Growing Community
Set in post-legalization Brooklyn, this animated series follows Steve, a forty-something man-child grappling with adulthood as his freelance tech work dries up. With newfound free time and a slowly shifting identity, Steve discovers a surprising passion for urban gardening—specifically, growing weed. Guided by an enthusiastic online grower community, he embarks on a quirky, green-thumbed journey that becomes his midlife reinvention.
Steve’s wife Linda, a sharp and successful attorney, supports his mellow new hobby—seeing it as a harmless last adventure before they start a family. While she’s the picture of balance and ambition, Steve’s world grows increasingly rooted in his subculture of growers and dreamers. The growing divide between their lives raises questions about what it means to evolve together, and whether love can thrive under shifting lights—LED or otherwise.
Meanwhile, Rudy, Steve’s best friend and a longtime cannabis connoisseur, becomes his spiritual (and slightly reckless) guide through the highs and lows of plant parenthood. But as Rudy and Linda vie for Steve’s time, attention, and ultimately his future, the trio finds themselves tangled in a modern love triangle—part bromance, part marriage drama, part grow-op comedy. What starts as a leafy hobby turns into a reflection of friendship, commitment, and the strange ways we root ourselves in midlife.
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William Levin
William Levin (WGAe, ASCAP) has created cartoons, music and videos for television ranging from Sesame Street to The Howard Stern Show. He hopes this series will make people happy and lead to new opportunities. Levin works from his rent-stabilized one-bedroom apartment in Park Slope Brooklyn where he lives with his wife and their four children.
“When I conceived the “Growing Community” loosely autobiographical animated series in 2015, things were a lot different. Marijuana was illegal almost everywhere, I had plenty of creative work ... and no kids.
Now 10 years and 4 kids later, after a long unexpected creative break, BRIC Arts & Media has afforded me the opportunity to write, direct and animate the series I have long hoped to complete.
The story of Growing Community isn’t so much about smoking, vaping, eating cannabis as it is about cultivating it. As I learned about the plant, what makes it thrive, its cyclic existence, I learned about myself and my relationships and the parallels between personal and botanic growth.
Weed. Even though I never grew to love it, I did love to grow it.”
Fred Blau
Fred Blau is a software engineer but may just give it all up to pursue voice acting. When he's not rock climbing or vigilantly biking the streets of New York, you can find him at home in Park Slope Brooklyn being a great husband and dad. Depending on his current LinkedIn employment status, Fred may or may not publicly state he enjoys an occasional joint or huge rip off a bong to relax.
Meredith Zinner
Meredith Zinner (SAG-AFTRA) is a photographer, filmmaker and actor with screen credits including Erin Brockovich and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She lives in Park Slope Brooklyn with her husband and their 2 pooches and is ever grateful for the existence of vegan gummies.
Daniel Levy
Originally from Los Angeles, Daniel Levy spent years living between Williamsburg and Prospect Heights with his wife and their three kids, before making a westward move during the pandemic. An artist at heart, Daniel creates bold, expressive paintings that he shares and sells through Instagram, connecting with collectors around the world. He’s also known for his deep love of music, art, and frequent visits to the Prospect Park Zoo—where he’s been spotted having full-on conversations with the sea lions. Blending West Coast roots with Brooklyn soul, Daniel brings humor, creativity, and a uniquely personal perspective to the show.
Fafu
Fafu is a music producer based in NYC who makes hip hop and drum and bass. He has worked with many great artists and has music in films, ads, and video games. He left Brooklyn two years ago to live in Staten Island with his family and his fat-ass cat.
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A BRIC TV Original Film
