Out Of Lines
San Francisco, California | Film Short
Sport, Drama
This project brings the physical risk and reality of flying trapeze to the screen. In a time when many feel stuck or afraid to take the next step, it’s about capturing the moment where you choose to act. Your support brings a story of resilience and authentic flying trapeze to life.
63 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$18,144
Goal: $20,000 for pre-production
This project brings the physical risk and reality of flying trapeze to the screen. In a time when many feel stuck or afraid to take the next step, it’s about capturing the moment where you choose to act. Your support brings a story of resilience and authentic flying trapeze to life.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Out of Lines is a short film that brings the physical reality of flying trapeze to the screen through a grounded human story. Centered on a woman finding refuge in a circus school, the film builds toward a moment that demands she let go. Through authentic trapeze with cinematic storytelling, it explores risk, trust, and the choice to move forward.
Ala — A guarded drifter with an unspoken past who finds refuge in a circus school. As she trains in secret, she is pushed toward a moment she cannot avoid. Will she continue to hide, or learn to let go?
Dac — The seasoned trapeze coach who chooses to protect Ala rather than turn her away. As suspicion grows around them, he risks his position and reputation. How far is he willing to go to protect her?
Zev — The hotshot flyer. Confident, fearless, and always pushing higher. But when instinct overrides timing, what happens when you fly too high?
Thuan Lieu started his career as an aerospace engineering research scientist. One day, he discovered flying trapeze, fell in love with the art and the community, and ultimately left to pursue circus arts as a coach and performer.
This project comes from a desire to capture something rarely experienced on screen. At a time when many feel stuck or uncertain about their next step, this film explores what it means to let go and move forward.
Thuan has teamed up with award winning director Shirin Mori. They previously collaborated on the 72 hour film project Silly Clown Valley. Together, they are drawn to the connection between flying trapeze and life: when you let go of the bar, you let go of your past.
Our budget is focused on safely and authentically capturing flying trapeze on film. This includes experienced crew, proper rigging and safety support, and the equipment needed to film trapeze at scale. See the breakdown below.
CONTRIBUTE AND PLEDGE!
You can make a contribution by making a pledge (we need to collect at least 80% of our crowdfunding goal to keep our funds). You can choose an incentive or make a pledge to a specific wishlist item. You decide what fits your budget.
Every dollar makes a difference!
We have some awesome incentives including specialized digital posters, private links/events, behind the scene access, even a private flying trapeze experience, and so much more!
SPREAD THE WORD!
Please share this page with anyone you think would be interested in seeing a film like this come alive!
Follow our journey on Instagram @OutOfLines_ShortFilm to get constant updates. Repost our pictures and videos, DM us questions, comment what you like!
Thank you so much for checking out our campaign!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Insurance
Costs $2,100
Covers production insurance for filming with trapeze, helping protect our performers, crew, location, and equipment during the shoot.
Equipment Rental
Costs $1,600
Rents the camera, lighting, and grip gear needed to safely capture fast aerial movement, height, timing, and the scale of the rig.
Art Department, Production Design, & Costumes
Costs $1,500
Covers props, set details, and flyer costumes so the world feels lived-in, visually intentional, and safe for trapeze movement.
Craft Services
Costs $2,700
Provides meals, snacks, drinks, and coffee for cast, crew, and stunt flyers across our shoot days so everyone stays fueled and focused.
Post Production
Costs $4,000
Supports editing, sound design, color, and final finishing so the footage becomes a polished film with rhythm, emotion, and impact.
Production Safety Net
Costs $2,000
Creates a safety net for last-minute needs like extra rentals, schedule changes, location costs, repairs, or other production surprises.
Hair & Makeup
Costs $500
Helps actors stay camera-ready and consistent across scenes, especially during long shoot days and physical trapeze work.
Set Operations
Costs $600
Covers hard drives, batteries, media storage, walkies, tape, and on-set supplies that keep footage safe and production moving.
Cast & Crew
Costs $5,000
Provides modest pay for the actors, crew, and key team members giving their time and skill to bring the film to life.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Thuan Lieu
Writer, Producer, & Actor
Thuan is a Bay Area actor and former aerospace engineering research scientist turned circus coach. He appears in BOXED IN, winner of the 2025 Best Narrative at the City Shorts Film Festival, and has performed in stage roles including The Secret Garden, The Jury Experience, and, Rumors. He is now producing short films, including Out of Lines, which explores flying trapeze on screen.
Shirin Mori
Producer & Director
Shirin grew up in an Iranian-Japanese multigenerational San Francisco household, where as they tried to sleep, they could overhear their grandmother praying to die. Shirin is a San Francisco Transgender Film Festival Dream Commission grantee writer and director particularly interested in horror and how we tend to each other. Their fertility clinic horror starring a non-binary protagonist, Navel Gazer, won Mrs. Festival Director’s Award at Bizarroland and Best Thriller at Another Hole in the Head, and is being adapted into a feature. When not manifesting their nightmares into films, Shirin does caregiving work and is engaged in circus arts.
Derek Magsanay
Director of Photography
Derek grew up in a movie-loving household, dreaming of being a filmmaker, not believing it was possible for someone from his economic background. Now that it’s more accessible than ever, he’s finally following his dreams and has already won a few awards for his cinematography with the horror/action Remy & Bo: Blood Debt. His other passion is parkour and he wants to use his filmmaking as a means for destroying the misconceptions surrounding parkour so that others who might be interested aren’t afraid of giving it a shot.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Out of Lines is a short film that brings the physical reality of flying trapeze to the screen through a grounded human story. Centered on a woman finding refuge in a circus school, the film builds toward a moment that demands she let go. Through authentic trapeze with cinematic storytelling, it explores risk, trust, and the choice to move forward.
Ala — A guarded drifter with an unspoken past who finds refuge in a circus school. As she trains in secret, she is pushed toward a moment she cannot avoid. Will she continue to hide, or learn to let go?
Dac — The seasoned trapeze coach who chooses to protect Ala rather than turn her away. As suspicion grows around them, he risks his position and reputation. How far is he willing to go to protect her?
Zev — The hotshot flyer. Confident, fearless, and always pushing higher. But when instinct overrides timing, what happens when you fly too high?
Thuan Lieu started his career as an aerospace engineering research scientist. One day, he discovered flying trapeze, fell in love with the art and the community, and ultimately left to pursue circus arts as a coach and performer.
This project comes from a desire to capture something rarely experienced on screen. At a time when many feel stuck or uncertain about their next step, this film explores what it means to let go and move forward.
Thuan has teamed up with award winning director Shirin Mori. They previously collaborated on the 72 hour film project Silly Clown Valley. Together, they are drawn to the connection between flying trapeze and life: when you let go of the bar, you let go of your past.
Our budget is focused on safely and authentically capturing flying trapeze on film. This includes experienced crew, proper rigging and safety support, and the equipment needed to film trapeze at scale. See the breakdown below.
CONTRIBUTE AND PLEDGE!
You can make a contribution by making a pledge (we need to collect at least 80% of our crowdfunding goal to keep our funds). You can choose an incentive or make a pledge to a specific wishlist item. You decide what fits your budget.
Every dollar makes a difference!
We have some awesome incentives including specialized digital posters, private links/events, behind the scene access, even a private flying trapeze experience, and so much more!
SPREAD THE WORD!
Please share this page with anyone you think would be interested in seeing a film like this come alive!
Follow our journey on Instagram @OutOfLines_ShortFilm to get constant updates. Repost our pictures and videos, DM us questions, comment what you like!
Thank you so much for checking out our campaign!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Insurance
Costs $2,100
Covers production insurance for filming with trapeze, helping protect our performers, crew, location, and equipment during the shoot.
Equipment Rental
Costs $1,600
Rents the camera, lighting, and grip gear needed to safely capture fast aerial movement, height, timing, and the scale of the rig.
Art Department, Production Design, & Costumes
Costs $1,500
Covers props, set details, and flyer costumes so the world feels lived-in, visually intentional, and safe for trapeze movement.
Craft Services
Costs $2,700
Provides meals, snacks, drinks, and coffee for cast, crew, and stunt flyers across our shoot days so everyone stays fueled and focused.
Post Production
Costs $4,000
Supports editing, sound design, color, and final finishing so the footage becomes a polished film with rhythm, emotion, and impact.
Production Safety Net
Costs $2,000
Creates a safety net for last-minute needs like extra rentals, schedule changes, location costs, repairs, or other production surprises.
Hair & Makeup
Costs $500
Helps actors stay camera-ready and consistent across scenes, especially during long shoot days and physical trapeze work.
Set Operations
Costs $600
Covers hard drives, batteries, media storage, walkies, tape, and on-set supplies that keep footage safe and production moving.
Cast & Crew
Costs $5,000
Provides modest pay for the actors, crew, and key team members giving their time and skill to bring the film to life.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Thuan Lieu
Writer, Producer, & Actor
Thuan is a Bay Area actor and former aerospace engineering research scientist turned circus coach. He appears in BOXED IN, winner of the 2025 Best Narrative at the City Shorts Film Festival, and has performed in stage roles including The Secret Garden, The Jury Experience, and, Rumors. He is now producing short films, including Out of Lines, which explores flying trapeze on screen.
Shirin Mori
Producer & Director
Shirin grew up in an Iranian-Japanese multigenerational San Francisco household, where as they tried to sleep, they could overhear their grandmother praying to die. Shirin is a San Francisco Transgender Film Festival Dream Commission grantee writer and director particularly interested in horror and how we tend to each other. Their fertility clinic horror starring a non-binary protagonist, Navel Gazer, won Mrs. Festival Director’s Award at Bizarroland and Best Thriller at Another Hole in the Head, and is being adapted into a feature. When not manifesting their nightmares into films, Shirin does caregiving work and is engaged in circus arts.
Derek Magsanay
Director of Photography
Derek grew up in a movie-loving household, dreaming of being a filmmaker, not believing it was possible for someone from his economic background. Now that it’s more accessible than ever, he’s finally following his dreams and has already won a few awards for his cinematography with the horror/action Remy & Bo: Blood Debt. His other passion is parkour and he wants to use his filmmaking as a means for destroying the misconceptions surrounding parkour so that others who might be interested aren’t afraid of giving it a shot.