Lyla
Salt Lake City, Utah | Film Short
Sci-Fi, Drama
After a global war, a gentle AI named Lyla and her creator look to save the last bits of beauty from a dying world. Written and directed by Shane Dzmil & Vini Goncalves, this heartfelt story tackles the delicate beauty of life, the horrors of war, and the hope that comes after.
Lyla
Salt Lake City, Utah | Film Short
Sci-Fi, Drama
2 Campaigns | Utah, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $10,000 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
46 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
After a global war, a gentle AI named Lyla and her creator look to save the last bits of beauty from a dying world. Written and directed by Shane Dzmil & Vini Goncalves, this heartfelt story tackles the delicate beauty of life, the horrors of war, and the hope that comes after.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Set after a world war, Lyla is a heartfelt and visually poetic story about an AI robot (Lyla) who is curious about life and nature. From the birds in the sky to the glow of the last surviving fireflies, she's gentle and caring. Her creator (Rayen) looks to protect and teach her about the earth, but he holds a secret that could change Lyla's view of the world and herself forever.
The themes of the film touch on the consequences of war (both on nature and the lives lost), the loss of innocence, and learning to cope with heartbreak. Many themes deal with environmentalism, existentialism, loss, and the connection between humans and AI. The story is also nostalgic, blending the delicate melancholy of Grave of the Fireflies with the world-building of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.
WHY US?
Both of us are deeply connected to nature through our experiences growing up. What is happening in the world at the moment leaves us frustrated and afraid of what is to come, which is why we want our film to show the effects war can have on the environment and the importance of taking care of the beauties on Earth.
WHY NOW?
War is brewing in our current world today, and with the rise of AI, many people worry about what countries will do with its power. People fear the technology and overlook the good it can do. The impact people have on the environment, especially during these times, can be drastic. So we hope raising awareness of these topics helps worldwide.
WHERE ARE WE AT?
Currently, we are tidying up the screenplay, storyboarding, and planning the shoot. We plan to shoot at the end of April for a total of six days. This campaign will help us with production, mainly in props, sets, and locations. Once we finish the shoot, we will begin post-production and begin to submit to film festivals. We're hoping to show the film to everyone within a year of premiering at the film festivals.
If we end up surpassing our goal, we would love to rent Panavision lenses and put more money into the set, costume, and prop design.
So, if you're able to, please share this story with others, and if you donate, we appreciate your help so much!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
The Cabin
Costs $3,000
The cabin will be the home of our main characters. It is the heart of our main characters' story.
The Capsule
Costs $1,500
This is where the sci-fi element comes in. Lylas power station will be in a capsule where she charges.
Outdoor Locations
Costs $750
We need permits for some outdoor locations, which will help with the mood, story, and setting.
Catering
Costs $2,000
People need to eat to be healthy and work!
Costumes
Costs $650
We wish to have an aesthetic for our film that feels it belongs to its world.
Set Design + Props
Costs $2,500
We need props for important character totems and set design for a few sci-fi scenes within the film.
Actors
Costs $1,600
We need actors who can convincingly portray the deep emotions needed for the story to work
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Hello! We are Vini and Shane, two filmmakers currently studying at University. Upon meeting and working together, we learned we're great as co-DPs, Directors, and camera operators. We love to orchestrate breathtaking shots that create a mood within the audience and tell unique stories through poetic visuals. This latest short film will be our most ambitious story yet, but we're excited to take on the challenge!
We've shot on many cameras, but for this project, we are going back to the classic Arriflex cameras. With celluloid, we are looking to achieve a classic organic look that better fits with the natural world we've created.
Along with this, we have an amazing team who are all eager to help this film come to life. Many of them have had numerous hours on set and are some of the kindest and hardest workers we've met. We're excited to be working with all of them again on this huge project.
We also reached out to veterans in the film industry who have offered to help us with renting gear and post-production color grading in their theater. We are super grateful for these people and this opportunity and hope this helps bring the film to another level.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Set after a world war, Lyla is a heartfelt and visually poetic story about an AI robot (Lyla) who is curious about life and nature. From the birds in the sky to the glow of the last surviving fireflies, she's gentle and caring. Her creator (Rayen) looks to protect and teach her about the earth, but he holds a secret that could change Lyla's view of the world and herself forever.
The themes of the film touch on the consequences of war (both on nature and the lives lost), the loss of innocence, and learning to cope with heartbreak. Many themes deal with environmentalism, existentialism, loss, and the connection between humans and AI. The story is also nostalgic, blending the delicate melancholy of Grave of the Fireflies with the world-building of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.
WHY US?
Both of us are deeply connected to nature through our experiences growing up. What is happening in the world at the moment leaves us frustrated and afraid of what is to come, which is why we want our film to show the effects war can have on the environment and the importance of taking care of the beauties on Earth.
WHY NOW?
War is brewing in our current world today, and with the rise of AI, many people worry about what countries will do with its power. People fear the technology and overlook the good it can do. The impact people have on the environment, especially during these times, can be drastic. So we hope raising awareness of these topics helps worldwide.
WHERE ARE WE AT?
Currently, we are tidying up the screenplay, storyboarding, and planning the shoot. We plan to shoot at the end of April for a total of six days. This campaign will help us with production, mainly in props, sets, and locations. Once we finish the shoot, we will begin post-production and begin to submit to film festivals. We're hoping to show the film to everyone within a year of premiering at the film festivals.
If we end up surpassing our goal, we would love to rent Panavision lenses and put more money into the set, costume, and prop design.
So, if you're able to, please share this story with others, and if you donate, we appreciate your help so much!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
The Cabin
Costs $3,000
The cabin will be the home of our main characters. It is the heart of our main characters' story.
The Capsule
Costs $1,500
This is where the sci-fi element comes in. Lylas power station will be in a capsule where she charges.
Outdoor Locations
Costs $750
We need permits for some outdoor locations, which will help with the mood, story, and setting.
Catering
Costs $2,000
People need to eat to be healthy and work!
Costumes
Costs $650
We wish to have an aesthetic for our film that feels it belongs to its world.
Set Design + Props
Costs $2,500
We need props for important character totems and set design for a few sci-fi scenes within the film.
Actors
Costs $1,600
We need actors who can convincingly portray the deep emotions needed for the story to work
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Hello! We are Vini and Shane, two filmmakers currently studying at University. Upon meeting and working together, we learned we're great as co-DPs, Directors, and camera operators. We love to orchestrate breathtaking shots that create a mood within the audience and tell unique stories through poetic visuals. This latest short film will be our most ambitious story yet, but we're excited to take on the challenge!
We've shot on many cameras, but for this project, we are going back to the classic Arriflex cameras. With celluloid, we are looking to achieve a classic organic look that better fits with the natural world we've created.
Along with this, we have an amazing team who are all eager to help this film come to life. Many of them have had numerous hours on set and are some of the kindest and hardest workers we've met. We're excited to be working with all of them again on this huge project.
We also reached out to veterans in the film industry who have offered to help us with renting gear and post-production color grading in their theater. We are super grateful for these people and this opportunity and hope this helps bring the film to another level.