A new martial arts feature is bringing Black legacy, discipline, and brotherhood to the forefront.
Paper Made, from writer-director Ryan Watson, has added Myles Truitt, Taimak, Walter E. Jones, Quartay DeNaya, and TNA superstar Mara Sadé to its growing ensemble. The film is slated to begin production this March in Tampa, Florida.
Set at a fictional HBCU, Paper Made follows Tavon Watkins (Truitt), a promising student whose academic standing is jeopardized after a severe hazing incident. In search of redemption, Tavon joins a secret fraternity of Black martial artists—an elite brotherhood that forces him to confront his ego, legacy, and the true meaning of brotherhood.
Daria Rae Berenato, veteran actor and stuntman Devante Thomas, stunt performer and martial artist Sam Lee Herring, martial artist Jair Muhammad, and reality TV personality De’Andre Ashbury round out the cast of newcomers. Viral martial artists Michael Quick McGee and Cequence Henry are also returning for the feature.
The script was co-written by Watson and Jerron Horton.
A Baltimore native, Watson is an award-winning filmmaker and videographer who also teaches at the University of South Florida’s Zimmerman School of Advertising and Mass Communications. Paper Made is a full reboot of his extended short film Paper Line, which won 10 awards on the festival circuit between 2022 and 2024.
“Martial arts have been a part of the Black American experience for generations,” Watson shared. “Our film brings that excellence to the forefront from a perspective that has rarely, if ever, been seen in American cinema.”
Taimak and Walter E. Jones will also serve as executive producers on the project, alongside producers Shaun Greenspan, Brian Yuran, and Daria Rae Berenato. Casting is handled by Karlie Loland-Ringer. The producing team has expressed hopes that Paper Made could serve as the foundation for a larger franchise.
“They’ve inspired generations of young Black men to believe they could become action stars,” Watson said of Jones and Taimak. “Being able to reflect the real-life impact they’ve had on our community through this story feels long overdue.”