A Night at My Cousin’s House was not just birthed from nostalgia memories at my cousins house all piled up and them black family movies and shows that shaped me growing up too
Those unforgettable sleepovers at my cousins where everybody was piled in, cousins running around, aunties and uncles talking, friends coming through, staying up late, getting your snacks taken, getting roasted all day, if you fell asleep first, you already know land learning little life lessons along the way.
I wanted to capture that feeling and turn it into a story.
A few of the film’s moments were also inspired by movies and television that influenced me. The Wood inspired the energy behind the store scene. Everybody Hates Chris influenced the family arguments and kitchen dynamics. The cookout comes from the tradition of Black family movies like Johnson Family Vacation, The Cookout, Don’t Be a Menace, and Vince Staples show... House Party helped inspire the party element and getting caught up with the girls.
I took all of those influences, mixed them with my own experiences, and created something that felt personal but familiar.
That’s how Brandon and Nunu were created.
They became the lead characters through that combination of real-life family memories, childhood experiences, and the movies and television that shaped how I saw storytelling.
With additional creative input from Jazel Hall, the script continued to evolve into what became A Night at My Cousin’s House.
At the end of the day, this film is about that feeling we all remember: being around your people, having a good time, getting into a little trouble, and making memories you don’t forget.
That’s the 93 premium that fueled this movie…
