Born To Be follows Alik, a young Ukrainian immigrant with an obsessive love for music, on a coming-of-age odyssey through the various microcosms of New York City. After the death of their father, Alik and his older brother, Mika, end up displaced and working for their uncle Ivan’s plumbing business. A freak accident sends Alik on a journey, where he meets an eccentric older man named Frank. After this seemingly harmless encounter takes a dark turn, Alik must decide what he is willing to give up to obtain his destiny.

Born to Be is my story. It first originated as a whisper of an idea, almost a year ago. Like most of my scripts, the first spark came from a real moment in my life that burned just bright enough to stand out from amongst the rest. Since that moment, it has been developing in the background of my mind, evolving and morphing in tandem with my own lived experiences.

This being said, it took me eight months to put the first words on the script page. Without any expectations of what it needed to become, the story and its characters had time to collect the little bits and bobs that live between the couch cushions of my psyche. This allowed the story to truly become something much more personal than I could have ever imagined.

It explores themes of masculinity and brotherhood, influenced by my own relationships with my father and brothers. It navigates loss and loneliness, pulling from my own experience dealing with grief in a place far from home. It throws itself into the ring with themes like sexuality, purpose, love, art, and human connection. I was able to examine these elements, many for the first time, while still staying true to my sense of self and voice as a writer.

I believe that if you want your audience to believe your depiction of real life, you need to write your truth. My truth is as follows: life is funny, life is tragic, but above all else, life is absurd. I hope to capture the beautiful twisted absurdity of life in this film.

Born To Be is set in present-day New York City. The ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia is a crucial element of the story, as this conflict is at the root of various themes throughout the film, such as grief and isolation, while also indirectly informing themes such as masculinity, sexuality, and brotherhood. These themes are instrumental for creating the unique interpersonal dynamics present in the film. Each section of the story exists solely through interiors as a way of exploring the city from the inside out. Each space is its own world, shaped and molded by its inhabitants. Microcosms that dot the night skyline like stars. The intrusion into these personal spaces allows the audience a deeper look into the interiority of the occupant. The subsequent contrasts of these spaces mirror the divisions of class, power, and identity that are pervasive throughout not only the city, but the world as a whole.

Born to Be is crowdfunding $15,000 which, alongside funding we've already sourced, will cover the remaining costs of production. The biggest chunk at $5,000 goes toward shooting locations, because finding the right backdrop is everything when visuals are at the heart of the story. Close behind is production design and hair & makeup at $2,600, the departments responsible for crafting the world audiences will actually see on screen.

Camera equipment comes in at $1,900, because great visuals don't shoot themselves. We're also setting aside $1,400 to keep cast and crew well-fed across four shoot days, since good food and long days go hand in hand. Our props budget of $1,000 covers some standout pieces, taxidermy animals included, because yes, this film goes there. Getting everyone to and from set will run $800 in transportation, and the final $2,300 is earmarked for post-production, where all the magic gets tied together.