Just One Word
New Haven, Connecticut | Film Short
Drama, Music
In a world filled with noise, one voice refuses to be heard… Just One Word is a powerful and heartfelt story inspired by true events, following a passionate middle school music teacher who is determined to help a silent student find her voice. When words fail, expression finds another way
Just One Word
New Haven, Connecticut | Film Short
Drama, Music
35 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$6,145
Goal: $25,000 for production
In a world filled with noise, one voice refuses to be heard… Just One Word is a powerful and heartfelt story inspired by true events, following a passionate middle school music teacher who is determined to help a silent student find her voice. When words fail, expression finds another way
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
In a world filled with noise, one voice refuses to be heard… Just One Word is a powerful and heartfelt story inspired by true events, following a passionate middle school music teacher who is determined to help a silent student find her voice. As he pushes, stumbles, and ultimately learns the meaning of patience, their journey unfolds through music, trust, and quiet resilience. When words fail, expression finds another way—and in one unforgettable moment, everything changes. Sometimes, the most powerful voice… is the one you never hear. 
Why This Story
During his 30 years of being a middle school music teacher, writer Chris Kalafus has experienced many incredible moments but none compare to the emotional surprise that inspired this story. Having a student who just didn't speak was completely unexpected, and tested his understaffing of how to teach and how to connect. But the real life end to this story is one you have to see. Whenever he would share this story with people, the most common comment was, "this should be in a movie". Those words are what encouraged Chris to combine many of his teaching moments into one incredible story.
Chris and Director Brian Russell met when Brian needed a song for his very first film. The song Brian needed to replace was Moon River. Now this might sound like a tall order, but they think they wrote a song that just might be better than the original (believe it!) These two creatives became fast friends and collaborators. Eleven films later they are thrilled to further their partnership beyond music, and into the heart of storytelling.
Watch that first film featuring The Other Side of the Moon (the song they wrote! Also ... bear in mind their filmmaking has grown exponentially since this first little story.) The song begins 3:23 in the movie.
When and Where
If you are able to help us out, we have booked August 10-13, 2026 to shoot the movie (less than two months away!) And the bonus is that our location will be the very school in Milford, CT where Chris and his muse connected all those years ago. A fantastic, talented cast has been assembled, along with numerous extras, all ready to bring the story to life. The crew includes industry veterans who have all agreed to lower their rates to work on this story. Even they are giving back! But seriously -- the team is truly remarkable, and we are so excited get on set and make the film.
How We Plan To Use Your Donations
Soooo ... no one really likes to talk about money. But we definitely need it to make the film. We subscribe to the philosophy of "enough." What does this mean, exactly? When do we have enough in life? How much do we need to be comfortable? How much should we give away when we have enough? How do we know when we have enough? All this to say, we don't want anyone to donate if it causes you financial hardship. But ... if you can afford it, then we believe art is a worthy place to put money you have, especially when giving it away will not impact your life or the lives of your loved ones.
We will use your money responsibly, and we will pay our team, and all expenses we incur. We will negotiate to get the best prices and rates (and sometimes negotiate hard! But always with a sense of fairness.) In the films Brian and Chris have created, all bills have been paid 100%. We pay as we go, which means we do not use our teams money for 30, 60 or 90 days, we pay them shortly after working. We will begin incurring expenses about a month prior to filming during pre-production, will incur a large portion of our budget at the time of shooting, and the balance will be used over approximately three to six months of post production, through festival submissions which will happen over the course of about 18 months.
THE CAST
David Gregory (Mr. K)
Born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, David is best known as Robert Ford on ABC sudser "One Life to Live". He's played recurring characters on "The Good Fight" (CBS), "Insatiable" (Netflix), "Constantine" (NBC), and "Deception" (NBC). David voiced Deputy Bell on the scripted podcast western "Powder Burns" - which starred John Wesley Shipp as the titular blind sheriff, with Robert Vaughn and Edward Asner. David created, wrote, and executive produced the 7-episode series.
Lelah Srenuanjan (Callie)
13-year-old aspiring actress Lelah, is making her independent film debut in Just One Word. While new to on-screen acting, she has gained experience through school theater productions, where she developed a love for performing and storytelling. Lelah takes on the challenging role of Callie with confidence and heart. Her natural presence, dedication, and passion for performing help bring the character to life, making this an exciting step in her growing acting career.
Lauren Gaskill (Maureen)
Award-winning multilingual actress and producer with a PhD in Spanish Literature, Lauren was raised in Los Angeles who’s recent work includes acting in "Titans: The Rise of Hollywood" (Netflix), "How Sad, How Lovely" (dir. Eleanor deFer) and "To Roost" (dir. Michael Cox), for which she received an Award of Merit (Actress, Leading) in Best Shorts Competition, La Jolla, CA. Her directing debut is "Kamakura, 1956" and she also acts in her forthcoming film, "I Would Give It All Up For You, Tomorrow”. Lauren has studied improv, on-camera acting, movement, voice, dance and more. She sings and plays guitar, is a good mover, speaks fluent Spanish, records voiceover in her at-home booth, and loves playing lost women with a secret.
Jennifer Ju (Mom)
Actor, writer, and physician, Jenn Ju performs in theaters throughout CT, takes dance lessons, does boxing, and provides professional development on mindfulness, health, and wellness in her spare time. Favorite roles include Mrs. Webb in "Our Town", Kate in "Sylvia”, Vera in "The Odd Couple, Female Version'', Cassie Cooper in "Rumors", and Flute/Thisbe in "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Her short plays been performed at the Drama Works Theatre, Shakespeare on the Sound, Connecticut's Sharon Playhouse , as well as in NYC and in multiple festivals at The Secret Theatre in Queens NY.
Why Contribute to Just One Word?
- Help us bring a story of music, compassion, connection, and hope to life.
- Support a film that reminds all of us that every voice matters.
- Help inspire teachers, students, and families.
- Spread the message that we are all different but equally important
- Support independent filmmaking with heart, purpose and a powerful message.
Every pledge matters. Please contribute to the campaign and receive one or more of the fun incentives! Scroll up to the “make a pledge” button, and you’ll see all of the incentive levels and options to the right.
Any questions or concerns about your pledge, or anything else, don't hesitate to contact us!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production Crew
Costs $12,000
When you want great results, you hire the best! It costs a lot to hire quality professionals, but in the end, it's well worth it.
Catering For Cast and Crew
Costs $2,500
This movie will be casting teenagers, and they can eat!! So can the crew!!
Location, Location, Location!
Costs $2,000
We'll need to secure some locations and also secure them with insurance.
Editing, Color Correction and Sound Mixing
Costs $2,500
This step is what separates and good looking and sounding film verses a great looking and sounding film.
Props and Costumes
Costs $1,500
We need to take our characters through a full year so clothing and props are important!
Festival Submissions
Costs $2,000
We'll be submitting the film to festivals throughout North American and the World.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
THE TEAM
Chris Kalafus (Writer, Composer) - Has been a life long resident of Connecticut, lifelong musician and a 30 year middle school music teacher. He started composing music for films 5 years ago where he won Best Score at The Beaufort International Film Festival for his work on the film, Past Prologue and also won Best Original Score at the AMT International Film Festival in NYC for the movie Not The Same Clarence. He recently scored the full length feature She Cries Murder (Amazon Prime, Plex). Just One Word is his first screen play to made into a movie.
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Brian Russell (Director) is an award-winning filmmaker whose work often explores deeply human stories centered on human relationships, mortality, and ethical questions at life’s most vulnerable moments. His films are known for their emotional honesty and their ability to spark meaningful conversation beyond the screen.
Brian has worked with the likes of James Naughton, Edwards Burns, Zoe Kravitz, Arianna Huffington, and has even profiled the entire cast of Saturday Night Live. He was the cinematographer of the Tribeca Film Festival selection The Counterfeiter, which was later broadcast on ESPN. In recent years, his writing and directing has garnered dozens of film festival awards. In addition to his narrative filmmaking, Russell is also a sought-after writer and director for Fortune 500 companies and non-profit fundraising.
Check out more about Brian and his work at Red Shoe Film.
Click here to view some of the many Award Winning Short Films including: Yo Andrea, Past Prologue, Not The Same Clarence, SilverSizzle, Be Nice To Fish, Sit With Me While I Die and more.
Vincent Wrenn (Director Of Photograhy) knows he’s one of those lucky ones- an artist whose job has become a vocation.
He would say he plays with light. "The job is to evoke emotion, working through the director's vision, with light, framing, and movement." Never attending film school, he developed his skills during his time on set, working under masters of the craft, not the least of whom was his father, James Wrenn. He developed his eye and learned what it took to achieve the look desired. Always curious and trying new approaches, that learning continues.
Vincent began focusing on documentaries in 2016. He found himself working with Allen Hughes, shooting "The Defiant Ones" for HBO, a documentary that garnered a decent amount of attention for its look. He's also had the good fortune to collaborate with Davis Guggenheim on a variety of projects. More recently, he shot the Documentary feature, "The Age of Disclosure", hailed by Academy Award-winning Director Bryan Fogelas "an expertly crafted and extraordinary film."
Vincent is no stranger to narrative work. Prior to his run with Documentaries, he cut his teeth on TV movies/limited series. It was during that time that he developed a deep respect for the craft and process of fictional storytelling. He’s shot 7 indie features and too many shorts to count. His most recent narrative collaboration, on the locally made short film "Finding Pa'", hashim eager to help bring Just One Word to life.
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Michele Gramesty (Costumes and Art), a graduate of Parsons School of Design, brings more than 30 years of experience in fashion design to her work as a costume designer. Drawing on decades of expertise in garment construction, textiles, and visual aesthetics, she brings a designer’s eye for detail and character to her costume designs. Her work helps create authentic, visually compelling looks that support storytelling and bring motion picture characters to life.
Lisa DeTullio Russell (Producer / Still Photography) is a film producer and documentary photographer based in Fairfield County. A lifelong photographer, Lisa more recently became a producer of narrative short films, exploring the human condition from the lens of moving pictures. Lisa has produced a wide variety of drama and comedy, coordinating all aspects of on-set production and making sure a comfortable and smooth running set is ready for cast and crew.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
In a world filled with noise, one voice refuses to be heard… Just One Word is a powerful and heartfelt story inspired by true events, following a passionate middle school music teacher who is determined to help a silent student find her voice. As he pushes, stumbles, and ultimately learns the meaning of patience, their journey unfolds through music, trust, and quiet resilience. When words fail, expression finds another way—and in one unforgettable moment, everything changes. Sometimes, the most powerful voice… is the one you never hear.
Why This Story
During his 30 years of being a middle school music teacher, writer Chris Kalafus has experienced many incredible moments but none compare to the emotional surprise that inspired this story. Having a student who just didn't speak was completely unexpected, and tested his understaffing of how to teach and how to connect. But the real life end to this story is one you have to see. Whenever he would share this story with people, the most common comment was, "this should be in a movie". Those words are what encouraged Chris to combine many of his teaching moments into one incredible story.
Chris and Director Brian Russell met when Brian needed a song for his very first film. The song Brian needed to replace was Moon River. Now this might sound like a tall order, but they think they wrote a song that just might be better than the original (believe it!) These two creatives became fast friends and collaborators. Eleven films later they are thrilled to further their partnership beyond music, and into the heart of storytelling.
Watch that first film featuring The Other Side of the Moon (the song they wrote! Also ... bear in mind their filmmaking has grown exponentially since this first little story.) The song begins 3:23 in the movie.
When and Where
If you are able to help us out, we have booked August 10-13, 2026 to shoot the movie (less than two months away!) And the bonus is that our location will be the very school in Milford, CT where Chris and his muse connected all those years ago. A fantastic, talented cast has been assembled, along with numerous extras, all ready to bring the story to life. The crew includes industry veterans who have all agreed to lower their rates to work on this story. Even they are giving back! But seriously -- the team is truly remarkable, and we are so excited get on set and make the film.
How We Plan To Use Your Donations
Soooo ... no one really likes to talk about money. But we definitely need it to make the film. We subscribe to the philosophy of "enough." What does this mean, exactly? When do we have enough in life? How much do we need to be comfortable? How much should we give away when we have enough? How do we know when we have enough? All this to say, we don't want anyone to donate if it causes you financial hardship. But ... if you can afford it, then we believe art is a worthy place to put money you have, especially when giving it away will not impact your life or the lives of your loved ones.
We will use your money responsibly, and we will pay our team, and all expenses we incur. We will negotiate to get the best prices and rates (and sometimes negotiate hard! But always with a sense of fairness.) In the films Brian and Chris have created, all bills have been paid 100%. We pay as we go, which means we do not use our teams money for 30, 60 or 90 days, we pay them shortly after working. We will begin incurring expenses about a month prior to filming during pre-production, will incur a large portion of our budget at the time of shooting, and the balance will be used over approximately three to six months of post production, through festival submissions which will happen over the course of about 18 months.
THE CAST
David Gregory (Mr. K)
Born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, David is best known as Robert Ford on ABC sudser "One Life to Live". He's played recurring characters on "The Good Fight" (CBS), "Insatiable" (Netflix), "Constantine" (NBC), and "Deception" (NBC). David voiced Deputy Bell on the scripted podcast western "Powder Burns" - which starred John Wesley Shipp as the titular blind sheriff, with Robert Vaughn and Edward Asner. David created, wrote, and executive produced the 7-episode series.
Lelah Srenuanjan (Callie)
13-year-old aspiring actress Lelah, is making her independent film debut in Just One Word. While new to on-screen acting, she has gained experience through school theater productions, where she developed a love for performing and storytelling. Lelah takes on the challenging role of Callie with confidence and heart. Her natural presence, dedication, and passion for performing help bring the character to life, making this an exciting step in her growing acting career.
Lauren Gaskill (Maureen)
Award-winning multilingual actress and producer with a PhD in Spanish Literature, Lauren was raised in Los Angeles who’s recent work includes acting in "Titans: The Rise of Hollywood" (Netflix), "How Sad, How Lovely" (dir. Eleanor deFer) and "To Roost" (dir. Michael Cox), for which she received an Award of Merit (Actress, Leading) in Best Shorts Competition, La Jolla, CA. Her directing debut is "Kamakura, 1956" and she also acts in her forthcoming film, "I Would Give It All Up For You, Tomorrow”. Lauren has studied improv, on-camera acting, movement, voice, dance and more. She sings and plays guitar, is a good mover, speaks fluent Spanish, records voiceover in her at-home booth, and loves playing lost women with a secret.
Jennifer Ju (Mom)
Actor, writer, and physician, Jenn Ju performs in theaters throughout CT, takes dance lessons, does boxing, and provides professional development on mindfulness, health, and wellness in her spare time. Favorite roles include Mrs. Webb in "Our Town", Kate in "Sylvia”, Vera in "The Odd Couple, Female Version'', Cassie Cooper in "Rumors", and Flute/Thisbe in "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Her short plays been performed at the Drama Works Theatre, Shakespeare on the Sound, Connecticut's Sharon Playhouse , as well as in NYC and in multiple festivals at The Secret Theatre in Queens NY.
Why Contribute to Just One Word?
- Help us bring a story of music, compassion, connection, and hope to life.
- Support a film that reminds all of us that every voice matters.
- Help inspire teachers, students, and families.
- Spread the message that we are all different but equally important
- Support independent filmmaking with heart, purpose and a powerful message.
Every pledge matters. Please contribute to the campaign and receive one or more of the fun incentives! Scroll up to the “make a pledge” button, and you’ll see all of the incentive levels and options to the right.
Any questions or concerns about your pledge, or anything else, don't hesitate to contact us!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production Crew
Costs $12,000
When you want great results, you hire the best! It costs a lot to hire quality professionals, but in the end, it's well worth it.
Catering For Cast and Crew
Costs $2,500
This movie will be casting teenagers, and they can eat!! So can the crew!!
Location, Location, Location!
Costs $2,000
We'll need to secure some locations and also secure them with insurance.
Editing, Color Correction and Sound Mixing
Costs $2,500
This step is what separates and good looking and sounding film verses a great looking and sounding film.
Props and Costumes
Costs $1,500
We need to take our characters through a full year so clothing and props are important!
Festival Submissions
Costs $2,000
We'll be submitting the film to festivals throughout North American and the World.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
THE TEAM
Chris Kalafus (Writer, Composer) - Has been a life long resident of Connecticut, lifelong musician and a 30 year middle school music teacher. He started composing music for films 5 years ago where he won Best Score at The Beaufort International Film Festival for his work on the film, Past Prologue and also won Best Original Score at the AMT International Film Festival in NYC for the movie Not The Same Clarence. He recently scored the full length feature She Cries Murder (Amazon Prime, Plex). Just One Word is his first screen play to made into a movie.
Brian Russell (Director) is an award-winning filmmaker whose work often explores deeply human stories centered on human relationships, mortality, and ethical questions at life’s most vulnerable moments. His films are known for their emotional honesty and their ability to spark meaningful conversation beyond the screen.
Brian has worked with the likes of James Naughton, Edwards Burns, Zoe Kravitz, Arianna Huffington, and has even profiled the entire cast of Saturday Night Live. He was the cinematographer of the Tribeca Film Festival selection The Counterfeiter, which was later broadcast on ESPN. In recent years, his writing and directing has garnered dozens of film festival awards. In addition to his narrative filmmaking, Russell is also a sought-after writer and director for Fortune 500 companies and non-profit fundraising.
Check out more about Brian and his work at Red Shoe Film.
Click here to view some of the many Award Winning Short Films including: Yo Andrea, Past Prologue, Not The Same Clarence, SilverSizzle, Be Nice To Fish, Sit With Me While I Die and more.
Vincent Wrenn (Director Of Photograhy) knows he’s one of those lucky ones- an artist whose job has become a vocation.
He would say he plays with light. "The job is to evoke emotion, working through the director's vision, with light, framing, and movement." Never attending film school, he developed his skills during his time on set, working under masters of the craft, not the least of whom was his father, James Wrenn. He developed his eye and learned what it took to achieve the look desired. Always curious and trying new approaches, that learning continues.
Vincent began focusing on documentaries in 2016. He found himself working with Allen Hughes, shooting "The Defiant Ones" for HBO, a documentary that garnered a decent amount of attention for its look. He's also had the good fortune to collaborate with Davis Guggenheim on a variety of projects. More recently, he shot the Documentary feature, "The Age of Disclosure", hailed by Academy Award-winning Director Bryan Fogelas "an expertly crafted and extraordinary film."
Vincent is no stranger to narrative work. Prior to his run with Documentaries, he cut his teeth on TV movies/limited series. It was during that time that he developed a deep respect for the craft and process of fictional storytelling. He’s shot 7 indie features and too many shorts to count. His most recent narrative collaboration, on the locally made short film "Finding Pa'", hashim eager to help bring Just One Word to life.
Michele Gramesty (Costumes and Art), a graduate of Parsons School of Design, brings more than 30 years of experience in fashion design to her work as a costume designer. Drawing on decades of expertise in garment construction, textiles, and visual aesthetics, she brings a designer’s eye for detail and character to her costume designs. Her work helps create authentic, visually compelling looks that support storytelling and bring motion picture characters to life.
Lisa DeTullio Russell (Producer / Still Photography) is a film producer and documentary photographer based in Fairfield County. A lifelong photographer, Lisa more recently became a producer of narrative short films, exploring the human condition from the lens of moving pictures. Lisa has produced a wide variety of drama and comedy, coordinating all aspects of on-set production and making sure a comfortable and smooth running set is ready for cast and crew.