Here & Again
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama
A live-action short film directed by Matthew Lai. When ill-mannered 6-year old Ethan is left by his mother to be babysat by his elderly grandma, he must contend with a new understanding of life.
Here & Again
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $21,900 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
34 supporters | followers
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A live-action short film directed by Matthew Lai. When ill-mannered 6-year old Ethan is left by his mother to be babysat by his elderly grandma, he must contend with a new understanding of life.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Here and Again is a live-action short film, but it's more than just a story—it's a personal tribute to my grandmother. By helping me create this, you're supporting the message that love and connection can transcend any barrier.
Art by Matthew Lai
This film tells the story of Ethan, a mischievous brat, and his grandma (Ama) as they navigate life together in the midst of Summer. Youth clashes against old in a charming tale about growth, empathy, and love.
Here and Again will be a fable for young audiences and a love letter for adults. It'll make you laugh, perhaps cry, and maybe even make you want to call your grandparents. Ultimately, this film is a celebration of a life well lived.
"Ama whispers into his ear. A secret. Ethan listens carefully as he cherishes every word."
The inspiration for this story came from my own relationship with my grandmother. When I was a kid, she would spend summers with my family, helping to take care of me. I was often afraid of the dark, so she would sing Taiwanese lullabies to comfort me.
Eventually, she moved back to Taiwan and I grew up. As time passed, her memory faded until she soon couldn’t recognize me anymore.
However, when I visit her, there is one thing I can do to jog her memory. I sing the first few lines of that lullaby she taught me all those years ago. She always says, “Oh, it’s you!” and remembers that kid she cared for long ago.
This is the story of one of those summers years ago...
Art by Matthew Lai
"Ethan notices Ama looking up. He follows her gaze. They watch the trees painting the sky above."
Quiet and intimate, yet entertaining and emotional. This is a film that will make you laugh and melt your heart at the same time. Here and Again finds beauty in the little moments, inviting the audience to slow down and appreciate life's subtleties, just like Ama. It's a film that feels both tender and bittersweet, infused with a sense of nostalgia.
"The downpour torrents across the cucumber vines, stems bent like hunched old men. Every droplet lands like bullets barraging the ground."
Art by Matthew Lai
"An elderly hand presses into the loamy soil. Water wends through Ama’s wrinkles as if her veins are mountains."
Every dollar you contribute goes directly toward production costs—like supporting our team, securing locations, equipment, and creating the world of Ethan and Ama. Your support will also allow us to craft the delicate sound design, immersive visuals, and beautiful performances that this story deserves.
By donating to this campaign, you're not just funding a film—you’re supporting a story about love, memory, and the connections that tie us together. Every contribution, whether big or small, helps bring Here and Again to life and gets us one step closer to sharing this film with the world.
Want more ways to support Here and Again?
FOLLOW us on Instagram: @Hereandagainfilm
SHARE this Campaign with a friend!
Here is an example of what you can copy, paste & share:
Help @matthewlai906, @binaypinar, @camilagrimaldi_, @jpsturm and their team by supporting their short film 'Here and Again!' It's about a 6-year old boy who gets left at his grandmother's house, only to discover a new way of viewing life. Donate to their campaign on Seed&Spark: https://seedandspark.com/fund/hereandagainfilm
Art by Matthew Lai
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Locations
Costs $3,000
We need to secure a location, so we have a set to dress!
Camera
Costs $2,000
So we have something to shoot on!
Post Production
Costs $4,500
The bow on top! So we can bring it all together.
Crew
Costs $3,000
We need a talented crew in order to pull this off.
Cast
Costs $1,500
Our stellar cast deserves to be paid.
Transportation
Costs $2,500
For transporting our cast, crew, and equipment safely.
Food
Costs $1,500
In order to cater for our wonderful cast and crew.
Art
Costs $2,000
Production design to create immersive sets.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
MATTHEW LAI
Writer/Director
Matthew Lai is a Taiwanese-American writer and director based in New York City. After graduating from NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Matthew’s short films have premiered across the globe, including the Tokyo International Short Film Festival (Best Horror Short Winner), Toronto Indie Filmmakers Festival (Best Cinematography Winner) and Roma Short Film Festival. Matthew’s work has also premiered in the US at the SOHO International Film Festival and New Faces New Voices. Matthew is inspired by the works of Hayao Miyazaki, Guillermo del Toro, and Hirokazu Kore-eda.
PINAR BINAY
Producer
Pinar, originally from a small town in Western Turkey, is a creative producer based in Los Angeles. 2023 Film Independent Project Involve fellow on the producing track and a graduate of NYU Tisch, she produces various content ranging from short films to TV pilots. Pinar’s previous work has screened at Oscar-qualifying film festivals, including HollyShorts. Coming from an immigrant background, Pinar aspires to find the most authentic stories in innovatively told histories.
CAMILA GRIMALDI
Producer
Camila is an Argentinean-American filmmaker based in Brooklyn. Under the banner Ser Nocturna, the production company she co-founded with Arielle Friedman, she has produced multiple award-winning short films which have screened at Woodstock Film Festival, Montclair Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, and Athena Film Festival, among others. She has also produced work for clients like Atlantic Records, Universal Music Group, and Mischief Management. She is a Film Independent Producing Lab fellow and was a finalist for the inaugural Imaginar Producer’s Residency (Film Independent/Searchlight Pictures/NALIP). Camila is excited to be a part of the Here and Again team!
JOSHUA STURM
Director of Photography
Born in Oklahoma and raised in Dallas, Texas by a family with a love for photography, Josh has had a camera in his hands since childhood. After finding a love for filmmaking in his high school’s film program he moved to New York City for college where he met Matthew and Pinar. At NYU he joined this duo to work as cinematographer on several of Matt’s previous films. He has spent the years since graduating working as a gaffer and in lighting teams for feature films and commercials. He was the Assistant Chief Lighting Technician for Memory (dir. Michel Franco), Silent Partner (dir. Eric Branco), and has also worked on projects like American Horror Story. His favorite movie is Alien.
HARLEY JAMES SHEPPARD
Music Composer
Harley is an amalgamation of his influences, pulling inspiration from a wide variety of genres and artists. With an upbringing heavy in jazz, his ear is fond of the more "exploratory" side of music, finding comfort in the dissonances. He also has an appreciation for contemporary classical, and is passionate about melding the worlds of jazz and classical to create unique textures that work hand in hand with unique pictures. Harley looks up to film composers such as Johnny Greenwood, Hildur Guðnadóttir, and Nicholas Britell for their distinctive voices in the industry.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Here and Again is a live-action short film, but it's more than just a story—it's a personal tribute to my grandmother. By helping me create this, you're supporting the message that love and connection can transcend any barrier.
Art by Matthew Lai
This film tells the story of Ethan, a mischievous brat, and his grandma (Ama) as they navigate life together in the midst of Summer. Youth clashes against old in a charming tale about growth, empathy, and love.
Here and Again will be a fable for young audiences and a love letter for adults. It'll make you laugh, perhaps cry, and maybe even make you want to call your grandparents. Ultimately, this film is a celebration of a life well lived.
"Ama whispers into his ear. A secret. Ethan listens carefully as he cherishes every word."
The inspiration for this story came from my own relationship with my grandmother. When I was a kid, she would spend summers with my family, helping to take care of me. I was often afraid of the dark, so she would sing Taiwanese lullabies to comfort me.
Eventually, she moved back to Taiwan and I grew up. As time passed, her memory faded until she soon couldn’t recognize me anymore.
However, when I visit her, there is one thing I can do to jog her memory. I sing the first few lines of that lullaby she taught me all those years ago. She always says, “Oh, it’s you!” and remembers that kid she cared for long ago.
This is the story of one of those summers years ago...
Art by Matthew Lai
"Ethan notices Ama looking up. He follows her gaze. They watch the trees painting the sky above."
Quiet and intimate, yet entertaining and emotional. This is a film that will make you laugh and melt your heart at the same time. Here and Again finds beauty in the little moments, inviting the audience to slow down and appreciate life's subtleties, just like Ama. It's a film that feels both tender and bittersweet, infused with a sense of nostalgia.
"The downpour torrents across the cucumber vines, stems bent like hunched old men. Every droplet lands like bullets barraging the ground."
Art by Matthew Lai
"An elderly hand presses into the loamy soil. Water wends through Ama’s wrinkles as if her veins are mountains."
Every dollar you contribute goes directly toward production costs—like supporting our team, securing locations, equipment, and creating the world of Ethan and Ama. Your support will also allow us to craft the delicate sound design, immersive visuals, and beautiful performances that this story deserves.
By donating to this campaign, you're not just funding a film—you’re supporting a story about love, memory, and the connections that tie us together. Every contribution, whether big or small, helps bring Here and Again to life and gets us one step closer to sharing this film with the world.
Want more ways to support Here and Again?
FOLLOW us on Instagram: @Hereandagainfilm
SHARE this Campaign with a friend!
Here is an example of what you can copy, paste & share:
Help @matthewlai906, @binaypinar, @camilagrimaldi_, @jpsturm and their team by supporting their short film 'Here and Again!' It's about a 6-year old boy who gets left at his grandmother's house, only to discover a new way of viewing life. Donate to their campaign on Seed&Spark: https://seedandspark.com/fund/hereandagainfilm
Art by Matthew Lai
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Locations
Costs $3,000
We need to secure a location, so we have a set to dress!
Camera
Costs $2,000
So we have something to shoot on!
Post Production
Costs $4,500
The bow on top! So we can bring it all together.
Crew
Costs $3,000
We need a talented crew in order to pull this off.
Cast
Costs $1,500
Our stellar cast deserves to be paid.
Transportation
Costs $2,500
For transporting our cast, crew, and equipment safely.
Food
Costs $1,500
In order to cater for our wonderful cast and crew.
Art
Costs $2,000
Production design to create immersive sets.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
MATTHEW LAI
Writer/Director
Matthew Lai is a Taiwanese-American writer and director based in New York City. After graduating from NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Matthew’s short films have premiered across the globe, including the Tokyo International Short Film Festival (Best Horror Short Winner), Toronto Indie Filmmakers Festival (Best Cinematography Winner) and Roma Short Film Festival. Matthew’s work has also premiered in the US at the SOHO International Film Festival and New Faces New Voices. Matthew is inspired by the works of Hayao Miyazaki, Guillermo del Toro, and Hirokazu Kore-eda.
PINAR BINAY
Producer
Pinar, originally from a small town in Western Turkey, is a creative producer based in Los Angeles. 2023 Film Independent Project Involve fellow on the producing track and a graduate of NYU Tisch, she produces various content ranging from short films to TV pilots. Pinar’s previous work has screened at Oscar-qualifying film festivals, including HollyShorts. Coming from an immigrant background, Pinar aspires to find the most authentic stories in innovatively told histories.
CAMILA GRIMALDI
Producer
Camila is an Argentinean-American filmmaker based in Brooklyn. Under the banner Ser Nocturna, the production company she co-founded with Arielle Friedman, she has produced multiple award-winning short films which have screened at Woodstock Film Festival, Montclair Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, and Athena Film Festival, among others. She has also produced work for clients like Atlantic Records, Universal Music Group, and Mischief Management. She is a Film Independent Producing Lab fellow and was a finalist for the inaugural Imaginar Producer’s Residency (Film Independent/Searchlight Pictures/NALIP). Camila is excited to be a part of the Here and Again team!
JOSHUA STURM
Director of Photography
Born in Oklahoma and raised in Dallas, Texas by a family with a love for photography, Josh has had a camera in his hands since childhood. After finding a love for filmmaking in his high school’s film program he moved to New York City for college where he met Matthew and Pinar. At NYU he joined this duo to work as cinematographer on several of Matt’s previous films. He has spent the years since graduating working as a gaffer and in lighting teams for feature films and commercials. He was the Assistant Chief Lighting Technician for Memory (dir. Michel Franco), Silent Partner (dir. Eric Branco), and has also worked on projects like American Horror Story. His favorite movie is Alien.
HARLEY JAMES SHEPPARD
Music Composer
Harley is an amalgamation of his influences, pulling inspiration from a wide variety of genres and artists. With an upbringing heavy in jazz, his ear is fond of the more "exploratory" side of music, finding comfort in the dissonances. He also has an appreciation for contemporary classical, and is passionate about melding the worlds of jazz and classical to create unique textures that work hand in hand with unique pictures. Harley looks up to film composers such as Johnny Greenwood, Hildur Guðnadóttir, and Nicholas Britell for their distinctive voices in the industry.