First Time?
Seattle, Washington | Film Short
Comedy, Drama
A alcohol-driven party filled with new ventures for its four remaining guests turns sour when a scarring memory takes control. "First Time?" starts as a slice-of-life comedy about spontaneity and ends as a psychological drama about unseen consequences and second chances.
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This campaign raised $4,010 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
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A alcohol-driven party filled with new ventures for its four remaining guests turns sour when a scarring memory takes control. "First Time?" starts as a slice-of-life comedy about spontaneity and ends as a psychological drama about unseen consequences and second chances.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The film opens with a Friday night hangout between the amiable host Selene, the playfully spontaneous Eva, the unhinged joker Chris, and the timid teetotaler Huey. After trying alcohol for the first time, Huey ends up livening up the party.
Eventually, Huey disappears, causing Selene to recount the traumatic reason Huey would always refuse to drink before. Suddenly, she is somehow thrust back in time, giving her a chance to amend the situation. In defending Huey, Selene is forced to sever her bonds with Eva and Chris. An unideal outcome, but at least Selene protected Huey's code. Or so she has been led to believe.
Selene never traveled back in time; this reimagination is merely her coping mechanism for, in her mind, failing Huey. In reality, Selene is estranged from these three guests, continuing to host, but always striving to prevent this situation from happening again. No matter how many new friends she now has the resolve to help, the pain refuses to go away.
Peer pressure can be incredibly destructive in the wrong situations. Its positive effects, like motivating us to try something we would end up enjoying, make it easier for us to become susceptible to dangerous influences. By the time we realize it, the damage may already be done.
High school bathrooms get locked up because teens hide there to vape. Gacha game players spend their savings because the five-star is surely one pull away. Lives are ended or ruined because of improper exposure to alcohol.
Who bears responsibility for these situations? Can people be blamed for crossing boundaries they never knew existed? What role do bystanders play to create a supportive environment?
First Time presents a fictional case to help viewers answer those questions. No one side is preached as dogma, and no one character is regarded as good or evil. Real life is complex, and we want to respect that complexity in a way that most similar PSAs fail to do.
I have been in numerous car crashes throughout my life. Although I walked away from each one alive, the emotional damage always proved to be the most painful. Why did that car stop on the freeway? Why did you suddenly go at a red light? Why am I always in the passenger seat whenever someone hits us on our right? I can tell who has never been through this based on how much they talk about reckless driving habits.
My high school attempted to organize a "mock crash" PSA. It failed. Instead of getting people to reflect on the dangers of drinking and driving, my classmates just laughed at the shoddy acting and setup. All of us knew this demonstration was something the leadership students did merely because they had to. Even though the topic of car crashes resonated with me, I couldn't be convinced to speak up and get my peers to take this seriously. What could I have said? People will go on believing these kinds of things will never happen to them.
And then it happened to us. That loss is why I don't drink. Despite everything, it's not about being on the road. It's not even about the substance itself, really. It's about people who don't think about consequences, or don't respect the consequences others have gone through.
The person I used to be. The bystander when his friend died.
Our current timeline for producing First Time? is as follows:
- March 2026: pre-production
- April 2026: principal photography
- Q2 2026: post-production
- August 2026: begin submission to film festivals
Pledge Donations
The team may have united through volunteer work with expenses out of our own pocket, but we aspire to see what we can accomplish with a greater budget. See our wishlist for more info on what we hope to put money towards. Any donations past our goal of $5,000 will be put towards giving our team greater pay and food. Your contributions will ensure that Rain at Daybreak can successfully produce First Time?, alongside more stories in the near future.
Follow/Share Our Story
Knowing we have an audience looking forward to this film enough to follow us and advertise for us will motivate us to make the best film we can. Sharing this fundraiser will not only increase our chances of being greenlit; it may also share the story with someone who needs to hear it.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast/Crew
Costs $3,400
Compensation for all team members for their work.
Art Department
Costs $1,000
Wardrobe and set pieces to define the setting.
Crafty
Costs $600
Food to ensure no one works on an empty stomach.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Jonathan “Jonny” Kwan is a programmer, a photographer, and the former president of LUX Film Production Club, a University of Washington student organization. His studies in philosophy and experience facilitating a debate club gave him the tenet that guides his artistic endeavors: every person has a story to tell. Although his narrative work so far has been limited to short films, he aspires to develop his own video games, currently pursuing a Certificate in Game Design through the University of Washington to prepare for that.
Jonny produced the award-winning short films such as Brown Pony (a 48 Hour Film Project entry) and Second Wind (currently in its festival run). He is currently directing and editing a documentary on the aforementioned LUX, Luminaries. His previous film works are available on YouTube, either under LUX or Rain at Daybreak, his personal brand. Info on these, alongside his photography work, can be found on his website.
Bishop Drewery is a psychology student at the University of Washington and a member of LUX Film Production Club. She's filled pretty much every film production role possible, but has the most experience as an assistant director. Her work can be accessed through her website. She is currently directing her sapphic cosmic horror short film OPIA.
Rome Drewery is a filmmaker, photographer, and experimental video artist in Seattle. Her focus is in telling stories based in love and technology. She joined the Rain at Daybreak team last year serving as the Director of Photography for Beyond Redemption, but this will be her eighth short film as DP with the LUX Film Club and broader Seattle area. She has been dedicated to every aspect of filmmaking. Check out her photographic work on Instagram.
Malavika Santhosh is a senior at UW double majoring in microbiology and molecular biology. She started acting last April and has been in multiple UW LUX/UW independent student films. She is incredibly excited to be a part of this project! Find her @malavikas04 on Instagram.
Alan Liu is an actor and model based in the Seattle Area. His first lead role was from the film, Intentional, also directed by Jonny Kwan. He began acting in films in 2024, and has since appeared in over thirty films. He is excited to bring the role of Huey to life! Find him @alannliu on Instagram.
Tess Raz's work can be found through her website.
Fun fact about Marcy Soyo! She shares a birthplace with Boba Tea: Taichung, Taiwan.
Jordan Cohen is a recent University of Washington graduate in design for performance, who has been working in film since their freshman year. She has worked on a number of local film projects, from indie features to shorts to music videos, as an art director and set decorator. She loves bringing a director's vision to life, and can't wait to do so with First Time. You can follow her at @chocolatechipcohen on Instagram.
Our team is still growing; you'll hear about the rest of us soon!
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The film opens with a Friday night hangout between the amiable host Selene, the playfully spontaneous Eva, the unhinged joker Chris, and the timid teetotaler Huey. After trying alcohol for the first time, Huey ends up livening up the party.
Eventually, Huey disappears, causing Selene to recount the traumatic reason Huey would always refuse to drink before. Suddenly, she is somehow thrust back in time, giving her a chance to amend the situation. In defending Huey, Selene is forced to sever her bonds with Eva and Chris. An unideal outcome, but at least Selene protected Huey's code. Or so she has been led to believe.
Selene never traveled back in time; this reimagination is merely her coping mechanism for, in her mind, failing Huey. In reality, Selene is estranged from these three guests, continuing to host, but always striving to prevent this situation from happening again. No matter how many new friends she now has the resolve to help, the pain refuses to go away.
Peer pressure can be incredibly destructive in the wrong situations. Its positive effects, like motivating us to try something we would end up enjoying, make it easier for us to become susceptible to dangerous influences. By the time we realize it, the damage may already be done.
High school bathrooms get locked up because teens hide there to vape. Gacha game players spend their savings because the five-star is surely one pull away. Lives are ended or ruined because of improper exposure to alcohol.
Who bears responsibility for these situations? Can people be blamed for crossing boundaries they never knew existed? What role do bystanders play to create a supportive environment?
First Time presents a fictional case to help viewers answer those questions. No one side is preached as dogma, and no one character is regarded as good or evil. Real life is complex, and we want to respect that complexity in a way that most similar PSAs fail to do.
I have been in numerous car crashes throughout my life. Although I walked away from each one alive, the emotional damage always proved to be the most painful. Why did that car stop on the freeway? Why did you suddenly go at a red light? Why am I always in the passenger seat whenever someone hits us on our right? I can tell who has never been through this based on how much they talk about reckless driving habits.
My high school attempted to organize a "mock crash" PSA. It failed. Instead of getting people to reflect on the dangers of drinking and driving, my classmates just laughed at the shoddy acting and setup. All of us knew this demonstration was something the leadership students did merely because they had to. Even though the topic of car crashes resonated with me, I couldn't be convinced to speak up and get my peers to take this seriously. What could I have said? People will go on believing these kinds of things will never happen to them.
And then it happened to us. That loss is why I don't drink. Despite everything, it's not about being on the road. It's not even about the substance itself, really. It's about people who don't think about consequences, or don't respect the consequences others have gone through.
The person I used to be. The bystander when his friend died.
Our current timeline for producing First Time? is as follows:
- March 2026: pre-production
- April 2026: principal photography
- Q2 2026: post-production
- August 2026: begin submission to film festivals
Pledge Donations
The team may have united through volunteer work with expenses out of our own pocket, but we aspire to see what we can accomplish with a greater budget. See our wishlist for more info on what we hope to put money towards. Any donations past our goal of $5,000 will be put towards giving our team greater pay and food. Your contributions will ensure that Rain at Daybreak can successfully produce First Time?, alongside more stories in the near future.
Follow/Share Our Story
Knowing we have an audience looking forward to this film enough to follow us and advertise for us will motivate us to make the best film we can. Sharing this fundraiser will not only increase our chances of being greenlit; it may also share the story with someone who needs to hear it.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast/Crew
Costs $3,400
Compensation for all team members for their work.
Art Department
Costs $1,000
Wardrobe and set pieces to define the setting.
Crafty
Costs $600
Food to ensure no one works on an empty stomach.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Jonathan “Jonny” Kwan is a programmer, a photographer, and the former president of LUX Film Production Club, a University of Washington student organization. His studies in philosophy and experience facilitating a debate club gave him the tenet that guides his artistic endeavors: every person has a story to tell. Although his narrative work so far has been limited to short films, he aspires to develop his own video games, currently pursuing a Certificate in Game Design through the University of Washington to prepare for that.
Jonny produced the award-winning short films such as Brown Pony (a 48 Hour Film Project entry) and Second Wind (currently in its festival run). He is currently directing and editing a documentary on the aforementioned LUX, Luminaries. His previous film works are available on YouTube, either under LUX or Rain at Daybreak, his personal brand. Info on these, alongside his photography work, can be found on his website.
Bishop Drewery is a psychology student at the University of Washington and a member of LUX Film Production Club. She's filled pretty much every film production role possible, but has the most experience as an assistant director. Her work can be accessed through her website. She is currently directing her sapphic cosmic horror short film OPIA.
Rome Drewery is a filmmaker, photographer, and experimental video artist in Seattle. Her focus is in telling stories based in love and technology. She joined the Rain at Daybreak team last year serving as the Director of Photography for Beyond Redemption, but this will be her eighth short film as DP with the LUX Film Club and broader Seattle area. She has been dedicated to every aspect of filmmaking. Check out her photographic work on Instagram.
Malavika Santhosh is a senior at UW double majoring in microbiology and molecular biology. She started acting last April and has been in multiple UW LUX/UW independent student films. She is incredibly excited to be a part of this project! Find her @malavikas04 on Instagram.
Alan Liu is an actor and model based in the Seattle Area. His first lead role was from the film, Intentional, also directed by Jonny Kwan. He began acting in films in 2024, and has since appeared in over thirty films. He is excited to bring the role of Huey to life! Find him @alannliu on Instagram.
Tess Raz's work can be found through her website.
Fun fact about Marcy Soyo! She shares a birthplace with Boba Tea: Taichung, Taiwan.
Jordan Cohen is a recent University of Washington graduate in design for performance, who has been working in film since their freshman year. She has worked on a number of local film projects, from indie features to shorts to music videos, as an art director and set decorator. She loves bringing a director's vision to life, and can't wait to do so with First Time. You can follow her at @chocolatechipcohen on Instagram.
Our team is still growing; you'll hear about the rest of us soon!