我愛你 (I Love You)
Atlanta, Georgia | Film Short
Drama, Family
Based on a true story, "I Love You" takes place at a familiar yet strained Chinese-American dining table. The Jones family comes together to enjoy one final meal while the weight of Grandma’s battle with dementia and impending return to Hong Kong hangs heavy in the air.
我愛你 (I Love You)
Atlanta, Georgia | Film Short
Drama, Family
1 Campaigns | Georgia, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $20,255 for pre-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
154 supporters | followers
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Based on a true story, "I Love You" takes place at a familiar yet strained Chinese-American dining table. The Jones family comes together to enjoy one final meal while the weight of Grandma’s battle with dementia and impending return to Hong Kong hangs heavy in the air.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Step into the heartwarming world of "I Love You", where the rich cultures of China are weaved together with Southern American values to create the brilliant tapestry that sets the scene. Join the Jones family on their emotional journey as they grapple with the challenges of Grandma's battle with dementia during her limited time in the United States. The family comes together for one final night before she goes back to Hong Kong. This captivating tale is inspired by our director's family story, infusing authenticity and love into every moment.
Based on the true story of Naomi’s Grandmother.
Setting : “I Love You” takes place in a 90s American suburban dining room. A family enjoys a Cantonese dinner, but their beloved grandmother's battle with dementia takes center stage. The family is led by a series of heartbreaking moments of frustration and pain as they know this is her last time in America.
Director Statement: For this short film, I felt compelled to share a deeply personal story that explores the complexities of my mother’s Chinese heritage and the challenges of my grandmothers’ years-long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. During my grandmother’s last visit to the U.S. in the late 1990s, the onset of her illness began to have a significant impact of our family. This film seeks to capture both that experience as well as the experience of immigration, my mother’s story. Having witnessed both experiences, I think they should be explored as there is a lot of misunderstanding around both concepts, and that exploration will help others become more open-minded and willing to ask questions to foster dialogue and action, particularly Alzheimer’s as many families are still affected by it, but we are often hesitant to talk about it.
This project draws heavily from the visual language of other prominent pieces of Asian-American cinema including, 'Dim Sum,' 'The Farewell,' and 'Everything Everywhere All At Once.' An emotionally challenging aesthetic that utilizes soft lighting, warm tones, and organic shot composition to capture and blend deeply-rooted feelings of nostalgia, despair, and hope. All while exploring the timeless themes of family, acceptance, and forgiveness.
Pictured here is our key creative team. One of the many goals of this Georgia-based project is to highlight the talents of local, southern-based artists. This is a group with a track record for success, as many of us have previously collaborated on award-winning productions through Atlanta's tight-knit film community. What brings us together again for this special film is our shared love of storytelling and for projects that highlight on-screen representation.
Funding will cover location rentals, culturally rich props, camera equipment, and supporting our cast and crew. The project aims for a 2024 festival run, followed by a public release preimer, highlighting Alzheimer's impact within the Asian-American community.
In conclusion, In "I love you", we delve into the poignant journey of a Chinese-American family as they witness their grandmother navigate the complex emotions of joy, confusion, and frustration during her initial encounter with Alzheimer's disease. Thank you for joining us on this heartfelt exploration.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Contingency
Costs $1,000
To help prepare for the unexpected when needed.
Art Department + Props
Costs $2,000
Help make our film look aesthetically beautiful. The Art Department is a significant element for the mid 90s style.
Location Fee
Costs $4,000
A dream location of an authentic 90s home to film in
Cast
Costs $1,600
Help pay our incredibly hardworking talent
Catering
Costs $2,000
We need to feed 29 cast and crew members on set every day. Food donations are always welcome!
Crew
Costs $4,400
This will cover 22 local crew members working in various departments
Camera & Lighting
Costs $3,600
This includes a range of equipments needed such as hard drives, camera gear, lighting rentals, and sound equipments.
SAG Fee
Costs $1,000
To help cover our payroll and SAG Fringe
Hair & Make Up
Costs $600
Goes directly to our Hair & Make Up department to create looks from the mid 90s to our amazing cast.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Naomi Smith-Director/ Writer
As an Atlanta native with a biracial background and bilingual proficiency, Naomi Smith stands at the forefront of a vibrant and diverse creative community. With over a decade of experience collaborating with the city's brightest talents in the Art, Set Dec & Props Department, she has recently embarked on an exhilarating new journey into screenwriting and directing. Beyond her fervor for filmmaking, Naomi is propelled by a powerful mission – to champion spaces and opportunities for underrepresented individuals, to educate, and to explore uncharted territories in storytelling. Notably, her commitment passionately extends to spotlighting overlooked mental health narratives.
Justin Dombrowski-Director of Photography
Justin is a seasoned cinematographer with a diverse background that includes extensive experience in both commercial and narrative storytelling. His career journey, which began as a first camera assistant and expanded into the realm of post-production, has equipped him with a multifaceted skill set. What sets Justin's work apart is its nuanced approach, characterized by a rich emotional depth and a distinct nostalgic touch. His expertise extends across various formats, with a particular emphasis on short films and narrative storytelling, where his unique vision shines through.
Jack Ha-Producer
Jack Ha is an actor by trade and is co-partners with East by Southeast, a distinguished organization committed to supporting, curating, and empowering Asian artists in Atlanta. Furthermore, this collaboration underscores our joint mission to foster the inclusion of Asian-American voices within the vibrant tapestry of the Atlanta community. Jack Ha brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this initiative and his role as an occasional Standardized Patient for various universities and hospitals and Technical Advisor further highlights his multifaceted contributions to the local arts and healthcare sectors.
Daniel Oramas-Producer
Daniel Oramas is an award winning Director-Producer and founder of Debonair Films. He started Debonair in 2019 with a dream of telling beautiful, impactful stories with a classic twist. A bilingual upbringing in a Cuban-Dominican household instilled a fierce passion for other cultures and languages, and an appreciation that each art form has its own language that transcends borders. Oramas' comprehensive background in directing, editing, lighting, and photography in theater and film has brought a quality to his work that has earned numerous awards for his films. He has been fortunate enough to produce internationally in Mexico, Guatemala, the US Virgin Islands, and Italy. His passion, dedication and artistry have grown Debonair Films to one of Atlanta’s premier film production companies.
Kristina Jin - Producer
Kristina Jin is a proud 1st Generation Chinese-American artist. She is California born, Texas raised, and discovered her love of storytelling in a local community theatre production of Expecting Isabel in Wisconsin. The groundbreaking film, Crazy Rich Asians, inspired and empowered her to pursue a career in acting, prompting yet another cross-country move to Atlanta in 2021. She is extremely passionate about telling inclusive stories that showcase the authentic Asian American experience. Her recent on-screen credits include Will Trent, Give Me An A, and Wokman.
Matthew Myslinski - Producer/Assistant Director
Matthew Myslinski is an independent film director whose work has screened at festivals and venues worldwide, including the Festival de Cannes and Universal Studios Hollywood. Along with writing and directing his own projects, Matthew actively participates as crew on award-winning feature films and television series with a wide variety of entertainment companies including Warner Bros. Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Marvel Studios, HBO, Netflix, National Geographic, 20th Century Television, NBC Universal Television, and ABC Studios. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Matthew holds a BFA in Cinematic Arts and is happy to have a filmmaking education to supplement his work in the field. Now residing in Atlanta, Georgia, Matthew is intrinsically motivated to forward his career in exciting, new directions as he continues to chase that next big story.
Jordan Blair Brown - Casting Director
Jordan Brown was born and raised in Kentucky before diving into the film industry. She was the Casting Director for Beast Beast (Ornana Films - World Premiere Sundance), ONLY (World Premiere Tribeca - Available on Amazon), Summer 03 (World Premiere at SXSW - Available on Amazon), Mine 9 (Available on Amazon and Netflix), Tulsa (Available on Amazon) and upcoming productions You’re Killing Me and Courtney Gets Possessed. She enjoys bringing compelling talent to powerful independent films.
Casting since 2017.
Jenna Winstead - Production Designer
Jenna Winstead, a talented production designer and art director, born and raised in Tennessee but found her artistic home in Atlanta's thriving film industry eight years ago. With a knack for understanding color, texture, lighting, and design, Jenna has art directed TV shows and commercials, leaving a lasting impact on each project. Her friendship with Naomi, sparked on a kids' escape room show, has been a highlight both professionally and personally. When not immersed in the world of production, Jenna dedicates her time to friends and her beloved dog, Totem. Jenna's journey from Tennessee to Atlanta is not just about her career but also a testament to her adventurous spirit and commitment to bringing stories to life through her creative vision.
Ken Misaki - Art Director
Ken Misaki, seamlessly translates his creative ideas into captivating designs. Starting his journey as a theater actor and stage manager before venturing into filmmaking, Ken discovered his passion for production design & art direction. The intersection of these roles informs his unique outlook on the industry. The pivotal moment that sparked his interest in production design occurred on a film set when he walked into a transformed "character’s office." Inspired by the art department's magic in creating a captivating atmosphere, Ken transitioned into working in the field. Having immersed himself in both Western and Japanese cultures from a young age, Ken brings a versatile perspective to his production designs. For him, the most rewarding aspect of being a Production Designer & Art Direction is witnessing the director's vision come to life, crafting sets with a rare artistic fluency.
Kelly Harrell - Prop Master
Kelly Harrell, a Georgia native, discovered her passion for set decoration and props after meeting Naomi on Titan Games Season S1. Gifted in working with her hands, she is also a metalsmith in her spare time. Kelly's natural talent led her to work on major productions like The Walking Dead, Wonder Years, Will Trent and more. Alongside Naomi, she excels with her in food styling major food and beverage brands, showcasing their collaborative creative brilliance and close partnership showcased their collective expertise and creative synergy, resulting in visually stunning and impactful projects. Beyond her thriving career in the film industry, Kelly continues to express her artistic skills and many mediums.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Step into the heartwarming world of "I Love You", where the rich cultures of China are weaved together with Southern American values to create the brilliant tapestry that sets the scene. Join the Jones family on their emotional journey as they grapple with the challenges of Grandma's battle with dementia during her limited time in the United States. The family comes together for one final night before she goes back to Hong Kong. This captivating tale is inspired by our director's family story, infusing authenticity and love into every moment.
Based on the true story of Naomi’s Grandmother.
Setting : “I Love You” takes place in a 90s American suburban dining room. A family enjoys a Cantonese dinner, but their beloved grandmother's battle with dementia takes center stage. The family is led by a series of heartbreaking moments of frustration and pain as they know this is her last time in America.
Director Statement: For this short film, I felt compelled to share a deeply personal story that explores the complexities of my mother’s Chinese heritage and the challenges of my grandmothers’ years-long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. During my grandmother’s last visit to the U.S. in the late 1990s, the onset of her illness began to have a significant impact of our family. This film seeks to capture both that experience as well as the experience of immigration, my mother’s story. Having witnessed both experiences, I think they should be explored as there is a lot of misunderstanding around both concepts, and that exploration will help others become more open-minded and willing to ask questions to foster dialogue and action, particularly Alzheimer’s as many families are still affected by it, but we are often hesitant to talk about it.
This project draws heavily from the visual language of other prominent pieces of Asian-American cinema including, 'Dim Sum,' 'The Farewell,' and 'Everything Everywhere All At Once.' An emotionally challenging aesthetic that utilizes soft lighting, warm tones, and organic shot composition to capture and blend deeply-rooted feelings of nostalgia, despair, and hope. All while exploring the timeless themes of family, acceptance, and forgiveness.
Pictured here is our key creative team. One of the many goals of this Georgia-based project is to highlight the talents of local, southern-based artists. This is a group with a track record for success, as many of us have previously collaborated on award-winning productions through Atlanta's tight-knit film community. What brings us together again for this special film is our shared love of storytelling and for projects that highlight on-screen representation.
Funding will cover location rentals, culturally rich props, camera equipment, and supporting our cast and crew. The project aims for a 2024 festival run, followed by a public release preimer, highlighting Alzheimer's impact within the Asian-American community.
In conclusion, In "I love you", we delve into the poignant journey of a Chinese-American family as they witness their grandmother navigate the complex emotions of joy, confusion, and frustration during her initial encounter with Alzheimer's disease. Thank you for joining us on this heartfelt exploration.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Contingency
Costs $1,000
To help prepare for the unexpected when needed.
Art Department + Props
Costs $2,000
Help make our film look aesthetically beautiful. The Art Department is a significant element for the mid 90s style.
Location Fee
Costs $4,000
A dream location of an authentic 90s home to film in
Cast
Costs $1,600
Help pay our incredibly hardworking talent
Catering
Costs $2,000
We need to feed 29 cast and crew members on set every day. Food donations are always welcome!
Crew
Costs $4,400
This will cover 22 local crew members working in various departments
Camera & Lighting
Costs $3,600
This includes a range of equipments needed such as hard drives, camera gear, lighting rentals, and sound equipments.
SAG Fee
Costs $1,000
To help cover our payroll and SAG Fringe
Hair & Make Up
Costs $600
Goes directly to our Hair & Make Up department to create looks from the mid 90s to our amazing cast.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Naomi Smith-Director/ Writer
As an Atlanta native with a biracial background and bilingual proficiency, Naomi Smith stands at the forefront of a vibrant and diverse creative community. With over a decade of experience collaborating with the city's brightest talents in the Art, Set Dec & Props Department, she has recently embarked on an exhilarating new journey into screenwriting and directing. Beyond her fervor for filmmaking, Naomi is propelled by a powerful mission – to champion spaces and opportunities for underrepresented individuals, to educate, and to explore uncharted territories in storytelling. Notably, her commitment passionately extends to spotlighting overlooked mental health narratives.
Justin Dombrowski-Director of Photography
Justin is a seasoned cinematographer with a diverse background that includes extensive experience in both commercial and narrative storytelling. His career journey, which began as a first camera assistant and expanded into the realm of post-production, has equipped him with a multifaceted skill set. What sets Justin's work apart is its nuanced approach, characterized by a rich emotional depth and a distinct nostalgic touch. His expertise extends across various formats, with a particular emphasis on short films and narrative storytelling, where his unique vision shines through.
Jack Ha-Producer
Jack Ha is an actor by trade and is co-partners with East by Southeast, a distinguished organization committed to supporting, curating, and empowering Asian artists in Atlanta. Furthermore, this collaboration underscores our joint mission to foster the inclusion of Asian-American voices within the vibrant tapestry of the Atlanta community. Jack Ha brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this initiative and his role as an occasional Standardized Patient for various universities and hospitals and Technical Advisor further highlights his multifaceted contributions to the local arts and healthcare sectors.
Daniel Oramas-Producer
Daniel Oramas is an award winning Director-Producer and founder of Debonair Films. He started Debonair in 2019 with a dream of telling beautiful, impactful stories with a classic twist. A bilingual upbringing in a Cuban-Dominican household instilled a fierce passion for other cultures and languages, and an appreciation that each art form has its own language that transcends borders. Oramas' comprehensive background in directing, editing, lighting, and photography in theater and film has brought a quality to his work that has earned numerous awards for his films. He has been fortunate enough to produce internationally in Mexico, Guatemala, the US Virgin Islands, and Italy. His passion, dedication and artistry have grown Debonair Films to one of Atlanta’s premier film production companies.
Kristina Jin - Producer
Kristina Jin is a proud 1st Generation Chinese-American artist. She is California born, Texas raised, and discovered her love of storytelling in a local community theatre production of Expecting Isabel in Wisconsin. The groundbreaking film, Crazy Rich Asians, inspired and empowered her to pursue a career in acting, prompting yet another cross-country move to Atlanta in 2021. She is extremely passionate about telling inclusive stories that showcase the authentic Asian American experience. Her recent on-screen credits include Will Trent, Give Me An A, and Wokman.
Matthew Myslinski - Producer/Assistant Director
Matthew Myslinski is an independent film director whose work has screened at festivals and venues worldwide, including the Festival de Cannes and Universal Studios Hollywood. Along with writing and directing his own projects, Matthew actively participates as crew on award-winning feature films and television series with a wide variety of entertainment companies including Warner Bros. Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Marvel Studios, HBO, Netflix, National Geographic, 20th Century Television, NBC Universal Television, and ABC Studios. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Matthew holds a BFA in Cinematic Arts and is happy to have a filmmaking education to supplement his work in the field. Now residing in Atlanta, Georgia, Matthew is intrinsically motivated to forward his career in exciting, new directions as he continues to chase that next big story.
Jordan Blair Brown - Casting Director
Jordan Brown was born and raised in Kentucky before diving into the film industry. She was the Casting Director for Beast Beast (Ornana Films - World Premiere Sundance), ONLY (World Premiere Tribeca - Available on Amazon), Summer 03 (World Premiere at SXSW - Available on Amazon), Mine 9 (Available on Amazon and Netflix), Tulsa (Available on Amazon) and upcoming productions You’re Killing Me and Courtney Gets Possessed. She enjoys bringing compelling talent to powerful independent films.
Casting since 2017.
Jenna Winstead - Production Designer
Jenna Winstead, a talented production designer and art director, born and raised in Tennessee but found her artistic home in Atlanta's thriving film industry eight years ago. With a knack for understanding color, texture, lighting, and design, Jenna has art directed TV shows and commercials, leaving a lasting impact on each project. Her friendship with Naomi, sparked on a kids' escape room show, has been a highlight both professionally and personally. When not immersed in the world of production, Jenna dedicates her time to friends and her beloved dog, Totem. Jenna's journey from Tennessee to Atlanta is not just about her career but also a testament to her adventurous spirit and commitment to bringing stories to life through her creative vision.
Ken Misaki - Art Director
Ken Misaki, seamlessly translates his creative ideas into captivating designs. Starting his journey as a theater actor and stage manager before venturing into filmmaking, Ken discovered his passion for production design & art direction. The intersection of these roles informs his unique outlook on the industry. The pivotal moment that sparked his interest in production design occurred on a film set when he walked into a transformed "character’s office." Inspired by the art department's magic in creating a captivating atmosphere, Ken transitioned into working in the field. Having immersed himself in both Western and Japanese cultures from a young age, Ken brings a versatile perspective to his production designs. For him, the most rewarding aspect of being a Production Designer & Art Direction is witnessing the director's vision come to life, crafting sets with a rare artistic fluency.
Kelly Harrell - Prop Master
Kelly Harrell, a Georgia native, discovered her passion for set decoration and props after meeting Naomi on Titan Games Season S1. Gifted in working with her hands, she is also a metalsmith in her spare time. Kelly's natural talent led her to work on major productions like The Walking Dead, Wonder Years, Will Trent and more. Alongside Naomi, she excels with her in food styling major food and beverage brands, showcasing their collaborative creative brilliance and close partnership showcased their collective expertise and creative synergy, resulting in visually stunning and impactful projects. Beyond her thriving career in the film industry, Kelly continues to express her artistic skills and many mediums.