WFG RATING: B+

A WatsTower Film production. Written, edited, and directed by Ryan Watson. Produced by Marissa Allen and Jessica Rosado. Cinematography by Torian Tarrant. 

Stars Donovan Whitley, Devante Thomas, Shawn Francis, Alex Tacher, Michael “Quick” McGee, Walter Ashaad, Jathniel Lubin, Will Johnson, Isaiah Smallwood, Alvin Eberhardt, and Kareem Everson.

A chance to join a fraternity becomes a near fight for survival in this martial arts action short from writer-director Ryan Watson.

College student Tavon Watkins is called in by his counselor and has been recommended to join a fraternity known as Alpha Omega Sigma. Tavon isn’t the only one recommended to pledge the fraternity, but six others as well. Upon meeting the fraternity brothers, they soon learn this is no ordinary fraternity.

This fraternity, founded three decades ago, is a secret brotherhood of martial arts experts and they have two choices: sign the dotted line to become part of the paper line and be guaranteed membership, or test their wills by stealing the headband of the frat head, Brother Luther. Who will cross to become full brothers and who will be left behind in the winds?

This is quite a fascinating look at how historically Black colleges’ fraternity work but not how you expect as writer-director Ryan Watson had something in mind with this film. While he wanted to share the important of the HBCU world, he wanted to add a bit of excitement by adding martial arts to the mix as this is about a fraternity of fighting brothers. 

The film, clocked in at 48 minutes, is actually pretty good. The cast of pledges do all they can to get “initiated” into the Alpha Omegs Sigma fraternity, but when they learn the shocking truth, they find themselves in a major fight against the likes of Brother Luther, played by Devante Thomasl. What’s amazing is that there are various styles of martial arts highlighted in the initiation fight, including Western boxing, Jiu-Jitsu, taekwondo, and even tricking. 

The second half of the film revolves around the aftermath of the initiation fight, how the fraternity even began, and the end result of whether any of the aspiring pledges cross or not. The pledging process includes martial arts training where the group even delves into weapons training, from the bo-staff and nunchaku, as well as the sword. And it leaves open a follow-up with the promise of the return of Alpha Omega Sigma. 

Paper Line may be a shorter film compared to other martial arts films, but what Ryan Watson does with the film is ingenious: mixing history with the excitement of martial arts, highlighting various styles while teaching the viewer the process of the Black Greek Fraternity. Some great performances from this young cast also helps drive the film. I would love to see another film with this frat taking center stage. 

The film is now playing on Tubi.