Love is the deepest connection possible. And loss? Loss is the deepest pain. GIVE explores the transformative power of music in the difficult transition between these emotions.
Love is the deepest connection possible. And loss? Loss is the deepest pain. GIVE explores the transformative power of music in the difficult transition between these emotions.
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Story
Mission Statement
Love is love. On screen our leads Adam and Patrick give life to this truth, which pushes the audience to root for their love regardless of sexual orientation. Our director leads a dynamic cast and brings together a kick ass crew of women and men with diverse backgrounds and beliefs.About The Project
GIVE is a multi-layered tale of the passionate romance between Adam, a contemporary composer-pianist, and Patrick, a classical singer. The two have a special gift... music. It's what brought them to each other. Adam finds comfort with each stroke of the piano. And when Patrick sings, everyone listens. When they play together, their connection is palpable. Each passing day brings ordinary and extraordinary moments to them. They live a night at a diner with the same intensity as a dreamy day at the beach. But once their love crescendos, Adam is forced to process the loss and betrayal the only way he knows how.
In this queer narrative short film, a lyrical and contemplative score and snippets of poetic voiceover support Adam and Patrick's dreamlike memories. With minimal dialogue, the film foregrounds the heartbeat of the story: the music. This essential component of the film, composed by our director Kenya Gillespie, will be recorded by a small chamber orchestra at world-class recording studio Wire Road Studios in Houston, TX.
This project is a thesis film for the MFA program in film & media production at The University of Texas at Austin. This highly selective program brings together talented storytellers from all over the world.
Characters
Mood Boards
A Note From The Director
GIVE is a highly personal project. Eight years ago I created a multimedia piece for live orchestra and video as a music composition master's student at Rice University. Though I did not immediately realize it, the writing and performance of the piece became a vehicle for me to deal with my emotions, specifically those that I had been feeling around an emotional breakup. I see GIVE as my love letter to music and film, a nexus of my personal experiences as a composer, my memories of my past relationships, and my evolution as a filmmaker. My hope is that in telling this story, I am able to emphasize the compelling connections between film and music and the ways in which they both serve as powerful tools for empathy and personal transformation.
Financial Needs
Your contribution is essential to produce the rhythm and beauty each frame requires. The funds raised from this campaign will contribute to expenses related to securing locations, casting, music recording and wardrobe. Since the music is integral to the film narrative, we want it to have a full, textural quality that can only be achieved by recording live musicians in the studio. Without these elements, our film will lack heart and authenticity. Join us on this journey to make a unique, queer, cinematic experience!
COVID-19 Protocol
The health and safety of our cast and crew is our top priority. The production will adhere to the following four safety practices: COVID-19 testing, social distancing, personal protective equipment (PPE), and disinfecting on set. We consider these new guidelines absolutely necessary, not only to maintain the safety and health of our community, but also to maintain a high level of production.
Incentives
$10
Adagio
We need tempo! For jumping in, you'll be included in the closing credits of our film + receive access to a curated playlist of the music that inspired our original score.
$25
Andante
You're the song! Add the download of our original score to your music library + original cover art & liner notes.
*Includes all perks mentioned above
$50
Andantino
Double time now! Get a digital process pack that includes a PDF of our script & lookbook + behind-the-scene photos from production.
*Includes all perks mentioned above
$60
For Mom
Serenade Mom on her day with an original piano performance and a special message from our director/composer <3
*includes all perks mentioned above
Sold Out!
$100
Allegretto
Press ► & pop the corn! A VIP download to watch the completed film prior to its release.
*Includes all perks mentioned above, excluding Mother's Day incentive
$150
Stretch Goal Special (Unlocked)
Stretch goal special! An 11x17 GIVE poster signed by our director.
*Includes all perks mentioned above, excluding Mother's Day incentive
Claimed: 1 of 3
$250
Allegro
It's showtime! Join our cast for a scene at the concert hall.
*Includes all perks mentioned above, excluding Mother's Day incentive & stretch goal special
$500
Vivace
You're rare, like the signed copy of the original music sheet you'll receive at this level.
*Includes all perks mentioned above, excluding Mother's Day incentive & stretch goal special
Sold Out!
$1,000
Presto
Shimmy on with us to a one-day visit to set or the music recording session with our small chamber orchestra + Associate Producer credit in the closing of the film.
*Includes all perks mentioned above, excluding Mother's Day incentive & stretch goal special
$2,000
Prestissimo
Over 200 bpm? We {almost} can't take it + Executive Producer credit in the opening of the film.
*Includes all perks mentioned above, excluding Mother's Day incentive & stretch goal special
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
Adagio
We need tempo! For jumping in, you'll be included in the closing credits of our film + receive access to a curated playlist of the music that inspired our original score.
$25
Andante
You're the song! Add the download of our original score to your music library + original cover art & liner notes.
*Includes all perks mentioned above
$50
Andantino
Double time now! Get a digital process pack that includes a PDF of our script & lookbook + behind-the-scene photos from production.
*Includes all perks mentioned above
$60
For Mom
Serenade Mom on her day with an original piano performance and a special message from our director/composer <3
*includes all perks mentioned above
Sold Out!
$100
Allegretto
Press ► & pop the corn! A VIP download to watch the completed film prior to its release.
*Includes all perks mentioned above, excluding Mother's Day incentive
$150
Stretch Goal Special (Unlocked)
Stretch goal special! An 11x17 GIVE poster signed by our director.
*Includes all perks mentioned above, excluding Mother's Day incentive
Claimed: 1 of 3
$250
Allegro
It's showtime! Join our cast for a scene at the concert hall.
*Includes all perks mentioned above, excluding Mother's Day incentive & stretch goal special
$500
Vivace
You're rare, like the signed copy of the original music sheet you'll receive at this level.
*Includes all perks mentioned above, excluding Mother's Day incentive & stretch goal special
Sold Out!
$1,000
Presto
Shimmy on with us to a one-day visit to set or the music recording session with our small chamber orchestra + Associate Producer credit in the closing of the film.
*Includes all perks mentioned above, excluding Mother's Day incentive & stretch goal special
$2,000
Prestissimo
Over 200 bpm? We {almost} can't take it + Executive Producer credit in the opening of the film.
*Includes all perks mentioned above, excluding Mother's Day incentive & stretch goal special
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
Kenya Gillespie is a Japanese American filmmaker living in Austin, TX. His short film “Jeremiah” received its international premiere at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival (Cinéfondation) where it was nominated for the short film Queer Palm. It was selected for numerous other festivals including Fantastic Fest, Outfest LA, Champs Élysées Film Festival, and Toronto Inside Out LGBT Film Festival. His documentary short “The Crystal City” and narrative short “Pray for Dottie” were selected for the 2018 and 2019 Denius Student Showcase at SXSW. He received a BA in music from Yale University and an MM in music composition from Rice University. He is currently an MFA graduate student in Film & Media Production at the University of Texas at Austin.
Maggie M. Bailey is an award-winning producer and documentary filmmaker interested in making work that pushes form and structure while exploring unheard voices and niche communities. In 2018, she was a nominee for the Princess Grace Foundation Award and the Kodak Excellence in Filmmaking Award. She was nominated for the Princess Grace Foundation Award again in 2019. The work she has directed and produced has screened in festivals including SXSW, Frameline, DOCNYC, Atlanta Film Festival, BAMcinemaFest, CineKink, Sidewalk Film Festival and more. Her last films Sweet Sweet Kink: A Collection of BDSM Stories and Things That Happen in the Bathroom are currently screening in festivals nationally and internationally. She is working towards completing her MFA in Film & Media Production from the University of Texas at Austin.
Arturo R. Jiménez is a Mexican filmmaker and journalist. He has directed, produced and photographed films in Mexico, the United States, the Czech Republic, Cuba and Nicaragua. His writing is centered on music and artistic expression, having previously written for over a dozen newspapers, websites and other publications. He has worked with internationally renowned filmmakers including Peter Greenaway, Matt Dillon, Rigoberto Perezcano and Alejandro Jodorowsky. Arturo’s interests lie in the exploration of human behavior in both narrative and documentary films.
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