Awkward Goodbyes
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Romantic Comedy
Two wildly chaotic lovers, Isla and Veer, buy a scratch ticket just two weeks into their whirlwind romance. With Veer’s flight to India hours away, their impulsive fling turns into a ticking time bomb where love, luck, and a whole lot of baggage collide in one messy goodbye.
Awkward Goodbyes
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Romantic Comedy
1 Campaigns |
17 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$2,115
Goal: $3,125 for production phase 2
Two wildly chaotic lovers, Isla and Veer, buy a scratch ticket just two weeks into their whirlwind romance. With Veer’s flight to India hours away, their impulsive fling turns into a ticking time bomb where love, luck, and a whole lot of baggage collide in one messy goodbye.
Participating In
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Awkward Goodbyes Crowdfunding Campaign 2.0
We're so grateful for the incredible support we received during our last Seed&Spark campaign. Thanks to you, we raised over $16,000 to bring this film to life — and we’re so proud of the momentum we've built. Through this campaign, we have hired a full & diverse cast and crew, secured locations, and are on target to finish shooting by the end of June.
We’re now launching a second campaign as part of the AAPI Renaissance Rally — a national initiative from Seed&Spark and Gold House that celebrates subversive, non stereotypical Asian American characters and filmmaking.
This isn’t just another fundraiser. This rally can help us win up to $10,000 in funding - but more importantly, it could bring our film to the next level with a chance to earn a spot in the Gold House Futures Network (Gold House has backed many of the most prominent AAPI films that you may know) and the chance to pitch our project at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
The money from this campaign will go to:
- An original song that captures the emotional core of our story
- Enhancing our set design for a more immersive film
- Covering marketing, rehearsal spaces, additional crew, and post-production initiatives
Being part of this rally means standing with filmmakers who are expanding what AAPI stories can look like. Stories that break molds, defy expectations, and create new spaces.
With your help, we can finish strong and help this film reach the audiences who need it most.
Now - back to Awkward Goodbyes….
Isla and Veer, two lovestruck adults caught in a whirlwind romance, buy a lottery ticket on the day Veer is supposed to return to India..
Our Philosophy
How many movies do you know with underrepresented minorities that aren’t specifically centered around them being underrepresented minorities?
This is not the same for white, cis-characters… they get to just be…
By focusing on someone’s cultural identity (or their gender, sexuality, and other forms of identity) we continue to center dominant identities - in this case whiteness (or being male, cisgender, heterosexual, etc). While stories directly centering forms of identity are vital and some of our favorites..there need to be stories where identity can just be.
Vertical stories provide an in-depth look into cultural experiences (A Nice Indian Boy, Crazy Rich Asians, Moonlight, Minari). Horizontal stories incorporate characters into stories of daily life without overt cues or a sole focus on their ethnicity/cultural background. Backgrounds exist naturally and are not highlighted for narrative weight. Less is more!
Vertical stories are vital and some of the best movies out there…but they are the majority. Established research in media tell us that both are needed and WANTED by all types of audiences.
How many movies do you know where women are not simply oversexualized, jailbait, crazy, or, on the flip side, “empowered” by way of substituting them in for male roles…but still…sexy…?
Or where an Asian character is not a nerd, cab driver, martial artist, or convenience store owner?
Identity goes beyond binary categories. It is nuanced and complex. Intersectionality brings together all of an individual’s unique identities and all of the things that shape that individual from race to gender to things we wouldn't normally think of, like loving to cook or having a parent with mental health issues.
This brings us to Awkward Goodbyes - A horizontal story, an intersectional story, a story that subverts tropes..but most of all...a story about what it means to be human and in love…
The Awkward Goodbyes Story
After meeting by chance only two weeks ago, Isla and Veer are head over heels for each other. But there's one catch...Veer is from India, and in less than 12 hours he is flying home.
High on love and desperate to hold onto the moment, the two buy a lottery ticket hours before Veer's departure home in hopes fate will find a way to keep them together. Luck is on their side until the lighthearted game of chance spirals into something deeper, laying bare expectations, fears and emotional baggage.
Riddled with selfish tendencies, poorly evolved coping habits, and unhinged expectations, Isla and Veer are forced to confront their messy truths in this raw, darkly funny and emotionally charged story that examines our illusions around love.
Inspiration
We are inspired to make this film because we want to explore society's obsession with fast-tracked connection and the impact it has had on all of us. With the popularization of shows like Love Is Blind, 90 Day Fiance and The Bachelorette, what affect has normalizing quick connections had on modern relationships? Have we unknowingly created a pressure cooker of emotions that hinges on hope and sets us up for disappointment?
Through their absurd and heartbreaking descent, we aim to warn viewers of the unstable nature of rushed connections and inspire them to address their own potential drama within.
How did we get here? And more importantly—where do we go from here?
Multidimensional Characters
In a world where underrepresented minorities and genders are too often portrayed monolithically, we are proud that our film's novel and subversive characters are simply human.
This isn’t a story about being South Asian, or Italian, or an immigrant, or being a woman, or being a man. It’s about all of those things. But it’s also story about being human—messy, flawed, vulnerable. Culture adds texture and context - it exists organically within the story and characters.
We’re not spotlighting identity. We’re telling the truth, and identity comes along for the ride. Which sometimes speaks louder than being in the spotlight.
Making it Happen!
With your help we can assemble a team of talented, passionate film professionals who are capable of bringing our vision to life.
This story lives in a world that’s a little off-kilter, vapid, airy, and just unstable enough to feel like a dream you can’t quite shake. To capture that feeling, we’re building a stylized visual world that heightens reality in subtle, surreal ways. That takes time, effort, and yes, capital.
Once filming wraps, we’ll move into the editing phase, where the polishing and perfecting of the film happens. Things like coloring, sound editing and music will play a huge role in elevating the film to something truly special.
Then, it's time to roll out the red carpet! Once filming is completed, we’ll begin our campaign to get it into top festivals like Tribeca, Toronto, Sundance, and Cannes— where stories like ours can reach global audiences – breaking barriers and opening doors for the entire team. This will require further campaigning and marketing efforts.
As a team our biggest priority is creating what we want, what we feel inspired to do and what feels fun. Having witnessed the fallout of the commodification of film as an art we are driven more than ever to stay true to our visions for the long run.
By supporting this project, you are directly influencing a massive creative effort that is nothing short of magic. Thank you for your support, your faith in our team and in independent film!
The AAPI Renaissance Rally
Again, we are so excited to be participating in the AAPI Renaissance Rally, a competition through Seed and Spark and Gold House that gives us the opportunity to pitch our project to Gold House Entertainment, match up to $10,000 in funding, and earn a spot at the Toronto Film Festival. We just have to raise $2,500 and 350 folowers of this campaign!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Additional Funds for Cinematographer
Costs $100
If you've ever thought, "that looked so cool" watching a movie, you have the DP to thank. DP's ensure clean footage and set overall tone.
Set Design
Costs $525
We hope to create a visual environment that reflects Isla and Veer's vibes in a New York City landscape.
First AD and Line Producer
Costs $1,200
We want bring our story to life during the filming process! A talented AD will help us make sure we are on track when the going gets tough!
Share this update!
About This Team
Director/Writer: Allie Guerrero
Producer/Art: Divya Chhabra
An actor turned writer and director, Allie Guerrero is inspired to create visual stories that explore the duality of the human experience. Her work aims to reveal the dirty, raw, sometimes ugly, and quite often, shocking drama people encounter every day. More acceptance, grace and kindness among all is her greatest motivation. She is an award winning screenwriter and isn’t afraid to take risks. A psychiatrist and therapist by trade, Divya Chhabra interacts daily with humans from all walks of life. She infuses her extensive knowledge of attachment, relationships, and human behavior and her exposure to countless raw, real, unadulterated stories to create films with fresh and authentic perspectives and complex, nuanced characters. She also does DEI consulting for media companies, including being part of a team at Nickelodeon that researched horizontal and vertical storytelling.
Coming from different backgrounds and fields, Allie’s and Divya’s skills and ideas complement one another, taking their art to a place they couldn’t have on their own. Allie and Divya are the dream team!
Director of Photography: Isaac Berner
Assistant Director: Keya Saxena
Sound Mixer: Callie Chen Schultz
Line Producer: Rohita Gedala
Female Lead: Diletta Guglielmi
Male Lead: Niraj Arjan
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Awkward Goodbyes Crowdfunding Campaign 2.0
We're so grateful for the incredible support we received during our last Seed&Spark campaign. Thanks to you, we raised over $16,000 to bring this film to life — and we’re so proud of the momentum we've built. Through this campaign, we have hired a full & diverse cast and crew, secured locations, and are on target to finish shooting by the end of June.
We’re now launching a second campaign as part of the AAPI Renaissance Rally — a national initiative from Seed&Spark and Gold House that celebrates subversive, non stereotypical Asian American characters and filmmaking.
This isn’t just another fundraiser. This rally can help us win up to $10,000 in funding - but more importantly, it could bring our film to the next level with a chance to earn a spot in the Gold House Futures Network (Gold House has backed many of the most prominent AAPI films that you may know) and the chance to pitch our project at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
The money from this campaign will go to:
- An original song that captures the emotional core of our story
- Enhancing our set design for a more immersive film
- Covering marketing, rehearsal spaces, additional crew, and post-production initiatives
Being part of this rally means standing with filmmakers who are expanding what AAPI stories can look like. Stories that break molds, defy expectations, and create new spaces.
With your help, we can finish strong and help this film reach the audiences who need it most.
Now - back to Awkward Goodbyes….
Isla and Veer, two lovestruck adults caught in a whirlwind romance, buy a lottery ticket on the day Veer is supposed to return to India..
Our Philosophy
How many movies do you know with underrepresented minorities that aren’t specifically centered around them being underrepresented minorities?
This is not the same for white, cis-characters… they get to just be…
By focusing on someone’s cultural identity (or their gender, sexuality, and other forms of identity) we continue to center dominant identities - in this case whiteness (or being male, cisgender, heterosexual, etc). While stories directly centering forms of identity are vital and some of our favorites..there need to be stories where identity can just be.
Vertical stories provide an in-depth look into cultural experiences (A Nice Indian Boy, Crazy Rich Asians, Moonlight, Minari). Horizontal stories incorporate characters into stories of daily life without overt cues or a sole focus on their ethnicity/cultural background. Backgrounds exist naturally and are not highlighted for narrative weight. Less is more!
Vertical stories are vital and some of the best movies out there…but they are the majority. Established research in media tell us that both are needed and WANTED by all types of audiences.
How many movies do you know where women are not simply oversexualized, jailbait, crazy, or, on the flip side, “empowered” by way of substituting them in for male roles…but still…sexy…?
Or where an Asian character is not a nerd, cab driver, martial artist, or convenience store owner?
Identity goes beyond binary categories. It is nuanced and complex. Intersectionality brings together all of an individual’s unique identities and all of the things that shape that individual from race to gender to things we wouldn't normally think of, like loving to cook or having a parent with mental health issues.
This brings us to Awkward Goodbyes - A horizontal story, an intersectional story, a story that subverts tropes..but most of all...a story about what it means to be human and in love…
The Awkward Goodbyes Story
After meeting by chance only two weeks ago, Isla and Veer are head over heels for each other. But there's one catch...Veer is from India, and in less than 12 hours he is flying home.
High on love and desperate to hold onto the moment, the two buy a lottery ticket hours before Veer's departure home in hopes fate will find a way to keep them together. Luck is on their side until the lighthearted game of chance spirals into something deeper, laying bare expectations, fears and emotional baggage.
Riddled with selfish tendencies, poorly evolved coping habits, and unhinged expectations, Isla and Veer are forced to confront their messy truths in this raw, darkly funny and emotionally charged story that examines our illusions around love.
Inspiration
We are inspired to make this film because we want to explore society's obsession with fast-tracked connection and the impact it has had on all of us. With the popularization of shows like Love Is Blind, 90 Day Fiance and The Bachelorette, what affect has normalizing quick connections had on modern relationships? Have we unknowingly created a pressure cooker of emotions that hinges on hope and sets us up for disappointment?
Through their absurd and heartbreaking descent, we aim to warn viewers of the unstable nature of rushed connections and inspire them to address their own potential drama within.
How did we get here? And more importantly—where do we go from here?
Multidimensional Characters
In a world where underrepresented minorities and genders are too often portrayed monolithically, we are proud that our film's novel and subversive characters are simply human.
This isn’t a story about being South Asian, or Italian, or an immigrant, or being a woman, or being a man. It’s about all of those things. But it’s also story about being human—messy, flawed, vulnerable. Culture adds texture and context - it exists organically within the story and characters.
We’re not spotlighting identity. We’re telling the truth, and identity comes along for the ride. Which sometimes speaks louder than being in the spotlight.
Making it Happen!
With your help we can assemble a team of talented, passionate film professionals who are capable of bringing our vision to life.
This story lives in a world that’s a little off-kilter, vapid, airy, and just unstable enough to feel like a dream you can’t quite shake. To capture that feeling, we’re building a stylized visual world that heightens reality in subtle, surreal ways. That takes time, effort, and yes, capital.
Once filming wraps, we’ll move into the editing phase, where the polishing and perfecting of the film happens. Things like coloring, sound editing and music will play a huge role in elevating the film to something truly special.
Then, it's time to roll out the red carpet! Once filming is completed, we’ll begin our campaign to get it into top festivals like Tribeca, Toronto, Sundance, and Cannes— where stories like ours can reach global audiences – breaking barriers and opening doors for the entire team. This will require further campaigning and marketing efforts.
As a team our biggest priority is creating what we want, what we feel inspired to do and what feels fun. Having witnessed the fallout of the commodification of film as an art we are driven more than ever to stay true to our visions for the long run.
By supporting this project, you are directly influencing a massive creative effort that is nothing short of magic. Thank you for your support, your faith in our team and in independent film!
The AAPI Renaissance Rally
Again, we are so excited to be participating in the AAPI Renaissance Rally, a competition through Seed and Spark and Gold House that gives us the opportunity to pitch our project to Gold House Entertainment, match up to $10,000 in funding, and earn a spot at the Toronto Film Festival. We just have to raise $2,500 and 350 folowers of this campaign!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Additional Funds for Cinematographer
Costs $100
If you've ever thought, "that looked so cool" watching a movie, you have the DP to thank. DP's ensure clean footage and set overall tone.
Set Design
Costs $525
We hope to create a visual environment that reflects Isla and Veer's vibes in a New York City landscape.
First AD and Line Producer
Costs $1,200
We want bring our story to life during the filming process! A talented AD will help us make sure we are on track when the going gets tough!
Share this update!
About This Team
Director/Writer: Allie Guerrero
Producer/Art: Divya Chhabra
An actor turned writer and director, Allie Guerrero is inspired to create visual stories that explore the duality of the human experience. Her work aims to reveal the dirty, raw, sometimes ugly, and quite often, shocking drama people encounter every day. More acceptance, grace and kindness among all is her greatest motivation. She is an award winning screenwriter and isn’t afraid to take risks. A psychiatrist and therapist by trade, Divya Chhabra interacts daily with humans from all walks of life. She infuses her extensive knowledge of attachment, relationships, and human behavior and her exposure to countless raw, real, unadulterated stories to create films with fresh and authentic perspectives and complex, nuanced characters. She also does DEI consulting for media companies, including being part of a team at Nickelodeon that researched horizontal and vertical storytelling.
Coming from different backgrounds and fields, Allie’s and Divya’s skills and ideas complement one another, taking their art to a place they couldn’t have on their own. Allie and Divya are the dream team!
Director of Photography: Isaac Berner
Assistant Director: Keya Saxena
Sound Mixer: Callie Chen Schultz
Line Producer: Rohita Gedala
Female Lead: Diletta Guglielmi
Male Lead: Niraj Arjan