Luxuries
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Comedy
Kim, a fashion-obsessed woman on the brink of homelessness, must find a way to pay her rent without selling her beloved clothes. Her decision and journey to make it tells a touching story of resilience and self-expression.
Luxuries
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Comedy
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $5,795 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
22 supporters | followers
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Kim, a fashion-obsessed woman on the brink of homelessness, must find a way to pay her rent without selling her beloved clothes. Her decision and journey to make it tells a touching story of resilience and self-expression.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Luxuries is the story of Kim, a stylish woman who has nothing left aside from her apartment and her cherished clothing. Her landlord, Iris, threatens to evict her and so we follow Kim's struggle to earn enough money to pay her debt. However, Iris is infatuated with Kim’s clothing and offers to trade them to forgive her debt. When Kim refuses, Iris follows her around throughout the day, growing more insistent. Kim must choose between her treasured clothes and her home.
There are few films that can capture the authenticity and absurdity of Kim’s harsh reality. This one aims to display that gritty realism while also incorporating comedy and absurd situations to reflect the personality of the city and most of all, the people struggling within it. This story separates itself in exploring concepts like expression amongst dire circumstances without those circumstances overshadowing Kim's journey. We aim to immerse viewers into a harsh world while also pushing audiences to resonate with Kim’s deeply human struggle to express herself and find control in a world that tries to drain it from her.
Growing up in Seattle, I witnessed the effects of homelessness on people across the city. While never experiencing it myself, I nonetheless found it troubling that it’s an issue we try to push away and ignore. Now after studying in New York, I want to tell an impactful story that feels true to the city. At its center, depicting how powerless it can make one feel to lose their clothes or other “comforts” fighting for their survival. Capturing how we devalue things like expression with people in Kim’s position and allow the audience to see the humanity in her struggle.
In writing this film, I found that I can connect to Kim and the story through clothing. As a quieter person, clothing can be a way of presenting who I am in a way words can’t. Even if not through clothes, I believe that anyone can resonate with the idea of using something to empower yourself and feel in control through expression. While I want these bigger ideas to be at the center of the story, above all, I want to tell an accessible story—A woman who wants to keep to her clothes.
Homelessness and housing insecurity are issues that are impacting more people than ever, especially in New York where 3.4 million people deal with it. As the wealth disparity only worsens and housing becomes more inaccessible, the story is more timely than ever. In telling a story that allows viewers to resonate and witness the realities of housing insecurity I believe we can spread awareness and spark action. Furthermore, I believe that pushing audiences to watch a story about a person from a group that is so consistently ignored is invaluable.
Here are a few of the visual inspirations from our director to give an idea of what Luxuries will look like on the big screen!
Rosetta may be the biggest influence visually and story-wise. The French film dedicates itself to portraying a hyperrealistic story about a girl desperately trying to find a job. We hope to employ a similar visual style with long handheld takes that immerse you in the world. Most of all, the film succeeds at displaying how difficult it is to get a job and makes a simple and contained story extremely powerful.
Red Rocket is a strong tonal reference for Luxuries. The film masterfully blends comedy with the realistic and dark circumstances and actions of the characters. Most of all, the film utilizes humor to further its social critique surrounding exploitation and economic struggle. We hope to utilize humor in this film similarly—as an enhancement and satirization not just a levity from the circumstances.
Wendy and Lucy tell a simple and small story. It manages to convey complex relationships and emotions while remaining minimalist in its storytelling and visual style. It also manages to show how the characters run into obstacles those more privileged could not even consider. We hope to present the same realism through a simple story while retaining the emotional impact.
Fundraising Breakdown
With a budget of $6,250 and some of our budget already covered, we must raise $5,000. Our fundraising goal is firstly to cover the production costs needed to get Luxuries made, which means our equipment, food, locations, and transportation for the 3 days of filming. The ultimate goal is to be able to get the footage professionally color-graded and edited, and then sent to international film festivals for consideration! The project is currently in the pre-production phase as we prepare for our shoot and we need your help to bring Luxuries into production. Anything helps!
Spread the word by sharing this page and following us on Instagram @luxuries.film. You can also follow us here on Seed & Spark which helps to get our project out there!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
On-set Food
Costs $1,050
Meals and snacks for our cast and crew over our 3 day shoot, plus some hot cocoa for our outside shoot days!
Location Rentals
Costs $650
To cover the costs of our filming locations!
Transportation Costs
Costs $350
To cover the van rentals and gas to transport our cast, crew, and equipment!
Wardrobe
Costs $600
This is a movie about fashion, so the clothes have to be perfect!
Equipment Rentals
Costs $500
To get the best lights and lenses so you can see Luxuries in the highest quality possible!
Post Production
Costs $900
To cover the costs to get Luxuries edited, color graded, and sent to festivals!
Incidentals/Miscellaneous Costs
Costs $450
In case anything unexpected happens while we're on set, and to cover our miscellaneous costs like hand warmers!
Cast Members
Costs $500
To make sure our amazing actors are fairly paid for all the time and effort they're putting in!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Joaquin Rodriguez - Writer & Director
Joaquin is a filmmaker from Seattle currently finishing his final year as a Film & Television student at NYU Tisch. He always loved watching movies but discovered a passion for filmmaking after taking a film class in high school. During his time at NYU, he wrote and directed multiple films and worked on his peers' films as a crew member. He grew up as a massive Star Wars fan but has since come to be influenced more by the films of Martin McDonagh and Sean Baker. He tries to bring an emotional and impactful quality to his films while retaining an accessible and comedic quality to his work. Joaquin has previous experience working as an intern at Likely Story and Æ Vision. In his free time, you can expect to find him running, hiking, or at the movies.
Dasha Samonova - Producer
Dasha is a Russian producer and director studying Film & Television student at NYU Tisch. She has worked on projects worldwide from Russia to the UK and now in New York. She's learned to handle the difficult road of producing short films and is extremely excited to produce Luxuries and bring an impactful story to the screen.
Andre Hall - Cinematographer
Raised in North California and based in New York City, Andre Hall is a prolific Director of Photography with over 15 credits. Boasting a range of passions — from food-tasting to dog-walking to LEGO building — Andre lends his unique, eccentric lens to each project he works on. A recent graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Film & Television.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Luxuries is the story of Kim, a stylish woman who has nothing left aside from her apartment and her cherished clothing. Her landlord, Iris, threatens to evict her and so we follow Kim's struggle to earn enough money to pay her debt. However, Iris is infatuated with Kim’s clothing and offers to trade them to forgive her debt. When Kim refuses, Iris follows her around throughout the day, growing more insistent. Kim must choose between her treasured clothes and her home.
There are few films that can capture the authenticity and absurdity of Kim’s harsh reality. This one aims to display that gritty realism while also incorporating comedy and absurd situations to reflect the personality of the city and most of all, the people struggling within it. This story separates itself in exploring concepts like expression amongst dire circumstances without those circumstances overshadowing Kim's journey. We aim to immerse viewers into a harsh world while also pushing audiences to resonate with Kim’s deeply human struggle to express herself and find control in a world that tries to drain it from her.
Growing up in Seattle, I witnessed the effects of homelessness on people across the city. While never experiencing it myself, I nonetheless found it troubling that it’s an issue we try to push away and ignore. Now after studying in New York, I want to tell an impactful story that feels true to the city. At its center, depicting how powerless it can make one feel to lose their clothes or other “comforts” fighting for their survival. Capturing how we devalue things like expression with people in Kim’s position and allow the audience to see the humanity in her struggle.
In writing this film, I found that I can connect to Kim and the story through clothing. As a quieter person, clothing can be a way of presenting who I am in a way words can’t. Even if not through clothes, I believe that anyone can resonate with the idea of using something to empower yourself and feel in control through expression. While I want these bigger ideas to be at the center of the story, above all, I want to tell an accessible story—A woman who wants to keep to her clothes.
Homelessness and housing insecurity are issues that are impacting more people than ever, especially in New York where 3.4 million people deal with it. As the wealth disparity only worsens and housing becomes more inaccessible, the story is more timely than ever. In telling a story that allows viewers to resonate and witness the realities of housing insecurity I believe we can spread awareness and spark action. Furthermore, I believe that pushing audiences to watch a story about a person from a group that is so consistently ignored is invaluable.
Here are a few of the visual inspirations from our director to give an idea of what Luxuries will look like on the big screen!
Rosetta may be the biggest influence visually and story-wise. The French film dedicates itself to portraying a hyperrealistic story about a girl desperately trying to find a job. We hope to employ a similar visual style with long handheld takes that immerse you in the world. Most of all, the film succeeds at displaying how difficult it is to get a job and makes a simple and contained story extremely powerful.
Red Rocket is a strong tonal reference for Luxuries. The film masterfully blends comedy with the realistic and dark circumstances and actions of the characters. Most of all, the film utilizes humor to further its social critique surrounding exploitation and economic struggle. We hope to utilize humor in this film similarly—as an enhancement and satirization not just a levity from the circumstances.
Wendy and Lucy tell a simple and small story. It manages to convey complex relationships and emotions while remaining minimalist in its storytelling and visual style. It also manages to show how the characters run into obstacles those more privileged could not even consider. We hope to present the same realism through a simple story while retaining the emotional impact.
Fundraising Breakdown
With a budget of $6,250 and some of our budget already covered, we must raise $5,000. Our fundraising goal is firstly to cover the production costs needed to get Luxuries made, which means our equipment, food, locations, and transportation for the 3 days of filming. The ultimate goal is to be able to get the footage professionally color-graded and edited, and then sent to international film festivals for consideration! The project is currently in the pre-production phase as we prepare for our shoot and we need your help to bring Luxuries into production. Anything helps!
Spread the word by sharing this page and following us on Instagram @luxuries.film. You can also follow us here on Seed & Spark which helps to get our project out there!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
On-set Food
Costs $1,050
Meals and snacks for our cast and crew over our 3 day shoot, plus some hot cocoa for our outside shoot days!
Location Rentals
Costs $650
To cover the costs of our filming locations!
Transportation Costs
Costs $350
To cover the van rentals and gas to transport our cast, crew, and equipment!
Wardrobe
Costs $600
This is a movie about fashion, so the clothes have to be perfect!
Equipment Rentals
Costs $500
To get the best lights and lenses so you can see Luxuries in the highest quality possible!
Post Production
Costs $900
To cover the costs to get Luxuries edited, color graded, and sent to festivals!
Incidentals/Miscellaneous Costs
Costs $450
In case anything unexpected happens while we're on set, and to cover our miscellaneous costs like hand warmers!
Cast Members
Costs $500
To make sure our amazing actors are fairly paid for all the time and effort they're putting in!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Joaquin Rodriguez - Writer & Director
Joaquin is a filmmaker from Seattle currently finishing his final year as a Film & Television student at NYU Tisch. He always loved watching movies but discovered a passion for filmmaking after taking a film class in high school. During his time at NYU, he wrote and directed multiple films and worked on his peers' films as a crew member. He grew up as a massive Star Wars fan but has since come to be influenced more by the films of Martin McDonagh and Sean Baker. He tries to bring an emotional and impactful quality to his films while retaining an accessible and comedic quality to his work. Joaquin has previous experience working as an intern at Likely Story and Æ Vision. In his free time, you can expect to find him running, hiking, or at the movies.
Dasha Samonova - Producer
Dasha is a Russian producer and director studying Film & Television student at NYU Tisch. She has worked on projects worldwide from Russia to the UK and now in New York. She's learned to handle the difficult road of producing short films and is extremely excited to produce Luxuries and bring an impactful story to the screen.
Andre Hall - Cinematographer
Raised in North California and based in New York City, Andre Hall is a prolific Director of Photography with over 15 credits. Boasting a range of passions — from food-tasting to dog-walking to LEGO building — Andre lends his unique, eccentric lens to each project he works on. A recent graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Film & Television.