Whether it’s within Atlanta’s ever-evolving film scene or inside the offbeat world of BiRDY, one thing’s clear: location is everything.

In BiRDY — a feature written and to-be-directed by Brent Michal, and currently being produced by Piper Verbrick, Rocco Shapiro and Akshay Bhatia — Bumfuck, Georgia is where everything and nothing happens. It’s a timeless film in more ways than one. What stood out most when I first read the script wasn’t just the absence of smartphones or the peculiar charm of its rural characters — it was how the story refuses to be pinned down to a specific era. And somehow, that makes it feel even more grounded.

But before we dive too deep into BiRDY’s dreamy-gritty world, let’s set the IRL scene during the latest AFPZine video interview.

Brent Michal, the film’s writer/director, is someone I’m most used to seeing behind the concession stand at The Historic Plaza Theatre, slinging popcorn and movie tickets with the same quiet charm he brings to his writing. Producer Piper Verbrick is someone I don’t see often, but I’ve had the joy of watching her act alongside Brent in local shorts like Ponytailhead. And then there’s Rocco Shapiro — a fixture at both Plaza and Tara Theatre, radiating charisma while hosting trivia nights before cult screenings of films like Almost Famous or Trainspotting.

The first thing I asked during our chat: “Give me the elevator pitch.”

Brent smiled wide. “I’m not really much of a pitch person,” he admitted. “I’ve just been like, ‘Here’s the script’... I just tell everyone it’s a coming-of-age film based in part on my own experience growing up in the rural South. It also tackles questions and thoughts that’ve been rummaging around in my head for the last 20 years.”

It was a fitting answer. Brent had sent me the script and pitch deck about a month earlier with no explanation — just a passing, very Plaza interaction: “I emailed you my feature script. No pressure; enjoy your movie!” Then he went back to scooping popcorn for another few hundred ATL cinephiles, and I headed upstairs to watch 28 Years Later.

Reading BiRDY, I was struck by how seamlessly it blends grit with dreaminess. Like Rocco said during our call, you can feel how deeply Brent pours himself into the work. The story feels personal — free from trends or pretension — and fully authentic.

“My first takeaway from reading the script was that I felt like he opened himself up to me in a way I’d never experienced,” Rocco shared. “To see someone in the community share their art like that — so openly and honestly — was beautiful.”

In a media landscape saturated with Substacks and autofiction, BiRDY fits squarely within today’s appetite for raw, character-driven storytelling. But even the most autobiographical moments defy predictability. Instead, we’re immersed in the internal world of Kip, a young boy navigating life in Bumfuck, Georgia, surrounded by a rotating cast of vivid, imperfect, magnetic people.

“As you read it, you get to be a part of it,” Brent said. “That was kind of my goal.”

The film recalls the textured worlds of The Florida Project or George Washington — stories that linger in the liminal space between childhood wonder and adult reality.

Brent shared a particularly poignant story about casting Tuesday, one of the film’s young leads: “This girl, she’s twelve-years-old, was saying how her generation is influenced by everything we see and do, and we put that out there. And she imagined that kids before phones were a lot more reserved, a lot more hidden.” It’s this kind of self-awareness and curiosity that shines throughout the script.

Of course, working with children — especially on a non-union set — raises important questions about safety and care. But Brent’s approach feels deeply intentional. From involving intimacy coordinators and casting his own family, to encouraging parental presence and guiding crew to engage with child actors respectfully, Brent is clearly invested in creating a nurturing environment.

“If you have something to tell one of the kids or you want to speak to them, get on their level. You know what I'm saying? Squat down and look them in the eyes. Give them the same respect you would give an adult and then talk to them as an adult, and they'll do the same. You know what I mean? And I feel like that goes a long way,” Brent said.

“It’s been a blast seeing how each kiddo makes such fascinating choices — oftentimes without knowing it. My personal favorite was a girl tucking a marker (which was being used in place of a cigarette) into the fold of her leg after she was done with it. It’s crazy how joyous and unique auditions can be before actors are taught all the ‘rules’ that make them so uniform. A giant stuffed animal as a scene partner, a grandmother wearing a plastic bag as an arm cast (to stand in for Kip, an 11-year-old boy,) a younger brother milking the chance to shout “bitch” at his older sister—we’ve seen it all,” added Piper.

That spirit of togetherness is at the heart of BiRDY — a film that begins and ends with community. Brent’s vision is personal and homegrown, and Piper’s producing keeps it grounded and real. Rocco’s role, and that of Reel Friends, is to help lift the project beyond Georgia — to bring it into new rooms, new festivals, and ultimately, into the hands of someone who sees what we see: a story worth sharing far and wide.

Founded by Rocco Shapiro, Reel Friends was created to build a connective thread between film lovers and local filmmakers — turning admiration into collaboration, and movie nights into creative momentum. What began as a way to spotlight Atlanta-based artists through community screenings has grown into something more ambitious: a production company on a mission to demystify the exhibition pipeline, from festival submissions to independent distribution. As Rocco puts it, they’re not just here to make work; they’re here to get it seen. And they can’t do it without the involvement of cinephiles and filmmakers like the ones who rally behind indie theaters, AFPZine/ATLFilmParty, and so many other grassroots film efforts across Atlanta.

Without further ado, Reel Friends, the team behind BiRDY, and ATLFilmParty invite you to be part of that journey.

🎬 Join us Saturday, July 26 at 7:30 PM at The Historic Plaza Theatre for the “BiRDY Shower” — a grassroots fundraiser and celebration for the film.

Bring along a gift card (Visa, gas, groceries), non-perishable snacks and drinks for the cast and crew, wishlist props or wardrobe pieces…or just drop in some cold hard cash. Everyone who contributes will be entered into a raffle with prizes including a free theater rental, AFP swag, movie tickets, a Videodrome bundle, a custom merch package, and a limited-edition Gummo poster designed by @roccoshapiro & @madison_moats.

And stick around afterward: they’ll be screening Harmony Korine’s Gummo on 35mm for one night only. It’s the perfect chaotic cousin to BiRDY — both films rooted in sweaty and surreal adolescence.

This isn’t just a fundraiser. It’s a gathering. It’s a chance to show up for Atlanta film, and the filmmakers who live and work here. With partners like Plaza Theatre, Videodrome, Headass Film Club, The Supermarket, HIMOma, and ATLFilmParty, we’re building something together.

Let’s throw the shower. Let’s make the movie. Let’s ride on.