DIRECTOR/WRITER

Jonathan Kemp is a multi-disciplined independent filmmaker. He has taught production at Regent University and honed his cinematography while managing a multi-million-dollar performing arts center and equipment rental office. After confronting inequity in academia, he withdrew from his MFA and founded Kickphase, a production company committed to crafting culture-defining films that reclaim, redefine, and reinvent the Black mind through imaginative, authentic portraits of Blackness.

His work spans multimedia, with creative partnerships including Netflix and Musicbed. His films have screened at festivals including Richmond International, BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival, and VERTIFILMS MEXICO. His short Streetlights won honors at the Urban and Denton Black Film Festivals and was featured at the NYC Black Film Space Symposium.

About That Time is Kemp’s debut feature. What began as a love letter to his grieving cousin became the very tool that forced him to confront his own trauma—and evolved into a blueprint for how storytelling can help Black communities heal, connect, and reimagine what’s possible.

PRODUCER - PARTNERSHIPS & CASTING

Deonna Tamar is a Virginia-born creative whose roots in Suffolk shaped her belief that something beautiful can grow from unexpected places. Her passion lies in supporting talent on set, and serving as the connective tissue between the production and its wider community of collaborators, partners, and supporters.

After earning a degree in Mass Communications from Virginia State University, Deonna began her career in modeling and acting, leading to collaborations with BET, REVOLT, and Tyler Perry Studios. Seeking to deepen her storytelling, she earned a Master’s in Directing at Regent University, where she directed several short films—including AFTERBIRTH, an award-winning thesis project and Essence Festival finalist.

At Regent, she met director Kemp, forging a creative partnership rooted in shared vision and mutual respect. About That Time represents a full-circle moment, allowing her to contribute to a story that resonates deeply with her artistic sensibilities and cultural roots.

Deonna is also a proud wife and mother of two, balancing her family life with a deep commitment to purpose-driven filmmaking.

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Samuel Jones is a Hampton, Virginia native and his resourcefulness and visual style are rooted in the city’s raw authenticity—where making something out of nothing wasn’t just a skill, it was a way of life. Known for pushing boundaries with modest tools, he consistently delivers stunning, high-quality visuals.

Holding an MFA in Directing, Sam first collaborated with Kemp during graduate school. His work has appeared on Netflix and regional TV networks, and gained him experience leading large crews and maximizing visual impact on tight budgets.

Sam was drawn to About That Time for its rare blend of realism with imaginative visuals within a deeply personal narrative.

Sam, a new father to a beautiful baby girl, enters this film with a renewed purpose. About That Time marks a pivotal step in his journey toward full-time filmmaking building a legacy for his daughter and community.

PRODUCER

Matthew Walker is a Fredericksburg-raised filmmaker with a deep love for animation and storytelling that defies convention. His creativity was shaped by the challenge of making something from nothing—and his mission is to help other storytellers do the same.

A natural helper and systems-thinker, Matthew is passionate about fostering film sets that feel like home: collaborative, supportive, and built with purpose. He holds both a B.A. and M.F.A. in Film & Television from Regent University, where he produced and directed over 20 short films— many award-winning—and collaborated with producers on feature projects.

Though the journey hasn’t always been easy, his faith in God renewed his boldness and called him to About That Time—an opportunity to help build something bigger than himself.

Recently engaged to his fiancée Karis, About That Time also marks the start of a new season in his personal life—a moment where story, purpose, and community align.

ART DIRETOR

Jacar McNeil is a brand designer and art director from Norfolk, Virginia—a city rich in culture, creativity, and untapped potential. At just 23, he’s already emerging as a bold visual thinker, with a design practice rooted in storytelling, identity, and experimentation.

Jacar began designing graphics for esports teams at 16, but it wasn’t until his senior year at Longwood University that he fully immersed himself in branding and typography—learning how letterforms can carry rhythm, emotion, and meaning. With mentorship from Keith Cummings and Wade Lough, he began to push past limitations and explore how strong, intentional design can elevate narrative.

About That Time is Jacar’s first narrative film project—a story that resonates with childhood memories of cookouts, family warmth, and his papa grilling steaks out back. It’s also a chance to show how great design doesn’t just decorate a story—it deepens it.

One of Jacar’s long-term dreams is to spark a design-led renaissance in Norfolk.

Also? He’s got a parakeet named Seraph. It’s kind of a vibe.

COMPOSER

Kjordahn Owen is a Virginia Beach-based composer known for his emotionally rich and sonically immersive scores. Raised in a musically inclined family, Kjordahn was exposed to a wide range of genres from an early age and began formal training in piano and music theory soon after. His hybrid orchestral compositions—marked by intricate harmonies, layered textures, and evocative melodies—explore emotional landscapes across drama, fantasy, adventure, and action.

Kjordahn brings a cinematic approach to every project, creating music that doesn’t just accompany a story—it deepens it. As the composer for About That Time, he weaves sound into memory, helping transform a story of grief and healing into a full emotional experience.

Beyond his work in film, Kjordahn is a passionate music educator, dedicated to helping young musicians grow in both craft and confidence. For him, music is more than composition—it’s connection, storytelling, and legacy.