Muscle Memory
Directed by Saladin White II
Stills at Play | July - August 2025
PhotoLounge x Philadelphia Film Society
Cast and Crew:
Directed by
Saladin White II
Story by
Khalil Munir
Saladin White II
Screenplay by
Lexx Truss
Saladin White II
Produced by
Najah Issata Diop
Co-Produced by
Kariemah White
Executive Producers
Khayri Mack
Brandon Chandler
Khayriyyah Chandler
Kariemah White-Mack
Akima Redding
Shirlene White
Saladin White
Valarie Yvonne Pearson
The Leone Family
Associate Producers
Lauren Fondren
Will Blair
Director of Photography
Jamal Solomon
Production Design
Khadir Cade
Costume Designer
Chanique "Spooch" O'Neal
Production Sound Mixer
Dominic Zappalla
Choreographers
Khalil Munir
Corinne Karon
Editor
Daniel Becerril
Sound Designer
Kamari Carter
Cast
Khalil Munir
Ibn Mayes
Nakia Dillard
Che Howard
Saleema B. Curtis
NeQuel Armstead
Erica Brooks
Nes Coney
Marlena Galloway
Zachary Glenn Grant
Alexis Kelly
Ayanna Stokes
Quedé Howard
First Assistant Director
Lauren Fondren
Second Assistant Director
Christian Jones
First Assistant Camera
Nathan Rodan
Second Assistant Camera
Justin Illig
Jake Kasperek
Digital Image Technician
Najah Issata Diop
Gaffer
Kevin Galloway
Key Grip/Swing
Ji-Heuk Kim
Script Supervisor
Caroline Blair
Key Production Asssistant
Zachary Glenn Grant
Casting Directors
Kariemah White
Shirlene White
Angela Citrola
Supervising Sound Editor
Eric Carbonara
Colorist
Kody Wescott
Title & Credit Design
King Lu
Editorial Services
Chimney Vigor Group
Post Production Sound Services
Nada Sound Studio
"Muscle Memory is a film that aims to honor black fathers and was initially inspired by the work of bottle cap dancers in New Orleans. That seed led us down the path to explore fatherhood, grief, gun violence, and Community. For many, grief is forever, often muting us in our numbness. Muscle Memory utilizes dance as a tool for healing. Through collective movement, our central character attempts to heal from the memories of his past, present, and future.
This work breaks free from traditional structures and aims to strip down, rebuild, and redefine the dominant narrative.
Muscle Memory was inspired by the works of Roy DeCarava and Teenie Harris. Their photography captures Blackness in play, Blackness in Love, Blackness in grief, and Blackness in healing. Muscle Memory builds on the wonders of their legacy, and these selected stills reflect a soul healing through his art. " - Douglas Williams