It Stares Back
New York City, New York | Film Short
Horror, LGBTQ
College freshmen, Lucy and Myles, drop acid together, anticipating a fun and whimsical night. Things take a turn when Lucy's reflection takes on a life of its own, tormenting Lucy over her greatest insecurity: her womanhood. Lucy ignores the insults, but its ferocity intensifies as the trip peaks.
It Stares Back
New York City, New York | Film Short
Horror, LGBTQ
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $14,250 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
75 supporters | followers
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College freshmen, Lucy and Myles, drop acid together, anticipating a fun and whimsical night. Things take a turn when Lucy's reflection takes on a life of its own, tormenting Lucy over her greatest insecurity: her womanhood. Lucy ignores the insults, but its ferocity intensifies as the trip peaks.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Lucy is like most college freshmen: eager, adventurous, and deeply insecure. One night she and her new friend, Myles, decide to take LSD together. Having never experimented with psychedelics, Lucy wasn’t sure what to expect, but she certainly got more than she bargained for. Suddenly every reflective surface in her surroundings contained a fierce adversary: her own reflection. Increasingly bombarded with insults regarding her integrity and impostorhood, Lucy frantically avoids an oncoming identity crisis. She goes so far as to attempt to escape into Myles’ embrace, only to realize there is no escape from herself.
A city soundscape, shimmering skyscraper lights, and the colorful glow of LED strips saturate nights on an urban campus. A new student’s unfamiliarity with their surroundings and these elements work in tandem to cultivate a sense of wonder.
Once the acid kicks in, Lucy feels the energy of life itself move through her as she explores this new world; bathed in color and sound.
This transportive quality can also create a sense of disorientation and dread.
During her trip, Lucy experiences a jarring shift as her worst fears surface, turning her dream-like adventure into an overstimulating nightmare.
“The lights are too bright. The colors are too vivid. It’s too loud in here. I want it to stop.”
The effects of the drug have subsided and Myles’ suite has transformed into a normal campus apartment. Having escaped the cacophony of the bathroom mirror’s sights, sounds, and sensations, there is relief in the golden morning sunlight. Lucy can breathe.
So where is all of this money going anyway? Great question! Film, as a medium, is very involved. There are many moving parts when making a film of any scale. Equipment, costumes, set dress, catering, transportation, and pay skilled crew are a few of the many components necessary for production to even take place. With each component, comes another series of expenses.
Meeting our goal will enable us to achieve the most seamless version of our vision. The elimination of a need for corner-cutting fosters much more creative freedom.
Receiving ample funding brings this story one step closer to reaching a wider audience. This would not only boost the impact of an engaging film about non-binary gender, but help the careers and artistic development of emerging talent in New York’s indie scene.
A fiscal sponsor is a non-profit organization that offers its legally tax-exempt status to a project (in this case) that furthers its mission in exchange for financial oversight. This means that any donations to the It Stares Back fundraising campaign are tax deductible.
Thank you to From the Heart Films for this incredible opportunity and for your continual support of indie filmmakers.
Having the chance to bring this story to life would be a dream come true. Folks like you, who read all the way to the bottom, are what keeps indie filmmaking alive. For these reasons, we are eternally grateful to you.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast
Costs $1,400
We have two filming days with our cast playing Lucy and Myles, then one day for rehearsals and promotions photography.
Crew
Costs $7,400
All the skilled artists and technicians that we need including Camera, Lighting, Art, Production, and Post Production.
Physical Production Resources
Costs $4,950
Equipment, location, set dressing, catering, insurance
Distribution & Marketing
Costs $500
We will submit the film to major film festivals like SXSW and Tribeca, horror festivals, and LGBTQ+ festivals, in award categories.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Anna Manae is a writer and director whose work blends horror, queer narratives, and bold visual storytelling. Through emotionally resonant characters and surreal imagery, Anna explores complex themes of identity, transformation, and internal struggle. Their storytelling focuses on crafting intimate, immersive experiences that challenge traditional genre conventions and resonate with audiences on a personal level.
With It Stares Back, Anna channels their passion for genre filmmaking into a raw and visually arresting exploration of gender identity and self-perception. Dedicated to pushing creative boundaries and amplifying underrepresented voices, Anna brings a fearless and authentic vision to their work, establishing themselves as an emerging voice in independent cinema.
Avi Zephyra is a filmmaker, executive producer, and founder of Arrival Studios– a production company chartered to portray personal conflict through immersive worlds and genre narrative. Avi is a devoted creative with a diverse, alluring development slate, including films and series, across fantasy and horror to adult animation. While his professional career is only beginning, Avi has worked as an assistant production coordinator and accounting clerk
on projects for Netflix, Warner Bros, and AMC Networks. When he isn’t obsessing over industry news, he loves to explore neighborhoods, see live performances, and spend quality time with his friends.
Avi is eager to produce It Stares Back because of the story's harrowing themes of identity struggle manifested by the haunting by one's own reflection.
Nicole Dia is a filmmaker based on Long Island, NY, and the co-founder of Vanguard Studios. With over a decade of experience working across multiple departments in production, Nicole now focuses on directing and producing, bringing a hands-on creative and logistical approach to every project. Committed to storytelling that challenges perspectives and explores identity, Nicole thrives on collaboration, ensuring each film is crafted with authenticity and creative integrity. Recent work includes LIMINAL, a sci-fi psychological thriller currently in post-production, where Nicole served as writer, director, producer, and composer.
As a producer on It Stares Back, Nicole is passionate about supporting a surreal exploration of gender identity and internal conflict. They are committed to ensuring the director’s vision is fully realized with clarity and impact.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Lucy is like most college freshmen: eager, adventurous, and deeply insecure. One night she and her new friend, Myles, decide to take LSD together. Having never experimented with psychedelics, Lucy wasn’t sure what to expect, but she certainly got more than she bargained for. Suddenly every reflective surface in her surroundings contained a fierce adversary: her own reflection. Increasingly bombarded with insults regarding her integrity and impostorhood, Lucy frantically avoids an oncoming identity crisis. She goes so far as to attempt to escape into Myles’ embrace, only to realize there is no escape from herself.
A city soundscape, shimmering skyscraper lights, and the colorful glow of LED strips saturate nights on an urban campus. A new student’s unfamiliarity with their surroundings and these elements work in tandem to cultivate a sense of wonder.
Once the acid kicks in, Lucy feels the energy of life itself move through her as she explores this new world; bathed in color and sound.
This transportive quality can also create a sense of disorientation and dread.
During her trip, Lucy experiences a jarring shift as her worst fears surface, turning her dream-like adventure into an overstimulating nightmare.
“The lights are too bright. The colors are too vivid. It’s too loud in here. I want it to stop.”
The effects of the drug have subsided and Myles’ suite has transformed into a normal campus apartment. Having escaped the cacophony of the bathroom mirror’s sights, sounds, and sensations, there is relief in the golden morning sunlight. Lucy can breathe.
So where is all of this money going anyway? Great question! Film, as a medium, is very involved. There are many moving parts when making a film of any scale. Equipment, costumes, set dress, catering, transportation, and pay skilled crew are a few of the many components necessary for production to even take place. With each component, comes another series of expenses.
Meeting our goal will enable us to achieve the most seamless version of our vision. The elimination of a need for corner-cutting fosters much more creative freedom.
Receiving ample funding brings this story one step closer to reaching a wider audience. This would not only boost the impact of an engaging film about non-binary gender, but help the careers and artistic development of emerging talent in New York’s indie scene.
A fiscal sponsor is a non-profit organization that offers its legally tax-exempt status to a project (in this case) that furthers its mission in exchange for financial oversight. This means that any donations to the It Stares Back fundraising campaign are tax deductible.
Thank you to From the Heart Films for this incredible opportunity and for your continual support of indie filmmakers.
Having the chance to bring this story to life would be a dream come true. Folks like you, who read all the way to the bottom, are what keeps indie filmmaking alive. For these reasons, we are eternally grateful to you.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast
Costs $1,400
We have two filming days with our cast playing Lucy and Myles, then one day for rehearsals and promotions photography.
Crew
Costs $7,400
All the skilled artists and technicians that we need including Camera, Lighting, Art, Production, and Post Production.
Physical Production Resources
Costs $4,950
Equipment, location, set dressing, catering, insurance
Distribution & Marketing
Costs $500
We will submit the film to major film festivals like SXSW and Tribeca, horror festivals, and LGBTQ+ festivals, in award categories.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Anna Manae is a writer and director whose work blends horror, queer narratives, and bold visual storytelling. Through emotionally resonant characters and surreal imagery, Anna explores complex themes of identity, transformation, and internal struggle. Their storytelling focuses on crafting intimate, immersive experiences that challenge traditional genre conventions and resonate with audiences on a personal level.
With It Stares Back, Anna channels their passion for genre filmmaking into a raw and visually arresting exploration of gender identity and self-perception. Dedicated to pushing creative boundaries and amplifying underrepresented voices, Anna brings a fearless and authentic vision to their work, establishing themselves as an emerging voice in independent cinema.
Avi Zephyra is a filmmaker, executive producer, and founder of Arrival Studios– a production company chartered to portray personal conflict through immersive worlds and genre narrative. Avi is a devoted creative with a diverse, alluring development slate, including films and series, across fantasy and horror to adult animation. While his professional career is only beginning, Avi has worked as an assistant production coordinator and accounting clerk
on projects for Netflix, Warner Bros, and AMC Networks. When he isn’t obsessing over industry news, he loves to explore neighborhoods, see live performances, and spend quality time with his friends.
Avi is eager to produce It Stares Back because of the story's harrowing themes of identity struggle manifested by the haunting by one's own reflection.
Nicole Dia is a filmmaker based on Long Island, NY, and the co-founder of Vanguard Studios. With over a decade of experience working across multiple departments in production, Nicole now focuses on directing and producing, bringing a hands-on creative and logistical approach to every project. Committed to storytelling that challenges perspectives and explores identity, Nicole thrives on collaboration, ensuring each film is crafted with authenticity and creative integrity. Recent work includes LIMINAL, a sci-fi psychological thriller currently in post-production, where Nicole served as writer, director, producer, and composer.
As a producer on It Stares Back, Nicole is passionate about supporting a surreal exploration of gender identity and internal conflict. They are committed to ensuring the director’s vision is fully realized with clarity and impact.