Breaking Fast with a Coca Cola
New York City, New York | Film Short
Comedy
After growing up in the secular households of their Turkish immigrant parents in the Midwest, Özlem and Ada are desperate to celebrate a tradition of their own. Together, they embark on a day of fasting and feasting for Ramadan and embrace their cultural differences along the way.
Breaking Fast with a Coca Cola
New York City, New York | Film Short
Comedy
Green Light
This campaign raised $17,245 for pre-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
105 supporters | followers
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After growing up in the secular households of their Turkish immigrant parents in the Midwest, Özlem and Ada are desperate to celebrate a tradition of their own. Together, they embark on a day of fasting and feasting for Ramadan and embrace their cultural differences along the way.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Story:
Inspired by a true story, BREAKING FAST WITH A COCA COLA is a coming of age comedy that follows two Turkish American teenagers, Özlem and Ada, who decide to fast for Ramadan for the first time. Living in an ethnically and religiously homogeneous Midwestern suburb, Özlem and Ada long for community and desperately want to celebrate a tradition of their own.
The twist is that they have to hide their practice from their parents. Afraid of religious persecution in America, Özlem and Ada's parents left their practices behind in Istanbul and raised their daughters in a secular household. So, through strategic planning and a few hiccups along the way, Özlem and Ada successfully maneuver around their parents and grumbling stomachs to make it through a day of fasting and evening of feasting....on the food they know best - American fast food.
Tonally, this film will be in the vein of BOOKSMART and LADYBIRD with Turkish references sprinkled throughout. Funny and quirky but also sentimental at its core; it’s about yearning to be a part of something meaningful and the friendships you strengthen along the way.
Financing Plan:
BREAKING FAST WITH A COCA COLA is a recipient of Wavelength Productions' Wave Grant, which awards a $5,000 grant to BIPOC, first time female filmmakers to create their first short film alongside production mentorship from Wavelength’s executive team.
Leveraging the support of Wavelength and our extensive network of talented crew members, we'll be able to apply your generous donations towards covering the remaining costs for items such as: (i) renting the most advanced camera equipment; (ii) decorating our Turkish set to feel as authentic and familiar as the homes of your aunties; and (iii) casting two top-tier Turkish-American actresses to fill the sabahs of Ada and Özlem. For a more detailed breakdown of our budget needs and how you can specifically contribute, check out the "Wishlist" tab.
Timeline:
March-May 2022 - Pre- Production
We will spend this time attaching all of our elements (e.g. cast and crew) in preparation for production.
June 2022 - Production
We will shoot BREAKING FAST WITH A COCA COLA in mid- June in the New York Metropolitan area.
June- August 2022 - Post Production
We will collaborate with a skilled post production team to finalize the film for festival submissions.
September - December 2022 - Festival Submissions
The film will be submitted to top tier film festivals domestically (e.g. Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, Telluride, TIFF) and internationally (e.g. Cannes, Berlin, Venice, BFI) for maximum industry exposure.
Festival / Distribution Plan:
The goal is to submit this to as many festivals as possible to maximize exposure and impact. Many festivals are specifically looking for compelling, untold stories, making BREAKING FAST WITH A COCA COLA a strong contender. By investing in this short, you will provide us the opportunity to share this story with a larger audience and help us with our goal of expanding it into a feature film.
Our producers have had films accepted into festivals all over the world - with their latest shorts premiering at South by Southwest. They have extensive contacts at many of the top festivals and plan to leverage those relationships to make sure this project is seen by the gatekeepers and tastemakers.
Why You Should Donate:
Our goal is to secure financing so we can hire the rest of our cast/crew, lock our location in upstate New York and produce the best version of this film. Hiring a diverse cast/ crew is essential for our production and is at the core of our story. Stories like these are rare in mainstream media; that’s why we need your help to give them a platform. By investing in BREAKING FAST WITH A COCA COLA, you are creating opportunities for filmmakers from historically underrepresented backgrounds. Your contribution is directly creating a more diverse and egalitarian Hollywood.
Other Ways You Can Help:
If you aren't able to donate, there are still ways to help!
Follow and share our Instagram Page - @breakingfastwithacocacolafilm
Please share this page far and wide- maybe somebody you know would be interested in contributing!
Thank you all so much and let’s make a great movie!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Suburban House
Costs $1,000
Complimentary access to a NY area suburban home (foyer, kitchen, dining room, bedroom) for 2 days.
Car / Van
Costs $500
Access to a van/ car for 2-3 days to help transport equipment/ props and cast/ crew to set.
Talent Fees
Costs $2,000
Help us cast top tier talent by contributing to our talent pool.
Music Licensing
Costs $1,500
Help us license Altın Gün's music to make our film as authentic as possible.
Post - Production Fees
Costs $2,000
Help us hire a skilled post crew to create a perfect final film.
Crew Costs
Costs $6,000
Help us hire a skilled crew to ensure a successful shoot.
Camera/ Lighting / Sound Equipment
Costs $3,500
Help us cover the costs to rent the top of the line equipment to shoot our film.
Crew Meals & Crafty
Costs $500
Help us keep our crew energized by donating fresh, healthy meals and snacks
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Amy Omar is a Turkish-American writer/director and entertainment lawyer based in New York. Recently, her work has been published in Electric Literature, BABYTEETH zine and Medium. She is writing and directing her first short film, BREAKING FAST WITH A COCA COLA, that will shoot Summer 2022. The production of this film is supported by her receipt of Wavelength Productions’ Wave Grant for first time BIPOC female filmmakers. Currently, she works at Meta in content strategy and acquisitions for Facebook Watch and Originals. Previously, she worked in Business & Legal Affairs at the Oscar-, Emmy-, Golden Globe and BAFTA-winning company, FilmNation Entertainment, where she negotiated deals on productions such as RED ROCKET, SHARP STICK, and THE OUTFIT.
Jordan Hart is a producer and executive in Los Angeles currently serving as the Vice President of Development for Good Question Media (THE WITCH), where she sources and shepherds a diverse slate of features and series towards production. Prior to Good Question, she served as Director of Development for the Oscar-, Emmy-, and BAFTA-winning company, Little Monster Films, developing the series EDGE OF THE UNKNOWN and PHOTOGRAPHER for NatGeo and an upcoming film for Netflix. At Baltimore Pictures, led by Oscar-winning director Barry Levinson, Jordan worked on features including PATERNO for HBO and THE SURVIVOR, which premiered at TIFF in 2021. She also supported hit showrunner, DJ Nash, on two NBC sitcoms-- GROWING UP FISHER and TRUTH BE TOLD. Her next film, DEAR MAMA, recently premiered at SXSW.
Karine Benzaria is a New York based producer, currently working on Apple TV's HELLO TOMORROW. Since graduating from Tisch School of the Arts, she has produced stories centered around unsung characters, including Vimeo Staff Pick of the Year MARCY LEARNS SOMETHING NEW, Nike's award winning BE TRUE campaign, and most recently SXSW 2022 nominated film CLARE. She is the co-founder of production company Dream City with Oscar-winning producer Julia Kennelly and director/cinematographer Daisy Zhou.
Andrew Dahreddine is a casting professional and actor working in Los Angeles and New York. Notable casting credits include work on: the upcoming FX limited series, The Patient (starring Steve Carell & Domhnall Gleeson); Aaron Sorkin’s Oscar-nominated film, The Trial of the Chicago 7; and the first season of the Emmy-nominated Hulu series, Ramy. He is currently working with Barden / Schnee casting on an exciting new comedy series for Apple TV+. Andrew’s experience on both sides of the table, and knowledge of specific communities of actors help him think outside the box of what’s possible for a given role. For more: www.andrewdahreddine.com
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Story:
Inspired by a true story, BREAKING FAST WITH A COCA COLA is a coming of age comedy that follows two Turkish American teenagers, Özlem and Ada, who decide to fast for Ramadan for the first time. Living in an ethnically and religiously homogeneous Midwestern suburb, Özlem and Ada long for community and desperately want to celebrate a tradition of their own.
The twist is that they have to hide their practice from their parents. Afraid of religious persecution in America, Özlem and Ada's parents left their practices behind in Istanbul and raised their daughters in a secular household. So, through strategic planning and a few hiccups along the way, Özlem and Ada successfully maneuver around their parents and grumbling stomachs to make it through a day of fasting and evening of feasting....on the food they know best - American fast food.
Tonally, this film will be in the vein of BOOKSMART and LADYBIRD with Turkish references sprinkled throughout. Funny and quirky but also sentimental at its core; it’s about yearning to be a part of something meaningful and the friendships you strengthen along the way.
Financing Plan:
BREAKING FAST WITH A COCA COLA is a recipient of Wavelength Productions' Wave Grant, which awards a $5,000 grant to BIPOC, first time female filmmakers to create their first short film alongside production mentorship from Wavelength’s executive team.
Leveraging the support of Wavelength and our extensive network of talented crew members, we'll be able to apply your generous donations towards covering the remaining costs for items such as: (i) renting the most advanced camera equipment; (ii) decorating our Turkish set to feel as authentic and familiar as the homes of your aunties; and (iii) casting two top-tier Turkish-American actresses to fill the sabahs of Ada and Özlem. For a more detailed breakdown of our budget needs and how you can specifically contribute, check out the "Wishlist" tab.
Timeline:
March-May 2022 - Pre- Production
We will spend this time attaching all of our elements (e.g. cast and crew) in preparation for production.
June 2022 - Production
We will shoot BREAKING FAST WITH A COCA COLA in mid- June in the New York Metropolitan area.
June- August 2022 - Post Production
We will collaborate with a skilled post production team to finalize the film for festival submissions.
September - December 2022 - Festival Submissions
The film will be submitted to top tier film festivals domestically (e.g. Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, Telluride, TIFF) and internationally (e.g. Cannes, Berlin, Venice, BFI) for maximum industry exposure.
Festival / Distribution Plan:
The goal is to submit this to as many festivals as possible to maximize exposure and impact. Many festivals are specifically looking for compelling, untold stories, making BREAKING FAST WITH A COCA COLA a strong contender. By investing in this short, you will provide us the opportunity to share this story with a larger audience and help us with our goal of expanding it into a feature film.
Our producers have had films accepted into festivals all over the world - with their latest shorts premiering at South by Southwest. They have extensive contacts at many of the top festivals and plan to leverage those relationships to make sure this project is seen by the gatekeepers and tastemakers.
Why You Should Donate:
Our goal is to secure financing so we can hire the rest of our cast/crew, lock our location in upstate New York and produce the best version of this film. Hiring a diverse cast/ crew is essential for our production and is at the core of our story. Stories like these are rare in mainstream media; that’s why we need your help to give them a platform. By investing in BREAKING FAST WITH A COCA COLA, you are creating opportunities for filmmakers from historically underrepresented backgrounds. Your contribution is directly creating a more diverse and egalitarian Hollywood.
Other Ways You Can Help:
If you aren't able to donate, there are still ways to help!
Follow and share our Instagram Page - @breakingfastwithacocacolafilm
Please share this page far and wide- maybe somebody you know would be interested in contributing!
Thank you all so much and let’s make a great movie!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Suburban House
Costs $1,000
Complimentary access to a NY area suburban home (foyer, kitchen, dining room, bedroom) for 2 days.
Car / Van
Costs $500
Access to a van/ car for 2-3 days to help transport equipment/ props and cast/ crew to set.
Talent Fees
Costs $2,000
Help us cast top tier talent by contributing to our talent pool.
Music Licensing
Costs $1,500
Help us license Altın Gün's music to make our film as authentic as possible.
Post - Production Fees
Costs $2,000
Help us hire a skilled post crew to create a perfect final film.
Crew Costs
Costs $6,000
Help us hire a skilled crew to ensure a successful shoot.
Camera/ Lighting / Sound Equipment
Costs $3,500
Help us cover the costs to rent the top of the line equipment to shoot our film.
Crew Meals & Crafty
Costs $500
Help us keep our crew energized by donating fresh, healthy meals and snacks
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Amy Omar is a Turkish-American writer/director and entertainment lawyer based in New York. Recently, her work has been published in Electric Literature, BABYTEETH zine and Medium. She is writing and directing her first short film, BREAKING FAST WITH A COCA COLA, that will shoot Summer 2022. The production of this film is supported by her receipt of Wavelength Productions’ Wave Grant for first time BIPOC female filmmakers. Currently, she works at Meta in content strategy and acquisitions for Facebook Watch and Originals. Previously, she worked in Business & Legal Affairs at the Oscar-, Emmy-, Golden Globe and BAFTA-winning company, FilmNation Entertainment, where she negotiated deals on productions such as RED ROCKET, SHARP STICK, and THE OUTFIT.
Jordan Hart is a producer and executive in Los Angeles currently serving as the Vice President of Development for Good Question Media (THE WITCH), where she sources and shepherds a diverse slate of features and series towards production. Prior to Good Question, she served as Director of Development for the Oscar-, Emmy-, and BAFTA-winning company, Little Monster Films, developing the series EDGE OF THE UNKNOWN and PHOTOGRAPHER for NatGeo and an upcoming film for Netflix. At Baltimore Pictures, led by Oscar-winning director Barry Levinson, Jordan worked on features including PATERNO for HBO and THE SURVIVOR, which premiered at TIFF in 2021. She also supported hit showrunner, DJ Nash, on two NBC sitcoms-- GROWING UP FISHER and TRUTH BE TOLD. Her next film, DEAR MAMA, recently premiered at SXSW.
Karine Benzaria is a New York based producer, currently working on Apple TV's HELLO TOMORROW. Since graduating from Tisch School of the Arts, she has produced stories centered around unsung characters, including Vimeo Staff Pick of the Year MARCY LEARNS SOMETHING NEW, Nike's award winning BE TRUE campaign, and most recently SXSW 2022 nominated film CLARE. She is the co-founder of production company Dream City with Oscar-winning producer Julia Kennelly and director/cinematographer Daisy Zhou.
Andrew Dahreddine is a casting professional and actor working in Los Angeles and New York. Notable casting credits include work on: the upcoming FX limited series, The Patient (starring Steve Carell & Domhnall Gleeson); Aaron Sorkin’s Oscar-nominated film, The Trial of the Chicago 7; and the first season of the Emmy-nominated Hulu series, Ramy. He is currently working with Barden / Schnee casting on an exciting new comedy series for Apple TV+. Andrew’s experience on both sides of the table, and knowledge of specific communities of actors help him think outside the box of what’s possible for a given role. For more: www.andrewdahreddine.com