Season 10

Gutter

Jordan & Jevon Donaldson

A live action/animated hybrid film exploring depression, grief and loneliness through the lens of a comic book obsessed young man.

Trauma

Artists BIPOC Young Adults

Suspenseful

Why we chose this film.

Through a creative comic book aesthetic, “Gutter” offers new insights into loneliness, disconnection, and the authentic, often messy conversations that bring people back together after tragedy.

Filmmaker

Inspiration

Gutter is a project born from our love of comic books and a desire to explore themes of brotherhood, mental health, and loss. At its core, the film is about the invisible struggles people face—and the importance of reaching out for help, even when it feels impossible. We aimed to tell a story that illustrates the dangerous pathways a person’s life can take when they don’t have or accept the support from those around them.

This project was especially meaningful to us as it allowed us to process our own experiences with family, conflict, and healing. The story beat of two brothers navigating emotional distance and trauma became both cathartic and therapeutic to create, with moments of tension mirroring our own struggles. We chose to incorporate rotoscope animation to visually capture the protagonist’s internal battles, an ambitious decision that pushed us creatively. Although this added complexity, it ultimately helped bring the emotional depth of the story to life.

Ultimately, Gutter is about hope—about those invisible hands reaching out, even when it feels like they’re too far to grasp. Our hope is that the audience walks away with a sense of empathy, understanding that mental health struggles are isolating but can be overcome with support. For us, this film will always be special because it’s allowed us to tell a story using many vehicles that we love as tools and connected us with a cast and crew that we will be working with for years to come.