Marc is thrust into a looming war against the SCD Demon, a creature that haunts him daily and hails the arrival of a debilitating pain episode from his Sickle Cell Disease diagnosis. Tasked with completing the life-giving formula before it’s too late, Marc must stand toe-to-toe with Guild Pharmaceuticals, a powerful, multi-billion dollar company holding a monopoly on the entire healthcare industry, controlling the narrative and exploiting Black lives for profit.
The film opens in a surreal ETHER Dimension, where Marc reflects on the importance of family and heritage, emphasizing that pride and knowledge of one's roots empower the present generation. As the plot unfolds in a gritty, dystopian near-future, Marc’s journey takes him from a life haunted by a crippling illness to that of a reclaimed warrior.
Amidst thrilling chase sequences and intense confrontations, Marc learns about The Guild’s sinister “Project Red initiative” that is hidden beneath the coding the latest firmware update to their revolutionary technology, The Pen. The update is exclusive to individuals selected through a “randomized” lottery that is rigged to target specific individuals leading to the genocide of the Warrior’s entire community.
This discovery sets Marc and his allies on a mission to dismantle the Guild’s operation, as they fight to turn the tide against systemic injustices. With the support of his family's legacy and the mentorship of Auntie, a seasoned warrior, Marc embraces his identity and the ETHER’s powerful abilities to inspire change, culminating in a fierce showdown against Garrett, the Guild's newly-appointed CEO, who seeks to preserve his family's reign through control and violence.
director’s
statement
"Project [RED]“ is a powerful story of resilience, sacrifice, and the relentless pursuit of justice, encapsulating the urgency of understanding one's history while fighting for a brighter future for generations to come.
