Naked is a female-driven project. It is an in-depth portrait of a women’s experience of motherhood, disappointment, mediocrity, fatigue, trying to be everything, and struggling to be anything. It’s funny, touching, honest, raw and... naked.
Naked is a female-driven project. It is an in-depth portrait of a women’s experience of motherhood, disappointment, mediocrity, fatigue, trying to be everything, and struggling to be anything. It’s funny, touching, honest, raw and... naked.
in partnership with
-
Story
Mission Statement
The team behind Naked includes a female writer, director, and actor. It’s a story of one woman’s vain attempts to validate herself through a male perspective. Our multiracial cast further illuminates this struggle for all underrepresented people.About The Project
We've reached our goal of $5.5K! So... what now? We streeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetch!
We are so grateful to our supporters for helping us surpass our goal of $5,500 in just 15 days! With another 15 days left, what's next? Why, we stretch, of course!
But why stretch? Well, take a look at the handy dandy graphic above. At a budget of $5,500, we planned to pay our team members $167.50 for a twelve-hour shoot day. That's $13.54/hour -- below the mimimum wage in NYC but more than most indie films pay (which is often $0 and snacks). If we make it to $10K, we can pay our team members $18.75/hour! That $5 and change increase helps a lot in a city that costs... a lot.
Also, at a lower budget of $5.5K, often times our post-team is working well below their rates, and therefore need to prioritize other projects that pay their rent first, making the time it takes to finish the film oh so long (about 6 months). However, at $10K, we will be able to pay our post-peeps more and bump up the chain of priority, helping our film get done in as little as 3 months!!!
Lastly, what's not on this graph is the number of festivals we could submit to with the extra dough. More festivals = more exposure = you helped make us FAMOUS!
I'm only partly kidding. So here's some simple math:
More money = better paid workers = better quality film = more exposure.
You feel us? So don't be deterred by our green light! If you believe in what we are doing (which you can find out more about below), then please contribute. Help us get Naked... made! (That joke never gets old).
The Story…Uncovered.
Naked is an in-depth portrait of a young mother posing as the self-assured woman she feels she’s expected to be. Hoping that nude modeling for an art class will restore her sense of self, she eventually finds a way to accept her circumstances, even if life isn’t everything she hoped it would be.
The Birthday Suit
Naked was first born when Vanessa Shealy submitted a short monologue to Emerging Artists Theater’s New Work Series. The piece became a metaphor for a journey that Vanessa knew was a common for other women her age – one of trying to hold on to the ambitions of her youth, but juggling too many responsibilities and a highly energetic toddler at home.
Vanessa's son had recently been diagnosed with autism, after which life changed dramatically. She accepted a full time job (complete with benefits and office lighting), and began the all-consuming life of countless therapy sessions, fighting for schools, and trying to overcome an the obsessive fear of what the future held for her son -- and for her.
“The act of writing this piece was, for me, standing in front of a group of my peers, trying to get naked - trying to be honest, trying to be okay with letting go, trying to accept my new self and be okay with it.”
The Bare Truth
Fast forward a few years, and the piece was included in a festival produced by Project Y Theater called Women in Theater. Vanessa called up the best actress she knew to perform this 15 minute monologue, Rebecca De Ornelas.
Rebecca and Vanessa became friends when they were in a play together with Alice Spivak’s company, OnTheRoadRep. Later that year, they worked together at the aforementioned “office” job, where Vanessa was still spending her days.
Rebecca knocked the socks off the play, and afterwards she and her husband Michael DiBiasio had the grand idea to make it into a short film.
The Exposure
Together, Rebecca and Michael produced the feature film The Videoblogs (available on VOD), as well as short films such as Multiverse and The Confession.
To conceptualize this piece for film, the team added the (previously “off stage”) character of the young artist, who is there to draw the nude protagonist.
Real-life artist Jamel Robinson was perfect for this role, and brings an edge, honesty, and depth to it that the team thinks will make this piece resonate with audiences.
The Clothes Off Our Backs
We need your help to bring this story to life. We know we have an important story to tell, and if you’ve read to this point you probably also understand the balancing act that comes with growing older, making art, living life, raising kids, and accepting new identities. Without you this project won’t be possible, so thank you in advance for your support of female-centered stories, and women-driven filmmaking.
Naked Stretching!
Oh, wait, did we forget to mention that we're all independent artists, who are used to stretchinggggg a buck but ALSO have learned it's okay to ask for more (whattt?).
Here are some different tiers for our campaign goal(s):
Base Goal ($5,500)
This allows us to shoot, and to pay every one a little bit for their time. Many key collaborators on the team will wear multiple hats. We don't mind, but it can get hard!
Middle Goal ($7,800)
This amount will allow us to hire a bigger crew, with most people wearing only one hat (doing one job). It can happen!
Top Goal ($10,000)
If we were to raise this amount, we can speed up completion of the film and secure an easier go of things, just in general. We don't need it to succeed, but it would sureeeee be nice, and every dollar would still be maxed out to make the best film possible.
For you. Our Naked friends.
Thanks for considering our project! You're so very sexy!
Incentives
$10
The Bare Essentials
A digital download of Naked. Nudity while watching not required (but totally fine if preferred).
$25
The Birthday Suit
Send us your birthdate and we will suprise you with a special digital gift! You'll also get a download of the film.
$50
The Four-Legged Nudist
You'll receive a handwritten thank you card from the cutest dog in the world, Zelda Fitgerald, complete with a photo of her... in the nude! We will also send you a digital download of the film.
$75
The Naked Truth (as told by Rebecca)
Send us a question, asking ANYTHING, and Rebecca will promise to answer (in a video) with anything ;-) You'll also get a digital download of the film.
She will not be naked (so don't ask).
$100
Naked Gratitude
As a special thank you for your donation at this level, your name will be included in Naked's credits! You'll also receive a digital download of the film.
$300
The Naked Yogi
This title is a little misleading but oh, well... Donate at this level and get a one-hour in home (or at a space of your choosing) yoga session with the lovely Kristina Erikson personalized to your specific needs/goals! Kristina has been teaching and practicing yoga for over a decade. Check out her IG @kristinaeriksonyogi and witness her amazing talent! She's pretty cool, too.
With this perk, you'll also receive your name in the credits of Naked and a digital download of the film! Can someone gift this perk to us, please?!Must be NY local.
Claimed: 0 of 4
$500
Identity... Exposed!
Currently both our characters have no name! If one of your favorite films is the Neverending Story, you know the importance of a name. If not, this incentive is still cool. Donate at this level and a character will be named after you! You'll also be invited to a special screening of the film when it's released! Must be New York local to attend.
Claimed: 1 of 2
$1,000
Buck Wild
You will be credited as an Executive Producer on the film. The coolest of credits without any of the boring work ;-) Also, if you're a New York local, you'll come to our special screening when the film is released!
-
Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
The Bare Essentials
A digital download of Naked. Nudity while watching not required (but totally fine if preferred).
$25
The Birthday Suit
Send us your birthdate and we will suprise you with a special digital gift! You'll also get a download of the film.
$50
The Four-Legged Nudist
You'll receive a handwritten thank you card from the cutest dog in the world, Zelda Fitgerald, complete with a photo of her... in the nude! We will also send you a digital download of the film.
$75
The Naked Truth (as told by Rebecca)
Send us a question, asking ANYTHING, and Rebecca will promise to answer (in a video) with anything ;-) You'll also get a digital download of the film.
She will not be naked (so don't ask).
$100
Naked Gratitude
As a special thank you for your donation at this level, your name will be included in Naked's credits! You'll also receive a digital download of the film.
$300
The Naked Yogi
This title is a little misleading but oh, well... Donate at this level and get a one-hour in home (or at a space of your choosing) yoga session with the lovely Kristina Erikson personalized to your specific needs/goals! Kristina has been teaching and practicing yoga for over a decade. Check out her IG @kristinaeriksonyogi and witness her amazing talent! She's pretty cool, too.
With this perk, you'll also receive your name in the credits of Naked and a digital download of the film! Can someone gift this perk to us, please?!Must be NY local.
Claimed: 0 of 4
$500
Identity... Exposed!
Currently both our characters have no name! If one of your favorite films is the Neverending Story, you know the importance of a name. If not, this incentive is still cool. Donate at this level and a character will be named after you! You'll also be invited to a special screening of the film when it's released! Must be New York local to attend.
Claimed: 1 of 2
$1,000
Buck Wild
You will be credited as an Executive Producer on the film. The coolest of credits without any of the boring work ;-) Also, if you're a New York local, you'll come to our special screening when the film is released!
- Updates
-
Current Team
About This Team
Vanessa Shealy (Writer/Director) Originally from Oklahoma City, Vanessa Shealy completed her MFA in Acting from the University of Georgia before moving to the Big Apple, where she is a writer and actor. Vanessa’s full length plays include Tea in the Afternoon, American Drum Circle, and One, Two, Whatever you do... Her short plays include A Captive Audience, Cataracts, and the short solo play, Naked. Her original comedic short film, Whistle & Snap screened at six film festivals, including the Montreal Black Film Festival. Vanessa was a co-producer of the feature length documentary, Souled Out Comedy, which won the Audience Choice award at The Friars Club Comedy Film Festival. She is also an actor and the co-creator and writer of the comic book series Couri Vine.
Michael DiBiasio (Co-Director) Filmmaker Michael DiBiasio's first feature The Videoblogs screened nationally in 2016 and is currently available on VOD in multiple countries. His best friends are his wife (see also: Rebecca De Ornelas), his dog, and whatever film he is working on at the time, which he believes is an entirely normal, healthy, and appropriate way to live. Michael is a graduate of Columbia University. In addition to Naked, he is currently working on his second feature film and his debut novel.
Rebecca De Ornelas (Producer/Lead Actress) In addition to playing the lead role in The Videoblogs ("a provocative indie", RogerEbert.com), Rebecca has appeared on several New York stages, including as Amy in The Show-Off at The Barrow Group as well as in the one-women show rendition of Naked, which was in several festivals. She has produced and appeared in multiple films and holds a BFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, where she trained at the Stella Adler Studio with Master Teachers Ron Burrus, James Tripp, and Betsy Parish. Rebecca lives in Brooklyn, where she was born and raised, with her husband (see also: Michael DiBiasio) and pup, Zelda Fitzgerald.
Jamel E. Robinson (Actor/Artist) Jamel Robinson is a poet and self-taught visual artist best known for his abstract paintings on canvas and non traditional surfaces. He began the new chapter of his creative journey after being asked to paint a poem on a canvas for a group exhibition in the winter of 2011. Robinson has appeared in various charity auctions, solo exhibitions and group shows in New York, Los Angeles, Paris and in Copenhagen. His paintings, drawings and sculptures have sold to a variety of prominent collectors and gained Robinson popularity in the US and abroad. Jamel has exhibited with the Ivy Brown Gallery in New York, the EFERYA Gallery in Paris and Gallery Von Schmordenfaden in Copenhagen and is based in Harlem, New York where he was born, raised, lives and works.
-
Media
Videos
Images
-
Community
Supporters
Followers