La Di Da / A Lilac in the Night
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Fantasy, Drama
We grew up inspired by fairytales and Hollywood, two worlds that shaped ideas of who women are supposed to be. Through dreamlike storytelling, we unravel these figments of femininity, exploring the tension between identity and performance while questioning the narratives that seek to define us.
La Di Da / A Lilac in the Night
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Fantasy, Drama
1 Campaigns |
75 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$5,027
Goal: $10,000 for pre-production
We grew up inspired by fairytales and Hollywood, two worlds that shaped ideas of who women are supposed to be. Through dreamlike storytelling, we unravel these figments of femininity, exploring the tension between identity and performance while questioning the narratives that seek to define us.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
DARL, a sensitive and desperate creative director, conjures his vision of the “perfect” woman, SOFIA, a hyper-stylized fantasy created to sing, perform, and exist for his admiration. Onstage at his surreal mind-venue, Sofia moves with mechanical perfection, adored by Darl. But cracks begin to form in Sofia’s world when a young girl taps on a discarded Hollywood souvenir snow globe she finds on the Walk of Fame, triggering Sofia to become suddenly aware of herself, her body, and the gaze that defines her. Sofia escapes into the neon-lit chaos of Hollywood Boulevard, stripped of her voice and unsure who she is beyond the role she was created to play. She embarks on a dreamlike journey through a city both magical and grotesque. She encounters poets, performers, dreamers, and opportunists, each projecting their own desires onto her. As echoes of Darl’s influence continue to haunt her, Sofia discovers the extent of her commodification: her image has been replicated, traded, and consumed as a fantasy product.
When Sofia’s at her lowest, she meets Lily, the child who unknowingly set her free with the snow globe. Seeing Sofia not as an object but as a friend, Lily and her mother Pam, a passionate street performer, help Sofia look inward rather than outward for answers of who she is. As dawn breaks over Hollywood, Sofia reclaims her voice and embraces an identity shaped not by fantasy, but by experience, connection, and choice.
WHY THIS STORY?
Co-filmmakers Avery and Sam grew up inspired by fairytales and Hollywood, two worlds that shaped ideas of who women are supposed to be. By transforming the language of fairy tales into a space for self-discovery, we hope to inspire audiences to question the expectations they’ve inherited about femininity and imagine new stories for themselves. At its core, this story is about the universal search for identity.
WHY NOW?
Being the centennial year of Marilyn Monroe's birth, we're interested in examining what it means to be a Hollywood sex symbol and how those ideals continue to shape modern ideas of femininity. Recent films like Barbie and Poor Things have shown a growing appetite for stories that challenge notions of womanhood. Our film contributes a new perspective by using Hollywood Boulevard as both a literal setting and a modern fairy tale, a place where dreams, identity, and performance collide. Through that lens, we explore the universal desire to belong, while questioning the myths Hollywood continues to create.
OUR PROMISE
Beyond the stories we tell, we're intentional about how we make them. We're building a crew made up primarily of women, and it's important to us that everyone feels valued, supported, and fairly compensated. We've partnered with incredibly talented female artists and we hope this project creates opportunities not just for us, but for everyone involved.
Any support would help us craft this ambitious story in the most authentic, magical way possible. Set on Hollywood Blvd., it’s important to the story and production that we film locally and safely on location using LA film permits. This is a main cost that we’re fundraising for.
Our promise to our team and funders is that we will have a finished movie to release publicly through festivals and screenings in Spring 2027. We will host our own screening along with a showcase of the custom costumes designed for the film by Kyriacos LLC to celebrate the work.
We’re so thankful for any amount donated, word spread, or encouragement passed down to us. THANK YOU!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Fair Pay For Our Cast and Crew
Costs $3,000
Your support helps us fairly compensate the talented cast and crew who are bringing this film to life.
Locations and Permits
Costs $3,000
Your contribution helps secure locations that build Sofia’s world of imprisonment and her journey beyond it.
The Look
Costs $1,000
Glamour and haunting perfection, help us create a dreamlike world through fairytale wardrobe, Hollywood hair, and surreal production design.
Crafty and Catering
Costs $1,400
Your contribution supports meals and crafty to keep our cast and crew fueled and appreciated during filming.
Equipment and Gear
Costs $600
The hand-crafted, gritty, dream-like world transports audiences into Sofia’s journey. Your support makes it possible.
Post-Production
Costs $1,000
In post, we’ll piece together Sofia’s fairytale, where every frame, sound, and edit helps turn her story into a little Hollywood magic.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
The directing duo, Avery Warsaw and Sam Miranda, are two young female filmmakers with a passion for stories that explore the complexities of femininity.
Both grew up with a love for classic fairytales—their dream logic, heightened emotion, and the promise that transformation is possible. Today, they draw on that language, using a sense of enchantment to invite audiences into dreamlike worlds before subverting their expectations and exploring the tension and truths that lie beneath the surface.
Beyond the stories they tell, Avery and Sam are intentional about how they make them. They are building a crew primarily made up of women, partnering with talented female artists to foster collaboration, mentorship, and meaningful creative opportunities. They hope this project not only uplifts everyone involved but also challenges the traditional power structures of filmmaking by creating a more equitable and supportive set.
Both Avery and Sam have experience making whimsical, female-centered short films and music videos, and they're very excited to be coming together for this special project!
See Avery's portfolio here.
See Sam's portfolio here.
Additionally, we're partnering with fashion designer Leila Kyriacos who will be making the costumes for the project and will be shooting a tangential photo book alongside the film project. We are thrilled to showcase her art in our film.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
DARL, a sensitive and desperate creative director, conjures his vision of the “perfect” woman, SOFIA, a hyper-stylized fantasy created to sing, perform, and exist for his admiration. Onstage at his surreal mind-venue, Sofia moves with mechanical perfection, adored by Darl. But cracks begin to form in Sofia’s world when a young girl taps on a discarded Hollywood souvenir snow globe she finds on the Walk of Fame, triggering Sofia to become suddenly aware of herself, her body, and the gaze that defines her. Sofia escapes into the neon-lit chaos of Hollywood Boulevard, stripped of her voice and unsure who she is beyond the role she was created to play. She embarks on a dreamlike journey through a city both magical and grotesque. She encounters poets, performers, dreamers, and opportunists, each projecting their own desires onto her. As echoes of Darl’s influence continue to haunt her, Sofia discovers the extent of her commodification: her image has been replicated, traded, and consumed as a fantasy product.
When Sofia’s at her lowest, she meets Lily, the child who unknowingly set her free with the snow globe. Seeing Sofia not as an object but as a friend, Lily and her mother Pam, a passionate street performer, help Sofia look inward rather than outward for answers of who she is. As dawn breaks over Hollywood, Sofia reclaims her voice and embraces an identity shaped not by fantasy, but by experience, connection, and choice.
WHY THIS STORY?
Co-filmmakers Avery and Sam grew up inspired by fairytales and Hollywood, two worlds that shaped ideas of who women are supposed to be. By transforming the language of fairy tales into a space for self-discovery, we hope to inspire audiences to question the expectations they’ve inherited about femininity and imagine new stories for themselves. At its core, this story is about the universal search for identity.
WHY NOW?
Being the centennial year of Marilyn Monroe's birth, we're interested in examining what it means to be a Hollywood sex symbol and how those ideals continue to shape modern ideas of femininity. Recent films like Barbie and Poor Things have shown a growing appetite for stories that challenge notions of womanhood. Our film contributes a new perspective by using Hollywood Boulevard as both a literal setting and a modern fairy tale, a place where dreams, identity, and performance collide. Through that lens, we explore the universal desire to belong, while questioning the myths Hollywood continues to create.
OUR PROMISE
Beyond the stories we tell, we're intentional about how we make them. We're building a crew made up primarily of women, and it's important to us that everyone feels valued, supported, and fairly compensated. We've partnered with incredibly talented female artists and we hope this project creates opportunities not just for us, but for everyone involved.
Any support would help us craft this ambitious story in the most authentic, magical way possible. Set on Hollywood Blvd., it’s important to the story and production that we film locally and safely on location using LA film permits. This is a main cost that we’re fundraising for.
Our promise to our team and funders is that we will have a finished movie to release publicly through festivals and screenings in Spring 2027. We will host our own screening along with a showcase of the custom costumes designed for the film by Kyriacos LLC to celebrate the work.
We’re so thankful for any amount donated, word spread, or encouragement passed down to us. THANK YOU!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Fair Pay For Our Cast and Crew
Costs $3,000
Your support helps us fairly compensate the talented cast and crew who are bringing this film to life.
Locations and Permits
Costs $3,000
Your contribution helps secure locations that build Sofia’s world of imprisonment and her journey beyond it.
The Look
Costs $1,000
Glamour and haunting perfection, help us create a dreamlike world through fairytale wardrobe, Hollywood hair, and surreal production design.
Crafty and Catering
Costs $1,400
Your contribution supports meals and crafty to keep our cast and crew fueled and appreciated during filming.
Equipment and Gear
Costs $600
The hand-crafted, gritty, dream-like world transports audiences into Sofia’s journey. Your support makes it possible.
Post-Production
Costs $1,000
In post, we’ll piece together Sofia’s fairytale, where every frame, sound, and edit helps turn her story into a little Hollywood magic.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
The directing duo, Avery Warsaw and Sam Miranda, are two young female filmmakers with a passion for stories that explore the complexities of femininity.
Both grew up with a love for classic fairytales—their dream logic, heightened emotion, and the promise that transformation is possible. Today, they draw on that language, using a sense of enchantment to invite audiences into dreamlike worlds before subverting their expectations and exploring the tension and truths that lie beneath the surface.
Beyond the stories they tell, Avery and Sam are intentional about how they make them. They are building a crew primarily made up of women, partnering with talented female artists to foster collaboration, mentorship, and meaningful creative opportunities. They hope this project not only uplifts everyone involved but also challenges the traditional power structures of filmmaking by creating a more equitable and supportive set.
Both Avery and Sam have experience making whimsical, female-centered short films and music videos, and they're very excited to be coming together for this special project!
See Avery's portfolio here.
See Sam's portfolio here.
Additionally, we're partnering with fashion designer Leila Kyriacos who will be making the costumes for the project and will be shooting a tangential photo book alongside the film project. We are thrilled to showcase her art in our film.