JOAN
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama
After joining the cast of her community theatre’s latest Shakespeare play, a young woman reckoning with life-changing news finds herself haunted by her character, Joan of Arc. A love letter to the transcendent power of theatre, and the characters that live on through us.
JOAN
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $8,045 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
41 supporters | followers
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After joining the cast of her community theatre’s latest Shakespeare play, a young woman reckoning with life-changing news finds herself haunted by her character, Joan of Arc. A love letter to the transcendent power of theatre, and the characters that live on through us.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
After joining the cast of her community theatre’s latest Shakespeare play, a young woman reckoning with life-changing news finds herself haunted by her character, Joan of Arc.
This short film is a love letter to the transcendent power of theatre, and the characters that live on through us. If you were moved by films like Hamnet, Ghostlight, and Sing Sing, this short film is for you. Blending the heightened nature of Shakespearean language and the claustrophobic internal journey of dealing with mortality, our team will excavate what it means to escape and transcend through playing pretend onstage. What do we turn to when dealing with the unimaginable? In the crucible of our lives, what sees us through the flames?
One of the main conceits of the film is that the two main characters, Izzy and Joan of Arc, are played by the same actor. The line between imagination, historic figure, and Shakespearean character become blurred as we are fully engrossed in Izzy's struggle with a terminal diagnosis and grappling with what it means to die before you've even truly lived.
The team has been busy in pre-production: solidifying shot lists, locking the script, and beginning to build our crew. We are scheduled for filming in May 2026, and are aiming to have the film ready to submit to film festivals by late 2026, with a public release planned after a festival run.
Due to our director's connections, our locations are completely free. The rest of our budget will go towards paying our crew, equipment rental, post-production needs, festival submission fees, and on-set expenses such as housing, food, and travel. We also need a dope Joan of Arc costume. We are raising $8,000 of our total $10,000 budget through Seed & Spark. Every contribution counts, and Incentives are available if you are interested in behind-the-scenes content, a credit, or a more tangible piece of art related to the project. Should we surpass our goal, the additional funding will go towards a beefier Joan of Arc costume, additional post-production needs, and additional festival submission fees.
IN SUMMATION....
Your Support Means the World to Our Small Team.
Whatever you can give: thank you. Keep up with the project here on Seed & Spark or on our Instagram, @joanashortfilm.
Share the campaign on social media, or send it to friends and colleagues that might be interested in this project!
Let's make this thing!!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Equipment Rental
Costs $2,500
Renting the camera, lights, and audio equipment that will capture our film.
Cast and Crew Pay
Costs $3,800
Compensating our crew will allow us to hire committed and highly skilled technicians to build a strong skeleton crew.
Joan's Armor
Costs $500
Crafting two sets of armor (one prototype that will act as a back-up and one for the shoot) from EVA foam, paint, and a dream.
Post-Production
Costs $1,200
We will need to hire a colorist and sound mixer to make the film look and sound as polished as possible.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Mackenzie Moyer (writer/actor/co-producer) is an actor, writer, and educator born and raised in the Pennsylvania Dutch Mennonite community, who now calls New York City her home. She earned her B.A. in Theatre from DeSales University, and has worked as an actor for Bedlam, the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, The 24 Hour Plays, the cell, SoHo Playhouse, Lenfest Center for the Arts at Columbia University, and the Tank. As an educator, Mackenzie has led workshops and classes for middle and high schoolers in improv, movement, and Shakespeare. Making classical language accessible and exciting for people of all ages is one of her passions. Mackenzie finds herself consistently drawn to stories that intersect with education, history, and accessibility - how humans have reached for each other across time, space, and circumstance - and how they have therefore touched the divine. https://www.mackenzie-moyer.com
Sarah Elizabeth Yorke (director, co-producer) is a theatre director, producer, actor, and educator, celebrated for her innovative and empathetic approach to her word. A native of Pennsylvania's Coal Region, she holds a Master of Fine Arts in Directing and a Master of Arts Administration from Ohio University (2022), along with a BA in Theatre Arts from Virginia Tech (2012). Most recently, she has previously served as a post-MFA Fellow, and full-time faculty, at Virginia Tech, where she taught courses designed to integrate theatrical practices into broader disciplines, fostering creative thinking and collaboration. She is currently the Creative Producer at Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble, located in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.
Sarah's directorial philosophy centers on sensory awareness and empathetic collaboration, creating daring and inclusive rehearsal environments. With over 40 productions to her credit, she has consistently delivered compelling work across professional, collegiate, and youth theatre. Notable recent projects include Spring Awakening, Athena, The Little Prince, Ride the Cyclone, Concord Floral and H*tler’s Tasters, as well as producing and directing The Wake of Ur Problematic Fav Prty Grl, which garnered attention in New York City and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2023. This spring she will be directing Heather Chrisler’s Little Women at Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble.
In addition to her directing and producing achievements, Sarah is a sought-after acting coach, known for her ability to elevate students of all levels. Her coaching has led actors to secure roles in prestigious regional theatres and gain acceptance into top-ranked acting programs. Dedicated to both her craft and her students, Sarah continues to be a dynamic force in the evolving theatre industry. https://sarahelizabethyorke.com
Devin Chen (Director of Photography) is a cinema technician and Cinematographer from central Ohio. He earned his BFA in Film Production from the Ohio University School of Film, where he was a member of the Honors Tutorial College. Currently based in Los Angeles, Devin has been working as a freelance cinema technician in the Grip and Electric departments since graduation. As a Cinematographer, Devin’s work explores the thin gradient between realism and drama. He finds himself drawn to films that utilize the medium not just as a means for escape, but also as a tool for understanding the here and now.
Mackenzie, Sarah, and Devin previously worked together on a filmed version of the play The Tall Girls by Meg Miroshnik in 2021. See some stills and behind-the-scenes from that project below!
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
After joining the cast of her community theatre’s latest Shakespeare play, a young woman reckoning with life-changing news finds herself haunted by her character, Joan of Arc.
This short film is a love letter to the transcendent power of theatre, and the characters that live on through us. If you were moved by films like Hamnet, Ghostlight, and Sing Sing, this short film is for you. Blending the heightened nature of Shakespearean language and the claustrophobic internal journey of dealing with mortality, our team will excavate what it means to escape and transcend through playing pretend onstage. What do we turn to when dealing with the unimaginable? In the crucible of our lives, what sees us through the flames?
One of the main conceits of the film is that the two main characters, Izzy and Joan of Arc, are played by the same actor. The line between imagination, historic figure, and Shakespearean character become blurred as we are fully engrossed in Izzy's struggle with a terminal diagnosis and grappling with what it means to die before you've even truly lived.
The team has been busy in pre-production: solidifying shot lists, locking the script, and beginning to build our crew. We are scheduled for filming in May 2026, and are aiming to have the film ready to submit to film festivals by late 2026, with a public release planned after a festival run.
Due to our director's connections, our locations are completely free. The rest of our budget will go towards paying our crew, equipment rental, post-production needs, festival submission fees, and on-set expenses such as housing, food, and travel. We also need a dope Joan of Arc costume. We are raising $8,000 of our total $10,000 budget through Seed & Spark. Every contribution counts, and Incentives are available if you are interested in behind-the-scenes content, a credit, or a more tangible piece of art related to the project. Should we surpass our goal, the additional funding will go towards a beefier Joan of Arc costume, additional post-production needs, and additional festival submission fees.
IN SUMMATION....
Your Support Means the World to Our Small Team.
Whatever you can give: thank you. Keep up with the project here on Seed & Spark or on our Instagram, @joanashortfilm.
Share the campaign on social media, or send it to friends and colleagues that might be interested in this project!
Let's make this thing!!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Equipment Rental
Costs $2,500
Renting the camera, lights, and audio equipment that will capture our film.
Cast and Crew Pay
Costs $3,800
Compensating our crew will allow us to hire committed and highly skilled technicians to build a strong skeleton crew.
Joan's Armor
Costs $500
Crafting two sets of armor (one prototype that will act as a back-up and one for the shoot) from EVA foam, paint, and a dream.
Post-Production
Costs $1,200
We will need to hire a colorist and sound mixer to make the film look and sound as polished as possible.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Mackenzie Moyer (writer/actor/co-producer) is an actor, writer, and educator born and raised in the Pennsylvania Dutch Mennonite community, who now calls New York City her home. She earned her B.A. in Theatre from DeSales University, and has worked as an actor for Bedlam, the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, The 24 Hour Plays, the cell, SoHo Playhouse, Lenfest Center for the Arts at Columbia University, and the Tank. As an educator, Mackenzie has led workshops and classes for middle and high schoolers in improv, movement, and Shakespeare. Making classical language accessible and exciting for people of all ages is one of her passions. Mackenzie finds herself consistently drawn to stories that intersect with education, history, and accessibility - how humans have reached for each other across time, space, and circumstance - and how they have therefore touched the divine. https://www.mackenzie-moyer.com
Sarah Elizabeth Yorke (director, co-producer) is a theatre director, producer, actor, and educator, celebrated for her innovative and empathetic approach to her word. A native of Pennsylvania's Coal Region, she holds a Master of Fine Arts in Directing and a Master of Arts Administration from Ohio University (2022), along with a BA in Theatre Arts from Virginia Tech (2012). Most recently, she has previously served as a post-MFA Fellow, and full-time faculty, at Virginia Tech, where she taught courses designed to integrate theatrical practices into broader disciplines, fostering creative thinking and collaboration. She is currently the Creative Producer at Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble, located in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.
Sarah's directorial philosophy centers on sensory awareness and empathetic collaboration, creating daring and inclusive rehearsal environments. With over 40 productions to her credit, she has consistently delivered compelling work across professional, collegiate, and youth theatre. Notable recent projects include Spring Awakening, Athena, The Little Prince, Ride the Cyclone, Concord Floral and H*tler’s Tasters, as well as producing and directing The Wake of Ur Problematic Fav Prty Grl, which garnered attention in New York City and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2023. This spring she will be directing Heather Chrisler’s Little Women at Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble.
In addition to her directing and producing achievements, Sarah is a sought-after acting coach, known for her ability to elevate students of all levels. Her coaching has led actors to secure roles in prestigious regional theatres and gain acceptance into top-ranked acting programs. Dedicated to both her craft and her students, Sarah continues to be a dynamic force in the evolving theatre industry. https://sarahelizabethyorke.com
Devin Chen (Director of Photography) is a cinema technician and Cinematographer from central Ohio. He earned his BFA in Film Production from the Ohio University School of Film, where he was a member of the Honors Tutorial College. Currently based in Los Angeles, Devin has been working as a freelance cinema technician in the Grip and Electric departments since graduation. As a Cinematographer, Devin’s work explores the thin gradient between realism and drama. He finds himself drawn to films that utilize the medium not just as a means for escape, but also as a tool for understanding the here and now.
Mackenzie, Sarah, and Devin previously worked together on a filmed version of the play The Tall Girls by Meg Miroshnik in 2021. See some stills and behind-the-scenes from that project below!