On the day before Leah’s wedding, as the past resurfaces, Leah is forced to confront the fragile nature of memory. What she once accepted as truth begins to shift, leaving her suspended between the life she is about to begin and a love she may have misunderstood.

Alter is an intimate portrait of love, regret, and the quiet terror of realizing that the past may not be what we thought.

My name is Amelia Hensley, creator of Alter, and I am a Deaf artist, actor, and writer with more than a decade of experience in theatre and film.

For much of my career, I have found myself serving as a Deaf advocate in rooms where I longed to be seen simply as an artist. Too often, hearing-led productions exclude Deaf artists from the creative process, leading to misunderstanding and reinforcing the idea that our stories must be carried through a hearing voice as if we cannot exist independently.

As a storyteller, I am drawn to the emotional conflicts and human complexity of characters, rather than defining them solely by Deafness.

Photo: Amelia Hensley in Chicken (short film)

Click here to watch Chicken

Photo: Amelia Hensley in Hamburger Airplane (short film)

Click here to watch Hamburger Airplane

Alter explores the fragile stories we construct to make sense of heartbreak. Most of us experience this more than once. We learn to move forward by assigning blame, creating certainty, and letting go. But we never forget what was like.

In my own life, I have lived with unanswered questions and the absence of closure. My relationship with my father was strained throughout my childhood, and for years I chose to stop contact. I later learned he had been trying to protect me while navigating an abusive relationship. What I carried for so long was not the full story.

In that realization, I found myself wrestling with guilt and wondering if I could have done more questioning what those years of distance had meant.

Photo: Amelia and her father

From that experience emerged Leah, the heart of Alter, a woman overwhelmed by truth on the day before her wedding, unsure how to move forward.

At a time when opportunities in film and theatre are shrinking, Deaf artists face even fewer pathways to be included in the creative process. When access disappears, voices risk disappearing with it.

In nearly a century of Academy Awards, only two Deaf performers have won acting Oscars in 1987 and 2022 and CODA became the first film centered on Deaf experience to win Best Picture. 

It took 35 years between Deaf acting Oscar wins. We cannot afford to wait another 35.

Creating Alter now is an act of visibility and continuity, not only for myself, but for the many Deaf artists I have met whose talent and perspective deserve to be seen.

Alter is an intimate psychological drama told through visual stillness, emotional restraint, and atmospheric tension. The camera lingers in quiet moments, allowing silence, gesture, and presence to carry emotional weight where truth is not spoken, but felt.

Throughout the film, subtle visual and emotional repetitions create rhythm and resonance, echoing memory and longing. This approach draws inspiration from works such as The Summer I Turned Pretty, All Too Well, and Normal People, where recurring moments deepen emotional impact rather than rely on dialogue.

The tone is quiet, grounded, and emotionally immersive, inviting the audience to sit in discomfort, empathy, and unresolved tension alongside the characters.

When I first read this story, I was struck by how honest it felt. Alter explores that complicated moment when love from the past collides with the life you’ve carefully built for yourself.

As a Deaf director, I’m drawn to stories that trust quiet moments and emotional truth. So often Deaf characters are explained to the audience, but with Alter, we simply get to exist as full, complex humans navigating love, history, and choice.

What excites me most about directing this film is creating an intimate experience where the audience can sit in those quiet tensions.. the pauses, the memories, the things that remain unsaid.

By the end, I hope viewers walk away reflecting on the courage it takes to choose the life that’s truly meant for you.

Visit the link to meet the amazing creative team behind the project.

Alter is currently in pre-production. Casting is underway, dates are set, locations are being secured, and our creative team is preparing to bring this intimate story to life.

Your support will help move the film from development into production.

Production Timeline

Rehearsal/Meeting: Feb-April 2026

Filming: April 12–16, 2026 at Los Angeles

Post-Production: May 2026

Festival Submissions: June 2026

Funds raised will directly support production expenses including cast, crew, interpreters, locations, camera, lighting, and essential equipment. Please visit our wishlist for a detailed breakdown of costs based on our $15,000 goal.

This goal focuses on production needs and does not fully cover post-production editing, sound design, or festival submissions. It also means our team is working for reduced rates.

I am deeply grateful to the artists and collaborators who are bringing their talent and dedication to this project. If we surpass our goal, additional funds will go toward fairer compensation and completing the film at the highest possible standard.

Meeting our initial goal will allow us to pay our team fairly and produce the film at a high standard. If we exceed that goal, we will unlock stretch goals that elevate Alter even further.

Here’s how your support makes an impact:

$15,000 😊😊😊

Covers essential production needs, including cast, crew, interpreters, equipment, meals, and locations.

$20,000 (STRETCH GOAL) 😄😄😄😄😄😄

Allows us to enhance production quality through upgraded camera lenses, expanded production design, and compensated rehearsal time for actors.

$25,000–$30,000 (FULL STRETCH GOAL) 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

Funds post-production, including editing, sound mixing, and color grading, while also supporting marketing and festival submissions.

Reaching $30,000 will allow us to support pre-production, production, and post-production, ensuring the film is completed and presented at the highest possible level.

DONATING - Give what you can, every contribution brings Alter closer to completion. Visit our incentives to find the option that feels right for you. I promise, it’s the fun part! Or you can explore our wishlist to support specific items that match your contribution.

SHARING - Please share our Seed and Spark page with friends, family, and your community. Sharing helps this story reach beyond our immediate circle.

FOLLOWING - Stay up to date by following our Seed and Spark Campaign, and on Instagram at @ameliaxhensley and @theignitecreative

SPONSOR THE FILM - We are seeking partnerships with brands, companies, and individuals who are passionate about supporting this project and its mission! Email us! - [email protected]

If this story speaks to you, follow the journey, share it, and pledge. We’ve waited 35 years. Let’s not wait another.

With gratitude,

Amelia Hensley

Creator of Alter