Avowed
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, Shorts Program
We want to share the story of these unseen communities, and we need your help to do it. Our initial budget only went so far, so to complete the film we need to raise some more funds. Please help us shed light on the lives of nuns, patients, and caretakers in long-term facilities.
Avowed
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, Shorts Program
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $4,645 for post-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
64 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
We want to share the story of these unseen communities, and we need your help to do it. Our initial budget only went so far, so to complete the film we need to raise some more funds. Please help us shed light on the lives of nuns, patients, and caretakers in long-term facilities.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Story
Confronted with the reality of extreme disability, a young nun-to-be descends into a complex labyrinth of emotions when she cares for Robin, a patient whose severe cognitive disability renders communication impossible. As she tends to Robin, she questions whether God made a mistake. Troubled by her lack of ability to feel comfortable in Robin’s presence, and cast into despair by her doubts, she realizes the limitations of her perspective when she truly considers Robin for the first time. By the end of the film, Sister Giles discovers how to love people as they are, not as she imagines them to be; we hope that same message will be the take away for our audiences.
Impact
We’ve written a beautiful story about the intersection of three communities the public at large rarely considers: the cognitively disabled, care givers, and women who've taken religious vows. We want to present those communities with a film worthy of their experiences. “Avowed” is powerful enough that we were able to attract actors Ivonne Coll (Alba in “Jane the Virgin”, Yolanda in “The Godfather”) and Bryan Dilbeck (from the Farley Brothers’ comedies), and with the generosity of Panavision we were able to shoot on an Alexa (a top of the line professional camera).
What We Need
Finishing funds will allow us to edit and compose a final film worthy of the talent and effort that went into productions, and enable us to share the film across the country.
Sound Design and Mixing
Sound design and mixing are two of the most important processes a film can go through.
After the sound designer adds in sound effects and more to help flesh out the world at an audio-level, we go into mixing. The sound mix is a pass done to make sure all the audio levels are properly balanced and everything can be heard correctly. Because we want to have a festival run with this short, we also want to have it mixed at the 5.1 surround sound level. This is very time-intensive but ultimately creates an incredible film watching experience.
Music Composing
We will need money to record the music and get great samples.
Film Coloring
Color is an important pass for every movie. It allows us to create a consistent look and feel to the project. It also gives our film an incredibly powerful and professional style that helps tell the story.
Festival Fees
Submitting to film festivals is expensive, as is getting the necessary press materials together. Our goal with the short is to submit to festivals around the nation and we need finances in order to do that.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Colorist
Costs $1,000
Coloring our film will create harmony, or tension within a scene, or bring attention to key visual themes.
Sound Designer
Costs $1,000
Sound is so important, it's more than half our story. We need help to make the film feel the way it looks.
Theatre Screening
Costs $2,000
Our film is meant to be seen on the big screen.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Summera Howell (filmmaker & lead actress), an alumna of UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television, has spent her time since graduation as an award-winning actress and filmmaker, both on television shows such as American Horror Story and on the independent film festival circuit.
Chris Gebhardt (writer) is a writer/producer who also works as a technical and engineering reporter for NASASpaceflight.com. He serves as Chair of the Board for Florida High Schools Model United Nations, a 38-year-old education non-profit.
Sharif Matar (Producer) is an award-winning filmmaker with a strong production background; he currently works as a user experience and interaction designer, building interactive new media and digital products.
Madeline Berger (Cinematographer) , a recent Magna Cum Laude graduate of USC’s school of Film and Television Production, has joined the production as cinematographer.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Story
Confronted with the reality of extreme disability, a young nun-to-be descends into a complex labyrinth of emotions when she cares for Robin, a patient whose severe cognitive disability renders communication impossible. As she tends to Robin, she questions whether God made a mistake. Troubled by her lack of ability to feel comfortable in Robin’s presence, and cast into despair by her doubts, she realizes the limitations of her perspective when she truly considers Robin for the first time. By the end of the film, Sister Giles discovers how to love people as they are, not as she imagines them to be; we hope that same message will be the take away for our audiences.
Impact
We’ve written a beautiful story about the intersection of three communities the public at large rarely considers: the cognitively disabled, care givers, and women who've taken religious vows. We want to present those communities with a film worthy of their experiences. “Avowed” is powerful enough that we were able to attract actors Ivonne Coll (Alba in “Jane the Virgin”, Yolanda in “The Godfather”) and Bryan Dilbeck (from the Farley Brothers’ comedies), and with the generosity of Panavision we were able to shoot on an Alexa (a top of the line professional camera).
What We Need
Finishing funds will allow us to edit and compose a final film worthy of the talent and effort that went into productions, and enable us to share the film across the country.
Sound Design and Mixing
Sound design and mixing are two of the most important processes a film can go through.
After the sound designer adds in sound effects and more to help flesh out the world at an audio-level, we go into mixing. The sound mix is a pass done to make sure all the audio levels are properly balanced and everything can be heard correctly. Because we want to have a festival run with this short, we also want to have it mixed at the 5.1 surround sound level. This is very time-intensive but ultimately creates an incredible film watching experience.
Music Composing
We will need money to record the music and get great samples.
Film Coloring
Color is an important pass for every movie. It allows us to create a consistent look and feel to the project. It also gives our film an incredibly powerful and professional style that helps tell the story.
Festival Fees
Submitting to film festivals is expensive, as is getting the necessary press materials together. Our goal with the short is to submit to festivals around the nation and we need finances in order to do that.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Colorist
Costs $1,000
Coloring our film will create harmony, or tension within a scene, or bring attention to key visual themes.
Sound Designer
Costs $1,000
Sound is so important, it's more than half our story. We need help to make the film feel the way it looks.
Theatre Screening
Costs $2,000
Our film is meant to be seen on the big screen.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Summera Howell (filmmaker & lead actress), an alumna of UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television, has spent her time since graduation as an award-winning actress and filmmaker, both on television shows such as American Horror Story and on the independent film festival circuit.
Chris Gebhardt (writer) is a writer/producer who also works as a technical and engineering reporter for NASASpaceflight.com. He serves as Chair of the Board for Florida High Schools Model United Nations, a 38-year-old education non-profit.
Sharif Matar (Producer) is an award-winning filmmaker with a strong production background; he currently works as a user experience and interaction designer, building interactive new media and digital products.
Madeline Berger (Cinematographer) , a recent Magna Cum Laude graduate of USC’s school of Film and Television Production, has joined the production as cinematographer.