Divine Timing
New York City, New York | Film Feature
Sci-Fi, Romantic Comedy
An anxious trans loverboy uses time travel to make sure his girlfriend loves him before he proposes. But is it ever actually possible to prove someone loves you? Join us in making a feel-good, mind-bending sci-fi rom-com that we all need right now.
Divine Timing
New York City, New York | Film Feature
Sci-Fi, Romantic Comedy
1 Campaigns |
27 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$2,087
Goal: $27,170 for production
An anxious trans loverboy uses time travel to make sure his girlfriend loves him before he proposes. But is it ever actually possible to prove someone loves you? Join us in making a feel-good, mind-bending sci-fi rom-com that we all need right now.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
We all like to think that if we had the power to time travel, we'd use it to make the world a better place.
But let's be real.
We'd probably use it for something extremely petty...like making sure your noncommittal girlfriend really loves you before you propose.
That's what our protagonist, Sage, decides to do when their bro from high school, Trevor, mysteriously figures out how to time travel. The only problem? Trevor's intentions are shifty at best. As Sage follows Trevor deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole of time-based manipulation, they are forced to realize a hard truth: true love doesn't come from proof, but from faith.
30k is an insanely small budget for a feature film. Which is why we're perfect for the job.
Over the past several years, we've made five short films with budgets ranging from $300 to $40,000. We've learned a lot, and cracked the code on how to make professional-quality films for a fraction of the cost. Not by cutting corners, but by cutting the red tape.
Most comparable feature films cost between 25 to 50 times as much as our film. This means each dollar you contribute will be 25 to 50 times as powerful.
We'll use the budget to pay and feed our primarily queer and trans cast and crew.
And we don't want to gatekeep. It's no secret that Hollywood is being eaten alive by corporate greed, mergers, sequels, and a general aversion to films with artistic integrity. If we want the art of good filmmaking to survive, we will have to figure out how to make things outside the system. So we will be breaking down every step of our process. We want this film to empower other filmmakers to create work on their terms, without having to wait for money from the corporate Hollywood system.
This is a film that could never exist inside the traditional studio system. The heavy majority of funded and programmed LGBTQ+ stories focus only on the painful aspects, such as the violence, difficulties of coming out, or strains on family. These stories are undeniably important. But it's also important to have optimistic love stories that give young queer folks a North Star for building their own lasting relationships.
DIVINE TIMING is the brainchild of Jack Dorfman (he/him) and Ayla Xuân Chi (they/he). We met in 2018 and made films together for three years before realizing we'd been madly in love the whole time. Last year, we got married!
We both can't believe how lucky we are. Not only to have found each other, but to have our love blossom inside of a culture built for straight people. This film was built on the foundation of our love for each other. We hope it can show young folks that queer and trans love is not only possible, but necessary.
We surround ourselves with dedicated artists committed to ethical production, where passion is valued and our labour is our own. We believe in working with artists who inspire us and are inspired with us in order to actively engage a community of storytellers who are rising up together—rather than fighting for the top.
The film business is built on hierarchy. We firmly believe this isn't the way to make the best films. Which is why on our sets, everyone from the director to the production assistant will be paid the same day rate. We always make sure everyone on our team has a creative stake in the project.
We love a good ol, mind bending time-travel movie that makes you think for days. Like Back to the Future, Groundhog Day, Edge of Tomorrow, About Time. But we noticed a trend with these films...they all involve a man using time travel to manipulate a woman in order to get what he wants. So we thought...what would these films looks like from her perspective? Could we build a story around the person being manipulated by the time traveler instead?
We also love a good ol romantic comedy that makes you believe in the power of love. But we realized most rom-coms stop at the moment the two leads get together, and then it's "happily ever after". But anyone who's been in a long term relationship knows that getting together is much easier than staying together.
By combining these two genres, we will use time travel as a deeper metaphor for toxic masculinity and the desire to control your partners’ perceptions of you.
3.8 Billion Years Ago: Time comes into existence
200,000 Years ago: Humans come into existence. They immediately fantasize about controlling time.
1989: When Harry Met Sally is released.
2018: Jack and Ayla meet, and bond over their shared love for the greatest rom-com ever made (When Harry Met Sally)
January 2023: Jack has a glimmer of an idea: a time travel movie that’s not about the time traveler, but the person being manipulated by said time traveler.
Spring 2023: Jack plans to propose to Ayla. He channels his anxiety about it into writing the script.
May 2023: Jack proposes! Ayla says...YES!
June 2023: First table read of the script.
June 2023-May 2024: Rewrite city.
May 2024: The script is done. Jack sends it to Sav Rodgers. He loves it and joins the team as Producer.
May 2024-September 2025: we try to get money the "right" way. But the evil corporate entities want something in return...the very heart of the project.
October 2025: Jack and Ayla get married!
November 2025: The team decides they'd rather be beholden to their own audience (you!) than evil corporate entities.
June 2026: Seed and Spark campaign! (📍You are here)
June-July 2026: PRE-PRODUCTION (we plan the movie)
August 2026: PRODUCTION (we shoot the movie)
Fall-Winter 2026: POST-PRODUCTION (we edit the movie)
Summer 2027: We set our movie free into the big wide world. They grow up so fast 🥲
3) Click the "Follow" button at the top of this page!
Benefit for you: You will be first to see updates on our film, including exclusive content that pulls back the curtain on our process
Benefit for us: Our page gets more visible, and Seed&Spark provides rewards as more people follow our campaign.
#2) Share our campaign!
Benefit for you: All your followers see you as a good samaritan who supports independent artists and LGBTQ+ representation.
Benefit for us: We build our community, and widen the impact of our film.
#1) Contribute!
Benefit for you: Not only will you receive one of our fancy rewards, but you're part of the project forever.
Benefit for us: Come on, this one's obvious. We get to make the movie.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Paying Cast and Crew
Costs $17,200
This will go towards the day rates for the cast and crew.
Insurance
Costs $2,500
Things can always go wrong...this will make sure it doesn't derail our shoot.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Jack is a writer, director, editor, & producer. He got his start making films at age 8 by taking his parents' home camcorder and accidentally taping over all their home movies. If you want to get on his good side, bring up musicals, Kieslowski, or Talking Heads. If you want to get on his bad side, give him some ketchup. He’s directed and edited numerous films that have gone on to be featured in Raindance, Denver Film Festival, Chelsea Film Festival, Ouray International Film Festival, and more, including a short film adaptation of the NY Times Critics' Pick play Stalking the Bogeyman.
Ayla is a trans Black and Vietnamese artist and shaman who thrives in the intersections of creativity and divinity. Xuân Chi’s work is often referred to as “love poems addressed to people in our community we are conditioned to forget”: Black, Indigenous, Asian, Queer and Trans People of Color, those experiencing homelessness, immigrants, and anyone who is (or has been) incarcerated. An Academy Nicholls Fellowship Semi-Finalist, their work in film and television has premiered in international film festivals and been taught in universities. The inaugural New Visions Fellow of National Queer Theatre and the Dramatist Guild, you may have seen them at Theatre Row, MCC, The Other Side of Silence, and throughout Denver. They’ve also been published in American Theatre, The Dramatist, Playbill, and Westword. They have spoken to thousands of people about Queer and Trans rights across panels, podcasts, and radio since 2014.
Originally from Kansas, Sav Rodgers is a filmmaker, screenwriter, and pop culture documentarian whose feature directorial debut CHASING CHASING AMY (Tribeca ‘23) explores the complicated legacy of Chasing Amy (1997) and its profound impression on his life. The TED Talk he gave in 2018 kickstarted this filmmaking journey, and spurred the writing of scripts that center on highly specific, surprising stories about queer people. His screenplays have been recognized by GLAAD, Outfest, ScreenCraft, among others. Named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Media List in 2024, Sav is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Transgender Film Center, a nonprofit aiming to help trans creators bring finished films to audiences around the world. Sav is a proud University of Kansas graduate and still sports KU baseball caps wherever he goes.
Sam Achtermann is a cinematographer based in based in Brooklyn. A co-founder of Good Furniture Films, Sam found his passion when he transitioned from writing to shooting in 2020. He loves hiking, speedy lens changes, and “the take where we try something fun.” His work mostly consists of gorgeous people brooding in hyper composed wide shots.
Raheem Mercy Badejo is an artist, producer, and lover of stories. Mostly known for their work in the realm of experimental theatre, they’re excited to join the Shift23 team as an Associate Producer for Divine Timing
Rocco is a Queens based filmmaker working across independent film as a producer, director, and 1st AD with a sharp eye for story and a love of collaboration. He is currently wrapping post-production on his directorial debut short film, Attaboy. He is stoked to be the 1st AD on Divine Timing, and is especially excited by its genre-blending tone and run-and-gun NYC style of filmmaking!
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Bradley got their start in sound mixing live events at the age of 14. From documentaries and corporate video to indie shorts, Bradley has done a little of everything and is excited to be joining the Divine Timing team as the Location Sound Mixer.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
We all like to think that if we had the power to time travel, we'd use it to make the world a better place.
But let's be real.
We'd probably use it for something extremely petty...like making sure your noncommittal girlfriend really loves you before you propose.
That's what our protagonist, Sage, decides to do when their bro from high school, Trevor, mysteriously figures out how to time travel. The only problem? Trevor's intentions are shifty at best. As Sage follows Trevor deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole of time-based manipulation, they are forced to realize a hard truth: true love doesn't come from proof, but from faith.
30k is an insanely small budget for a feature film. Which is why we're perfect for the job.
Over the past several years, we've made five short films with budgets ranging from $300 to $40,000. We've learned a lot, and cracked the code on how to make professional-quality films for a fraction of the cost. Not by cutting corners, but by cutting the red tape.
Most comparable feature films cost between 25 to 50 times as much as our film. This means each dollar you contribute will be 25 to 50 times as powerful.
We'll use the budget to pay and feed our primarily queer and trans cast and crew.
And we don't want to gatekeep. It's no secret that Hollywood is being eaten alive by corporate greed, mergers, sequels, and a general aversion to films with artistic integrity. If we want the art of good filmmaking to survive, we will have to figure out how to make things outside the system. So we will be breaking down every step of our process. We want this film to empower other filmmakers to create work on their terms, without having to wait for money from the corporate Hollywood system.
This is a film that could never exist inside the traditional studio system. The heavy majority of funded and programmed LGBTQ+ stories focus only on the painful aspects, such as the violence, difficulties of coming out, or strains on family. These stories are undeniably important. But it's also important to have optimistic love stories that give young queer folks a North Star for building their own lasting relationships.
DIVINE TIMING is the brainchild of Jack Dorfman (he/him) and Ayla Xuân Chi (they/he). We met in 2018 and made films together for three years before realizing we'd been madly in love the whole time. Last year, we got married!
We both can't believe how lucky we are. Not only to have found each other, but to have our love blossom inside of a culture built for straight people. This film was built on the foundation of our love for each other. We hope it can show young folks that queer and trans love is not only possible, but necessary.
We surround ourselves with dedicated artists committed to ethical production, where passion is valued and our labour is our own. We believe in working with artists who inspire us and are inspired with us in order to actively engage a community of storytellers who are rising up together—rather than fighting for the top.
The film business is built on hierarchy. We firmly believe this isn't the way to make the best films. Which is why on our sets, everyone from the director to the production assistant will be paid the same day rate. We always make sure everyone on our team has a creative stake in the project.
We love a good ol, mind bending time-travel movie that makes you think for days. Like Back to the Future, Groundhog Day, Edge of Tomorrow, About Time. But we noticed a trend with these films...they all involve a man using time travel to manipulate a woman in order to get what he wants. So we thought...what would these films looks like from her perspective? Could we build a story around the person being manipulated by the time traveler instead?
We also love a good ol romantic comedy that makes you believe in the power of love. But we realized most rom-coms stop at the moment the two leads get together, and then it's "happily ever after". But anyone who's been in a long term relationship knows that getting together is much easier than staying together.
By combining these two genres, we will use time travel as a deeper metaphor for toxic masculinity and the desire to control your partners’ perceptions of you.
3.8 Billion Years Ago: Time comes into existence
200,000 Years ago: Humans come into existence. They immediately fantasize about controlling time.
1989: When Harry Met Sally is released.
2018: Jack and Ayla meet, and bond over their shared love for the greatest rom-com ever made (When Harry Met Sally)
January 2023: Jack has a glimmer of an idea: a time travel movie that’s not about the time traveler, but the person being manipulated by said time traveler.
Spring 2023: Jack plans to propose to Ayla. He channels his anxiety about it into writing the script.
May 2023: Jack proposes! Ayla says...YES!
June 2023: First table read of the script.
June 2023-May 2024: Rewrite city.
May 2024: The script is done. Jack sends it to Sav Rodgers. He loves it and joins the team as Producer.
May 2024-September 2025: we try to get money the "right" way. But the evil corporate entities want something in return...the very heart of the project.
October 2025: Jack and Ayla get married!
November 2025: The team decides they'd rather be beholden to their own audience (you!) than evil corporate entities.
June 2026: Seed and Spark campaign! (📍You are here)
June-July 2026: PRE-PRODUCTION (we plan the movie)
August 2026: PRODUCTION (we shoot the movie)
Fall-Winter 2026: POST-PRODUCTION (we edit the movie)
Summer 2027: We set our movie free into the big wide world. They grow up so fast 🥲
3) Click the "Follow" button at the top of this page!
Benefit for you: You will be first to see updates on our film, including exclusive content that pulls back the curtain on our process
Benefit for us: Our page gets more visible, and Seed&Spark provides rewards as more people follow our campaign.
#2) Share our campaign!
Benefit for you: All your followers see you as a good samaritan who supports independent artists and LGBTQ+ representation.
Benefit for us: We build our community, and widen the impact of our film.
#1) Contribute!
Benefit for you: Not only will you receive one of our fancy rewards, but you're part of the project forever.
Benefit for us: Come on, this one's obvious. We get to make the movie.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Paying Cast and Crew
Costs $17,200
This will go towards the day rates for the cast and crew.
Insurance
Costs $2,500
Things can always go wrong...this will make sure it doesn't derail our shoot.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Jack is a writer, director, editor, & producer. He got his start making films at age 8 by taking his parents' home camcorder and accidentally taping over all their home movies. If you want to get on his good side, bring up musicals, Kieslowski, or Talking Heads. If you want to get on his bad side, give him some ketchup. He’s directed and edited numerous films that have gone on to be featured in Raindance, Denver Film Festival, Chelsea Film Festival, Ouray International Film Festival, and more, including a short film adaptation of the NY Times Critics' Pick play Stalking the Bogeyman.
Ayla is a trans Black and Vietnamese artist and shaman who thrives in the intersections of creativity and divinity. Xuân Chi’s work is often referred to as “love poems addressed to people in our community we are conditioned to forget”: Black, Indigenous, Asian, Queer and Trans People of Color, those experiencing homelessness, immigrants, and anyone who is (or has been) incarcerated. An Academy Nicholls Fellowship Semi-Finalist, their work in film and television has premiered in international film festivals and been taught in universities. The inaugural New Visions Fellow of National Queer Theatre and the Dramatist Guild, you may have seen them at Theatre Row, MCC, The Other Side of Silence, and throughout Denver. They’ve also been published in American Theatre, The Dramatist, Playbill, and Westword. They have spoken to thousands of people about Queer and Trans rights across panels, podcasts, and radio since 2014.
Originally from Kansas, Sav Rodgers is a filmmaker, screenwriter, and pop culture documentarian whose feature directorial debut CHASING CHASING AMY (Tribeca ‘23) explores the complicated legacy of Chasing Amy (1997) and its profound impression on his life. The TED Talk he gave in 2018 kickstarted this filmmaking journey, and spurred the writing of scripts that center on highly specific, surprising stories about queer people. His screenplays have been recognized by GLAAD, Outfest, ScreenCraft, among others. Named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Media List in 2024, Sav is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Transgender Film Center, a nonprofit aiming to help trans creators bring finished films to audiences around the world. Sav is a proud University of Kansas graduate and still sports KU baseball caps wherever he goes.
Sam Achtermann is a cinematographer based in based in Brooklyn. A co-founder of Good Furniture Films, Sam found his passion when he transitioned from writing to shooting in 2020. He loves hiking, speedy lens changes, and “the take where we try something fun.” His work mostly consists of gorgeous people brooding in hyper composed wide shots.
Raheem Mercy Badejo is an artist, producer, and lover of stories. Mostly known for their work in the realm of experimental theatre, they’re excited to join the Shift23 team as an Associate Producer for Divine Timing
Rocco is a Queens based filmmaker working across independent film as a producer, director, and 1st AD with a sharp eye for story and a love of collaboration. He is currently wrapping post-production on his directorial debut short film, Attaboy. He is stoked to be the 1st AD on Divine Timing, and is especially excited by its genre-blending tone and run-and-gun NYC style of filmmaking!
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Bradley got their start in sound mixing live events at the age of 14. From documentaries and corporate video to indie shorts, Bradley has done a little of everything and is excited to be joining the Divine Timing team as the Location Sound Mixer.