Sandy's on her way to pick up her things, and Patrice only has so long to make the room look presentable. But... Why make the room look appealing? Patrice doesn't have to impress her anymore, right? If he does want to look good, is it to show off or is it to win her back? Where is that line drawn after a long and loving relationship ends?

Patrice has left the apartment so Sandy can grab her things in private. What should be a simple task only becomes harder as Sandy sees things that remind her of their time together. Are these memories good or bad? What if those feelings are so intertwined that it's impossible to separate the two? Does Sandy miss Patrice, or does she miss the companionship?

DARLING, LOOK AT ME!" captures the story of a former couple, Patrice and Sandy, in fragments. We cut back and forth in time to learn about the conception of their love, the couple’s dissolution, and where they are now. The film’s framework is Patrice cleaning up his apartment before Sandy comes over, and Sandy arriving to grab her things. Memories are sprinkled throughout to show the constant flux of the couple’s emotions for each other, and the film tries to track these messy feelings through important objects in the room. Using symbolic iconography of their relationship, the audience is asked to analyze the relationship and question how both characters are reconciling with their love’s demise.

Pulling from the melodramas of old Hollywood and the romance films of today, we want the film to feel unique in its approach to how relationships are typically depicted in cinema through a diverse lens. A story is only as nuanced as how fleshed out both side's perspectives are. The rush of memories and moments in the protagonists' day create an almost dreamlike experience, and the audience is invited to tag along.

How often do you see a film that shows an undramatic break-up? Now, how often have you gone through an undramatic break-up yourself? I'm sure for most the ratio between these two is uneven. Sometimes people drift apart without one major moment marking the end. Inspired by more low-key films, we're attempting to create a movie for people who have gone through intense heartbreak that should've... could've... might've felt more monumental in different circumstances.

Emotions are tough enough to grapple with, and it's harder when you have two contradicting feelings taking space in your brain. The thought process for the film stems from the writer experiencing a moment like this after an intense break-up. His love was still there, but so was a new pettiness that can only come from heartbreak. While he was angry/lonely/yearning, he wasn't looking to validate his feelings. He was seeking an understanding of the situation as a whole. Hollywood has enough films about one-sided perspectives; a true story captures how everyone who was involved interprets everything that's happened. So, how do you show that?

The cast and crew hope their perspectives and overall collaboration create a film that gives any audience member who's gone through heartbreak something to relate to. This isn't a story of a bitter man with a "crazy ex" or a woman spiraling after a toxic ex-boyfriend. This is a story about two people, and the effect they had on each other's lives. This is a story about messy characters their messy feelings and their messy behaviors. We hope to represent these characters without judgment but encourage the audience to be as judgmental as they want. Where's the fun of a melodrama without the cattiness?

Patrice (Portrayed by Jacob Henrie-Naffa):

A 25-year-old man whose love language is acts of service. With his quieter personality, he keeps to himself and appears to be absent-minded. This can be interpreted as laziness, but he makes up for this by taking care of the house and being focused when motivated. He shares his feelings through love letters and cooking, but not so much communication. When in conflict, he appears unbothered, but this leads to tensions boiling over. Thankfully, Sandy's expressiveness gets him to open up. Though he seems calm, he tends to be petty when he feels wronged.  

SANDY (Portrayed by Avalon Greenberg Call):

A 25-year-old woman whose love language is gift-giving. She’s a career woman, so why not use that money to treat the ones you love? She loves loudly but ends up attaching her worth in relationships to the things she gives. This more outgoing personality contradicts her more stringent, professional beliefs to create a strong internal conflict. This comes out as expectations she has for her relationships and interactions. Expectations that might not be met without proper communication. Thankfully, Patrice’s mellow presence calms her down and allows her to show more of that personality. Well, that was before the break-up. 

To present the film structure's visual language, The overall look of the film will have two separate styles for how the relationship is presented:

• The 1st style will emulate a classic Hollywood aesthetic with traditional camera movements, nostalgic lenses, and intimate close-ups that represent the couple's intense love. That feeling of getting to know someone and learning to love them fully.
• The 2nd style will be grungier in presentation in the vein of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Blue Valentine. Handheld cameras, starker shadows, muted colors, and objective long shots create a more grounded style that gives the audience a "fly on the wall" perspective which engenders critical thinking about the character's emotions.

Here you can see the many influences we drew from while creating the overall style and tone of the film. We took bits and pieces from many eras of romance films from Eric Rohmer to Celine Song. While we love these films for how they inspired us, "My Darling, Look at Me!" is ultimately a completely original vision while also throwing in casual callbacks to these magnificent films.

Each donation will help bring our vision to life, these donations will go towards:

• Camera Equipment
• Props
• Wardrobe
• Post Product/Sound/Music
• Insurance
• Craft Services
• Cast and Crew
• Film Festivals

We haven't started filming yet, but with your donation, we'll be able to get straight to it! The majority of pre-production is done, and we're looking for a quick and efficient turnaround into post-production. Our projected timeline is as follows:

• Begin Principal Photography on June 28th - 30th
• Edit the film from July 1st - August 26th
• Quickly submit to Film Festivals
• After a successful film festival run, we post the film online for the world to see

After finishing editing, we can send the finished draft of the film to our $50+ donors. Before we post the film online, we'll submit to film festivals (they're very possessive and want things first) and gather as much buzz for the project as possible. This is both a passion project and a calling card for the producers, crew, director, and writer. With your help finishing the film, the cast and crew can work on getting connections that allow for more films for everyone! We won't forget you if we get big.

Your donation will help us pay our wonderful cast and crew, as well as gather the important props, make-up/wardrobe, and equipment that we need for the film. Beyond that, sharing the project, following our social media, and word-of-mouth is a wonderful way to make sure we're successful. We appreciate everything, especially your thoughts and well wishes, and with your help, we'll be able to make something everyone's proud of!

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