What do you get when you mix small-town politics with hood chaos? The Village. Deron Wright, the fast-talking village president of Harmon Hills, gets caught with his pants down—literally. Now the state sends in Carmen Blake, a sharp, straight-laced fixer, to get things under control. But between backstabbing trustees, viral scandals, and a community with no chill, cleaning up this town is easier said than done. Think Veep meets The Wire, with a splash of Boondocks.

Director Biography

Eric Almond, a dynamic filmmaker raised on the Southside of Chicago, channels the rich culture of his upbringing into his work, capturing authentic narratives of triumph, resilience, and social justice. His unique perspective and visionary storytelling earned him recognition when he was featured in Shoot Magazine’s prestigious New Director Showcase, marking him as a rising talent in the industry. Eric’s award-winning short film, Requiem for Black Love, gained acclaim for its deeply emotional and resonant portrayal of love and loss within the Black community. Continuing to push creative boundaries, Eric recently launched Write On: writer's room, a collaborative initiative focused on developing fresh, independent TV content. As part of this endeavor, he spearheaded the creation of The Village, a groundbreaking episodic project aimed at elevating the standard of independent television by bringing together writers and filmmakers to craft compelling, high-quality stories that resonate with modern audiences.

Director Statement

The Village is more than just a TV pilot; it’s a reflection of the world I come from and the one I hope to help shape.

I grew up on the South Side of Chicago, in a place where survival, community, and conflict lived side by side. I saw the systems that fail us and the people who rise anyway. That tension, that resilience, is the heart of The Village. This story is grounded in the everyday heroes who fight to make change from within, even when the odds are stacked against them. As a filmmaker, I’m drawn to stories that blend emotional truth with political urgency. The Village explores themes of power, accountability, loyalty, and transformation within a fictional municipality that could easily exist in any overlooked corner of America. But we don’t just show corruption; we show the cost of doing the right thing and how hard that path can be. Visually, I want The Village to feel grounded but cinematic, natural light, intimate framing, and visual texture that mirrors the rawness of the world these characters navigate. Tonally, I’m inspired by shows like The Wire, Queen Sugar, and South Side, where character, culture, and commentary intersect.

What sets The Village apart is its commitment to nuance. We’re not just telling stories about a broken system; we’re telling stories about the people trying to fix it, sabotage it, survive it, and heal within it. The boardroom scenes are just as tense as the street-level ones, because in this world, every decision has consequences. This project was born out of Write On: writer’s room, an initiative I created to elevate independent television by bringing writers and filmmakers together in true collaboration. We didn’t wait for permission; we built our own table. And now we’re inviting audiences to pull up a chair. The Village is personal, political, and unapologetically Black. It’s about community, leadership, and what it means to try, fail, and try again. I’m proud to direct this story and bring it to life with the care, fire, and authenticity it deserves.