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THE DISTRICTS OF STONEGATE CITY: A FIRST LOOK AT THE WORLD’S POWER MAP

Every universe needs an entry point. For the StoneGate Cinematic Universe (SGCU), that doorway is District Files — a graphic novel series that builds the world one district, one character, one decision at a time.Before the film. Before the animation. Before the larger slate of projects, there’s the page.<h2>What Is District Files?</h2>District Files is the foundational graphic novel series of the StoneGate Cinematic Universe — a layered world built district by district, character by character. Each issue focuses on a specific corner of StoneGate City or the surrounding world, revealing the people who move in the shadows, the systems they’re up against, and the choices that change everything.You don’t have to know anything about Becoming Hank Luciano or the wider SGCU to start here. District Files is designed as the on-ramp: grounded, visual, and story-driven. If this is your first time hearing about the universe, this is where you start.<h2>Issue #1: BHL — BleakStone Point</h2><figure id="figure-97fbhny23mhx1n7bn"data-full-width><img id="97fbhny23mhx1n7bn" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/36RsKc6g4qCokbJdnUi5X8jIMLUrL1KPIX8W03ifG0uHaZYiuTCVBJuOo0MP3n16.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="true"/></figure>The journey begins in BleakStone Point, a district defined by silence, scars, and survival.Issue #1 follows Sincere Cross — before the name Hank Luciano, before the legend. We’re with him in the earlier stretch of his life, inside the pressure that shapes his discipline and the lines he refuses to cross even while moving through a criminal world.BleakStone Point ends at the moment everything breaks: a failed heist, a betrayal that cuts deeper than any enemy, and three shots that force Sincere to disappear from StoneGate City.No rise yet. Just the fracture that makes the transformation possible.Visually, the issue leans into a grounded, cinematic style: street corners at night, quiet apartments that feel like safe houses, and a city that always seems to be watching. It’s built to read like frames pulled from a film we haven’t seen yet.<h2>Issue #2: BHL — Isla Veridia</h2><figure id="figure-r0fo63p9ubmhx0z5dv" data-full-width=""><img id="r0fo63p9ubmhx0z5dv" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/39DZKuzc8fGlWoMI4WMXCASrTKibGs9ZSRKnzYH7NfYPDelHB3d8OLHalNrC5a7N.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="true" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/39DZKuzc8fGlWoMI4WMXCASrTKibGs9ZSRKnzYH7NfYPDelHB3d8OLHalNrC5a7N.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure>Issue #2 moves the story far from StoneGate City.Becoming Hank Luciano: District Files — Isla Veridia picks up years later in a remote, high-stakes environment where escape doesn’t equal peace. This overseas setting becomes both a sanctuary and a pressure cooker — a place where past decisions follow Sincere Cross and where Nyla Vex steps deeper into her own lane.Without spoiling the plot, Isla Veridia shows what it costs to live off the grid, rebuild under the radar, and plan for a return that may never come. It’s a shift in scenery, but the tone stays the same: crime, tech, strategy, and survival.<h2>A Series Built to Expand</h2>District Files isn’t a two-issue experiment. It’s a series.Future issues will continue to move through different districts, time jumps, and perspectives inside the StoneGate Cinematic Universe. Some will stay close to Hank Luciano’s path. Others will follow key players, rival factions, or people caught between both.The goal: every issue adds a new layer of story that still feels complete on its own.<h2>What This Series Unlocks</h2>Launching District Files first does more than tell a story — it builds infrastructure around the universe:<ul><li>Opportunities for visual talent Illustrators, character artists, and cover designers will have room to leave their mark on the world of StoneGate City and its surrounding districts.</li><li>Stylized cameos and collaboration There’s space to collaborate with emerging artists, musicians, and creatives whose likeness, style, or energy can be woven into the universe as fictionalized versions of themselves.</li><li>An early, invested community Readers who start with District Files become the first wave — the people who see the universe grow from page one and help shape where it goes next.</li><li>Fuel for GateFund and future campaigns District Files provides a clear roadmap for how GateFund — SGCU’s internal creative capital arm — can support production, printing, and, eventually, animation and film development through crowdfunding and aligned partners.</li><li>A bridge to film and animation The graphic novels help define tone, pacing, and visual language before we move into full 3D animated production and, later, live-action.</li></ul>This is the part of the universe built one panel at a time, before the cameras, rigs, and render farms come online.<h2>How It Connects to Becoming Hank Luciano: StoneGate City</h2>Becoming Hank Luciano: StoneGate City is the flagship crime-tech thriller of the SGCU — the project that follows Hank’s return to a city that thinks he’s dead.District Files lays down the history.By the time audiences meet Hank Luciano on screen, the graphic novels will have already shown who he was as Sincere Cross, what broke him, where he disappeared to, and why coming back is more than revenge — it’s unfinished business.<h2>Where We’re Headed</h2>Right now, District Files is in active development: outlining, scripting, and visual direction are being refined while production plans, funding strategy, and partnerships are mapped through GateFund.The rollout is simple:1. District Files — Issue #1: BleakStone Point2. District Files — Issue #2: Isla Veridia3. Additional issues expanding the world, leading directly into the Becoming Hank Luciano: StoneGate City film roadmap.If you want to follow the process — from early pages to campaign planning and beyond — you can dive deeper through our SGCU Substack, where we document the build in real time.<h2>In Collaboration with <a data-mce-href="https://www.thinkwithad.com/" href="https://www.thinkwithad.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ThinkwithAD: PULSE</a></h2><figure id="figure-v7kf290x0imhx0r071" data-full-width=""><img id="v7kf290x0imhx0r071" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/31YmKjBkfIRcLCuCEIlrTk7VkL6WHNyHkuVzuzCvvm78bracIsSWAf3nWSW5CZKo.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="true" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/31YmKjBkfIRcLCuCEIlrTk7VkL6WHNyHkuVzuzCvvm78bracIsSWAf3nWSW5CZKo.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>This article was developed in collaboration with ThinkwithAD — a strategy and creative journal that tracks the process of turning long-term vision into real, working ventures.For more behind-the-scenes breakdowns on how this universe is being built, visit <a href="https://www.thinkwithad.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-href="https://www.thinkwithad.com/">Www.ThinkwithAD.com</a> or subscribe to ThinkwithAD: PULSE on <a data-mce-href="https://thinkwithadpulse.substack.com/" href="https://thinkwithadpulse.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Substack</a>. Disclaimers:All characters, locations, organizations, and events within the StoneGate Cinematic Universe are fictional. Any resemblance to real persons (living or dead) or actual events is coincidental or used with permission.Any references to future crowdfunding, funding structures, or partnerships are preliminary and subject to change. Nothing on this page constitutes financial, legal, or investment advice, or an offer to sell or solicit any security or financial product. Always do your own due diligence and consult with qualified professionals before making investment decisions.

District Files: The Graphic Novel Foundation of the StoneGate Cinematic Universe

Independent universes don’t rise overnight—they’re built from belief, discipline, and community. GATEFUND was created as the financial engine of the StoneGate Cinematic Universe (SGCU), a system designed to fuel bold storytelling without losing creative control to outside hands.We built GATEFUND to support every layer of the SGCU ecosystem—from worldbuilding and production to animation, sound, casting, marketing, and technology. Each campaign under it, starting with Becoming Hank Luciano: StoneGate City, will help build lasting creative infrastructure for the universe.The vision is simple: create a funding pipeline that empowers independent creators, not corporations. Through crowdfunding, private investment, brand partnerships, and creative sponsorships, GATEFUND will open doors for artists, developers, filmmakers, and storytellers ready to build something larger than themselves.This universe isn’t just entertainment—it’s opportunity. Writers, animators, designers, voice actors, and musicians will have the chance to shape projects that fuse cinematic realism, culture, and innovation.<h2>Where GATEFUND Resources Go</h2>Funding from GATEFUND will go toward:<ul><li>Expanding SGCU production in Unreal Engine (previs, layout, lighting, render pipeline)</li><li>Developing graphic novels, animation, and film (scripts, storyboards, illustration, VO, post)</li><li>Partnering with independent creatives and studios (artists, animators, composers, editors)</li><li>Company formation &amp; compliance (incorporating, registered agent, annual filings, tax prep)</li><li>IP protection (trademarks, copyrights, contracts/work-for-hire, licensing frameworks)</li><li>Legal &amp; counsel (entertainment attorney for contracts, IP, work-for-hire, option/participation deals, compliance; outside counsel as needed)</li><li>Insurance (production/E&amp;O, cyber protection)</li><li>Tech &amp; infrastructure (storage, render resources, version control, security)</li><li>Marketing &amp; distribution (trailers, key art, PR, platform deliverables, localization)</li><li>Community &amp; CRM (newsletter tools, Substack, crowdfunding updates)</li><li>Contingency reserve (buffers for overages and scheduling risk)</li></ul><h2>A Real Look at the Industry</h2>The film and transmedia industry is one of the most resource-intensive creative landscapes in the world. Every stage—development, production, marketing, and distribution—demands capital, foresight, and time. SGCU approaches funding with transparency and long-term strategy: leveraging crowdfunding for accessibility, private investment for scalability, and brand partnerships for sustainability.This isn’t about chasing quick profit—it’s about ownership, longevity, and building systems that protect creative independence. The real return is cultural impact and community growth: creators, partners, and supporters contributing to something built to last.We’re not chasing validation. We’re building legacy. GATEFUND exists to prove that independence and quality can coexist—that universes can be built from the ground up, powered by purpose and people who believe.This is how we bring worlds to life. One vision. One project. One story at a time.<h2>Stay Connected</h2>For deeper looks behind the creation of SGCU, creative process, and production insights, subscribe to our official Substack journal — <a data-mce-href="https://stonegateuniverse.substack.com/" href="https://stonegateuniverse.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stonegateuniverse.substack.com</a><h2><a data-mce-href="https://www.thinkwithad.com/" href="https://www.thinkwithad.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ThinkwithAD: PULSE</a></h2>Written and developed by ThinkwithAD, the creative journal and strategy arm behind SGCU—exploring entrepreneurship, digital storytelling, and execution from the ground up.<figure id="figure-98gm497r8mhu2yqot" data-full-width=""><img id="98gm497r8mhu2yqot" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/31YmKjBkfIRcLCuCEIlrTk7VkL6WHNyHkuVzuzCvvm78bracIsSWAf3nWSW5CZKo.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="true" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/31YmKjBkfIRcLCuCEIlrTk7VkL6WHNyHkuVzuzCvvm78bracIsSWAf3nWSW5CZKo.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Disclaimers:All names, logos, and creative properties mentioned under StoneGate Cinematic Universe (SGCU) are part of its fictional and transmedia development. Information provided about future projects, funding plans, and partnerships reflects conceptual and pre-production intent.

Why We Built GATEFUND: Fueling Independent Worlds from the Ground Up

StoneGate City was never meant to stay on the page or the movie screen.From the start, the blueprint behind the StoneGate Cinematic Universe (SGCU) included a way for people to move through the world — not just watch it. A way to feel the pressure, the strategy, the loyalty tests, and the power shifts that define Hank Luciano’s life.That next evolution is Becoming Hank Luciano: Return to StoneGate City — a tactical, third-person crime-tech experience that brings the districts, factions, and conflicts of StoneGate to life through cinematic gameplay and rich storytelling.Not a spin-off. Not an adaptation. A direct extension of the universe.<figure id="figure-lp520n18emis2k22o"data-full-width><img id="lp520n18emis2k22o" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/29FXyMKa77Hs3Adl6vYhBb9f1FeyQguaIlJk7XFO5ngwKD2VXvjPy5PcUlCe55g7.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 100% 35%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="" data-positionX="100%" data-positionY="35%" data-fullWidth="true"/></figure>Gameplay Inspiration: The Systems That Shape Return to StoneGate CityBecoming Hank Luciano: Return to StoneGate City draws from some of the strongest frameworks in modern action design — not to imitate them, but to match their intention, weight, and clarity.The inspiration pulls from the best in the genre:<ul><li>Watch Dogs — systems thinking, hacking, digital manipulation, and surveillance tension.</li><li>Army of Two — tactical cooperation, two-person synergy, and coordinated execution.</li><li>Sleeping Dogs — cinematic hand-to-hand combat, physical realism, and impact.</li><li>The Godfather II — territory control, crew management, escalation, and strategic power-building.</li><li>Mafia III — deep, character-driven storytelling, emotional stakes, atmospheric worldbuilding, and missions built around personal history, loyalty, and loss.</li></ul>Each influence contributes a different pillar — strategy, coordination, physicality, world structure, and narrative depth — merging into a gameplay experience designed to feel intentional, grounded, and emotionally heavy.Return to StoneGate City isn’t just about action; it’s about why the action matters.It’s a story-first experience, where every move has a consequence, every district has a personality, and every mission reveals more of the system Hank is trying to dismantle. <figure id="figure-cgdxkaedvcmis2luva" data-full-width=""><img id="cgdxkaedvcmis2luva" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/4e5LKdaCFTjSlumQebFtP0NnmSVvsJ7nFPFWzorV6fbxQ8ZSqcyJQCxYYJaUBW9G.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="true" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/4e5LKdaCFTjSlumQebFtP0NnmSVvsJ7nFPFWzorV6fbxQ8ZSqcyJQCxYYJaUBW9G.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h2>THE WORLD: DISTRICTS WITH REAL CONSEQUENCES</h2>StoneGate City is divided into massive, living districts. Each has its own economy, threats, and cultural identity — and each reacts differently to Hank’s decisions.BleakStone PointCommunity, survival, legacy. Home to the families and crews who shaped Hank’s early life — and the new generation trying to rewrite their future.Cedarview HarborIndustrial power, smuggling lanes, paramilitary security, and cold logistics. Every operation here is calculated and unforgiving.Nightfall CrossAttention economy warfare — influence mafias, PR power brokers, and the loudest danger in the city.Golden Oak GroveCorporate muscle under clean facades. The kind of wealth that moves silently but hits violently.StormSectionExperimental weapons, defense contractors, and the city’s hidden testing grounds.Every district has factions, rivals, power structures — and ways to turn them into allies or enemies.<h2>THE GAMEPLAY: SMART MOVES ONLY</h2>Return to StoneGate City blends grounded, cinematic realism with tactical systems built for intent.Tech OperationsHijack networks. Jam comms. Weaponize surveillance. Turn the city’s own systems into tools of control.Street CombatPrecision firearm work, disciplined CQC, environmental takedowns — no chaos, all intention.Crew CoordinationHank doesn’t move alone. Coordination matters. Timing matters. Pressure moments define outcomes.<figure id="figure-221g7ieekvmis2ey19" data-full-width=""><img id="221g7ieekvmis2ey19" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/b1snhk3gQVY4hfAX016QjP5tZGmYLu6huRnIjNxka4Fv8kWojDTMDwPN1U38yAmS.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="true" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/b1snhk3gQVY4hfAX016QjP5tZGmYLu6huRnIjNxka4Fv8kWojDTMDwPN1U38yAmS.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure><h2>THE CREW: STRATEGY, LOYALTY, AND PRESSURE</h2>Nyla Vex — Field CommanderForce, presence, infiltration, and fire-control when plans tighten.Catalina Rojas — Strategic OverwatchSignal warfare, remote drones, intel architecture, and real-time surveillance leadership.Black Signal — Tactical UnitBy day: OSG security. By night: fully masked, fully off-record, engineered for the storm.When missions spike, Hank can trigger Black Signal support — breachers, jammers, diversion teams, rooftop overwatch, and controlled extraction.This is not a superhero squad. This is precision warfare inside a living city.<h2>THE STORY: RETURN, RETALIATION, REINVENTION</h2>After twenty years in the dark, Hank Luciano returns to a city that evolved without him — faster, smarter, and wired in ways that demand new strategy.This game picks up the present-tense arc after the film Becoming Hank Luciano: StoneGate City, showing the next phase of the war for power, clarity, and control.The emotional center remains the same:<ul><li>Loyalty is currency.</li><li>Pressure reveals character.</li><li>Strategy is survival.</li></ul>And every move Hank makes ripples across the districts.<figure id="figure-zshc2yq7smis53yle" data-full-width=""><img id="zshc2yq7smis53yle" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/190EeuyLgpVOBAsgNgpRP8zhL7kquZEPhYm7pU1V109DAHDXiUY7joT2vT8EhOsT.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 100% 100%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="100%" data-positiony="100%" data-fullwidth="true" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/190EeuyLgpVOBAsgNgpRP8zhL7kquZEPhYm7pU1V109DAHDXiUY7joT2vT8EhOsT.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 100% 100%;"></figure><h2>THE SOUNDTRACK: BLAESTONE SOUND SETS THE PULSE</h2>Music isn’t background — it’s part of the world’s DNA.Through BleakStone Sound Studios, artists and producers from across states and countries will contribute to a soundtrack that adapts to gameplay intensity. Tracks can surface in street corners, safehouses, studios, and clubs — then dynamically shift into score during missions.Every sound has a place. Every record has weight.<h2>HOW IT FITS THE UNIVERSE</h2>This game is a continuation, not an extra.It connects directly with:<ul><li>District Files – Issue #1: BleakStone Point</li><li>District Files – Issue #2: Isla Veridia (and following issues)</li><li>The Unreal Engine Animated Film</li></ul>One vision, one world, multiple ways to step inside it.Watch it. Read it. Play it. Live in it.<h2>THE ROAD AHEAD</h2>Becoming Hank Luciano: Return to StoneGate City is currently in the planning phase. The blueprint is being refined — narrative, mechanics, districts, and systems — while SGCU builds momentum through:<ul><li>Graphic novels</li><li>Animation</li><li>Worldbuilding drops</li><li>Music development</li><li>Community foundation</li></ul>The game becomes possible through staged funding:<ul><li>Crowdfunding (Kickstarter and similar platforms)</li><li>Private investors &amp; grants</li><li>Strategic partnerships in music, fashion, tech, and interactive media</li></ul>This is a long-term build — meant to be done with intention, not speed.<h2>ABOUT STONEGATE CINEMATIC UNIVERSE (SGCU)</h2>SGCU is an independent transmedia studio founded by Adam Dudley — creatively known as Hank Luciano — dedicated to immersive storytelling rooted in crime, tech, survival, and emotional truth.From graphic novels to 3D animation and interactive experiences, SGCU designs connected worlds with style, substance, and strategy.<figure id="figure-ozpxjhwxpemis2dkai" data-full-width=""><img id="ozpxjhwxpemis2dkai" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/7JCc8QKpb4ZMrBvqwh9ZWtM4BXF1CFT4ibpN1TJhRWiQ6y5MMULMwNfg2FPnhkPm.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="true" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/7JCc8QKpb4ZMrBvqwh9ZWtM4BXF1CFT4ibpN1TJhRWiQ6y5MMULMwNfg2FPnhkPm.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h2>ABOUT THINKWITHAD: PULSE</h2>All SGCU blog content is developed by ThinkwithAD, the strategic engine documenting how story, design, technology, and worldbuilding come together to create a universe.<figure id="figure-b1a8lo1jmimis2chfi" data-full-width=""><img id="b1a8lo1jmimis2chfi" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/31YmKjBkfIRcLCuCEIlrTk7VkL6WHNyHkuVzuzCvvm78bracIsSWAf3nWSW5CZKo.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="true" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/31YmKjBkfIRcLCuCEIlrTk7VkL6WHNyHkuVzuzCvvm78bracIsSWAf3nWSW5CZKo.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>DISCLAIMERAll SGCU projects, including Becoming Hank Luciano — StoneGate City and its related media, are currently in development and subject to change. All creative elements are original intellectual property protected by copyright. No reproduction or commercial use is permitted without written consent.

Becoming Hank Luciano: Return to StoneGate City — The Game That Expands the Universe

Every city has a rhythm. Every story has a look. And in StoneGate, tech is the current—surveillance, encrypted comms, and signal flow shaping how power moves.For Becoming Hank Luciano: StoneGate City, it all comes alive at BleakStone Sound Studios—the creative epicenter where music, fashion, technology, and urban storytelling fuse into one identity. The music from BleakStone isn’t background; it’s the emotional backbone of the world, routed through a modern, digital pipeline and delivered with human intent.<h2>BleakStone Point: The Community That Shapes the Sound</h2><figure id="figure-io3f8ask1gmhe80xym" data-full-width=""><img id="io3f8ask1gmhe80xym" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/30nzMr7DHgKJhS1XE4egiimdddJE22uIlu62y5ouSUFeadMihpmR0b1rIzhVkV24.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="true" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/30nzMr7DHgKJhS1XE4egiimdddJE22uIlu62y5ouSUFeadMihpmR0b1rIzhVkV24.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure>BleakStone Point is the foundation of StoneGate City—a Black and Latino community alive with resilience, small business energy, and cultural pride. Barbershops, bodegas, streetwear boutiques, independent studios, and family kitchens share the same blocks. Working- and middle-class families keep the district steady while creatives and entrepreneurs push it forward. On the tougher edges—Havoc Heights and Redwood Flats—boarded buildings and corner hustles sit beside porch-watch elders, block cookouts, and kids dreaming beyond the street.BleakStone is an ecosystem: people looking out for each other and moving like legacy is the goal.<h2>The Rise at BleakStone: Dignity as Design (Graphic Novel Canon)</h2>In the graphic novel continuity, Sincere Cross launches The Rise at BleakStone—a community initiative converting an abandoned lot into a secure micro-neighborhood of tiny homes and renovated trailers. Priority goes to homeless veterans, single parents, and returning citizens rebuilding from the ground up. It’s not charity—it’s structure, safety, and a second chance.<blockquote>Note: Sincere Cross appears in the graphic novel only. In the film, this world is led by Hank Luciano.</blockquote><h2>BleakStone Sound Studios: Where Culture, Tech, and Creation Converge (Film)</h2><figure id="figure-3ef05e5moemhe8c5fo" data-full-width=""><img id="3ef05e5moemhe8c5fo" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/9VWkIr02ret95cu316RnYBt0Cn72HUQz2UxoQljmQYWeApFPoVNYEqDJdGyKqDcw.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="true" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/9VWkIr02ret95cu316RnYBt0Cn72HUQz2UxoQljmQYWeApFPoVNYEqDJdGyKqDcw.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure>At the center is BleakStone Sound Studios, the sound engine of StoneGate City. In the film, BleakStone is both story space and creative sanctuary—sessions, late-night mixdowns, quiet confessions through glass, and verses that say what dialogue won’t. A beat might start in-scene (diegetic) and evolve into score (non-diegetic) as the story moves through the city.The tech layer is part of the language: secure drives, time-coded stems, session screens glowing in the dark, and a workflow that keeps records authentic and 100% human-made even as the process is fully digital. Here, sound is a statement and image is identity—artists record in fits from neighborhood brands, and styling defines character energy: muted palettes, statement jackets, subtle gold, quiet power.<h2>Opportunities for Upcoming Artists and Creatives</h2><figure id="figure-va6lkxdbncmho1b4nz"data-full-width><img id="va6lkxdbncmho1b4nz" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/9oGG8qDpapy2OfTqM7mo48OSKsNfGHXeJEb1woyQlwRc5t6WvXklgKM9ZRP3m967.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="true"/></figure>BleakStone isn’t just fictional—it’s a gateway. This project will create real opportunities for upcoming artists, producers, designers, and stylists to contribute to the Becoming Hank Luciano universe.Selected participants will:<ul><li>Contribute to the official soundtrack (guided by the StoneGate tone).</li><li>Appear in the film as a fictionalized look-alike (a character mirroring their aesthetic and energy).</li><li>Express a personal fashion identity through wardrobe and styling.</li><li>Weave elements of real life—struggle, strategy, and growth—into on-screen moments.</li></ul>This is a blend of reality and cinema, built around music, style, tech, and survival.<h2>Era Focus: How the Timelines Work</h2><ul><li>Graphic Novel: Sincere Cross era—the raw, formative chapter that sets the foundation of the world and its values.</li><li>Film: Hank Luciano era—the present-tense power arc; decisions are larger, consequences sharper, and the city is watching.</li></ul>The sound should feel like reflection and motion at once—the integrity of the foundation with the velocity of the present.<h2>Sound Direction: Classic Truth, Modern Speakers</h2>A modern fusion of cinematic hip-hop, soul-leaning trap, country/southern storytelling, and pop clarity. The aim is a record you can feel and replay: lyrically grounded, 80's-forward, and built around memorable, human hooks (including strong female vocal leads)—with production that matches the story’s weight, not just the vibe.<h2>Influences: Weight, Urgency, and Hook Craft</h2><figure id="figure-64ghnxngemheibhk6" data-full-width=""><img id="64ghnxngemheibhk6" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1fuKtEjPWV7OrhoTu5GTSAm6ZpUyxvLeg3sm7gTYtLG84YH12PqgE9AKIi6Fl9Fe.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="true" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1fuKtEjPWV7OrhoTu5GTSAm6ZpUyxvLeg3sm7gTYtLG84YH12PqgE9AKIi6Fl9Fe.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure>The DNA draws from hip-hop’s golden era — Tupac’s emotion, Biggie’s storytelling, Nas’s introspection, Jay-Z’s structural precision — and the power and urgency of N.W.A, where the music doesn’t just soundtrack the city; it speaks for it. Add 50 Cent’s hook engineering and cold-paced menace and Ice-T’s street reportage and disciplined cadence to anchor realism with unforgettable repetition and restraint.To lock in melody and hooks, we pull from the presence and pen of leading women in hip-hop and R&amp;B: the lyricism and stance of Lauryn Hill and Rapsody, the hook power of SZA, H.E.R., and Tyla, the edge and command of Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, and the soul weight of Jazmine Sullivan.Result: Timeless and current at once—verses with consequence, drums that move the room, and choruses that carry the narrative past the scene.<h2>About StoneGate Cinematic Universe (SGCU)</h2><figure id="figure-dfz7on8kbyemhe5zney" data-full-width=""><img id="dfz7on8kbyemhe5zney" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/20KZVXBixR7U6XIgJzvncEhpSxpkmNVfix9OY4dEiY14o539Bd0d9MzwFnpnQLhK.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="true" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/20KZVXBixR7U6XIgJzvncEhpSxpkmNVfix9OY4dEiY14o539Bd0d9MzwFnpnQLhK.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>StoneGate Cinematic Universe (SGCU) is an independent transmedia studio and creative production company founded by Adam Dudley — known creatively as Hank Luciano — dedicated to immersive stories told with style, substance, and soul.From graphic novels to 3D-animated features, and eventually live-action films, SGCU is laying the foundation for a universe that resonates beyond the screen — one vision, one project, one world at a time.<h2><a data-mce-href="https://www.thinkwithad.com/" href="https://www.thinkwithad.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ThinkwithAD - PULSE</a></h2>All blog content on this site is created by ThinkwithAD, the narrative architect behind the StoneGate Cinematic Universe. These entries document the process—how sound, style, tech, and story merge to build a living world.This is world-building, not marketing. Decode the message. Follow the signal. Stay ahead of the story.<figure id="figure-y1ziem7088mhe5k5yy" data-full-width=""><img id="y1ziem7088mhe5k5yy" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/31YmKjBkfIRcLCuCEIlrTk7VkL6WHNyHkuVzuzCvvm78bracIsSWAf3nWSW5CZKo.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="true" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/31YmKjBkfIRcLCuCEIlrTk7VkL6WHNyHkuVzuzCvvm78bracIsSWAf3nWSW5CZKo.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Disclaimer:All projects and creative elements within the StoneGate Cinematic Universe—including Becoming Hank Luciano – StoneGate City, its film, soundtrack, merchandise, and featured locations—are currently in the planning and development stage. Any mention of collaborations, casting, or releases reflects creative direction and may evolve.All content is fictional and protected under copyright. Perspectives shared by ThinkwithAD are intended for creative development, storytelling, and entertainment purposes only.

BleakStone Sound Studios and the Sound of StoneGate

<figure id="figure-vw6q7s8ldnmeop3vn0" data-full-width=""><img id="vw6q7s8ldnmeop3vn0" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/agNQu7ylbvRTr14v4TVpkU1Jg74Hz7nCSCkcJO2ViSWUHfexUrEsxEerMgSCeK9r.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 100% undefined%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="100%" data-positiony="undefined%" data-fullwidth="true" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/agNQu7ylbvRTr14v4TVpkU1Jg74Hz7nCSCkcJO2ViSWUHfexUrEsxEerMgSCeK9r.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 100% undefined%;"></figure><h2>This isn’t fashion—it’s strategy.</h2>The Hank Luciano brand is in motion. Built for people who move with precision and elevate through presence, it blends luxury fashion, street culture, and a cinematic mindset into a focused mix of designer eyewear, HL-branded eyewear, tactical streetwear, and signature pieces.<h2>Funding and Launch Path</h2>This project moves when the people move. Production begins once—and only if—we successfully fund our crowdfunding campaign. A successful campaign will kick off:<ul><li>Official production for the graphic novels</li><li>Development of the film</li><li>Manufacture and fulfillment for HL-branded eyewear and curated designer frames</li><li>Initial runs of tactical streetwear and signature fedoras</li><li>Expanded merchandise, packaging, and supporting infrastructure</li><li>Additional StoneGate Cinematic Universe initiatives</li></ul><h2>Eyewear: Luxury to Everyday</h2><figure id="figure-8rtgc7mvgsmeoo12tq" data-full-width=""><img id="8rtgc7mvgsmeoo12tq" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/23vbYLGiz7jzLAy8W6zaOYixEVRMMhfakNwLs1GIgJ6gVmb3WY9MhRNl9pfk86Vn.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 95% undefined%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="95%" data-positiony="undefined%" data-fullwidth="true" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/23vbYLGiz7jzLAy8W6zaOYixEVRMMhfakNwLs1GIgJ6gVmb3WY9MhRNl9pfk86Vn.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 95% undefined%;"></figure>At its core, Hank Luciano is an Eyewear Retail and Optical concept designed to cover every lane.Designer Labels- Cartier — gold accents, prestige energy - Gucci — loud when needed, clean when it counts - Chanel — understated power, timeless lines - Versace — high-drip presence - Burberry, Dior, Tom Ford, Prada — each frame chosen for the Luciano mindset: silent status.HL-Branded Eyewear (House Line)<figure id="figure-unbgp6pt3lmeooltu1" data-full-width=""><img id="unbgp6pt3lmeooltu1" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/10lsE9JUfpc5MsMCYkMoM8RE7yOuheVsJ27RIdAo32apC4pHU2hI9px6OFY0BqYv.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 100% undefined%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="100%" data-positiony="undefined%" data-fullwidth="true" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/10lsE9JUfpc5MsMCYkMoM8RE7yOuheVsJ27RIdAo32apC4pHU2hI9px6OFY0BqYv.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 100% undefined%;"></figure>Modern silhouettes engineered for daily movement—lightweight acetates and metals, low-profile branding, polarized and prescription-ready options, blue-light and anti-glare coatings, and colorways tuned to the Luciano palette. Presence without shouting.Authenticity FirstAll product will be sourced through authorized channels and trusted distributors. Genuine. Documented. No secondhand resellers, no knockoffs.Everyday Essentials Clean, affordable optical frames • prescription and non-prescription • blue-light protection • profiles for work, weekend, and low-key movement.<h2>Footwear: Casual Activewear, Designer Sneakers, Boots &amp; Branded Clogs</h2>Built for men and women who move.<ul><li>Casual Activewear Footwear (Unisex): everyday trainers and slip-ons with cushioned insoles, supportive midsoles, and slip-resistant outsoles tuned for wet asphalt.</li><li>Branded Clogs (Crocs): select Crocs® styles with a clean, HL-lean aesthetic; optional HL charm pack and muted colorways.</li><li>Designer Sneakers: curated pairs from select designer houses; neutral, disciplined palettes; comfort-first builds for travel and long days.</li><li>City Boots: tactical-inspired ankle boots with stable, chunky soles; weather-resistant uppers; low-glare finishes.</li></ul>Crowdfund Unlock: sample runs, first colorways, and exclusive bundle tiers (including footwear options) activate with campaign success.<h2>Apparel and Merch</h2><h3>1. Core Merch Line (Everyday Casual + Streetwear)</h3><ul><li>Signature fedoras — premium wool felt or lightweight seasonal versions (black, charcoal, dark navy). Minimal interior branding with a hidden tag nod to StoneGate Cinematic Universe or District Files.</li><li>Streetwear tees and polos — clean, minimal, subtle embroidery using District marks and Black Signal iconography.</li><li>Slim cargo and tailored joggers — upscale cuts, versatile for men and women.</li><li>Bomber jackets and long coats — inspired by Hank’s trench silhouette, adapted for daily wear.</li></ul><h3>2. Classy Grown-Man/Woman Pieces</h3><ul><li>Minimalist knitwear — fitted sweaters and turtlenecks in monochrome palettes.</li><li>Slim-fit button-ups — casual-dress shirts with subtle micro-patterns referencing districts like Neon Row or Crestmoor.</li><li>Wool overcoats and leather jackets — timeless, luxury-inspired pieces tied to Hank’s aesthetic.</li><li>Accessories — sleek wristwatches, slim belts, modern eyewear, refined gold chains as a nod to Hank’s signature.</li></ul><h3>3. Fedora Line (Hero Piece)</h3><ul><li>The Luciano Fedora — premium fedora line under the Hank Luciano name.</li><li>Everyday Classic — matte-black wool, modern fit, simple band.</li><li>Collector’s Edition — limited drop with embossed BHL or District Files branding on the inside lining.</li><li>Seasonal Drops — suede, felt, or lightweight summer versions in subtle muted tones.</li><li>Packaging: presented in a collector’s hat box designed like an Obsidian Systems case file.</li></ul><h3>4. Premium Drops</h3>District Fedora Series — each fedora inspired by a different district (BleakStone Point in charcoal with a rugged finish; Neon Row in black with cyan/red trim, etc.).<ul><li>Bundle Editions — Fedora + Graphic Novel + Gold Chain + Poster as a crowdfunding reward tier.</li></ul><h2>Built Into a Bigger Story</h2>Every future order helps build the StoneGate Cinematic Universe—the world behind Hank Luciano. You’ll be fueling the Becoming Hank Luciano graphic novel series, cinematic development tied to StoneGate City, and the expansion of a living universe where every character, crew, and safehouse has purpose.<h2>About StoneGate Cinematic Universe (SGCU)</h2><figure id="figure-bnxud6u8atmhkptit9" data-full-width="" class=""><img id="bnxud6u8atmhkptit9" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/20KZVXBixR7U6XIgJzvncEhpSxpkmNVfix9OY4dEiY14o539Bd0d9MzwFnpnQLhK.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="true" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/20KZVXBixR7U6XIgJzvncEhpSxpkmNVfix9OY4dEiY14o539Bd0d9MzwFnpnQLhK.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>StoneGate Cinematic Universe (SGCU) is an independent transmedia studio and creative production company founded by Adam Dudley — known creatively as Hank Luciano — dedicated to immersive stories told with style, substance, and soul.From graphic novels to 3D-animated features, and eventually live-action films, SGCU is laying the foundation for a universe that resonates beyond the screen — one vision, one project, one world at a time.<h2><a data-mce-href="https://www.thinkwithad.com/blog" href="https://www.thinkwithad.com/blog" target="_blank" rel="noopener">🧠ThinkwithAD - PULSE</a> </h2>Content: Published by ThinkwithAD - PULSE on the SGCU blog (<a data-mce-href="https://www.stonegateuniverse.com/blog" href="https://www.stonegateuniverse.com/blog">District Logs</a>).<figure id="figure-v2y0q2lj9mmeoo0dmy" data-full-width=""><img id="v2y0q2lj9mmeoo0dmy" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/31YmKjBkfIRcLCuCEIlrTk7VkL6WHNyHkuVzuzCvvm78bracIsSWAf3nWSW5CZKo.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="true" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/31YmKjBkfIRcLCuCEIlrTk7VkL6WHNyHkuVzuzCvvm78bracIsSWAf3nWSW5CZKo.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure>⚠️Disclaimer: The blog content and creative material published on this site—including characters, events, narratives, and storylines within the StoneGate Cinematic Universe—are fictional and protected under copyright. Any similarities to real people, locations, or events are coincidental unless otherwise stated. All posts and perspectives by ThinkwithAD are for entertainment, world-building, and narrative exploration and do not reflect the views of third parties unless officially acknowledged.

Coming Soon: The Hank Luciano Collection — Eyewear, Tactical Streetwear, Fedoras

StoneGate Cinematic Universe

StoneGate Cinematic Universe (SGCU) is an independent transmedia studio creating crime-tech stories through graphic novels, animation, film, and merchandise. Home of Becoming Hank Luciano — a grounded, cinematic universe built on worldbuilding, identity, and storytelling.

SGCU

District Logs

THE DISTRICTS OF STONEGATE CITY: A FIRST LOOK AT THE WORL...

District Files: The Graphic Novel Foundation of the Stone...

Why We Built GATEFUND: Fueling Independent Worlds from th...

Becoming Hank Luciano: Return to StoneGate City — The Gam...

BleakStone Sound Studios and the Sound of StoneGate

Coming Soon: The Hank Luciano Collection — Eyewear, Tacti...