A Super Fly Redemption

Rhythm and Blues singer Cedric Mayfield has been homeless, hungry and haunted by a maze of mistakes, misfortune and madness. He yearns to rise from the smoldering ashes of his desperate and dark past and be reunited with the lyrical royalty of his late and legendary cousin Curtis Mayfield. Emmy-award winning musician Adam Blackstone believes Cedric has the voice to achieve greatness. But only Cedric knows if he has the heart for A Super Fly Redemption.
Synopsis
“A Super Fly Redemption” is a short documentary centered around a two-day summer studio collaboration between Cedric Mayfield and Adam Blackstone. The goal is to write and record a musical masterpiece. The obstacle is the multi-faceted monster of Mayfield’s memory. After all he’s been through in life, does he really belong on the same stages where Curtis forged his fame? Or is he a delusional Mayfield misfit—a wannabe—resisting and prolonging inevitable failure? Is he truly worthy of Super Fly? Or is he simply destined for a super flop? He has 48 hours in August 2024 to manifest his destiny.
Storyline
Two days after a July 2024 concept pitch from Lisa Reich and Ulysses “Butch” Slaughter, Blackstone agreed to produce the theme song for “A Super Fly Redemption”. Master musical architect for performances delivered by Rhianna, Alicia Keys, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, Blackstone does not question his team’s ability to create an inspirational hit worthy of bearing the name of a soul-singing genius. Blackstone’s got the time, the talent and tools. But Cedric and only Cedric can bring the Mayfield magic. 
Before Cedric leaves to visit Blackstone, he will revisit his past and try to reconnect with the people who helped him get to this elusive threshold. His father—a recovering addict, his twin sister, and his foster mother are all on that list, as is Todd Mayfield, youngest son of Curtis.These conversations will not only shape the sound of his song; they will make him or break him in the process.
Now 47 years old, Cedric, will depart Atlanta to join Blackstone in Philadelphia in August 2024. When Cedric lands he will be carrying more than suitcases; he will bring the kind of baggage that many, many people carry throughout their lives; packed with the pain of poverty, prison time, homelessness, unemployment, parental abandonment and self-loathing. 
As Cedric moves toward the recording session with Blackstone, the shadow of doubt will troll his every step; it is a shadow he’s never been able to outrun. That shadow reminds him of the parents who couldn’t parent and left him exposed to the foster care system of Detroit. It tells him that his parents choose drugs over him. His shadow self will remind him of the 15-year-old girl he kissed too soon and how that kiss sentenced him to eight years behind bars at the age of 17. It calls him a fraud—no better than his parents—who might cause the same pain to his own children. 
Cedric knows he’s racing against time and that the demons of his past must become the choir of his present to pull off A Super Fly Redemption. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The legacy of Curtis Mayfield brought him this far. Is this the end of the ride?
Viewers of “A Super Fly Redemption” will have the rare opportunity to participate in the intimate conversations and detailed discussions that result in extraordinary artistic accomplishments. Viewers will see it all—the tears as well as the laughter—as Cedric and Blackstone push to attain greatness. 
Blending the story structure of the Netflix documentary The Greatest Night in Pop with a talent show like American Idol, “A Super Fly Redemption” shows one unknown artist over 48 hours fighting for his place in the music industry. It is a film that will speak to the hearts of men, women and children from all walks of life. Cedric Mayfield is the classic underdog that people love to root for. He has what rapper Eminem proclaimed was all he had in “Lose Yourself” from the movie 8 Mile: “one shot.” 
The world will soon know Cedric’s story; so he’d better make it good. It has to be A Super Fly Redemption.