A Short Film by Kerry Coddett
Zeke is a dark satire about a trusted barbershop owner who betrays a loyal client, forcing him to confront the culture of silence that permeates their Brooklyn community.
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DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
Growing up, my Caribbean grandmother often said, “Laugh and cry live in the same house.” It was usually a warning—if I was playing too recklessly, she'd remind me that consequences were just around the corner. But as I got older, I realized it was more than just a saying—it was a philosophy that shaped my entire approach to storytelling.
This film represents the heart of my work—taking the darkest subject matters and using humor to bring them into the light. While Zeke explores the theme of sexual assault, it does so through an unexpected lens: the sanctity of a Black man’s hairline. By setting the story in a barbershop—a space of trust, camaraderie, and vulnerability—the film subverts expectations, drawing audiences into a conversation they might otherwise avoid.
For me, comedy has always been a way to process pain, a perspective passed down from my grandmother. That philosophy shapes my work—I don’t hand audiences solutions, but rather perspectives that challenge them to look inward. Zeke forces people to sit with discomfort, engaging skeptics and those who might dismiss survivors' experiences by packaging the conversation in something more palatable—laughter.
As a filmmaker and comedian, I thrive in the gray areas, where nuance reigns, contradictions thrive, and preconceived notions unravel. My Brooklyn upbringing and my career—from hustling handmade goods on street corners to navigating TV writers’ rooms—have given me a unique lens on culture, survival, and identity, all of which inform my storytelling.
With Zeke, I plan to tackle sexual assault head-on—pun absolutely intended.
Kerry Coddett
THE CAST
