Picking Up The Pieces - A CSUN Thesis Film

A grieving young man attempts to overcome his father’s death by confronting his estranged and unsympathetic grandfather.

Statement from the Director

During COVID, I became fixated with digitizing old family photos. Among them were images of relatives I had never seen before with moments of stability and opportunity. Still, I kept wondering how a family could have so much and yet pass down so much pain. I saw what had been lost, and I began to understand how hardship and silence ripple through generations. That reflection became the seed of this film.

Picking Up the Pieces began as a way for me to explore family history and, at its core, the fallout of absence and strained relationships across generations. It also became a way to reflect on myself and begin finding my own path.

Families often carry unspoken wounds, and silence becomes the inherited response. That silence leaves a mark. This film became a way to confront that silence. But it is not just about my family. It is about the emotional legacies passed between men, and how masculinity is too often shaped by abandonment, repression, and shame. There is a growing divide between generations, not only in values but in emotional fluency. We are still living with a model of manhood that praises toughness while punishing vulnerability.

Instead of facing that history, many men become defensive. We see more excuses, more resistance to reflection, and a deeper avoidance of responsibility. The silence continues. We are still taught to hold it in rather than reach out.

This story takes place in the quiet space between father and son, in the distance between what should have been said and what never was.

I made this film to better understand the men who came before me. I wanted to look honestly at their mistakes and the damage they caused. 

It is difficult to come to terms with your lineage when it is marked by emotional abandonment. But the process of trying to understand, to forgive, and to grow beyond it is what shaped this film.

ALL CONTRIBUTIONS to "Picking Up The Pieces" are 100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE. The California State University Northridge Foundation is a CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION 501 (C)(3) PUBLIC BENEFIT CALIFORNIA CORPORATION.

Your Donation

Your contribution will go directly to the following:

Locations: Donations will ensure we are able to secure reliable and visually compelling locations that best help bring our story to life.

Cast Compensation: Contributions will enable us to compensate the SAG-AFTRA actors for their dedication and hard work towards this project.

Equipment Rentals: Your donation will help us secure high-quality camera, lighting, and audio equipment to ensure that our film has the best look and sound.

Art Department: Donations will ensure we have the costumes, props, and set design necessary to best tell our story.

Post-Production: Funding will help us with editing, color grading, transcoding, and sound design to guarantee our film a great final product.

Catering and Craft Services: Contributions will help make sure our cast and crew are well fed and hydrated, so they can work to the best of their abilities.

Marketing and Distribution: Donations will help us market and distribute our film through trailers, social media campaigns, and festival submissions.

Contingency Fund: A portion of the funds will be set aside to cover any unexpected expenses or issues that may arise during production.

Our Crew

Writer/Director: Bryant Goodman

Producer: Emilie Thies

Producer: Robert J. Jones

Producer: Ben Segall

1st Assistant Director: Khalief Harjono

2nd Assistant Director: Fabian Plascencia

Script Supervisor: Aidan Linchey

Director of Photography: Anshul Shankhdhar

Production Designer: Bella Camacho

Art Director: Casey Gomes

Costume Designer: Sophia Calcagno

BTS Photography: Raymond Skinner

Production Sound: Isaac Gavino

Boom Operator: Mario Gonzales

Sound Utility: Guillermo Calixtro

Post Sound: Trey Ortega

Editor: Danny Daly

Editor: Ray Saito

DIT: Jackson Richie

Feel free to contact us!

pickingupthepices@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram @pickingupthepieces.film