This film addresses eroticism, based on the writings of Audre Lorde, as a means for women to reclaim joy in their jobs, relationships and identities with the goal to combat symbolic and literal pornographic ideas of beauty and sensuality. It does so through a unique combination of film and dance.
This film addresses eroticism, based on the writings of Audre Lorde, as a means for women to reclaim joy in their jobs, relationships and identities with the goal to combat symbolic and literal pornographic ideas of beauty and sensuality. It does so through a unique combination of film and dance.
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Story
Mission Statement
The cast and crew are a diverse, multi-national group of women and men based in Atlanta, GA who are interested in creating nurturing depictions of women on screen to support the mental health of women in our current political and cultural climate.About The Project
SYNOPSIS (TOLD WITH THE HELP OF OUR VISUAL INSPIRATIONS)
The film opens on Psyche, a young woman stirred by the tender, powerful and erotic energy of
“Sanctuaries and Fortresses” - a live dance performance.
The following morning, she's called into her her dehumanizing desk job on her day off.
While on a smoke break, she notices a dancer from the night before.
Zephyr, “The Wind Goddess”, swoops Psyche away from her job and together they travel to the Blue Ridge Mountains, where the dance company gathers after their tour before returning to their home in Atlanta.
There, Psyche meets the rest of the dancers, “The Goddesses”, as well as Cupid, the distant and ethereal choreographer of the company.
“The Goddesses” take Psyche through a healing ritual, The Dance of a Thousand Robes,
preparing her for a choice: return home or follow the impulse of the newly unleashed erotic energy.
She decides to follow the dancers to their home-base in Atlanta and auditions for a spot in their company.
The Goddesses put her through a trial, a journey through the Underworld into darkness...
Before Cupid accepts her into the group with a Disco Duet.
Finally the film ends in a light filled home, full of dancers living, moving and breathing together.
The film addresses:
a. Eroticism, based on the writings of Audre Lorde, as a means for women to reclaim joy in their jobs, relationships and identities and to combat symbolic and literal ‘pornographic’ ideas of beauty and sensuality.
b. The importance of support for the mental health and outlook of women in our current political
and cultural climate through nurturing depictions of the dancers.c. The politicization of the female body through abstractions and depictions of menstruation and the shame and silence that oftentimes surrounds menstruation.
This film is an experiment in presenting choreography in a way that honors the choreography, without trying to replicate all of the nuances that are only possible in a live show. It is a child of the choreography, that supports the live work and maintains its independence as a stand alone work of art.
Incentives
$10
PERSONALIZED THANK YOU PHOTO
Every dollar counts! Thank you for your support. We will give you a big shout out on social media with a personalized digital postcard and an even bigger hug if we see you.
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 21 of 1000
$25
DIGITAL POSTER + CREDIT
We'll send you a DIGITAL POSTER for the film AND you get a CREDIT at the end of the movie!
Point at the screen in excitement. Take a photo and share it on instagram. Your name is gonna be in the credits.
- Credit
- Digital Poster
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 24 of 1000
$40
ATL PRIVATE SCREENING AND CREDITS
Attend the Private Screening in Atlanta! Stay for a Q&A, mingle with the cast crew, and see your name on the big screen listed under Special Thanks in the film’s credits. (Travel+Lodging not provided).
- ATL Private Screening
- Digital Poster
- Credit
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 1 of 1000
$40
NYC PRIVATE SCREENING AND CREDITS
Attend the Private Screening in NYC! Stay for a Q&A and see your name on the big screen listed under Special Thanks in the film’s credits. (Travel+Lodging not provided).
- NYC Private Screening
- Digital Poster
- Credit
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 5 of 1000
$50
PRIVATE LINK
Get to see the film anytime, anywhere, as soon as its completed, before it's made public (it may stay private for over a year after its finished as it travels the festival circuit).
- Private Link
- ATL/NYC Private Screening
- Digital Poster
- Credit
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 13 of 1000
$75
Photo Postcard
- A signed photo postcard of the cast.
- Private Link
- ATL/NYC Private Screening
- Credit
- Digital Poster
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 2 of 1000
$100
SIGNED SCREENPLAY
They say a movie is made 3 times - when it's written, when it's shot and when it's editted. Get your own signed copy of the original screen play! Show it off to your great-great-grandkids and say "I got one of the first ones".
- Signed Screenplay
- Private Link
- ATL/NYC Private Screening
- Credit
- Digital Poster
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 3 of 1000
$150
ORIGINAL PAINTING POSTCARD
Our writer/director Lev has been painting since early childhood. He will create a postcard sized painting for you of anything you'd like, of a photograph, or you can leave it up to his wild imagination!
- Painting Postcard
- Signed Screenplay
- Private Link
- ATL/NYC Private Screening
- Credit
- Digital Poster
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 1 of 1000
$200
"BEHIND THE SCENES" ZINE
A film like this takes months of preperation - and our director is a very visual thinker. His journals are full of cryptic diagrams and "poems", virutal collages of visual inspirations, and photographs of the process. Get a rare glimpse at all that goes into making a film like this a reality.
- BTS ZINE
- Painting Postcard
- Signed Screenplay
- Private Link
- ATL/NYC Private Screening
- Credit
- Digital Poster
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 1 of 1000
$300
BW FILM PHOTOGRAPH
Would you love a beautiful black and white film photograph of one of the incredible dancers on your wall? Shot and developed by Lev Omelchenko. (NOT THE PHOTOGRAPH ABOVE)
- A limited edition, B&W Photograph. Shot on film.
- BTS ZINE
- Painting Postcard
- Signed Screenplay
- Private Link
- ATL/NYC Private Screening
- Credit
- Digital Poster
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 1 of 10
$500
BW FILM PHOTOGRAPH - 3
BW FILM PHOTOGRAPH
Would you love a beautiful black and white film photograph of one of the incredible dancers on your wall? Would you like 3?Shot and developed by Lev Omelchenko. (NOT THE PHOTOGRAPH ABOVE)
- 3 limited edition, B&W Photographs. Shot on film.
- BTS ZINE
- Painting Postcard
- Signed Screenplay
- Private Link
- ATL/NYC Private Screening
- Credit
- Digital Poster
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 0 of 5
$1,000
Associate Producer Credit
Next time you're at a party, you can tell all your friends that you're a producer. Because you are. And you should feel good about it! You're helping making beautiful work, and you are supporting artists on their path. Thank you!
- A limited edition, B&W Photograph. Shot on film.
- BTS ZINE
- Painting Postcard
- Signed Screenplay
- Private Link
- ATL/NYC Private Screening
- Credit
- Digital Poster
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 0 of 10
$1,500
Executive Producer.
An Executive Producer Credit on Birth of Pleasure.
- A limited edition, B&W Photograph. Shot on film.
- BTS ZINE
- Painting Postcard
- Signed Screenplay
- Private Link
- ATL/NYC Private Screening
- Credit
- Digital Poster
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 0 of 5
-
Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
PERSONALIZED THANK YOU PHOTO
Every dollar counts! Thank you for your support. We will give you a big shout out on social media with a personalized digital postcard and an even bigger hug if we see you.
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 21 of 1000
$25
DIGITAL POSTER + CREDIT
We'll send you a DIGITAL POSTER for the film AND you get a CREDIT at the end of the movie!
Point at the screen in excitement. Take a photo and share it on instagram. Your name is gonna be in the credits.
- Credit
- Digital Poster
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 24 of 1000
$40
ATL PRIVATE SCREENING AND CREDITS
Attend the Private Screening in Atlanta! Stay for a Q&A, mingle with the cast crew, and see your name on the big screen listed under Special Thanks in the film’s credits. (Travel+Lodging not provided).
- ATL Private Screening
- Digital Poster
- Credit
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 1 of 1000
$40
NYC PRIVATE SCREENING AND CREDITS
Attend the Private Screening in NYC! Stay for a Q&A and see your name on the big screen listed under Special Thanks in the film’s credits. (Travel+Lodging not provided).
- NYC Private Screening
- Digital Poster
- Credit
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 5 of 1000
$50
PRIVATE LINK
Get to see the film anytime, anywhere, as soon as its completed, before it's made public (it may stay private for over a year after its finished as it travels the festival circuit).
- Private Link
- ATL/NYC Private Screening
- Digital Poster
- Credit
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 13 of 1000
$75
Photo Postcard
- A signed photo postcard of the cast.
- Private Link
- ATL/NYC Private Screening
- Credit
- Digital Poster
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 2 of 1000
$100
SIGNED SCREENPLAY
They say a movie is made 3 times - when it's written, when it's shot and when it's editted. Get your own signed copy of the original screen play! Show it off to your great-great-grandkids and say "I got one of the first ones".
- Signed Screenplay
- Private Link
- ATL/NYC Private Screening
- Credit
- Digital Poster
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 3 of 1000
$150
ORIGINAL PAINTING POSTCARD
Our writer/director Lev has been painting since early childhood. He will create a postcard sized painting for you of anything you'd like, of a photograph, or you can leave it up to his wild imagination!
- Painting Postcard
- Signed Screenplay
- Private Link
- ATL/NYC Private Screening
- Credit
- Digital Poster
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 1 of 1000
$200
"BEHIND THE SCENES" ZINE
A film like this takes months of preperation - and our director is a very visual thinker. His journals are full of cryptic diagrams and "poems", virutal collages of visual inspirations, and photographs of the process. Get a rare glimpse at all that goes into making a film like this a reality.
- BTS ZINE
- Painting Postcard
- Signed Screenplay
- Private Link
- ATL/NYC Private Screening
- Credit
- Digital Poster
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 1 of 1000
$300
BW FILM PHOTOGRAPH
Would you love a beautiful black and white film photograph of one of the incredible dancers on your wall? Shot and developed by Lev Omelchenko. (NOT THE PHOTOGRAPH ABOVE)
- A limited edition, B&W Photograph. Shot on film.
- BTS ZINE
- Painting Postcard
- Signed Screenplay
- Private Link
- ATL/NYC Private Screening
- Credit
- Digital Poster
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 1 of 10
$500
BW FILM PHOTOGRAPH - 3
BW FILM PHOTOGRAPH
Would you love a beautiful black and white film photograph of one of the incredible dancers on your wall? Would you like 3?Shot and developed by Lev Omelchenko. (NOT THE PHOTOGRAPH ABOVE)
- 3 limited edition, B&W Photographs. Shot on film.
- BTS ZINE
- Painting Postcard
- Signed Screenplay
- Private Link
- ATL/NYC Private Screening
- Credit
- Digital Poster
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 0 of 5
$1,000
Associate Producer Credit
Next time you're at a party, you can tell all your friends that you're a producer. Because you are. And you should feel good about it! You're helping making beautiful work, and you are supporting artists on their path. Thank you!
- A limited edition, B&W Photograph. Shot on film.
- BTS ZINE
- Painting Postcard
- Signed Screenplay
- Private Link
- ATL/NYC Private Screening
- Credit
- Digital Poster
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 0 of 10
$1,500
Executive Producer.
An Executive Producer Credit on Birth of Pleasure.
- A limited edition, B&W Photograph. Shot on film.
- BTS ZINE
- Painting Postcard
- Signed Screenplay
- Private Link
- ATL/NYC Private Screening
- Credit
- Digital Poster
- Social Media Postcard
Claimed: 0 of 5
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
Our team is a diverse and multi-national group of artists, creatives and performers based in Atlanta, GA.
CREW
Lev Omelchenko - Director
Lev is a Visual Artist born and raised in Ukraine, and currently based in Atlanta, GA. His film work is driven by collaborations with local artists and utilization of unusual and forgotten spaces. He plays with questions of modern rediscovery of ancient and sacred modes of existing, community vs individualism and the importance of diversity for imagination.
Anicka Austin - Choreographer
Anicka Austin is a performer & choreographer working from Atlanta, GA. She is invested in storytelling traditions and myth making as methods of inquiry. She is a 2015-18 Lucky Penny Work Room resident artist and a 2017-18 WonderRoot Walthall Fellow.
Amber L.N. Bournett - DP-
Amber is a military brat, artist, science fiction enthusiast, cinematographer, and director. She co-founded indie art film-house, House of June, with Ebony Blanding in 2013, while studying Film and video at Georgia State University. Her love of film began during the plastic Disney VHS Box Collection era. Initially visually expressing through oil paint and brushes since childhood, Bournett then a fine art painter, began studying as a cinematographer. Canvases soon transitioned to cameras through necessity and growth. A lack of representation of black existence in film called her to become a filmmaker and also curator of the cinematic arts.
Xenia Simos - Art Director
Xenia is an installation artist with a background in sculpture and design. She is born and raised in Greece, and a graduate of the University of Georgia with a bachelor of fine arts in interior design, her work explores space and our relationship to it. Through a conceptual and process-based approach, Simos translates the human experience into a spatial composition, manifesting mental structures into physical ones. Her works are often site specific, and interdisciplinary in medium.
Naomi Mack - Social Media
Naomi is a creator here in Atlanta dedicated to sharing the human experience through truth. Although she's been making a name for herself as an actress, she has always been passionate about film production as a whole. As an aspiring director, her goal as a storyteller is to capture moments of life and share these stories specifically through film and movement to enhance our quality of life and broaden perspectives.
Saira Raza -Mixing/Sound Design
Saira's work displays a wide range of musical influences including jazz, folk, electronic, and
classical. In her recordings, Saira employs any and all instruments within reach including
vibraphone, guitar, bass, dilruba, found sounds, synths, but she primarily performs with her first
love, the cello. Her album Inertia was included in Creative Loafing Atlanta’s 40 Best Albums of
2016. She recently released a new project Extempore, which reflects the experimental
loop-based style of her live solo sets.Chris Gravely - Composer
Music
Chris Gravely is an experienced Freelance Percussionist of 17 years. He has studied drum set,
hand drums, and classical percussion. Chris studied under the instruction of
various teachers such as John LaMattina, River Gueguerian, Michael Cebulski, Caleb Harron,
Stuart Gerber, and Charles Settle. As a soloist, Chris has performed two Concertos with the
Georgia Perimeter Wind Ensemble, and also premiered works by local Atlanta composers such
as Lowell Fuchs, Michael Standard, and his own piece entitled LIFE, which he premiered in
March of this year. Chris is also a teacher of percussion and drum set in the Atlanta area. -
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