Concerto
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama
Concerto explores the brutal pursuit of excellence through the eyes of a young Korean-American violin prodigy. In a world that praises diversity but resists change, this film exposes the silent pressures inside elite institutions—and gives voice to those rarely centered.
Concerto
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama
1 Campaigns | California, United States
5 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$590
Goal: $5,000 for production
Concerto explores the brutal pursuit of excellence through the eyes of a young Korean-American violin prodigy. In a world that praises diversity but resists change, this film exposes the silent pressures inside elite institutions—and gives voice to those rarely centered.
Participating In
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A Korean-American violin prodigy risks everything chasing perfection in a ruthless elite orchestra.
Concerto is a psychological drama about Drea, a 22-year-old Korean-American violin prodigy competing for a coveted principal seat in an elite New York City orchestra. As the audition approaches, the pressure to prove herself inside an institution that was never built for her begins to fracture her identity, relationships, and sense of control. Set within the high-stakes world of classical performance, Concerto explores the cost of excellence – and what happens when your identity becomes inseparable from your success.
Our production brings together classical musicians, filmmakers, and performers to create a visceral portrait of obsession and ambition – told through the rhythm of rehearsal rooms, orchestra halls, and the charged silence before a performance begins.
This is not just a music film.
It’s about ambition. Identity. Obsession. And the cost of being “first.”
🎬 Our Vision
Visually, Concerto is intimate and performance-driven. The camera stays close – breath, sweat, trembling fingers on strings. Sound design pulls us inside Drea’s head: distorted tuning notes, amplified bow scratches, the orchestra swelling like pressure in her chest.
Inspired by the intensity of prestige psychological dramas, the film blurs the line between external competition and internal collapse. This is a story about what excellence demands – and what it destroys.
🎼 Why This Story Matters Now
Classical music institutions often celebrate diversity publicly while resisting structural change privately. Women of color remain dramatically underrepresented in principal positions across major orchestras. When they do enter these spaces, they are expected to be perfect – flawless – exceptional beyond measure. Concerto confronts the myth of meritocracy.
It asks:
- Who gets to lead?
- Who gets to fail?
- And who is allowed to be brilliant without apology?
🎬 Where We Are Now
We have already begun bringing Concerto to life. Our team has:
- Completed initial production
- Built a strong creative foundation
- Begun shaping the visual and emotional language of the film
Now, we are preparing for the most ambitious phase of production.
🎬 What This Campaign Makes Possible
This is where you come in.
Your support will help us complete:
🎻 Finish filming with a full orchestra ensemble
🏛 Rent an auditorium space for large-scale performance scenes
🎼 Record and mix the original film score
🎞 Final sound and post-production
The orchestra sequences are the emotional climax of the film. To authentically portray the scale and intensity of an elite classical environment, we need a real performance space, live musicians, and a professionally recorded score. Cutting corners here would compromise the entire vision.
🎼 Our Promise to You
When you support Concerto, you’re not just backing a short film.
You’re helping build a future where Korean-American women are not side characters – but protagonists in stories about ambition, power, and greatness.
We are committed to:
- sharing behind-the-scenes updates throughout production
- delivering early access to the completed film
- creating exclusive content that brings you inside the filmmaking process
Estimated timeline:
Final production: Spring
Post-production: Summer
Private screenings + delivery: Late Summer / Early Fall
If We Surpass Our Goal
If we exceed $5,000, additional funds will go toward:
🎬 Festival submissions and strategy
🎼 Expanded score recording
🎨 Marketing materials and distribution prep
🎻 How You Can Help
If you believe in this story, there are three ways to support:
- Pledge — every contribution helps us reach the finish line
- Follow — helps boost visibility on Seed&Spark
- Share — bring Concerto to new audiences
Final Note
This film is about what it takes to be great – and what that pursuit demands.
With your support, we can finish Concerto the way it was meant to be experienced:
at full volume.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Live Orchestra Performance
Costs $2,000
To bring authenticity to Concerto, we are working with trained musicians to perform in our final scenes.
Auditorium Location Rental
Costs $1,500
Our climactic performances requires a real concert hall environment. These funds will help secure a performance venue to capture the scene.
Original Score Recording
Costs $1,000
Concerto features an original musical composition written specifically for the film. These funds will help record the score professionally
Sound Design & Final Mix
Costs $500
Sound is the emotional backbone of Concerto. These funds ensure the final mix captures the intimacy of performance and pressure
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
The Filmmakers
Concerto is created by a team of emerging filmmakers and artists passionate about telling bold, character-driven stories. Our director, Nicolas Chae, is a Korean-American filmmaker drawn to stories about ambition, identity, and the emotional cost of excellence. Inspired by films like Whiplash and Black Swan, Concerto explores the psychological intensity of performance and the experience of navigating elite artistic spaces as an outsider.
The film is produced by a collaborative team of creatives working across film production, music, and performance. Together, we are building a project that bridges two worlds: the precision of classical music and the cinematic language of psychological drama.
Our team includes trained musicians, experienced crew members, and dedicated collaborators committed to bringing authenticity to the world of the film. By supporting Concerto, you are helping champion new voices in filmmaking and stories that expand representation within classical music and cinema.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A Korean-American violin prodigy risks everything chasing perfection in a ruthless elite orchestra.
Concerto is a psychological drama about Drea, a 22-year-old Korean-American violin prodigy competing for a coveted principal seat in an elite New York City orchestra. As the audition approaches, the pressure to prove herself inside an institution that was never built for her begins to fracture her identity, relationships, and sense of control. Set within the high-stakes world of classical performance, Concerto explores the cost of excellence – and what happens when your identity becomes inseparable from your success.
Our production brings together classical musicians, filmmakers, and performers to create a visceral portrait of obsession and ambition – told through the rhythm of rehearsal rooms, orchestra halls, and the charged silence before a performance begins.
This is not just a music film.
It’s about ambition. Identity. Obsession. And the cost of being “first.”
🎬 Our Vision
Visually, Concerto is intimate and performance-driven. The camera stays close – breath, sweat, trembling fingers on strings. Sound design pulls us inside Drea’s head: distorted tuning notes, amplified bow scratches, the orchestra swelling like pressure in her chest.
Inspired by the intensity of prestige psychological dramas, the film blurs the line between external competition and internal collapse. This is a story about what excellence demands – and what it destroys.
🎼 Why This Story Matters Now
Classical music institutions often celebrate diversity publicly while resisting structural change privately. Women of color remain dramatically underrepresented in principal positions across major orchestras. When they do enter these spaces, they are expected to be perfect – flawless – exceptional beyond measure. Concerto confronts the myth of meritocracy.
It asks:
- Who gets to lead?
- Who gets to fail?
- And who is allowed to be brilliant without apology?
🎬 Where We Are Now
We have already begun bringing Concerto to life. Our team has:
- Completed initial production
- Built a strong creative foundation
- Begun shaping the visual and emotional language of the film
Now, we are preparing for the most ambitious phase of production.
🎬 What This Campaign Makes Possible
This is where you come in.
Your support will help us complete:
🎻 Finish filming with a full orchestra ensemble
🏛 Rent an auditorium space for large-scale performance scenes
🎼 Record and mix the original film score
🎞 Final sound and post-production
The orchestra sequences are the emotional climax of the film. To authentically portray the scale and intensity of an elite classical environment, we need a real performance space, live musicians, and a professionally recorded score. Cutting corners here would compromise the entire vision.
🎼 Our Promise to You
When you support Concerto, you’re not just backing a short film.
You’re helping build a future where Korean-American women are not side characters – but protagonists in stories about ambition, power, and greatness.
We are committed to:
- sharing behind-the-scenes updates throughout production
- delivering early access to the completed film
- creating exclusive content that brings you inside the filmmaking process
Estimated timeline:
Final production: Spring
Post-production: Summer
Private screenings + delivery: Late Summer / Early Fall
If We Surpass Our Goal
If we exceed $5,000, additional funds will go toward:
🎬 Festival submissions and strategy
🎼 Expanded score recording
🎨 Marketing materials and distribution prep
🎻 How You Can Help
If you believe in this story, there are three ways to support:
- Pledge — every contribution helps us reach the finish line
- Follow — helps boost visibility on Seed&Spark
- Share — bring Concerto to new audiences
Final Note
This film is about what it takes to be great – and what that pursuit demands.
With your support, we can finish Concerto the way it was meant to be experienced:
at full volume.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Live Orchestra Performance
Costs $2,000
To bring authenticity to Concerto, we are working with trained musicians to perform in our final scenes.
Auditorium Location Rental
Costs $1,500
Our climactic performances requires a real concert hall environment. These funds will help secure a performance venue to capture the scene.
Original Score Recording
Costs $1,000
Concerto features an original musical composition written specifically for the film. These funds will help record the score professionally
Sound Design & Final Mix
Costs $500
Sound is the emotional backbone of Concerto. These funds ensure the final mix captures the intimacy of performance and pressure
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
The Filmmakers
Concerto is created by a team of emerging filmmakers and artists passionate about telling bold, character-driven stories. Our director, Nicolas Chae, is a Korean-American filmmaker drawn to stories about ambition, identity, and the emotional cost of excellence. Inspired by films like Whiplash and Black Swan, Concerto explores the psychological intensity of performance and the experience of navigating elite artistic spaces as an outsider.
The film is produced by a collaborative team of creatives working across film production, music, and performance. Together, we are building a project that bridges two worlds: the precision of classical music and the cinematic language of psychological drama.
Our team includes trained musicians, experienced crew members, and dedicated collaborators committed to bringing authenticity to the world of the film. By supporting Concerto, you are helping champion new voices in filmmaking and stories that expand representation within classical music and cinema.