THE LOGLINE

(worth repeating)

When a determined Black woman (inspired by the journey of Dr. Georgia Mae) survives tuberculosis and pneumonia as a teenager and battles cancer for 32 years breaks through as the first Black person, first woman—and youngest person—to direct Military Schools for the Department of Defense, she must navigate institutional resistance while maintaining her integrity and vision—proving that excellence isn't about fitting in, but about transforming the spaces we enter.

THE STORY

Don't Quit is a narrative short film inspired by the journey of Dr. Georgia Mae, who shattered multiple glass ceilings in the 1980s by becoming the first Black woman, first woman overall, and youngest person to lead Military Schools for the Department of Defense.

After nearly dying twice from tuberculosis and pneumonia as a teenager, and while battling cancer for 32 years, she refused to let circumstances define her possibilities.

This 25-page narrative short captures the pivotal dramatic moments when she faced institutional pushback, health challenges, strategic obstacles, and the isolation that comes with being "the first"—while maintaining her commitment to educational excellence and her own humanity.

The film is informed by extensive research and interviews with those who witnessed her groundbreaking work, ensuring authentic storytelling grounded in real history.

WHY NOW? WHY URGENT?

Festival Deadlines: We must submit to festivals soon to qualify for this year's circuit

Disappearing Legacy: DoD websites are actively removing historical documentation—we must preserve this story through narrative film before it's completely erased

3-Day Production Window: We have a narrow window to shoot on location in Georgia and locally scouted interiors with our trained crew

First Jobs for PPAs: Our Perfect Production Assistants (neurodivergent young adults) begin training next Thursday—this is their first professional film credit

THE CONVERGENCE MOMENT

This isn't just a film. It's three missions converging:

✅ Preserve History - Capture living testimonies before they're lost
✅ Create Opportunity - First production jobs for our trained PPAs
✅ Tell Truth - Share a story of resilience that transforms how we see excellence

YOUR SUPPORT FUNDS

Our minimum viable production budget is $50,000, which allows us to shoot core scenes and give our PPAs their first professional credits. The funds will be used for full production value including all Georgia locations, complete crew, and festival-ready post-production. Every dollar raised enhances our ability to tell Dr. Georgia Mae's story with the excellence it deserves.

Production (3-Day Shoot)

• Professional crew and equipment

• Location scouting and permits (Georgia locations + local interiors)

• Stock footage of international locations

• Production design and costuming

• Travel for Georgia location shoot

Perfect Production Assistants Program

• First professional film credits for neurodivergent young adults

• On-set training and supervision

• Building sustainable Hollywood employment pathways

Post-Production & Festival Strategy

• Editing, sound design, color correction

• Festival submission fees (March deadlines)

• Marketing materials and press kit

THE FILMMAKER

MeMe Kelly is a UCLA MFA graduate, Nicholl Fellowship semi-finalist, and award-winning playwright. Her feature film One Night in LA is currently streaming on Tubi after festival selections at Pan African Film Festival, Micheaux Film Festival, and Essence Film Festival.

As Founder/CEO of The Georgia Mae Project, Kelly created the Perfect Production Assistants Program—creating employment pathways for neurodivergent young adults in Hollywood.

This is personal. This is urgent. This is the story my mother lived so we could tell it.

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T MAKE OUR GOAL?

Every dollar raised goes directly to production. Even partial funding allows us to:

• Conduct essential witness interviews

• Capture critical archival footage

• Create a proof of concept for the full feature

• Give our PPAs their first film credit

But full funding means we can tell this story the way Dr. Georgia Mae lived it—with excellence, dignity, and transformative power.

DR. GEORGIA MAE DIDN'T QUIT

When the Department of Defense told her a woman couldn't lead.
When tuberculosis and pneumonia nearly killed her as a teenager.
When cancer battled her body for 32 years.
When institutional resistance tried to diminish her vision.

She didn't quit.

Now it's our turn not to quit on her story.

JOIN US

Share this campaign. Support this mission. Help us make history by preserving it.

Because some stories can't wait for the perfect moment—they demand we rise to meet them exactly when they arrive.

Follow our journey:
Instagram @memekelly_ & @shoutmethod/Facebook: @memekellywrites