SINCERELY, LOS ANGELES: A love letter from LA to Kobe + Gianna Bryant told through the City of Angels' most inspiring artists + beloved cultural icons.

SYNOPSIS:

In the aftermath of Kobe Bryant’s tragic death, images of the Laker legend’s storybook life rose up across Los Angeles as local artists created larger-than-life tribute murals to honor the Black Mamba. "Sincerely, Los Angeles" is an intimate love letter from the City of Angels to Kobe and Gianna Bryant. The feature-length documentary film is filled with inspiring stories from everyday people who tapped into their inner 'Mamba Mentality' to lift up our hearts, help each other grieve and continue Kobe and Gianna’s legacy. Shot under the backdrop of Covid-19, a citywide lockdown, and the George Floyd protests, the film showcases a shattered city coming together to turn tragedy into triumph.

I felt empowered to make a film that captured Kobe’s spirit just like the muralists had done. The silver lining in losing things is that it gives you perspective of what you have. As I filmed these wonderful stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things for themselves and their community I began to realize that 2020 was not just a year of loss, but a time that forced us to find the hero within. “Sincerely, Los Angeles” is a love letter to Kobe and Gianna written by a city who honor them by living through them. We may never soar through the air, nor score 81 points, or win an Oscar, but we can inspire others with our our art and our actions. The film produced by Ebony Studios, Falkon, and Someone Great Pictures will be released in 2023.

DIRECTOR’S STATMENT

2020 was a year of loss. We lost heroes, loved ones, freedom, and a sense of purpose. No one felt that more than Los Angeles. Kobe was our North Star, a guiding light for two decades. While still grieving his loss, we were hit with Covid-19 and put on a city-wide lockdown. Businesses shuttered. Jobs were lost. Thousands died. The streets were empty… but not for long. The George Floyd killing uncovered old wounds that cut deep for a new generation fighting for social change that became a positive force, yet had left us more divided than ever before.

As I drove around searching for protective masks and marching with fellow Angelenos, I kept seeing Kobe Murals pop-up town. Masked strangers gathered around larger-than-life images of my own longtime hero, taking photos, sharing stories, and embracing each other. These murals where much more than memorials, they had become a movement that had brought life back life to our city.