From the imaginations of Riley S. Wilson and Lisa Cortés (known for her work on the Academy Award-winning film, Precious) comes a new web-series that expertly blends aspects of drama and comedy with science fiction. Called Little Apple, the live-action series tells the story of a young black girl as she wrestles with a rapidly growing intellect and must decide whether to act on the injustices she sees or accept things as they are.
As the US transitions from the Obama-era to Trump’s America, a greater number of people are becoming aware of the role systemic racism has played – and continues to play – in the daily lives of citizens. Little Apple serves as a reflection of this and the growing sentiment of Black pride amongst the African American community.
Apple – played by dynamic young actress, Milan Williams – is a young girl living in Harlem, New York who begins to quickly develop claircognizance (all-knowing) abilities. In line with the old adage that with great power comes great responsibility, the 9-year-old must now grapple with how to best respond to her growing awareness of things like racism, sexism, and gentrification in increasingly uncertain times.
In a press release, executive producer, writer, and director Wilson explained what makes Little Apple so special:
“What’s great about the show is that it’s from the perspective of a little girl, and people often forget that kids have direct access to content and media just as much as adults. They know what’s going on in the country and many times the world. People just don’t engage with them.”
Wilson officially began work on the series in 2015, and Little Apple later went on to become a Sundance Lab finalist. Though Wilson ultimately didn’t receive the Sundance appointment, he pushed on anyway and ultimately decided to self-produce the project. The team behind the web-series recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the project and there are only fifteen days left to get them to their goal of 15,000 USD.
Check it out here.
Executive Producer, Writer, Director: Riley S. Wilson
Executive Producer: Lisa Cortés
Producer: Maurice Zarzuela
Assistant Director: Angel Denise
Art Director: Steven Lowe
Little Apple: Milan Williams
