DUAL VISIONS

Hello, my name is Corey Lightner, the director, producer, and one of the several writers of the "Say I'm Just A Friend" mini series. During the creative process of this project, I led a team of writers from cross country, created a music team, and put together a casting team -- all of which I had never done before this.

If you've watched my last film, "Comfort Zone" you know that I operate on a grow or die mentality. In order to advance you must continue to learn and experience discomfort...it is the only way forward. "Say I'm Just A Friend" is special to me because it's my first time returning to my comedic origins I abandoned about 3+ years ago. I wanted my work to be taken seriously, and this led me down a spiral of psychological thrillers. As a result, my first two films were birthed ("White Face" and "Comfort Zone"). SIJAF is a humorous, light hearted, and vulnerable world I built after trying to find someone to take on a family trip one year. I had recently been on the delivering end of a break up and wanted to find someone to watch the show that is my family, alongside me. When things happen to me I always say "that's a skit", however this idea felt more weighted and I missed making people laugh -- so what better time to write a romantic comedy? 

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SIJAF is funny, honest, bold, and most of all its real. I recently realized how often I actually enjoyed rom-coms, but I noticed a clear pattern of them being told from the woman's perspective. There's nothing wrong with that of course, but it made me wonder, how would a straight, Black male tell this same story...how would I tell it? After being put on to a few recommended shows I began brainstorming the outline that became the mini series. This story takes a vulnerable look at masculinity and uses the tool of comedy to open up deeper discussions. 

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This isn't my first series that I've ever created. In fact, SIJAF actually pays homage to "CURVED", my first mini-series I did in college -- centered around the why's, how's, and what's of getting rejected by someone you find attractive. I was happy to revisit similar themes and humor, but from a more experienced filmmaker and adult perspective, this time around. 

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Get into the world of "Say I'm Just A Friend" and help us reach our goal to tell more stories on vulnerability.