Features Overview

Be Nice. Smile.

Be Nice. Smile. follows Tina, a young Black woman, on the day of her first date since a breakup. As she prepares, she’s bombarded by comments from strangers, family, and friends telling her to smile, be nice, and be likable. What begins as internal anxiety slowly becomes a fight to reclaim her boundaries and voice.

Tina is smart, beautiful, and painfully self-aware. On the day of a big date, she’s met with a barrage of messages—some well-meaning, some invasive—all insisting she smile more and soften herself. Through a series of vignettes, we see Tina’s identity compressed, questioned, and tested until she’s forced to ask: who is she smiling for?

This is a film about boundaries, healing, humor, and the quiet violence of being told to perform for others.

Artist Spotlight - Tasia Brown (Actress/Writer/Director)

Tasia Brown is an emerging filmmaker making her directorial debut with Be Nice. Smile. Drawing from her background in theater and psychology, Tasia crafts narratives that delve into the complexities of identity, societal expectations, and personal empowerment. Her storytelling is marked by authenticity and a commitment to highlighting nuanced experiences.

Artist Spotlight - Tyla Harris

Tyla Anne Harris plays the main character “Tina” in the upcoming short film Be Nice. Smile. Born in Atlanta, the city shaped the artistry Tyla was trained in: film and theatre acting, improvisational comedy, ballet, modern dance, majorette and hip hop dance, pole and piano. Her production company NeferTyla Productions, focuses on creating and facilitating art surrounding sociopolitical conversations & supporting artists developing their artistic direction.