Set in the urban jungle of Compton, CA in the early ’00s, LiME tells the story of Deshawn, a young man who discovers how hard it is to live in his truth after experiencing the bitterness of the real world. He has a choice, to conform to societal norms, or….be the sweet amongst the sour.
Donte Storey hails from the mean streets of Compton, California, but they weren’t as mean as you think. Growing up the oldest of six children in a single-parent household, they had no choice but to flex their creative muscles to entertain a modest household. Donte grew up with a natural love of acting, films and telling stories. Spike Lee’s Clock ers, and F. Gary Gray’s ·set It Off” were two of the films that inspired Donte to sit down and write his first short story. Their love for film introduced them to the likes of Alfred Hitchcock, Wes Craven, and Martin Scorsese. During high school, they experienced a slight shift in focus from writing to the performing arts. In High school and College Donte took several acting classes that enhanced their love for the art of storytelling. Instead of segregating their love for acting, writing and directing, they choose to helm the title of Storyteller. As a nonbinary black queer human, Donte wants to tell stories that start conversations that add to the narrative that we all matter. Through storytelling, they believe they can change the world.
The film won Honorable Mention at the San Francisco Black Film Festival in June 2019 and finished its festival run at the famous Los Angeles Outfest Fusion Festival in March 2020. The film was released via Amazon Prime Video and Retrospective of Jupiter on March 31, 2020.
LiME begs you to live in your truth, despite the bitterness of the world, and for those of us who are allies, it paints a picture of what life can be for someone in a marginalized group. Not only is this film inspiring, but it’s loosely based on their life while growing up in Compton, California. Fifteen years after leaving Compton, Donta was able to return to film their very first short in the community that garnered much pain, growth, and aspiration. As a Non-Binary Trans identifying artist, they worried if LiME would be well received, but the community surrounded the set with love and support, and through your platform, we hope to heighten the awareness of this inspiring tale.
