Name: Another Way
Director: Camrus Johnson
Genre: Short Film

Synopsis

ANOTHER WAY is a Hero's journey + slice-of-life story + adventure/trekking film, as this a young boy named MOTION continues to find one way after another to keep moving forward.

Once Motion realizes his water is cut off, he goes to his best friend KIZZY's house to see if his is cut off too. Once they realize it is, the two of them set off to get water from the local well.

Once they realize the well is dry, they devise a plan to borrow a dollar from a local vendor to take a Kombi (taxi) across town to his Mom's job, where he is certain to get the help he needs. Once he has the dollar and the Kombi refuses to let him on, he hitches a ride on the Kombi's trailer attached to the back. Once the Kombi's tire pops, he must continue on foot, but at least he sees flowers growing out of the ground that he can bring to the girl he likes once this adventure ends.

Motion reaches his mom's job, but he's too late... she's already left for the day, and the doors to her job are locked. A woman working next door sees the frustrated child, and after a short conversation, offers him her water bottle to get cleaned up - but only after he sprints back to his side of town. While Motion sprints home, a huge smile on his face, he passes an old man lying on a tree who is struggling in the heat due to dehydration. Displeased, Motion unwantedly lets the old man drink some of his water... but the old man drinks it all.

By the end of the film, despite the journey that Motion has gone on to turn his day around, ultimately and unfortunately he could not change what was out of his control and shows up to his date still covered in mud.

While his crush, ZANI, is kind about it, she decides to go off with her friends instead, saying that “maybe” they could try one day again... maybe.

About the project

In 2024, after wrapping filming on my Netflix series ONE PIECE, I took a trip to my costar/close friend (and now producer) Daniel Lasker's hometown, Bulawayo, where we visited a local orphanage called ZIMKIDS. After meeting the loveliest children there with the biggest smiles, I was in complete awe of how warm they all felt, just like all of the locals, and I finally had the story hit me that made my heart sing. A simple story of a young boy on the type of adventure that allows us to see the beauty of this country while in his pursuit of impressing his first love!

The filmmakers

Camrus Johnson

Director/Writer

A true multi-hyphenate, Camrus Johnson directed the television movie REAL LOVE for Mary J. Blige/SONY, adapted the novel HIDE & SEEKER into a Black List-selected feature script titled THE SEEKER, wrote and sold a sci-fi drama feature to Amazon Studios, was sought out to direct an animated feature for Netflix, and won over 30 awards & nominations for his three short films - including the inaugural 2023 Amplify Award win through the Sundance Film Festival/Windrider Institute for GRAB MY HAND: A LETTER TO MY DAD and an NAACP Image Award Nomination for his Tribeca World-Premiered & Produced short SHE DREAMS AT SUNRISE.

Camrus not only starred as the male lead 'Batwing/Luke Fox' in 3 seasons of the CW series BATWOMAN but also directed episode 311. He is now widely recognized as the fan-favorite villain 'MR. 5' in Season 2 of Netflix's global phenomenon ONE PIECE (the highly successful Live-Action adaptation of the longest-running anime & manga of all time, recently named the #1 english-speaking television series on the globe), voiced the role of 'Prince Agloval' in Netflix's animated feature THE WITCHER: SIRENS OF THE DEEP, and both director-shadowed & made a cameo in The Russo Brothers' Netflix epic feature film THE ELECTRIC STATE.

Daniel Lasker

Producer

Zimbabwean actor and filmmaker Daniel Lasker directed the first Ndebele Sci-Fi film in Zimbabwe called “The Signal”, and it went on to win multiple awards at international film festivals. During his time growing up in Zimbabwe there wasn't an active film industry, so he taught himself how to make his own films, which over time became well-received by the Zimbabwean community and audiences around the world. His acting credits include the global hit series “One Piece” on Netflix, “Raised By Wolves” on HBO Max, “Noughts & Crosses” on BBC One, and “London Calling”.

Ian Lipton

Cinematographer

Ian Lipton is a Los Angeles-based cinematographer and director known for bold, cinematic visual storytelling. His work has garnered millions of views, spanning music videos and experimental documentaries for major artists such as THE MARIAS and SABA, as well as award-winning documentary features shot across South Africa, demonstrating his distinctive ability to create surreal, painterly visuals.

Whether crafting intimate verité moments or stylized narrative sequences, Ian brings a sophisticated sensibility to dramatic storytelling. His approach blurs the boundaries between documentary observation, fashion film, and art piece.

Ashley Nicole Williams

Executive Producer

A dynamic and versatile performer, Ashley Nicole Williams is quickly emerging as one of the entertainment industry's brightest young talents. Ashley is most known for her role as 'Abigail Bellweather' on the Freeform series, "Motherland: Fort Salem" which premiered in March 2020 and aired 3 seasons. A native of Dallas, Texas, Ashley booked her role on "Motherland: Fort Salem" while still attending Baylor University, where she graduated on-time with a degree in Film & Digital Media in May of 2020. Acting since age 5, Ashley has maintained her passion for writing, filmmaking and movie production, as well as acting for more than 20 years. She aspires to become a triple threat, with plans to write and direct her own films, as well as act in them. She is the Founder of “Mad Dash Productions”, a company excited to engage in every aspect of storytelling.

The filmmakers

Camrus Johnson

Daniel Lasker

Ian Lipton

Ashley Nicole Williams

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