All Brothers Dream Hosts Private Screening of Culture Shock Pilot

Here’s what their cast and crew had to say about it.

Cast member, Nala McCalla, laughs with friends at the conclusion of the private screening of Culture Shock's pilot episode | October 9, 2026 | Photographed by Laila Hoff

Last Friday, All Brothers Dream hosted a private screening of its highly anticipated mockumentary series, Culture Shock, produced in association with Jenevesque Media, at the Cranford Theater. The program began with opening remarks from members of All Brothers Dream’s team, followed by a Q&A session with the mockumentary’s cast and production crew and a screening of the pilot episode.

Culture Shock, a comedy series that follows a group of BFA acting students as they navigate school and their careers, was written and directed by Khalil Louigene, marking the young actor’s directorial debut. Throughout the event, Louigene shared that the show started off as a “silly idea” and later on became an important, eye-opening, impactful project for him.

Khalil Louigene delivers opening remarks at the private screening of Culture Shock's pilot episode | October 9, 2026 | Photographed by Laila Hoff

“I went to Montclair State University [and] was in a class full of amazingly talented individuals,” he shared. “I’ve experienced how difficult it is, specifically for actors of color, because they don’t get the opportunity to be the leading person in a show. I wanted to…[show] that people of color can be seen and not typecast.”

Dale Genesis, who plays a teaching assistant named Janiya in the show, said she resonated with Khalil’s desire to highlight the experience of navigating acting school as a person of color.

“A lot of the time, walking into rooms, I automatically feel like I have to prove myself and fight to be heard,” said Genesis. “I’m changing the way I’m speaking, altering my posture, and checking myself, and it’s like, why am I second-guessing who I am when who I am is what got me in these rooms in

the first place?”

Cast member, Yazmery Milian, embraces fellow cast member Jessica Sconfienza, at private screening of Culture Shock pilot | October 9, 2026 | Photographed by Laila Hoff

Similarly, Yazmery Milan, who plays Isa in the show, told Jenevesque how difficult it is to navigate the theatre industry after graduating from college. She admires how Culture Shock shows what it’s like for acting students before they step into the real world.

“When you're in an academic setting, you wake up, go to class, and have rehearsal for ABC months, and then the semester restarts and you do it all over again,” said Milian. Once graduation happens, you lose that sense of safety you get as a student. So you never stop learning, but you eventually stop feeling the safety net of school.”

All Brothers Dream co-founder, Joseph Florendo, and wife Camilly, pose together at private screening of Culture Shock pilot | October 9, 2026 | Photographed by Laila Hoff

Louigene and co-creator, Donovan Lee, began writing Culture Shock together in late 2023. Despite roughly 12 story drafts, the two finalized the project within 2 weeks. Throughout production, the cast and crew encountered many hurdles, leading them to shift gears numerous times during filming. While pivoting can be hard at times, Louigene said, every artist must come to understand that setbacks are inevitable and perfection isn’t always ideal.

(Left to Right) Donovan Lee, Khalil Louigene, and Juan Ospina at private screening of Culture Shock pilot | October 9, 2026 | Photographed by Laila Hoff

“I find it so immensely gratifying that through it all, every single person was willing to work despite the setbacks,” said Louigene, revealing that the team often navigated the cold October nights by shifting cast and crew from fire pits to locations, to vehicles, and back.

“We did what we had to do!” said Anya Dillard, Executive producer and co-producer for Culture Shock. “On those long nights, our actors often sat around the fire pit outside while the crew set up, and non-essential crew would move outside when actors needed the space to rehearse and warm up.”

Cast members Nala McCalla (far left) and Sam Horvath pose with friends at private screening of Culture Shock pilot | October 9, 2026 | Photographed by Laila Hoff

“When the crew went home, the cast often had to sleep over in a little Airbnb with air mattresses,” Louigene revealed. “We had a slumber party and everything! It felt like family, and the setbacks are what made the environment feel [that way].”

Principal photography began in September of 2025. The pilot was filmed in three weekends and wrapped in October of that year. Louigene anticipates the series expanding into a 12-episode season and is working with Jenevesque Media to coordinate the pilot's festival run and public premiere for 2027.

According to Dale Genesis, Culture Shock is destined to make a positive impact and has motivated her to keep creating as a screenwriter and poet.

“I’m making my mark on the world by being a part of Culture Shock,” she said. “The first place that actors experience culture shocks isn’t in the industry; it’s in their acting program.”

Guests at Crandford Theater await opening remarks at private screening of Culture Shock | October 9, 2026 | Photographed by Laila Hoff