Tehben Dean | Filmmaker
Directed by | Tehben Dean & Rasheed Stephens
Shot and Edited by | Tehben Dean
All I've Got & Then Some
Official Trailer
"ALL I'VE GOT & THEN SOME is an audacious debut feature that follows a day in the life of lovable Rasheed, an unhoused stand-up comedian who lives in his car, bonds with a girl who lives two cars down, and moonlights as a ride-share driver in Los Angeles. Moving from Atlanta on “the adrenaline of dreams,” aspiring stand-up comedian Rasheed has a heart of gold. He showers at the gym, gets free haircuts, and sneaks “continental breakfasts” at a hotel; however, Rasheed never lets himself, or us, down, saying that every day is “the best day of his life.”
Production of this terrific, character-driven film—“based on true events”—was also about chasing a dream with the odds stacked against them. Written and cast in two weeks, shot in one week, and posted two weeks later, All I’ve Got & Then Some showcases the artist’s struggle in its rawest form, and inspires us to achieve our own dreams, if we only have the guts to do it."
- Florida Film Festival 2024 (Best Narrative Feature Award Winner)
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DIRECTORS STATEMENT
“All I’ve Got & Then Some” is a story about perseverance, chasing a dream with the odds stacked against you, and never giving up, even when it feels like you don’t have any other choice.
This film is our story; it’s about the artist’s struggle. We wanted to show the intricacies and intimacies of ourselves, as aspiring artists, in our rawest form.
Rasheed and I met in 2021 in Los Angeles—off of Bumble Biz, of all places—and we immediately clicked creatively. Both of us had started our journeys in earnest just over 10 years ago, and have been relentlessly pursuing our passion for storytelling ever since. In early 2023, we were finally gearing up to shoot the feature biopic, "East Point," about an inspirational maverick high school teacher in Atlanta, GA. However, talks of the SAG AFTRA strike threatened to derail the project—another delay, another setback in the pursuit of a dream. This left us with the all too common feeling of defeat, which unfortunately often feels par for the course with creative endeavors.
A couple of weeks later after much thought, I called Rasheed with an idea. When he picked up the phone, I said, "Hey, remember the idea you had for a web series? I think we should turn that concept into a film and just go shoot it." Rasheed almost dropped his phone. "No way man! I was literally thinking the exact same thing yesterday, honest to God."
If there was ever a sign from the universe, that was it. It was clearly time to create our own opportunity. Time to just make it happen. We got together the next day and after a whirlwind of planning and help from our amazing network, we went into production two weeks later and shot the film over the course of seven days.
We hope that by sharing our story we can inspire others to stick to their creative dreams, even when times are tough, because you truly can achieve them if you have faith in yourself and the guts to just go for it.
We are honored to share our story with you, and we’re only just getting started.
Tehben Dean & Rasheed Stephens
REVIEWS
"All I’ve Got & Then Some worked by stealth. I was so entertained, so taken in, so involved … I didn’t realize the depths it was stirring." - Sheila O'Malley
"So much charisma and love on the screen makes this film a true delight, as directed and conceived of by Tehben Dean and Rasheed Stephens, and starring Stephens in a script based on a true story." - Genie Davis
"Funny,” as it turns out, does not come easy.
But All I’ve Got & Then Some, playing this Saturday at the Mammoth Lakes Film Festival, plays within the less trafficked annals of that phenomenon—meaning, the further reaches of that aforementioned misery that a comic must endure before he earns his Netflix special; before the comedienne is a marquee name." - Kendall Milender
"A drama at its core, All I’ve Got and Then Some also shines with gems of humor in the most unexpected situations. It’s got so much heart, and with rarely a moment where you’re not rooting for Rasheed, you find yourself almost jealous that you didn’t have the courage to make the sacrifices he did." - Jules Caldeira
"In a larger view, All I’ve Got & Then Some similarly signifies that Rasheed’s got what it takes to play within format and tone, all while keeping things as grounded and natural as possible. I wouldn’t suggest that All I’ve Got breaks new ground in its mixed-format narrative style, but its uniqueness establishes that the team of Stephens and Dean are ones to keep an eye on." - Douglas Davidson
"A fantastic representation of an artist’s fight against daunting odds. It resonates with anyone who has dared to dream big, reminding us that one can navigate even the most challenging obstacles with perseverance and ingenuity. The film is not just entertaining; it acts as a source of motivation, highlighting the decisive role of storytelling in capturing the human condition’s depth." - Chris Jones
"In addition to sharing a writing and directing credit, Tehben Dean’s cinematography really stands out as every character is shown beautifully, with soft and complimentary lighting and vivid colors that seem to compliment Stephens’ optimism and drive in the face of challenging circumstances. Stephens’ standard response to anyone who asks how he’s doing—“Today is the best day of my life” — is exemplified in his continual warm glow." - Ben Trentelman
"This is a true indie film. Jagged and occasionally unpolished there is an immediacy that we almost never get in big festival films. Some of the characters are not crafted but lived in. This feels like the directors just brought their friends in an let them be. The result is a film that is very much alive." - Steve Kopian
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