Ever meet someone and immediately imagine the possibilities of what falling in love would be like? The laughs, the intimacy. In Reverie, music lovers, Zara and Ben, meet by chance at a record store. Upon first sight, they both daydream of what could be.

Director Biography

Ashley Tyler is an emerging writer and director, who is excited to tell stories that highlight the real lived experiences of black people in an authentic and unique way. In 2023, as a part of Free Spirit Media’s Industry Pathway Cohort, Ashley produced and directed the cohort’s annual short film project, ‘GETCHO’, which was recently selected to screen at the 2024 Micheaux Film Festival. She also developed a narrative short titled ‘Betts’ while participating in the University of Chicago Production Institute and Community Film Workshop. Ashley is currently developing a coming-of-age dramedy series, Stay Afloat; the script for which was an Official Selection at the Essence Film Festival. Currently, Ashley is working on a coming-of-age drama, Sunflower County, which details the life of her mother growing up in Mississippi and moving up to Chicago at the tail end of the Great Migration. When she is not making films, you can find her practicing Jiu Jitsu or deep down the Youtube rabbit hole of her current obsession (this month, it’s Epstein conspiracy theories).

Director Statement

Ashley’s work aims to champion quirky, black characters who have found themselves on the difficult path of self discovery. In order to tell these stories, she relies on comedy that errs toward the inappropriate and non-politically correct. Her hope is to write impactful stories that highlight eclectic characters in a fresh and surprising way. Ultimately, she wants to develop her own projects, on her own terms.