'Cherry' is a silent romantic comedy student short film that follows a young woman who is deaf named Laura and how she lives her life through the pandemic. It is a situational comedy where everything that can go wrong goes wrong; think of 'The Lunch Date' meets 'Love Actually' for tonal comparisons.
'Cherry' is a silent romantic comedy student short film that follows a young woman who is deaf named Laura and how she lives her life through the pandemic. It is a situational comedy where everything that can go wrong goes wrong; think of 'The Lunch Date' meets 'Love Actually' for tonal comparisons.
-
Story
Mission Statement
We are dedicated to telling a story that uses accurate American Sign Language as the primary source of dialogue- we are hiring an interpreter who is deaf to help! We are also committed to hiring on a range of POC and LGBTQAI+ folks to work both on screen as well as behind the scenes.About The Project
Cherry takes place within our current time- during the COVID 19 Pandemic. The film is set at a diner that follows all of the COVID guidelines that are expected of restaraunts: everyone must wear a mask upon entering the establishment, everyone must stay 6-feet apart from one another, etc.
The story follows a young woman who is deaf named Laura; someone who not only suffers from extreme anxiety but also suffers from a learning disability called dysgraphia. She struggles to understand what people are saying because masks hide peoples' lips and hinder her from understanding what anyone speaking to her says- hence her need to rely heavily on her cellphone and her hearing friend Dave. Due to her anxiety, dysgraphia, and her dying phone battery, Laura struggles to order a simple piece of cherry pie for herself.
While Cherry was written during and inspired by the COVID pandemic, it was also inspired by how people who are deaf must be struggling since everyone's wearing masks- everyone already seems to be struggling with understanding one another with these masks, how is this struggle different for folks who are deaf?
I am incredibly passionate about this project because while sign language in films is growing (in films such as Baby Driver, A Quiet Place, and The Shape of Water), and there isn't a whole lot of media that shows learning disabilities such as dysgraphia. I have been consulting with my sister who is also a Special Education teacher (she's the one who initially suggested I have Laura struggle with dysgraphia) and have been conducting thorough research about the learning disability to ensure that the portrayal is as accurate as possible - I am very passionate about making sure there is accuracy in my film! While this is a student film that is being completed for a grade for a class, this is a story that I am absolutely in love with - and not just because I'm the writer ha ha.
In regards to shooting during the COVID pandemic, the plan is to esentially keep the talent and the crew in seperate areas while on set in order to ensure everyone's safety. There is a certain guideline that filmmakers must follow where the cast and crew is kept in different sections that is all taped off. All the crew members will be wearing masks, sanitizing their equipment, and staying the required 6-feet apart from others, and the talent who are not wearing masks will be kept in a seperate area a safe distance from everyone else.
Currently my team and I are in the process of hiring actors and an American Sign Language interpretor, but I will update the page as soon as final decisions have been made; I have been in contact with several interested and talented professional actors and actresses and am in contact with a couple of different professional American Sign Language interpretors. I am really excited and hopeful for this film and, especially as someone who wants to get into directing, am incredibly excited to work on this film. I am planning on shooting during the week of April 5th. there is a wonderful diner set that is being built within one of the buildings of my school that this short film will be taking place at, though scheduing has been a bit of an issue since so many other projects are taking place at this set as well.
Once the film is completed and edited, I will be submitting it to the Denver Silent Film Festival as well as Sundance. My professors and classmates will also have a screening of the film before any final submissions are done, but I am confident in my team and know that we can make a great film!
Incentives
$10
Cherry Knot
Well hello you wonderful human being! Don't have a whole lot to contribute? That's okay, you still can get some sweet stuffy-stuff for your efforts, with the sticker being specially designed by myself! :)
- Social media shoutout
- Digital sticker
$25
Cherry Jam
Oh you absolute treasure! Here's a little extra-extra for this cotributions tier, which includes a recipe for cherry pie that is designed by myself!
- A recipe for cherry pie
- Social media shoutout
- Special thanks in credits
- Digital sticker
$50
Piece o' Cherry Pie
I see you, you marvelous person you! With this tier you will have the option to show off your acting talent by appearing in the film as an 'extra' in the film- though this only applies if you live within the Denver, Colorado area!
- Becomming an 'extra' for the film (following COVID guidelines of course)
- Recipe for cherry pie
- Social media shoutout
- Special thanks in credits
- Digital sticker
$100
Cherry Pie
You absolute treat and a dream! You will be gaining a little bit more 'behind-the-scenes' goodness with this tier, which includes a look at the first-cut of the film as well as credit for a producer!
- An exclusive look at the first cut of the film
- Credit as a producer for the film
- Becomming an 'extra' for the film
- Recipe for cherry pie
- Special thanks in credits
- Social media shoutout
- Digital sticker
$500
The Whole Shebang
Not only will you be getting my tears of joy and probably a phonecall/email expressing my absolute gratitude to you, but you will laso be getting an EXCLUSIVE ultimate 'behind-the-scenes' package for Cherry!
- Credits in the film as 'Executive Producer'
- Digital copies of the original script, storyboards, and shot lists
- Exclusive look at the first cut of the film
- Becomming an 'extra' for the film
- Recipe for cherry pie
- Special thanks in credits
- Social media shoutout
- Digital sticker
-
Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
Cherry Knot
Well hello you wonderful human being! Don't have a whole lot to contribute? That's okay, you still can get some sweet stuffy-stuff for your efforts, with the sticker being specially designed by myself! :)
- Social media shoutout
- Digital sticker
$25
Cherry Jam
Oh you absolute treasure! Here's a little extra-extra for this cotributions tier, which includes a recipe for cherry pie that is designed by myself!
- A recipe for cherry pie
- Social media shoutout
- Special thanks in credits
- Digital sticker
$50
Piece o' Cherry Pie
I see you, you marvelous person you! With this tier you will have the option to show off your acting talent by appearing in the film as an 'extra' in the film- though this only applies if you live within the Denver, Colorado area!
- Becomming an 'extra' for the film (following COVID guidelines of course)
- Recipe for cherry pie
- Social media shoutout
- Special thanks in credits
- Digital sticker
$100
Cherry Pie
You absolute treat and a dream! You will be gaining a little bit more 'behind-the-scenes' goodness with this tier, which includes a look at the first-cut of the film as well as credit for a producer!
- An exclusive look at the first cut of the film
- Credit as a producer for the film
- Becomming an 'extra' for the film
- Recipe for cherry pie
- Special thanks in credits
- Social media shoutout
- Digital sticker
$500
The Whole Shebang
Not only will you be getting my tears of joy and probably a phonecall/email expressing my absolute gratitude to you, but you will laso be getting an EXCLUSIVE ultimate 'behind-the-scenes' package for Cherry!
- Credits in the film as 'Executive Producer'
- Digital copies of the original script, storyboards, and shot lists
- Exclusive look at the first cut of the film
- Becomming an 'extra' for the film
- Recipe for cherry pie
- Special thanks in credits
- Social media shoutout
- Digital sticker
- Updates
-
Current Team
About This Team
The crew members are all CU Denver students just like myself who all have multiple roles for this short film. Because of the COVID Panademic we have to work in a smaller team and adhere to strict rules. The actors and American Sign Language interpreter are still currently being worked our, so I will give updates as time goes by.
CREW
Director/Script Supervisor: Myself (Meg Veto)
Director of Photography: Jacob Thompson
Art Director: Vicky Vien
Producer/Sound Designer: Austin Halverson
American Sign Language Interpreter: TBD
CAST
Laura: TBD
Dave: TBD
Sherry: TBD
Beatrice: TBD
-
Media
Videos
Images
-
Community
Supporters
Followers