A Night Out
San Francisco, California | Film Short
Drama, LGBTQ
A Night Out is an intimate short film about a trans woman navigating desire, danger, and dignity in a single night—asking audiences to question how fear fractures intimacy.
A Night Out
San Francisco, California | Film Short
Drama, LGBTQ
2 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $4,170 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
66 supporters | followers
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A Night Out is an intimate short film about a trans woman navigating desire, danger, and dignity in a single night—asking audiences to question how fear fractures intimacy.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Characters
Claire
Growing up is never easy and Claire has had to do it twice. Once as what she was told to be, and now as who she actually is. But she has grown up, existing comfortably in between the active and passive gaze of others. Outside of this fragile perception is danger, a danger Claire wants to avoid at all costs. The shame of others bleeds into her self perception, a bad habit she’s beginning to fight. Tonight is not something foreign to her, she’s been out with her friends before. She’s of course had men approach her, but there’s something different about Marco. For just a moment she sees a world beyond tonight, maybe there’s something there.
Marco
Marco’s been sheltered. He’s grown up well, but lacks experience and understanding of difference. He has ideas about how he’s supposed to act as a man, things like “chivalry” resonate for him. There's a naiveness about him he would entirely deny but secretly knows to be true. He’s been
out many times before but he’s only now coming out of his shell.
Marie & Brad
Marie has known Claire for years, there’s an intuitive closeness, they tell each other everything. Marie is relentlessly supportive but able to nudge Claire when she needs it. She’s madly in love with Brad and observant in a way which takes people around her off guard. It’s easy for Brad to go with the flow, Marie does a lot for him. He’s disorganized in a way which is cute when you’re young but tiresome later on. But he’s a good man, open and kind hearted. He worries about Claire, not every guy is as understanding as he is.
Directors Statement
Like so many other trans people, I have often dreamt of invisibility. To exist between the perceptions of others unbothered and unjudged. There have of course been times in my life where I feel this normalcy, and yet even in this state there sits an undercurrent of anxiety. Is my voice too deep? Am I too tall in these heels? Is there any weakness in my armour where somebody else may perceive my transness? This paranoia feels amplified in spaces outside of queer bubbles, where the risk of discovery carries a more damaging set of consequences.
There is of course the other side, cis people discovering they have attraction to trans people is damaging to hegemonic transphobia. Perhaps it’s even humanizing. A Night Out, although brief, hopes to explore these themes from both a cis and trans perspective, deconstructing the barriers of intimacy which exist when worlds collide but understanding does not.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera Rental
Costs $500
$500 will be needed for our the rental of our camera package-completed with a lens kit, rigging, and monitors.
Grip & Electric
Costs $700
Rental costs for G&E gear to properly light our film!
Art Department & Wardrobe
Costs $250
Costs to cover props, set design, as well as costumes for our principal cast members.
Hair & Makeup
Costs $150
Costs to cover kit fees for Hair and Makeup
Locations
Costs $400
Costs to cover location fees for our Bar!
Catering & Craft Services
Costs $800
Catering costs to ensure our cast and crew are well nourished on set!
Insurance
Costs $500
Insurance to ensure that our set is covered!
Contingency
Costs $200
to cover any unpredicted costs that may arise!
Set Operations
Costs $500
Mileage reimbursements, production costs, and all else to make sure that our cast and crew is well looked after!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Brynn Casto
Writer & Director
Brynn Casto is a transgender Writer/Director who has worked in both the production and Lighting departments on independent shorts across the bay area. She attended University. California Santa Cruz with a bachelor's in philosophy, and was an editor at Kalopsia philosophy journal before attending City College of San Francisco. Her previous film Autumn, a coming of age transgender short, was selected for the Festival of the Moving image.
Nova Duarte Martinez
Executive Producer & Assistant Director
Nova Duarte Martinez is a producer, assistant director and writer/director working in the Bay Area. Born to a Brazilian immigrant and a New Jersey hitchhiker in Butte Alaska, her unusual upbringing provided her with the space to foster
her creative imagination as a storyteller. She enjoys the collaborative and communal aspect of filmmaking as a medium that brings various artists from all walks of life together.
Fiona Huynh
Line Producer
Fiona Huynh is a director and producer based in the Bay Area, beginning a new chapter after previously studying biology. As she transitions into filmmaking, Fiona is passionate about telling stories that reflect her experiences and heritage, focusing on creating more Asian American narratives rooted in the Bay Area. With a focus on directing, producing, and screenwriting, Fiona is excited to use her voice to elevate underrepresented stories in cinema.
Ian Anderson
Director of Photography
Ian Anderson works as a freelance cinematographer and gaffer. He shot "The Hazy Pink Door", which won "Best Film" at the 2024 Butte Film Festival, his narrative projects have screened in festivals across the bay. He has been in the camera and lighting department for shoots with Amazon, Google, Luxury Magazine, and Rivian.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Characters
Claire
Growing up is never easy and Claire has had to do it twice. Once as what she was told to be, and now as who she actually is. But she has grown up, existing comfortably in between the active and passive gaze of others. Outside of this fragile perception is danger, a danger Claire wants to avoid at all costs. The shame of others bleeds into her self perception, a bad habit she’s beginning to fight. Tonight is not something foreign to her, she’s been out with her friends before. She’s of course had men approach her, but there’s something different about Marco. For just a moment she sees a world beyond tonight, maybe there’s something there.
Marco
Marco’s been sheltered. He’s grown up well, but lacks experience and understanding of difference. He has ideas about how he’s supposed to act as a man, things like “chivalry” resonate for him. There's a naiveness about him he would entirely deny but secretly knows to be true. He’s been
out many times before but he’s only now coming out of his shell.
Marie & Brad
Marie has known Claire for years, there’s an intuitive closeness, they tell each other everything. Marie is relentlessly supportive but able to nudge Claire when she needs it. She’s madly in love with Brad and observant in a way which takes people around her off guard. It’s easy for Brad to go with the flow, Marie does a lot for him. He’s disorganized in a way which is cute when you’re young but tiresome later on. But he’s a good man, open and kind hearted. He worries about Claire, not every guy is as understanding as he is.
Directors Statement
Like so many other trans people, I have often dreamt of invisibility. To exist between the perceptions of others unbothered and unjudged. There have of course been times in my life where I feel this normalcy, and yet even in this state there sits an undercurrent of anxiety. Is my voice too deep? Am I too tall in these heels? Is there any weakness in my armour where somebody else may perceive my transness? This paranoia feels amplified in spaces outside of queer bubbles, where the risk of discovery carries a more damaging set of consequences.
There is of course the other side, cis people discovering they have attraction to trans people is damaging to hegemonic transphobia. Perhaps it’s even humanizing. A Night Out, although brief, hopes to explore these themes from both a cis and trans perspective, deconstructing the barriers of intimacy which exist when worlds collide but understanding does not.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera Rental
Costs $500
$500 will be needed for our the rental of our camera package-completed with a lens kit, rigging, and monitors.
Grip & Electric
Costs $700
Rental costs for G&E gear to properly light our film!
Art Department & Wardrobe
Costs $250
Costs to cover props, set design, as well as costumes for our principal cast members.
Hair & Makeup
Costs $150
Costs to cover kit fees for Hair and Makeup
Locations
Costs $400
Costs to cover location fees for our Bar!
Catering & Craft Services
Costs $800
Catering costs to ensure our cast and crew are well nourished on set!
Insurance
Costs $500
Insurance to ensure that our set is covered!
Contingency
Costs $200
to cover any unpredicted costs that may arise!
Set Operations
Costs $500
Mileage reimbursements, production costs, and all else to make sure that our cast and crew is well looked after!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Brynn Casto
Writer & Director
Brynn Casto is a transgender Writer/Director who has worked in both the production and Lighting departments on independent shorts across the bay area. She attended University. California Santa Cruz with a bachelor's in philosophy, and was an editor at Kalopsia philosophy journal before attending City College of San Francisco. Her previous film Autumn, a coming of age transgender short, was selected for the Festival of the Moving image.
Nova Duarte Martinez
Executive Producer & Assistant Director
Nova Duarte Martinez is a producer, assistant director and writer/director working in the Bay Area. Born to a Brazilian immigrant and a New Jersey hitchhiker in Butte Alaska, her unusual upbringing provided her with the space to foster
her creative imagination as a storyteller. She enjoys the collaborative and communal aspect of filmmaking as a medium that brings various artists from all walks of life together.
Fiona Huynh
Line Producer
Fiona Huynh is a director and producer based in the Bay Area, beginning a new chapter after previously studying biology. As she transitions into filmmaking, Fiona is passionate about telling stories that reflect her experiences and heritage, focusing on creating more Asian American narratives rooted in the Bay Area. With a focus on directing, producing, and screenwriting, Fiona is excited to use her voice to elevate underrepresented stories in cinema.
Ian Anderson
Director of Photography
Ian Anderson works as a freelance cinematographer and gaffer. He shot "The Hazy Pink Door", which won "Best Film" at the 2024 Butte Film Festival, his narrative projects have screened in festivals across the bay. He has been in the camera and lighting department for shoots with Amazon, Google, Luxury Magazine, and Rivian.