CHERRY
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, Experimental
Cherry is a love letter to chance encounters, a visual exploration of how it can be the quiet, seemingly fleeting moments that shift how we see ourselves and the world. We want to bring those delicate moments to life, because the heart of this film lies in the beauty of talking to strangers.
CHERRY
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, Experimental
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $6,860 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
56 supporters | followers
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Cherry is a love letter to chance encounters, a visual exploration of how it can be the quiet, seemingly fleeting moments that shift how we see ourselves and the world. We want to bring those delicate moments to life, because the heart of this film lies in the beauty of talking to strangers.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
"This story is important to me because I wanted to take an extremely difficult and negative experience from my own life, pair it with a beautifully serendipitous one, and create a film that can hopefully inspire (even the most cynical) people to continue searching for hope in a world that has the infamous ability to bring us exactly what we need when we very much least expect it. I wrote the beginning of this story two years ago, after probably two too many glasses of wine, and a headache I couldn’t seem to shake. I sat on it for a while, changing names, changing dialogues, but it never felt complete. So then as most unfinished stories go, I forgot about it. Until recently, when I had an encounter with someone that reminded me of the story I left behind. This fleeting moment I shared with a complete stranger was one I will never forget, one that has shaped the foundation of this film."
-Karsu Nalbantoglu Director & Writer
The Story..
Layla wakes up in the after-hours of a party she can’t fully piece together. The air is thick with the remnants of a night that already feels distant. She’s been trying to outrun a feeling she can’t quite name, drowning the chaos of her mind with new faces, and temporary highs. Beneath it all, there’s something pressing against her, a truth she’s not ready to face.
Hoping to see no one and gather her thoughts, she steps outside. But unfortunately, leaned against the railing, there he is, the guy she doesn't recognize. What begins as a chance encounter slowly unfolds into an unexpected exchange that reveals the vulnerabilities we’re taught to hide. Cherry is a film about quiet realizations, and the honesty beneath the moments we don’t see coming but can’t seem to forget.
I believe, Cherry to be a story that's been subconsciously brewing in my mind from many years of watching my favorite movies. Its essence is drawn from stories that capture the delicacy of human connection, the loneliness of big cities, and the unspoken emotions that seem to stick around long after a moment ends. Narratively, it echoes films like Lost in Translation and In the Mood for Love, with their slow, quiet longing. However, films like Before Sunrise have had the deepest influence on my writing, both in their structure and in how they find intimacy through the simplest form of human connection: conversation.
CHERRY will fall under the Short Film category (experimental, drama) and is estimated to be 20 minutes long. While it is experimental at times, I would call it a "Dramedy-Conversational-Narative" with dark-humor but that's just my addition (Lol) and not an official genre.
Disclaimers about the film:
- Karsu smoked far too many cigarettes the entire time she was rewriting this to pace out the dialogue so the smoking patterns of the characters would time correctly. Therefore, she really hopes we get enough funding so that her future lung cancer will be worth it - Kidding! But also not ):
- This film is not a true story.
- The film is not about a girl named Cherry.
Preliminary Production Schedule
July 15th - July 30th: Crowdfunding
July 15th - August 7th: Pre Production
August 7th - August 12th: Production
August 30th - October 15th: Post Production
October: Screening & Premiere (Exact date TBD)
November and beyond: Distribution (Festivals)
cherrythefilm.com to join our mailing list
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera Department
Costs $2,500
Let's make sure our crew gets paid fairly and we get all the right gear!
Cast + Crew
Costs $2,250
With a film thats very dialogue heavy - casting will be highly important! Let's pay our actors what they deserve!
Location + Art Dept
Costs $750
We really want to find a location and art team that will visually bring the location to life!
Post Production + Distribution
Costs $1,000
This will include editing and distribution costs!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Karsu Nalbantoglu is a Turkish-American Photographer, Creative Producer, Editor, and Filmmaker. Growing up as an immigrant in the United States she's always been passionate about telling the stories of people who's lives may go unnoticed. She has won multiple awards for her documentary films and this will be her first Narrative short film. Karsu is heavily inspired by Korean Cinema, French Cinema, and anything a24. Narratively, inspired by the screenplays of Richard Linklater, Christy Hall, and Wong Kar-Wai, she hopes Cherry will resemble a modern Before Sunrise. Cinematographers like Christopher Doyle and Marcell Rév are amongst her favorites. Karsu is an avid traveler and always includes a form of inspiration from her time in other countries in her work. She is an alumni of the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Film and Communication Studies.
Camila Florez an LA-based filmmaker and Producer, originally from Bogota, Colombia. Her early immigration to the United States at the age of 5, alongside her young parents, ignited her passion for storytelling. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Film Media from Georgia State University. Following College, Camila spent a transforming year in Paris, where she immersed herself in French Cinema, particularly the influential French New Wave. In Los Angeles, Camila has worked at the Duplass Brothers Productions and has been mentored by industry luminaries like Jay and Mark Duplass. Her storytelling is a unique blend of her Colombian heritage and diverse global experiences.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
"This story is important to me because I wanted to take an extremely difficult and negative experience from my own life, pair it with a beautifully serendipitous one, and create a film that can hopefully inspire (even the most cynical) people to continue searching for hope in a world that has the infamous ability to bring us exactly what we need when we very much least expect it. I wrote the beginning of this story two years ago, after probably two too many glasses of wine, and a headache I couldn’t seem to shake. I sat on it for a while, changing names, changing dialogues, but it never felt complete. So then as most unfinished stories go, I forgot about it. Until recently, when I had an encounter with someone that reminded me of the story I left behind. This fleeting moment I shared with a complete stranger was one I will never forget, one that has shaped the foundation of this film."
-Karsu Nalbantoglu Director & Writer
The Story..
Layla wakes up in the after-hours of a party she can’t fully piece together. The air is thick with the remnants of a night that already feels distant. She’s been trying to outrun a feeling she can’t quite name, drowning the chaos of her mind with new faces, and temporary highs. Beneath it all, there’s something pressing against her, a truth she’s not ready to face.
Hoping to see no one and gather her thoughts, she steps outside. But unfortunately, leaned against the railing, there he is, the guy she doesn't recognize. What begins as a chance encounter slowly unfolds into an unexpected exchange that reveals the vulnerabilities we’re taught to hide. Cherry is a film about quiet realizations, and the honesty beneath the moments we don’t see coming but can’t seem to forget.
I believe, Cherry to be a story that's been subconsciously brewing in my mind from many years of watching my favorite movies. Its essence is drawn from stories that capture the delicacy of human connection, the loneliness of big cities, and the unspoken emotions that seem to stick around long after a moment ends. Narratively, it echoes films like Lost in Translation and In the Mood for Love, with their slow, quiet longing. However, films like Before Sunrise have had the deepest influence on my writing, both in their structure and in how they find intimacy through the simplest form of human connection: conversation.
CHERRY will fall under the Short Film category (experimental, drama) and is estimated to be 20 minutes long. While it is experimental at times, I would call it a "Dramedy-Conversational-Narative" with dark-humor but that's just my addition (Lol) and not an official genre.
Disclaimers about the film:
- Karsu smoked far too many cigarettes the entire time she was rewriting this to pace out the dialogue so the smoking patterns of the characters would time correctly. Therefore, she really hopes we get enough funding so that her future lung cancer will be worth it - Kidding! But also not ):
- This film is not a true story.
- The film is not about a girl named Cherry.
Preliminary Production Schedule
July 15th - July 30th: Crowdfunding
July 15th - August 7th: Pre Production
August 7th - August 12th: Production
August 30th - October 15th: Post Production
October: Screening & Premiere (Exact date TBD)
November and beyond: Distribution (Festivals)
cherrythefilm.com to join our mailing list
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera Department
Costs $2,500
Let's make sure our crew gets paid fairly and we get all the right gear!
Cast + Crew
Costs $2,250
With a film thats very dialogue heavy - casting will be highly important! Let's pay our actors what they deserve!
Location + Art Dept
Costs $750
We really want to find a location and art team that will visually bring the location to life!
Post Production + Distribution
Costs $1,000
This will include editing and distribution costs!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Karsu Nalbantoglu is a Turkish-American Photographer, Creative Producer, Editor, and Filmmaker. Growing up as an immigrant in the United States she's always been passionate about telling the stories of people who's lives may go unnoticed. She has won multiple awards for her documentary films and this will be her first Narrative short film. Karsu is heavily inspired by Korean Cinema, French Cinema, and anything a24. Narratively, inspired by the screenplays of Richard Linklater, Christy Hall, and Wong Kar-Wai, she hopes Cherry will resemble a modern Before Sunrise. Cinematographers like Christopher Doyle and Marcell Rév are amongst her favorites. Karsu is an avid traveler and always includes a form of inspiration from her time in other countries in her work. She is an alumni of the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Film and Communication Studies.
Camila Florez an LA-based filmmaker and Producer, originally from Bogota, Colombia. Her early immigration to the United States at the age of 5, alongside her young parents, ignited her passion for storytelling. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Film Media from Georgia State University. Following College, Camila spent a transforming year in Paris, where she immersed herself in French Cinema, particularly the influential French New Wave. In Los Angeles, Camila has worked at the Duplass Brothers Productions and has been mentored by industry luminaries like Jay and Mark Duplass. Her storytelling is a unique blend of her Colombian heritage and diverse global experiences.