9
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Experimental
9 is an experimental film designed to make you feel the weight of anticipation. By leaning into creative limitations and a unique pacing, we stretch time to a standstill to capture a moment of balance that shatters as quickly as it forms for this story of transformation.
9
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Experimental
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
16 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$2,075
Goal: $12,800 for production
9 is an experimental film designed to make you feel the weight of anticipation. By leaning into creative limitations and a unique pacing, we stretch time to a standstill to capture a moment of balance that shatters as quickly as it forms for this story of transformation.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Much like music, 9 uses organized pacing across time to convey the range of emotions that exist between “what was” and “what will be,” unfolding across 9 structural scenes.
The film opens on a winding mountain road at dawn that appears static until the sounds of the wind and a passing car infiltrate the moment. With each passing scene, the shots get longer and more still. At the heart of the film, time completely stretches out.
On a desolate beach, Yin and Yang appear as two complementary forces finding balance in a world outside of time. But liminal spaces are temporary, and an inevitable gravity pulls them apart, breaking the equilibrium.Once the illusion is shattered, and each remaining scene begins to get progressively shorter, the viewer is guided back into reality, leaving them exactly where they started yet completely changed.
Free of dialogue, this visual meditation relies on the weight of anticipation, leaving space for the audience to discover and feel their own emotions along the way.
9 is a personal reflection on the gravity of the in-between, and what I observed rather than resisted while in transition. At the intersection of intuition and spirituality, this non-narrative/nonlinear short film challenges the audience to confront the space between stillness and forward motion, while witnessing connection, loss, and transformation.
Last year, the number nine haunted me: I was 36, born in September, my astrological sun (core identity) and north node (karmic destiny) are in the 9th house (the realm of expansion). And in the 9th month of a “9” year, I was stuck...Like I was in the middle of a winding path and I couldn’t turn back, but had no idea what lay ahead. God was loud and clear on the what and why, but radio silent on the how.
So I decided to retrace my steps. First using my favorite dictionary (music), then using photos I took in Big Sur between 2020 and 2025, as well as test shots from never-realized projects, I was able to visualize how I wanted the story to be told.
If the only way out is through, then may 9 serve as a creative ecosystem to light the way: the playlist as the album, the visual meditation as the single, and (one day) the director’s cut will be the reprise.
Alchemy, suspension, structure, meditation, permanence, and observation.
9 will be shot on 16mm film, drawing on the pace of directors like Chantal Akerman while leaning into the natural settings and deliberate distances seen in works like Abbas Kiarostami.
By utilizing long takes, minimal camera movement, and intentional stillness, 9 takes an observational approach to storytelling where time itself becomes a character.
9 is a passion project for everyone involved. We’ve thoughtfully set a budget of $15,000 to complete this film, carefully planning how to bring this vision to life while making it accessible for both the team and the viewer. We are currently in pre-production stage and planning to shoot in September, followed by post production and picture lock no later than November.
Everything about this film is being approached with intentionality from who is apart of the team to which festivals it will be submitted to. We want this to be seen by those who can truly appreciate championing different approaches to storytelling and invite people to explore their own experiences with liminal space.
If we exceed our funding goal, the additional support will go to ensuring the crew is better compensated for their time and resources over the last year, while improving our production quality and potential for additional cuts of the film.
If we don't raise a minimum of 80% of our Seed&Spark goal, we won't receive any of our funding. Cash donations are tax deductible <3.
We can't do this with you!
PLEDGE to our campaign–every contribution, no matter the size, gets us closer to creating something meaningful and memorable.
SHARE & FOLLOW our Seed&Spark page (hit the little heart button at the top right of the page), and let your network know about what we're creating! Help us get closer to accessing things like film festival waivers, production gear, and so much more!
FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to the director's Substack for a deeper dive into how this project came to be, and BTS from our shoot in September!
Every interaction brings us closer to making this dream a reality—thank you for any/all support!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Travel+Accomodation Expenses
Costs $3,000
We're shooting between LA and Big Sur + some of the crew is NYC based! Help us fight back against the ever rising cost of travel!
Camera+Shooting Rentals
Costs $3,000
We're shooting on 16mm film and need all the right camera and lenses to really bring this story to life
Post Production Costs
Costs $5,000
Help us bring this project to the finish line with an amazing editing team including a colorist and sound designer.
Film Stock + Processing + Digitization
Costs $1,800
We're shooting this on 16mm film! Help us make sure we have all the film stock we need and can process at the highest quality.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Director
Tianna Howard
Tianna is a Brooklyn-based visual artist and creative director exploring the tension between identity and belonging through observational storytelling. Her photo work has been featured in publications such as Brooklyn Magazine (2020) and Harsh Collective Magazine (2024), as well as group exhibitions including SHEER Worldwide’s 'Unapologetically Here' Art Exhibit (2023), and ‘SHEERxHarsh Collective: A Perfect View (2024). After expanding her practice to moving images in 2024, she wrote and directed three interconnected music videos (Solo Trip) for an emerging artist. To her, observation is a privilege and often meditative. The result: reflections of what she discovered in moments of deep presence rather than survival.
Director of Photography
Tanisha Moreno
Tanisha is a Salvadoran/Honduran-American cinematographer whose work explores purpose, connection, culture, and identity. Her intentional approach blends contemporary art with narrative cinema, resulting in visuals that are both grounded and transcendent. Defined by poetic and dreamlike imagery, Tanisha's practice moves fluidly between narrative filmmaking, brand campaigns, and personal visual essays, often centering on the aesthetics of life and consciousness. Her films include Fuzzy Head (Slamdance Official Selection), Disney Launchpad's Project CC (NAACP award nominated, streaming on Disney+), and additional cinematography on Serious People (Sundance and Tribeca Official Selection, streaming on MUBI). Her commercial lens has shaped campaigns for clients including Netflix, Vogue, Nike, Ray-Ban, WNBA, Google, Air Jordan, EA Sports, and Delta; earning a nomination at the Tribeca X Awards for Best Commercial. Beyond the screen, Tanisha's visual practice extends into fine art. Her cinematography is behind American Artist's immersive installation The Monophobic Response, a two-channel film and sculptural installation inspired by Octavia E. Butler's Parable of the Sower, exhibited at LACMA.
Producer
Ella Skye Klaerner
Ella Skye Klaerner is a film and television professional based in Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production from NYU Tisch. She was awarded the First Run Film Festival Producing Award for her work on an NYU thesis film and has supported a range of narrative and experiential independent projects from development through post-production. Her experience includes managing film sets of 100+ people as a producer and assistant director, overseeing production logistics under tight deadlines, negotiating vendor and location contracts, and contributing to story development and editorial execution. She aims to innovate upon filmmaking as a medium through experimentation, collaboration, and community.
Producer
Riley Greenbaun
Riley Greenbaun is an LA-based producer and director with an extensive background in narrative and experimental short filmmaking. A graduate of NYU with a BFA in Film & Television and recipient of both the Cohen Award and the Akhtar-Bhutta Award for Student Producers, Riley centers her work on uplifting female and Queer voices through visually compelling and inclusive storytelling.
Casting Director
Demetries Morrow
Demetries Morrow is a multidisciplinary creative and strategist who combines narrative design with physical movement. As an internal content strategist and culture storyteller at The New York Times, he transforms complex organizational information into clear, human-centric narratives for his colleagues. A lifelong dancer and choreographer, he views movement as a language for uncovering the emotional truths of a character or story. Serving as the project's Casting and Movement Director, he applies this perspective to build authentic worlds and guide nuanced performances on screen. He is dedicated to bridging strategic narrative with physical performance to craft resonant, high-impact storytelling.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Much like music, 9 uses organized pacing across time to convey the range of emotions that exist between “what was” and “what will be,” unfolding across 9 structural scenes.
The film opens on a winding mountain road at dawn that appears static until the sounds of the wind and a passing car infiltrate the moment. With each passing scene, the shots get longer and more still. At the heart of the film, time completely stretches out.
On a desolate beach, Yin and Yang appear as two complementary forces finding balance in a world outside of time. But liminal spaces are temporary, and an inevitable gravity pulls them apart, breaking the equilibrium.Once the illusion is shattered, and each remaining scene begins to get progressively shorter, the viewer is guided back into reality, leaving them exactly where they started yet completely changed.
Free of dialogue, this visual meditation relies on the weight of anticipation, leaving space for the audience to discover and feel their own emotions along the way.
9 is a personal reflection on the gravity of the in-between, and what I observed rather than resisted while in transition. At the intersection of intuition and spirituality, this non-narrative/nonlinear short film challenges the audience to confront the space between stillness and forward motion, while witnessing connection, loss, and transformation.
Last year, the number nine haunted me: I was 36, born in September, my astrological sun (core identity) and north node (karmic destiny) are in the 9th house (the realm of expansion). And in the 9th month of a “9” year, I was stuck...Like I was in the middle of a winding path and I couldn’t turn back, but had no idea what lay ahead. God was loud and clear on the what and why, but radio silent on the how.
So I decided to retrace my steps. First using my favorite dictionary (music), then using photos I took in Big Sur between 2020 and 2025, as well as test shots from never-realized projects, I was able to visualize how I wanted the story to be told.
If the only way out is through, then may 9 serve as a creative ecosystem to light the way: the playlist as the album, the visual meditation as the single, and (one day) the director’s cut will be the reprise.
Alchemy, suspension, structure, meditation, permanence, and observation.
9 will be shot on 16mm film, drawing on the pace of directors like Chantal Akerman while leaning into the natural settings and deliberate distances seen in works like Abbas Kiarostami.
By utilizing long takes, minimal camera movement, and intentional stillness, 9 takes an observational approach to storytelling where time itself becomes a character.
9 is a passion project for everyone involved. We’ve thoughtfully set a budget of $15,000 to complete this film, carefully planning how to bring this vision to life while making it accessible for both the team and the viewer. We are currently in pre-production stage and planning to shoot in September, followed by post production and picture lock no later than November.
Everything about this film is being approached with intentionality from who is apart of the team to which festivals it will be submitted to. We want this to be seen by those who can truly appreciate championing different approaches to storytelling and invite people to explore their own experiences with liminal space.
If we exceed our funding goal, the additional support will go to ensuring the crew is better compensated for their time and resources over the last year, while improving our production quality and potential for additional cuts of the film.
If we don't raise a minimum of 80% of our Seed&Spark goal, we won't receive any of our funding. Cash donations are tax deductible <3.
We can't do this with you!
PLEDGE to our campaign–every contribution, no matter the size, gets us closer to creating something meaningful and memorable.
SHARE & FOLLOW our Seed&Spark page (hit the little heart button at the top right of the page), and let your network know about what we're creating! Help us get closer to accessing things like film festival waivers, production gear, and so much more!
FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to the director's Substack for a deeper dive into how this project came to be, and BTS from our shoot in September!
Every interaction brings us closer to making this dream a reality—thank you for any/all support!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Travel+Accomodation Expenses
Costs $3,000
We're shooting between LA and Big Sur + some of the crew is NYC based! Help us fight back against the ever rising cost of travel!
Camera+Shooting Rentals
Costs $3,000
We're shooting on 16mm film and need all the right camera and lenses to really bring this story to life
Post Production Costs
Costs $5,000
Help us bring this project to the finish line with an amazing editing team including a colorist and sound designer.
Film Stock + Processing + Digitization
Costs $1,800
We're shooting this on 16mm film! Help us make sure we have all the film stock we need and can process at the highest quality.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Director
Tianna Howard
Tianna is a Brooklyn-based visual artist and creative director exploring the tension between identity and belonging through observational storytelling. Her photo work has been featured in publications such as Brooklyn Magazine (2020) and Harsh Collective Magazine (2024), as well as group exhibitions including SHEER Worldwide’s 'Unapologetically Here' Art Exhibit (2023), and ‘SHEERxHarsh Collective: A Perfect View (2024). After expanding her practice to moving images in 2024, she wrote and directed three interconnected music videos (Solo Trip) for an emerging artist. To her, observation is a privilege and often meditative. The result: reflections of what she discovered in moments of deep presence rather than survival.
Director of Photography
Tanisha Moreno
Tanisha is a Salvadoran/Honduran-American cinematographer whose work explores purpose, connection, culture, and identity. Her intentional approach blends contemporary art with narrative cinema, resulting in visuals that are both grounded and transcendent. Defined by poetic and dreamlike imagery, Tanisha's practice moves fluidly between narrative filmmaking, brand campaigns, and personal visual essays, often centering on the aesthetics of life and consciousness. Her films include Fuzzy Head (Slamdance Official Selection), Disney Launchpad's Project CC (NAACP award nominated, streaming on Disney+), and additional cinematography on Serious People (Sundance and Tribeca Official Selection, streaming on MUBI). Her commercial lens has shaped campaigns for clients including Netflix, Vogue, Nike, Ray-Ban, WNBA, Google, Air Jordan, EA Sports, and Delta; earning a nomination at the Tribeca X Awards for Best Commercial. Beyond the screen, Tanisha's visual practice extends into fine art. Her cinematography is behind American Artist's immersive installation The Monophobic Response, a two-channel film and sculptural installation inspired by Octavia E. Butler's Parable of the Sower, exhibited at LACMA.
Producer
Ella Skye Klaerner
Ella Skye Klaerner is a film and television professional based in Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production from NYU Tisch. She was awarded the First Run Film Festival Producing Award for her work on an NYU thesis film and has supported a range of narrative and experiential independent projects from development through post-production. Her experience includes managing film sets of 100+ people as a producer and assistant director, overseeing production logistics under tight deadlines, negotiating vendor and location contracts, and contributing to story development and editorial execution. She aims to innovate upon filmmaking as a medium through experimentation, collaboration, and community.
Producer
Riley Greenbaun
Riley Greenbaun is an LA-based producer and director with an extensive background in narrative and experimental short filmmaking. A graduate of NYU with a BFA in Film & Television and recipient of both the Cohen Award and the Akhtar-Bhutta Award for Student Producers, Riley centers her work on uplifting female and Queer voices through visually compelling and inclusive storytelling.
Casting Director
Demetries Morrow
Demetries Morrow is a multidisciplinary creative and strategist who combines narrative design with physical movement. As an internal content strategist and culture storyteller at The New York Times, he transforms complex organizational information into clear, human-centric narratives for his colleagues. A lifelong dancer and choreographer, he views movement as a language for uncovering the emotional truths of a character or story. Serving as the project's Casting and Movement Director, he applies this perspective to build authentic worlds and guide nuanced performances on screen. He is dedicated to bridging strategic narrative with physical performance to craft resonant, high-impact storytelling.