Introducing, Play It By Ear!

At the start of 2020, the Play It By Ear Creative Team was spread between Los Angeles, Amsterdam, and Connecticut. We had just finished our first feature film, Dilettantes, and were kicking around an idea for a series about a long-distance couple struggling to stay connected. As the year progressed in increasingly unpredictable ways, Play It By Ear came into sharper focus. We found our protagonists and our central questions: Can two people give each other the space they need to grow, without losing hold of one another? At what point does a relationship become more stifling than supportive? By the time we finished writing, it was clear that our series was made for this moment, in more ways than we could have anticipated.

Meet the Characters!

Mila (23) - Mila is a classic California girl, but don’t think for a second she’s not smart as a whip. As an aspiring screenwriter, Mila has creativity and passion to spare, but her indecisiveness and body image issues can hold her back. She's a romantic, but also firmly believes in her own independence. Mila has come to a crossroads - follow her love or chart her own path?

Lukas (23) - Lukas was born and raised in the Netherlands, but moved to the U.S. as an adolescent after his parents’ divorce. Living in America with his mother gave him a new life and allowed him to meet Mila, but nostalgia for his Dutch roots pulls at him. Lukas is thoughtful, charismatic, and a compulsive planner; which isn't always a good thing. Because of his split identity, Lukas seeks out certainty and safety - something he’s not sure he’ll ever have with Mila.

What Makes Our Story Important?

Now that we're more connected than ever, distance can seem like an outdated concept. But does this constant accessiblity really bring us closer, or does it isolate us further? Play It By Ear began with our wish to examine this intersection of technology and romance, and grew into an exploration not only of the pitfalls of digital intimacy, but the challenges all relationships face as we move through the world.

How Will We Do It?!

We are confident Play It By Ear can be made with an affordable budget and maintain a high production value. The series will consist of 6 episodes that will run 10-15 minutes each and be shot in both cities, Los Angeles and Amsterdam. This way, the series will feel fresh and high-concept, while remaining an intimate story that doesn't rely on big set pieces or many characters. Completing our project will be made easier by the fact that our team works in both the American and Dutch film industries, and has experience developing features and shorts for shoestring costs. Together we have made several shorts and one feature film under the Karen Twins Productions masthead (check out our work in more detail at karentwins.com).

Our fundraising goal is $25,000, and we will be matched by a private backer if we can raise at least $17,000!

How You Can Help

This story lived first in our heads, then in script form, for the past year and a half. But our task is just beginning. Assembling resources for principal photography and post-production is going to require even more work, in a more condensed time frame. If we have learned anything from our previous projects, it's that no film can make it to the finish line without massive support from crew, actors, businesses, and individual backers. Any contribution you make to this project, whether it be a donation, a share on social media, or just telling friends and family about Play It By Ear, will help us get through these next challenging six months. Our ultimate goal: making Play It By Ear viewable to anyone, anywhere in the world, with an internet connection. 

An Audience for Play It By Ear

We believe that our series has global appeal, beyond the fact that it will take place in multiple countries, and in multiple languages. After all, in 2021 a story about searching for connection across physical distance should feel more relatable than ever. Our hope is that this story of one couple will speak to anyone who has felt far away from someone they cared about. Does that sound like you?

Check out more from us and the series HERE

Follow Mila and Lukas on instagram!