PLACE:
New Orleans
BIO:
Nicole Collins is a creator! An award-winning filmmaker, she integrates narratives of personal and communal experiences and unique mental health experiences in her work to champion the liberation of and justice for Southern Black women. Born in Alexandria, her transformative 19 years in New Orleans forged her passion for entertainment and advocacy. After graduating from Dillard University, she hosted a top-rated show on Q93 FM & emceed for the New Orleans Pelicans over a decade’s time. With acting roles in HBO’s ‘Treme’, ‘Twelve Years a Slave,’ ‘The Burial’, and ‘Carry On’, Nicole has created, directed, and/or produced over 20 film projects. She created LOVEYours, a public-speaking workshop for girls through her non-profit, The Blooming Phoenix in 2016. In 2020, she created ‘Maternally Yours,’ a web series executive produced by Lil Rel Howery. In 2023, Nicole returned to radio as WBOK 1230 a.m.’s highly-rated ‘Good Morning Show’ co-host, where she created the monthly “Roots to Renaissance: Narratives of Growth and Greatness” series dedicated to the advancement of Black New Orleans. She continues her work in film as the marketing coordinator for Women Make Movies and as board president for NOVAC. Her latest film “The Space Between” is actively traveling the festival circuit. Nicole is the mother of 13-year-old actress Aadyn Encalarde & She collaborates with Black Bayou as a community liaison and project manager.
PROJECT:
“Last Call”
A woman’s resolve is tested as the line between reality and nightmare blurs, forcing her to confront a haunting truth that lurks just beneath the surface.
In LAST CALL, we follow the unraveling journey of a woman whose life has spiraled out of control under the relentless grip of alcoholism. Set against the backdrop of a sophisticated yet eerie world, the film captures her internal struggle as she hovers between despair and redemption.
At a highly-attended, swanky social event filled with temptation, her sobriety is put to the ultimate test.
Surrounded by tipsy, jubilant guests, she faces an isolating battle in the crowded space. Despite her
yearning for control, she finds herself succumbing to her inner demons, unable to resist the endless stream of champagne. The following day, she wakes hungover and filled with regret, confronted by the painful aftermath of her relapse—nausea, aches, and a profound sense of doom. Alone in her torment, she realizes that no one can save her from herself. A poignant visit from her younger self sparks a renewed resolve to fight, presenting a glimmer of hope amid the wreckage and another chance at redemption.
LAST CALL is a powerful psychological drama exploring addiction, alienation, and the struggle to regain
control. It is a story of inner turmoil, desperate choices, and the painful yet hopeful journey of confronting the monster within.
OVERALL GOAL: immerse the audience in the Main Character’s internal struggle, making them feel the intense emotional landscape of addiction and recovery. Our goal is to evoke the discomfort and emotional turbulence of addiction, allowing the audience to feel the protagonist’s pain.
Nicole was also a RPPL Next Up Artist.
Check out her 23/24 project here.
