WE ARE HERE

Episode One

By Yolanda Ross

Featuring

Khary Payton

ep1 We Are Here

Set against the backdrop of 1819 & modern-day (2020) Human Trafficking, WE ARE HERE is a 1-hour Drama about Charlotte King, a broken but passionate Human Rights Attorney who returns to her hometown to face the man whom she believes is responsible for a young black woman’s disappearance.

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Yolanda Ross

Yolanda T. Ross is an award-winning Actress, Writer, and Director. After earning an MFA in Creative Writing from Full Sail University, she launched her professional writing career after seeing the lack of diversity in female-driven stories (especially women of color) in film and television. She went on to win several awards for her films The Last Day and Victus. Her work, such as  Drowning, was placed in the top 10 of the 2020 Pan African Film Festival's John Singleton Short Screenplay Contest.

As an actress and writer, Yolanda believes in the power of producing and telling stories that deal with social issues affecting our world, especially the African American community. She is also known for her recurring role on the hit CW TV Show, Black Lightning, where she plays the mother of Khalil Payne (a.k.a. Painkiller), and you can catch her on season 2 of the AMC AllBLK hit television show Lace where she recurs as a heavy-hitting Real Estate Mogul.

Born in Augusta, Georgia, Payton caught the acting bug seeing a production of Cyrano De Bergerac in the 1st grade. After spending his teenage years consoling comedians at the bar between sets, Payton opted for college at Southern Methodist University in Dallas to study acting and directing.  

Payton, a veteran in the superhero genre, has become synonymous with DC’s Cyborg, having voiced the character for over 20 years in numerous series, DVM’s and games, including the critically acclaimed feature Teen Titans Go! To the Movies based on the #1 cartoon series Teen Titans Go! , which has become the longest running animated superhero series of all time.

Payton co-wrote, produced & starred in the independent sci-fi feature, Astronaut: The Last Push. The film soared through festivals from London to LA, winning 13 awards including Best In Show at the IFS & Fargo Film Festivals.  Payton took home three awards for Best Actor.

Khary can be seen on Netflix, as fan-favorite King Ezekiel on AMC’s global hit,The Walking Dead. For over a decade, TWD broke records across the globe and has garnered a massive fanbase.

Khary Payton

Cast and Crew

  • Khary Payton

  • Jazzy Frizzle

  • Erin Yvette

  • Brock Powell

  • Ron Rogge

  • Irving Green

  • Justice Slocum

  • Kendall Byrd

  • Melique Berger

  • Michael Scott

  • Lexington Vanderberg

  • Becca Q. Co

  • Heather Gonzalez

  • Elias Toufexis

The Inspiration

Slave Auction.jpg
Slave Man.png
Slave Women.jpg
Slaves Escaping .png
Slaves in Chains.jpeg
Slaves Picking Cotton.jpg
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freedom-in-chains.jpg
African Americans Are not for sale.jpeg
African American Human Trafficking .jpeg
Not For Sale.jpg
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Behind the Scenes

Between run-throughs of We Are Here, director Evette Vargas takes a moment to go over some scene adjustments with Irving Green, who plays Chris Lyles, a successful black investment banker in Natchez, MS accused of kidnapping young girls in his community.

Executive Producer William “Chip” Beaman and Casting Producer Lexington Vanderburg work with the recording engineer at Artistry in Sound to ensure they are all aligned on which recorded takes will be selected for use in the episode.

Credits

William “Chip” Beaman – Knighthawk Digital Entertainment Group

Evette Vargas – Writers Room 5050 Foundation

Executive Producers

Hosts

Evette Vargas Khary Payton

Voice Cast

Bimbo / Narrator

Irving Winters / Mr. Braxton

Riley

Roland Martin / Michael

Cissy / Mrs. Braxton / Newscaster

Mother

Alvie

Dexter

Angie / Minnie

Charlotte / Phoebe

Dan Wise / Master Solace

Chris

Jeanie / Delilah

Khary Payton

Elias Toufexis

Brock Powell

Michael Scott

Erin Yvette

Heather Gonzalez

Lexington Vanderberg

Justice Slocum

Kendall Byrd

Jazzy Frizzle

Ron Rogge

Irving Green

Melique Berger

Script

Written by Yolanda Ross

Direction

Voice Direction by Evette Vargas

Production

Producer – Khary Payton

Associate Producer & Casting – Lexington Vanderberg

Sound

Sound Design & Mixing – Empty Sea Audio

Recording Studio – Artistry In Sound, Burbank, California

Music – Composed by The Angel

Adaptation

Immersive Vision Script Adaptation – Parity Endeavors

Special Thanks

Michael Garcia – Michael Garcia Photography

Ken Johnson

Mark Camperell

Roy Samuelson

Bridget Melton

Produced in Association With

Knighthawk Digital Entertainment Group

In Association With Writers Room 5050 Foundation