Birthmark

**Birthmark** is the second episode of Silent Locale Cinematics.

## Synopsis

Three friends are hanging out as they typically do when an unknown individual begins to harass them.

## Quote

"No matter how big a nation is, it is no stronger than its weakest people" - Marian Anderson

## Plot

Rodney Till, Dontre Gardner, and Freddie Arbery are hanging out on Dontre's porch. They're doing what they always do; eating, drinking, and laughing. All of a sudden, Freddie gets a phonecall that he must answer and thus he walks away to his car. Unbeknowest to the group, Jerome Cosgrove is observing them. Rodney and Dontre wonder what's taking Freddie so long and they go to him to see what's up. When they approach the car, Freddie tells his friends he needs to leave. Just then, Jerome apporaches the trio and asks what's going on. A fight ensues as Freddie is put in handcuffs and Rodney and Dontre argue their case. Just then, a police officer comes to see what is going on. In the ensuing chaos Dontre is knocked down to the ground and then shot by Jerome who turned out to be an undercover officer. Rodney runs away before anything can happen to him. Rodney arrives at a neighbor's house and she comforts him about what just happened. Rodney stares away from Bella, wondering if anything is going to change.

## Cast

Rafael Mayfield as Rodney Till/The Birthmark

Eric Claussen as Jerome Cosgrove/The Harasser

Dwayne McMickle as Dontre Gardner/The Joyful

Trico Fullerton as Freddie Arbery/The Cheerful

Jace Elton as Anthony Lane/The Cop

Arabela Arias as Bella Tala/The Savior

Daniel Mart as Deuce Taggert/The Passerby

## Trivia

* This is episode was made during the midst of the BLM Protests.
	+ The idea for this episode came from a caricature that Daniel Mart saw around this same time.

* In keeping with the message of police brutality, the names of the three friends come from someone who's been involved and, with one exception, killed in well known police altercation. Likewise, the names of the officers come from an officer who's been in a well known police altercation with the one caveat being that Eric's name is comprised of police officers who actually killed their victims and Jace's name is comprised of police officers who were there when the crime happened. Furthermore, the character portrayed by Arabela Arias continues this theme with her name comprising of a name actually meant to signify oppression and life and how they both are two sides of the same coin.
	+ Rodney Till - **Rodney** King & Emmett **Till**
	+ Dontre Gardner - **Dontre** Hamilton & Eric **Garner**
	+ Freddie Arbery - **Freddie** Gray & Ahmaud **Arbery**
	+ Jerome Cosgrove - **Jeronimo** Yanez & Myles **Cosgrove**
	+ Anthony Lane - **Anthony** Pirone & Thomas K. **Lane**
	+ Bella Tala - **Isabelle** Waller & God **Obatala**
* This is the first episode to
	+ Be directed, written, and produced by Daniel Mart
		- Because of this, it's the first episode to be produced under DMart Productions.
	+ Have Jace Elton on board in any capacity, in this case most notably as an actor, producer, and assistant director
		- Only episode to be produced under his former film company M.A.P. Films.
	+ Have no direct involvement with Jordan Vegas
		- That being said, from this episode on he is credited as an associate proucer and series creator on every episode.
	+ Released in 2020.
		- It was released slightly over two years after Love Thy Neighbor was released.
		- This is also thus far the longest gap between episodes.
	+ Have a quote where the person who said it is known.
	+ To not have a poster where the title of the episode is shown.
		- Love Thy Neighbor's main poster doesn't show the title, but it's alternative poster does.
	+ To have more than one
		- Deuteragonist, in this case having three.
		- Title Characters, in this case having three
	+ To have a cameo character.
* This is the last episode to
	+ Have the series logo on the poster.
* This episode has the largest cast of any episode with seven actors involved.
	+ That being said, Daniel's role is merely a cameo role.

* There were two recasts in this episode.
	+ Another actor was cast as Rodney Till and Rafael Mayfield was originally going to play Dontre Gardne. After that actor dropped out, Rafael was given the role of Rodney and Dwayne McMickle was brought in to portrat Dontre.
	+ Another actor was set to portray Bella Tala character but due to schedualing conflicts they had to be recast. Jace Elton asked Arabela, who's a family friend, if she could do him this favor and she graciously did.

* The quote is incorrectly attributed to Marion Anderson instead of Marian Anderson.
* The original plot synopsis for this episode was "Three friends are hanging out as they typically do when an officer approaches them."
	+ It was changed so as to not ruin the plot twist of the episode.