Hard on the Outside
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, Foreign Film
This film sheds light on the unspoken struggles of Los Angeles' Eastern European immigrants due to the war in Ukraine—guilt, grief, and identity. By supporting this project you help amplify these human stories, fostering understanding and connection in a time of division.
Hard on the Outside
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, Foreign Film
1 Campaigns |
Green Light
This campaign raised $16,336 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
21 supporters | followers
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This film sheds light on the unspoken struggles of Los Angeles' Eastern European immigrants due to the war in Ukraine—guilt, grief, and identity. By supporting this project you help amplify these human stories, fostering understanding and connection in a time of division.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Have you ever heard the expression, "with people, there are peaches, and there are coconuts?" In Eastern Europe people are "coconuts", they are hard on the outside, but soft on the inside. In America, everyone is a "peach" - soft on the outside, but with a hard center.
Millions of Eastern Europeans have fled the war in Ukraine. Each one of them goes through a terrifying emotional journey far from home.
Anya, Mila, Aleks, and Maksym are Russian and Ukrainian immigrants settling into their new lives in Los Angeles.
We experience their everyday struggles to acclimate to life in the West while we learn with them that "a smile goes a long way" in America.
This story reveals an emotional layer of the immigrant experience not yet told in any film - the struggle to adapt your facial expression in an “acceptable” way and present yourself to a different culture - all while living with a war in your heart.
Image credit: Elena (2011)
THE FILMMAKERS
Trevor and Daria have been together for 7 years - we have been a part of the Eastern European immigrant community in Los Angeles from before the war in Ukraine. We have witnessed first hand the changes that this horrible conflict has brought into our lives and the stories of the people of LA.
Our mission is to go beyond news headlines and bring audiences a more human story - one that is happening all around us.
Image credit: Layer Cake (2004)
THE STORY SO FAR
"Hard on the Outside" is already under development in so many crucial ways - we have cast our actors, secured some of our locations, and distributed the script to trusted filmmakers and collaborators who have made this narrative into something really special.
Please help us to spread the word by sharing this page and following us on Instagram @hardontheoutside.film you can also see all of our updates at hardontheoutside.com
OUR CHARACTERS
Anya (played by Julia Emelin) who witnesses the erosion of Russian cultural identity while working in an Eastern European grocery store.
Mila (played by Max Reeves) who experiences the shock of the war through social media.
Aleks (played by Yaroslav Umanets) a young man who fled the draft and is navigating the US from the bottom up.
Maksym (played by Elliot Jones) a Ukrainian American who gives Aleks the advice that he needs to survive in America.
Image credit: Hero (2012)
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Actor Compensation
Costs $4,820
SAG Micro Budget actors = $241/day on set for 5 days, with an average of 4 actors per day
Food/Catering
Costs $2,750
Making sure our Cast and Crew (of about 10 people) have snacks, lunch, and dinner for 5 production days
Production Design and Props
Costs $3,000
We need support for production design, set materials, and props to bring our story and characters to life.
Festival Submissions
Costs $410
Sundance: $50, TIFF: $55, Berlinale: $80, Venice FF: $75, SXSW: $45, Tribeca: $50, Locarno: $40, Clermont-Ferrand: $15
Insurance
Costs $3,205
Certificates of Insurance (COI) are needed to secure things like equipment and locations so the production is covered for accidents, etc
Grip & Lighting
Costs $2,000
Grip & Lighting equipment is essential for getting the look we are striving for and keeping shots consistent
Securing Locations
Costs $3,200
Our film includes several working business locations - we want to compensate these LA community members as much as we can for their support.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Trevor is American. Daria is Russian. We met in 2017 and were married in 2020. Together we have felt the joy and pain that come along with culture clashes in a polarized world. We often find more similarities between Russia and America than differences but one stands out: the difference between the way Americans and Russians present their smiles. Once we realized this fundamental difference we had found a story we needed to tell for so many people.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Have you ever heard the expression, "with people, there are peaches, and there are coconuts?" In Eastern Europe people are "coconuts", they are hard on the outside, but soft on the inside. In America, everyone is a "peach" - soft on the outside, but with a hard center.
Millions of Eastern Europeans have fled the war in Ukraine. Each one of them goes through a terrifying emotional journey far from home.
Anya, Mila, Aleks, and Maksym are Russian and Ukrainian immigrants settling into their new lives in Los Angeles.
We experience their everyday struggles to acclimate to life in the West while we learn with them that "a smile goes a long way" in America.
This story reveals an emotional layer of the immigrant experience not yet told in any film - the struggle to adapt your facial expression in an “acceptable” way and present yourself to a different culture - all while living with a war in your heart.
Image credit: Elena (2011)
THE FILMMAKERS
Trevor and Daria have been together for 7 years - we have been a part of the Eastern European immigrant community in Los Angeles from before the war in Ukraine. We have witnessed first hand the changes that this horrible conflict has brought into our lives and the stories of the people of LA.
Our mission is to go beyond news headlines and bring audiences a more human story - one that is happening all around us.
Image credit: Layer Cake (2004)
THE STORY SO FAR
"Hard on the Outside" is already under development in so many crucial ways - we have cast our actors, secured some of our locations, and distributed the script to trusted filmmakers and collaborators who have made this narrative into something really special.
Please help us to spread the word by sharing this page and following us on Instagram @hardontheoutside.film you can also see all of our updates at hardontheoutside.com
OUR CHARACTERS
Anya (played by Julia Emelin) who witnesses the erosion of Russian cultural identity while working in an Eastern European grocery store.
Mila (played by Max Reeves) who experiences the shock of the war through social media.
Aleks (played by Yaroslav Umanets) a young man who fled the draft and is navigating the US from the bottom up.
Maksym (played by Elliot Jones) a Ukrainian American who gives Aleks the advice that he needs to survive in America.
Image credit: Hero (2012)
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Actor Compensation
Costs $4,820
SAG Micro Budget actors = $241/day on set for 5 days, with an average of 4 actors per day
Food/Catering
Costs $2,750
Making sure our Cast and Crew (of about 10 people) have snacks, lunch, and dinner for 5 production days
Production Design and Props
Costs $3,000
We need support for production design, set materials, and props to bring our story and characters to life.
Festival Submissions
Costs $410
Sundance: $50, TIFF: $55, Berlinale: $80, Venice FF: $75, SXSW: $45, Tribeca: $50, Locarno: $40, Clermont-Ferrand: $15
Insurance
Costs $3,205
Certificates of Insurance (COI) are needed to secure things like equipment and locations so the production is covered for accidents, etc
Grip & Lighting
Costs $2,000
Grip & Lighting equipment is essential for getting the look we are striving for and keeping shots consistent
Securing Locations
Costs $3,200
Our film includes several working business locations - we want to compensate these LA community members as much as we can for their support.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Trevor is American. Daria is Russian. We met in 2017 and were married in 2020. Together we have felt the joy and pain that come along with culture clashes in a polarized world. We often find more similarities between Russia and America than differences but one stands out: the difference between the way Americans and Russians present their smiles. Once we realized this fundamental difference we had found a story we needed to tell for so many people.