Painted Faces
Orlando, Florida | Film Feature
Drama, Comedy
A college art student who hides severe cystic acne behind colorful face paint must venture out of her comfort zone to unmask her true authentic self. Painted Faces is a lighthearted but powerful tale of self-acceptance involving acne struggles, artistic ambitions, family strife, and LGBTQ romance.
Painted Faces
Orlando, Florida | Film Feature
Drama, Comedy
Green Light
This campaign raised $14,475 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
34 supporters | followers
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A college art student who hides severe cystic acne behind colorful face paint must venture out of her comfort zone to unmask her true authentic self. Painted Faces is a lighthearted but powerful tale of self-acceptance involving acne struggles, artistic ambitions, family strife, and LGBTQ romance.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Painted Faces is a feature-length coming-of-age drama-comedy film about bringing out inner beauty.
Lia Chenoworth hides her severe case of cystic acne behind colorful face paint. If she's going to be stared at and side-eyed, it might as well be something she can control with her artistic skills. Stuck on a self-portrait that she can’t get right, she follows her art teacher’s advice to take a step away and explore life around her. An adventurous, free-spirited classmate named Shayna takes an interest in Lia’s striking look and brings Lia into her friend group. As they draw closer, Lia realizes she wants more than a friendship, but she fears unveiling her true acne-marked face and opening herself up to rejection.
Pressures mount in other areas of her life as she takes a last-resort acne medication, the deadline for the portfolio submission to her dream art school approaches, and her overly critical grandmother moves in to fill the void left by Lia’s workaholic father. As these threads pull Lia in various directions, she struggles to come to terms with who she is on the inside and the outside.
This film emerged from my own experience of struggling with acne throughout my teenage years. Although I knew I wasn’t alone in facing these persistent breakouts, I still wanted to hide – even from my friends and family. Despite being something nearly everyone has gone through at one point or another, acne is almost entirely absent from entertainment and social media. The standard of beauty, especially in Hollywood, is clear: unblemished, smooth, flawless skin.
Painted Faces will be a step in the right direction for acne representation. It will be an honest and empathetic portrayal of Lia’s acne struggle without reducing her to this one aspect of her multi-faceted life.
I hope the film will resonate deeply with anyone dealing with physical insecurity, acne, or otherwise. Painted Faces offers a universal takeaway: what lies beneath the surface is a more profound measure of who we are.
We’ve all heard some variation of “it’s what’s on the inside that counts.” It’s far easier to hear it and say it than it is to believe it and live it. But that’s the power of cinema – we can take these obvious truths and attach emotional weight to them. By joining a character as they undergo meaningful change, we might also be more ready to do the same. Because it’s not just an idea anymore, it’s a personal connection. It’s a life we’ve lived inside that big screen.
Working on this film has already done so much to propel me forward in my ongoing self-acceptance journey. The story means a lot to me, and I know it will mean a lot to so many audiences. I hope watching the film will have a similar impact on them that creating the film has done for me. That's why it is so important to me that we get this film made the right way.
So far, 49.3% of our projected budget is already covered through our master's thesis program at the University of Central Florida. However, we still need your help to cover the remainder! We ask for a generous donation within your means to help us fully realize Lia's story. All funding will be used for the following:
Makeup Equipment
We need makeup, brushes, and much more to accomplish a detailed and full-painted face look every day of filming.
Crew Meals/Crafty Snacks
Our cast and crew need to eat! We need to afford to get lunch for them and snacks to keep them healthy and energized throughout the shoot.
Locations
What do a roller rink, an art gallery, and an arena all have in common? A very high price tag. For us to have the best locations to shoot at, we need funds to afford it! Iconic shots deserve iconic spots.
Production Insurance
Unfortunate things happen all the time and we need to be covered in case issues arise. We aim to be a safe, professional production. Insurance coverage solidifies that.
Transportation
Moving equipment and people isn't cheap or easy! We will need to rent a box truck to house and transport the multiple tons (tons!) of equipment we need on set each day.
Production Design
For everything on screen to look as good as it does, we need to be able to get the best quality items.
Costuming
Dressing our actors is important. For them to look their best, we need to afford the best.
Contingency
Anything can happen and that's not always helpful! We need to have some backup funds for when something unexpected happens such as a prop breaking or rain preventing us from filming one or more days (we do live in Florida, after all).
All these and more are necessary for us to complete our film. Without full funding, none of what we want to accomplish may be possible. That's why we need your help to fund this important piece of art. Finding yourself is a universal experience, and we believe we can help people by showing Lia's journey into a confident young woman who's comfortable in her own skin.
Thank you for taking the time to read through our page. We hope that you are moved by our story and believe in the significance of Painted Faces as passionately as we do. A film is a great collaborative effort, and you be a major part of our effort by showing your support in these ways:
Donate
You can donate to this campaign! We have plenty of incentives for you to donate to and we’ll reward you for it too!
Spread the Word
Tell everyone you know! Word of mouth is powerful! Let as many people as you can know about our film and need help to fund it.
Lend Props, Locations, Equipment, etc.
If you have any art supplies, film equipment, properties & spaces, clothing, meal services, etc. that you can offer in lieu of a cash donation, that would be a massive help to our production. Reach out to us! We would love to work with you on this to ensure you receive the incentives that match the value of your contribution!
Social Media Engagement
Follow us on social media! We have Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok (find all three here). You can follow us, share our content, and interact with us! This can be as simple as reposting to your story for the day or sending the post to a friend!
Thank you for your support and we look forward to making this project a reality and for you to see it come to life!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Crew Meals
Costs $6,000
Hell hath no fury like a hangry crew. We want full bellies and great vibes on set!
Crafty
Costs $1,000
The quickest way to a filmmaker's heart is fruit snacks.
Makeup and Wardrobe
Costs $2,500
I mean, it's in the movie's name.
Locations
Costs $5,000
Can't shoot a movie in a void!
Transportation
Costs $1,500
We need to move! Not just with our legs!
Contingencies
Costs $1,500
Uh oh! I'm sure this will cover it.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Ryan Hill - Writer/Director/Producer - Ryan graduated with a BFA in screenwriting from the University of Central Florida in 2022. Now pursuing an MFA at UCF, Ryan is hard at work creating his first feature film. His short-subject projects have been selected for various film festivals and showcases. He aims to find the balance between entertaining and cathartic art in each of his works.
Cameron Gant - Producer - Cameron is a producer and filmmaker. A recent graduate from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film, he has worked on a variety of short films in the production and marketing department. He is especially interested in projects navigating perspective and the queer identity.
Alexander Roach - Associate Producer - Alexander is a University of Central Florida Class of 2022 Graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Film and a Minor in Creative Writing. He started working on student sets in 2021 as a Production Assistant and made his way up to being a Producer on numerous sets and even First and Second Assistant Directing. He is excited to work on Painted Faces with such an amazing cast and crew.
Nicole Lasso Polo - Assistant Producer - Nicole is Panamanian and a senior in the Narrative Film Production track at the University of Central Florida When she's not directing or writing, she can be found Producing or Assistant Directing. She has directed four films so far and is in the process of editing her senior thesis film!
Jane Chapman - Associate Producer - Jane is an Orlando-based filmmaker currently studying Narrative Film Production at the University of Central Florida. Jane began working in film in 2020 when she founded her production company, Bright Melon Productions. Jane's love of film grows with each project she works on, and she can't wait to bring Painted Faces to life!
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Painted Faces is a feature-length coming-of-age drama-comedy film about bringing out inner beauty.
Lia Chenoworth hides her severe case of cystic acne behind colorful face paint. If she's going to be stared at and side-eyed, it might as well be something she can control with her artistic skills. Stuck on a self-portrait that she can’t get right, she follows her art teacher’s advice to take a step away and explore life around her. An adventurous, free-spirited classmate named Shayna takes an interest in Lia’s striking look and brings Lia into her friend group. As they draw closer, Lia realizes she wants more than a friendship, but she fears unveiling her true acne-marked face and opening herself up to rejection.
Pressures mount in other areas of her life as she takes a last-resort acne medication, the deadline for the portfolio submission to her dream art school approaches, and her overly critical grandmother moves in to fill the void left by Lia’s workaholic father. As these threads pull Lia in various directions, she struggles to come to terms with who she is on the inside and the outside.
This film emerged from my own experience of struggling with acne throughout my teenage years. Although I knew I wasn’t alone in facing these persistent breakouts, I still wanted to hide – even from my friends and family. Despite being something nearly everyone has gone through at one point or another, acne is almost entirely absent from entertainment and social media. The standard of beauty, especially in Hollywood, is clear: unblemished, smooth, flawless skin.
Painted Faces will be a step in the right direction for acne representation. It will be an honest and empathetic portrayal of Lia’s acne struggle without reducing her to this one aspect of her multi-faceted life.
I hope the film will resonate deeply with anyone dealing with physical insecurity, acne, or otherwise. Painted Faces offers a universal takeaway: what lies beneath the surface is a more profound measure of who we are.
We’ve all heard some variation of “it’s what’s on the inside that counts.” It’s far easier to hear it and say it than it is to believe it and live it. But that’s the power of cinema – we can take these obvious truths and attach emotional weight to them. By joining a character as they undergo meaningful change, we might also be more ready to do the same. Because it’s not just an idea anymore, it’s a personal connection. It’s a life we’ve lived inside that big screen.
Working on this film has already done so much to propel me forward in my ongoing self-acceptance journey. The story means a lot to me, and I know it will mean a lot to so many audiences. I hope watching the film will have a similar impact on them that creating the film has done for me. That's why it is so important to me that we get this film made the right way.
So far, 49.3% of our projected budget is already covered through our master's thesis program at the University of Central Florida. However, we still need your help to cover the remainder! We ask for a generous donation within your means to help us fully realize Lia's story. All funding will be used for the following:
Makeup Equipment
We need makeup, brushes, and much more to accomplish a detailed and full-painted face look every day of filming.
Crew Meals/Crafty Snacks
Our cast and crew need to eat! We need to afford to get lunch for them and snacks to keep them healthy and energized throughout the shoot.
Locations
What do a roller rink, an art gallery, and an arena all have in common? A very high price tag. For us to have the best locations to shoot at, we need funds to afford it! Iconic shots deserve iconic spots.
Production Insurance
Unfortunate things happen all the time and we need to be covered in case issues arise. We aim to be a safe, professional production. Insurance coverage solidifies that.
Transportation
Moving equipment and people isn't cheap or easy! We will need to rent a box truck to house and transport the multiple tons (tons!) of equipment we need on set each day.
Production Design
For everything on screen to look as good as it does, we need to be able to get the best quality items.
Costuming
Dressing our actors is important. For them to look their best, we need to afford the best.
Contingency
Anything can happen and that's not always helpful! We need to have some backup funds for when something unexpected happens such as a prop breaking or rain preventing us from filming one or more days (we do live in Florida, after all).
All these and more are necessary for us to complete our film. Without full funding, none of what we want to accomplish may be possible. That's why we need your help to fund this important piece of art. Finding yourself is a universal experience, and we believe we can help people by showing Lia's journey into a confident young woman who's comfortable in her own skin.
Thank you for taking the time to read through our page. We hope that you are moved by our story and believe in the significance of Painted Faces as passionately as we do. A film is a great collaborative effort, and you be a major part of our effort by showing your support in these ways:
Donate
You can donate to this campaign! We have plenty of incentives for you to donate to and we’ll reward you for it too!
Spread the Word
Tell everyone you know! Word of mouth is powerful! Let as many people as you can know about our film and need help to fund it.
Lend Props, Locations, Equipment, etc.
If you have any art supplies, film equipment, properties & spaces, clothing, meal services, etc. that you can offer in lieu of a cash donation, that would be a massive help to our production. Reach out to us! We would love to work with you on this to ensure you receive the incentives that match the value of your contribution!
Social Media Engagement
Follow us on social media! We have Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok (find all three here). You can follow us, share our content, and interact with us! This can be as simple as reposting to your story for the day or sending the post to a friend!
Thank you for your support and we look forward to making this project a reality and for you to see it come to life!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Crew Meals
Costs $6,000
Hell hath no fury like a hangry crew. We want full bellies and great vibes on set!
Crafty
Costs $1,000
The quickest way to a filmmaker's heart is fruit snacks.
Makeup and Wardrobe
Costs $2,500
I mean, it's in the movie's name.
Locations
Costs $5,000
Can't shoot a movie in a void!
Transportation
Costs $1,500
We need to move! Not just with our legs!
Contingencies
Costs $1,500
Uh oh! I'm sure this will cover it.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Ryan Hill - Writer/Director/Producer - Ryan graduated with a BFA in screenwriting from the University of Central Florida in 2022. Now pursuing an MFA at UCF, Ryan is hard at work creating his first feature film. His short-subject projects have been selected for various film festivals and showcases. He aims to find the balance between entertaining and cathartic art in each of his works.
Cameron Gant - Producer - Cameron is a producer and filmmaker. A recent graduate from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film, he has worked on a variety of short films in the production and marketing department. He is especially interested in projects navigating perspective and the queer identity.
Alexander Roach - Associate Producer - Alexander is a University of Central Florida Class of 2022 Graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Film and a Minor in Creative Writing. He started working on student sets in 2021 as a Production Assistant and made his way up to being a Producer on numerous sets and even First and Second Assistant Directing. He is excited to work on Painted Faces with such an amazing cast and crew.
Nicole Lasso Polo - Assistant Producer - Nicole is Panamanian and a senior in the Narrative Film Production track at the University of Central Florida When she's not directing or writing, she can be found Producing or Assistant Directing. She has directed four films so far and is in the process of editing her senior thesis film!
Jane Chapman - Associate Producer - Jane is an Orlando-based filmmaker currently studying Narrative Film Production at the University of Central Florida. Jane began working in film in 2020 when she founded her production company, Bright Melon Productions. Jane's love of film grows with each project she works on, and she can't wait to bring Painted Faces to life!