The Last Performance
Legendary blues musician Willie Montgomery returns to the stage after eight years, his soulful melodies weaving a haunting tale of lost love, regret, and unfulfilled dreams. Reality blurs into illusion, and what begins as a comeback takes a chilling turn into an unforeseen nightmare.
Supporting Our Film
The Last Performance:
A Film Worth Funding
Help us bring The Last Performance to life—a haunting tale of a blues legend confronting his past on stage. Your donation supports indie Black cinema, heartfelt storytelling, and the voices that deserve to be heard.
“When the music fades,
what truly remains?”
The Last Performance is a haunting, introspective drama about legacy, ambition, and the weight of past choices. Set in a smoky jazz club, the film follows blues legend Willie Montgomery as he returns to the stage after an eight-year absence. What begins as a triumphant comeback becomes a night of reckoning—where memory, reality, and the supernatural intertwine.
Through raw emotion and the soul-stirring power of blues music, the story explores the cost of greatness, the echoes of lost love, and the burden of what’s left unsaid. It’s not just Willie’s story—it’s about the people who love, support, and sacrifice for artists behind the curtain. At its heart, The Last Performance is a love letter to music, to Black resilience, and to the truths we carry in silence. This is a film that lingers—long after the final note fades..
Inspired by poems from Langston Hughes, Edgar Allan Poe, & James Baldwin, it explores unspoken regrets & the toll of artistry. A story led by Black love and blues music, it asks: When the music fades, what truly remains?.
Meet the Team
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Malachi Alexis
DIRECTOR & WRITER
Malachi Omar Alexis is a versatile writer, director, and editor with a unique perspective shaped by his background in psychology. A proud alumnus of Brooklyn College, where he majored in psychology and minored in film, Malachi seamlessly integrates his understanding of the human mind into his cinematic work. This therapeutic practice not only honed his writing skills but also fueled his passion for directing. His stories and films are imbued with rich psychological elements, offering audiences a deep, introspective experience. Malachi's journey into the world of storytelling began at the tender age of seven. "Writing poems and stories served as a therapeutic outlet, allowing me to craft entire new realities." His strong determination, creativity and talent will drive this project to success!
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Ziyu Gao
PRODUCER
Ziyu Gao is an award-winning producer who is passionate about bringing this vision to life. Starting off as an actress, Ziyu grew up on set, working with people from all over the world. After attending film school at USC Cinematic Arts, Ziyu had produced numerous horror short films and commercials eventually founding her own production company, Creative Picture Productions. Combined with her love for blues, from the moment she met Malachi and read the script she "feel in love with the emotions and the many layers of this intriguing film". She is ready to do the work it takes to make this project the best it can be!
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Deborah Desyr
1st AD
Deborah Desyr is a 21-year-old film student at Hofstra University and is also a New York based 1st AD and aspiring independent filmmaker. She began in the industry at 18 in Norwalk, CT and have been freelancing in New York since 2023.
“I am so excited to work with these inspiring and talented people and immerse myself into the chilling and moving film.”
New York Based 1st AD, Key Grip
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm16371137/
Portfolio: https://debbiedessfilms.weebly.com/
Meet the Cast
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James Brown-Orleans
“WILLIE MONTGOMERY”
James Brown-Orleans is a distinguished actor and singer-songwriter, renowned for his dynamic performances on stage and screen. He originated the role of Banzai in Disney. The Lion King Gazelle Tour and later joined the Broadway company, showcasing his versatility and commitment to the craft. In film, James portrayed Doctor Motors in Disney‘s The Princess Diaries (2001), further highlighting his range as an actor.
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Oje Belo
“YOUNG WILLIE MONTGOMERY”
Oje Belo is a world-traveled and multifaceted artist. Born in Lagos, Nigeria and raised in London, England, he has spent most of his years in America, training at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts and pursuing his acting dreams in the city that never sleeps.
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Clyla Destiny
“FREESIA FIELDS”
Clyla Destiny is a SOVAS Award nominee and international spoken word artist with a degree in acting from the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. She’s appeared in award-winning films recognized by the Director's Guild of America, and her short film Professor Blackteach, which premiered at Harlem’s historic Faison Firehouse Theatre, won an IMDB Shorts Award for its blend of art and activism. Her mission is to uplift and inspire real people, in real time, using every tool God has given her.
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Michael Alexander Henry
“Sam Nixon”
Michael Alexander Henry, Born in the West Indies, grew up in 30 miles west of Philadelphia in a town called Coatesville, PA. Michael graduated with a B.A. in Theatre from the Pennsylvania State University. From there he moved to LA to pursue his acting career in TV and Film. After some success he moved to New York City to do Broadway. He is enjoying balancing a career in Stage, TV and Film.
Production Plan
We plan to shoot the short film and complete it by Fall of 2025. The money raised will cover transportation, production design, food for cast and crew, and renting equipment. $10,000 is the minimum amount we need for this film to be green-lit, but raising more will help this project be the greatest that it can potentially be.
Our stretch goal is $11,000, which would allow us to submit to festivals and gain additional equipment to produce a better-quality film. Please share the campaign link and follow us @thelastperformancefilm on Instagram and TikTok for more information and updates!