[iw-photo type=”iphoto” caption=”Stars Jimmie Fails and Prentice Sanders en route [from unseen footage shot for the concept teaser]” credit=”null” alt=”null” title=”Stars Jimmie Fails and Prentice Sanders en route [from unseen footage shot for the concept teaser]” url=”http://indiewire.s3.amazonaws.com/81/5a/5163088e4f35aeb72e29e5d3fc96/stars-jimmie-fails-and-prentice-sanders-en-route-from-unseen-footage-shot-for-the-concept-teaser.png”][/iw-photo]Earlier this month, it was announced as one of 15 finalists for the latest round of the San Francisco Film Society (SFFS) and Kenneth Rainin Foundation (KRF) Filmmaking Grants initiative, in the "Preproduction" category. Writer/director Joseph Talbot’s "The Last Black Man in San Francisco," produced by Rolla Selbak, follows Jimmie Fails, a young African American "who dreams of buying back the Victorian home his grandfather built in the heart of San Francisco. Now living in the city’s last, dwindling black neighborhood with his oddball best friend, Prentice, they search for belonging in the rapidly changing city that seems to have left them behind."

As I noted at the time of the above SFFS/KRF announcement, Talbot’s film immediately made me think of Barry Jenkins’ feature film debut, "Medicine for Melancholy." Not quite the same story, but I’d expect similar conversations about gentrification and race, from a uniquely San Francisco Bay area POV. 

The filmmaker has now launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $50,000 to help kickstart the film into production.

The campaign ends on Wednesday, Jun 3, 2015.

Immediately below, watch the 2 1/2-minute pitch video, followed by a 5 1/2-minute "concept teaser," featuring the star of the film, Jimmie, telling his family story, and if you’re sold, follow the link to the project’s Kickstarter page and make a contribution: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/joeandjimmie/last-black-man-in-san-francisco.