a film by
Devananda Mattai Graves
English | 13 minutes | Hollwyood, CA
The other Side of the Sun
Logline
A resourceful unhoused man of Anishinaabe descent struggles to reclaim a scrap of land in the heart of Hollywood.
Synopsis
Brad, an unhoused man of Anishinaabe descent, and his partner “SheDevil” occupy a highly inventive makeshift structure on the sidewalk of Sunset Boulevard. As a mixed-race man who always struggled to fit in, Brad moved out west in the hopes of reclaiming a scrap of land for himself, an act of defiance that he regards as “reverse colonialism.” But he learned the hard way just how easy it is to “lose it all” while living on the streets of Hollywood. His previous home, painstakingly constructed over the course of several years, was swept away by city officials in a matter of minutes. Now, he and SheDevil have pieced together a new home (an “electric RV”) out of scrap wood, spare Tesla parts, and an old golf cart. As Brad and SheDevil reflect on their identities, we come to understand their motivations, their hope and dreams, and the challenges that stand in their way.
Director’s Statement
Upon moving to Los Angeles with my family in the summer of 2022, I was immediately struck by the sheer size and diversity of the unhoused population living just outside our doorsteps of our new home. This film began as an effort to get to know some of these new neighbors on a more personal level, to understand their pasts, their families, their passions, and their struggles.
Brad and SheDevil were among the first people I met as I began researching this film. It was obvious from the very beginning that they were two extraordinary individuals who not only had a lot to share, but were also eager to share it.
I was inspired by their generosity and their strength of character, and I hope this film opens people's eyes and hearts to the struggles that they (and thousands of other unhoused Angelinos) face on a daily basis.
Creative Team
Adam J. Graves (PRODUCER/EDITOR) is a philosopher-turned-filmmaker and proud father of Devan and Dhilan. He is a professor of philosophy at MSU Denver, where he teaches film and philosophy courses and serves as the director of Dphi, a public humanities center. He is director of Cycle Vérité (2021) and Anuja (2024).
Devananda (“Devan”) Graves (DIRECTOR), a senior at Larchmont Charter High School in Los Angeles, C.A., has a passion for filmmaking, politics and software development. He edited the short film Cycle Vérité (2021) and served as producer on Anuja (2024), a narrative short film that follows two sisters who work in a back-alley garment factory in Delhi, India. At the age of eleven, he negotiated the sale of one of his first video games to an international game publisher. An avid traveller, Devan has visited over fifty countries on five continents. In his spare time, he is a volunteer teaches coding classes to elementery school children in LAUSD.
Creative Team
Dhilan Graves (ORIGINAL MUSIC), a sophomore at Larchmont Charter High School in Los Angeles, has been composing music for video games and film since middle school. A largely self-taught multi-instrumentalist, Dhilan began his musical journey playing trumpet in his grade-school band.
Ksheetij Saini (POST-PRODUCTION), is a Delhi-based filmmaker whose trailblazer work occupies the intersection of creativity and technology, and crafts immersive and impactful narratives that serve as a catalyst for positive change.
Thank you!
Contact
Devananda Graves
950 N. Orange Grove Ave.
Unit 2
West Hollywood, CA 90046
Email: ajgravesfilms@gmail.com