Rope
New York City, New York | Film Short
Experimental, Drama
ROPE is an experimental film about pearl diving, bondage, and losing yourself in the embrace of another. Flowing with magical realism and queer love, this experimental film is, at its core, a story of diaspora and generational trauma - a theme this generation has much to relate to and understand.
Green Light
This campaign raised $10,051 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
34 supporters | followers
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ROPE is an experimental film about pearl diving, bondage, and losing yourself in the embrace of another. Flowing with magical realism and queer love, this experimental film is, at its core, a story of diaspora and generational trauma - a theme this generation has much to relate to and understand.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
ROPE is a short film that explores themes of love, identity, and the intergenerational legacy of loss. As the two storylines unfold, both narratives highlight the longing for connection and the willingness to dive deep into the unknown, even when faced with loss and uncertainty.
In ROPE, Aki is struck by a sudden realization; he can not remember what his Grandmother looks like, a fear that surfaces during a bondage session with his lover, Ji, causing him to panic and pass out. In the aftermath, Aki begins to recount the story of his Grandmother’s disappearance to Ji.
The other half of ROPE is the tale of Aki’s Grandmother. An ama, or sea woman, her skill to dive for pearls causes her to believe that the ocean is speaking to her. An unspoken connection develops into something that resembles love, and soon her Father finds himself unable to stop her from disappearing into the waves, never to be seen again.
As Aki drifts between his world and that of his memory, reckoning with this generational tale passed down, his relationship with Ji becomes unmoored and the two’s ties to each other become tested. Sometimes the ocean is larger than you can ever imagine.
The style of ROPE will be informed by the weaving of these two generational stories to form a dynamic yet cohesive whole. We believe that this shifting back and forth will heighten both realities while maintaining the feeling of being adrift that both Aki and his Grandmother feel in the face of love.
The story of Aki and Ji will be grounded in the physicality of the two lovers. Wide lenses, soft lighting, and flowing camera movement will emphasize the subjectivity of being with another. We will welcome imperfections in blurriness, the distortion of bodies at the edges of frames, and organic compositions to show the quiet messiness of navigating their relationship.
The story of Aki’s Grandmother and her Father, in contrast, is presented through Aki’s memory. We hope to play with the way memory heightens reality and will present the tale of the Grandmother in a theatrical, staged manner. Our usage of steady wide shots, dynamic lighting, and symbolic production design will bring about the feeling of a fable that has been passed down for generations.
Hi! It’s me, Lucas : ). If you know me, you know that I’ve told you (yes you!) a story. Whether around the kitchen table, at a campfire, on a road trip, in a bed, or walking around, I’ve told you some tale with my hands gesturing wildly, with my voice running out of breath, my eyes wide.
I love dreams, and I love when you tell a story and it feels like all the threads are coming together. This is one of those stories, spanning generations and continents, blending a family story with a personal one.
I’ve spent the last three years far from home, and I’ve felt adrift more than I have not. I imagine my grandmother coming to America and then I imagine myself, untethered yet connected. I am still, as we all are, in the process of placing myself in the larger ocean of life. And the only way I know how to do so is to tell a story, and I can't wait for you to see this one come to life.
Aki
Aki finds themselves a world far away from their grandmother during a night of intimacy with their lover, Ji. Aki’s eyes belong to that of another ocean, and they can not help but feel lost in the life that they live. But as they become tied up, Aki begins to remember the tragic story of their grandmother who dove for pearls, and the trauma of the past begins to unfurl.
Grandmother
Aki’s Grandmother, an ama or woman of the sea, is a girl with eyes that see past the horizon, quiet but resolute in her actions. Her magical ability to find pearls without trying leads her to feel as if the ocean is calling out to her. The more she dives, the more she feels as if her home is no longer on land.
Father
The patriarch of the story, the Father of Grandmother has taken her down to the crags every morning to dive for pearls all her life. He cares deeply for her safety, shouldering quietly the rope that connects her to the land. But as his daughter is pulled deeper and deeper into the arms of the ocean, Father must decide how to save Grandmother before it is too late.
Ji
If Aki is a wave; Ji is the crag the wave crashes against. Aki’s raucous lover, Ji is probing, energetic, and sharp. They love tying Aki up and testing the waters of their love. But as Aki goes under, how much does Ji truly know the person they are tying up?
Our talented and hardworking crew are volunteering their time to help bring this story to life, to support them we want to ensure that they are well-fed, our transportation is covered, and that the art they make is properly funded. Our team is working with trained professionals in Intimacy Coordination and Bondage Art to make sure our set is safe and comfortable while recreating the symbolism of ROPE.
We created a chart of where your contributions will be going towards!
Our budget is $10,050! Your support will support us through the production as well as directly into post-production as we submit to festivals in the circuit!
- Follow our campaign to stay-up-to-date with the latest ROPE news! The more followers we achieve, we unlock rewards like products, festival waivers and more, courtesy of Seed & Spark!
- Contribute and pledge. Seed and Spark requires us to reach at least 80% of our goal to receive any of the funds raised. No amount of support is too small! And you will see that we have incentives for every budget. Every pledge matters and makes an impact that can’t be denied.
- Even if you can not contribute financially, independent filmmakers are supported most through the growth of their community. Please share our campaign to all those you know via your social media, email, word-of-mouth, whatever you choose!
Not sure what to say when you share? Feel free to copy and paste:
Help @rope.film and the young filmmakers reach their goal by supporting their project on @seedandspark.com/fund/rope
Wanna see a cool project get made? Follow @ropefilm on Instagram and join them on @seedandspark.com/fund/rope
WHOA this was a cool video by @ropefilm, starting AAPI cast and filmmakers. Support and join their campaign on @seedandspark.com/fund/rope
I just heard this beautiful AAPI story called ROPE, @ropefilm, about a young man recounting the story of his Grandmother's disappearance. You have got to check them out! Support them on @seedandspark.com/fund/rope
If you cannot monetarily donate, check out our wishlist! We can credit and/or advertise YOU on our Instagram (@ropefilm). You can make a loan request in our Wishlist tab or DM us on Instagram.
We are grateful to have the opportunity to be partnered with Asian CineVision (ACV), who have helped Asian independent filmmakers like us bring stories to life. Through ACV, all contributions are 100% tax-deductible with the potential of being matched. Want to learn more about ACV and contribution-matching through your employer? Check if your company already has a matching program to multiply your contribution and follow us on @ropefilm!
Thank you for supporting us! We are deeply grateful and look forward to sharing ROPE with you!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Food
Costs $1,050
No person should be left unfed.
Camera
Costs $2,500
Help us make this story look as beautiful on screen as on page.
Stunts
Costs $1,350
We are working with a talented intimacy coordinator & bondage artist, help us support them as well!
Transportation
Costs $800
Traveling is not easy, especially in New York!
Production Design
Costs $850
Props, makeup, costume - some of what makes this "art"!
Location
Costs $1,600
Much of Aki and Ji's journey takes place in an apartment, help us find them a home!
Festivals
Costs $200
We want to show you the film, help us spread the word once ROPE finishes.
Post-Production
Costs $800
Editing, color grading, graphic effects, and more!
Insurance
Costs $100
It is better to be safe than sorry!
Cast
Costs $500
Acting is no easy job, help us support them!
Production Supplies
Costs $300
Extra hard drives, tape, bathroom supplies - the little things.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Lucas Manuel-Scheibe - Director
Lucas Manuel-Scheibe is a writer and director raised in the Bay Area now making films in his third year at NYU Tisch. His love for telling fantastical stories about liminality, relationships, and what it means to be from somewhere have woven themselves into ROPE. He loves his family and his friends, and he can't wait to show you what he has devoted himself to.
Mir Lien - Producer
Mir Lien is a producer, director, and creative visionary based in New York City. She is currently a senior at NYU studying Film & TV, where she has applied her wide range of skills on numerous sets. She became well-known for her work as a producer, most recently on the shores film, "This Is All You Are". With a passion for her art, finely honed abilities, and a passion for creating safe and equitable spaces, Mir continues to work tirelessly to support people's talents, passions, and dreams. She is honored to be working with Lucas on "ROPE".
Callie Schultz - Producer
Callie Chen Schultz (she/her) is a rising junior and sound mixer at NYU Tisch majoring in Film & Television with a Business of Entertainment, Media, and Technology (BEMT) minor. Through her love for audio production, she aims to support people's artistic visions and storytelling for years to come. Now, as a first time producer, this project and the people involved mean a lot to her, and she is beyond thrilled to help Lucas bring the story of ROPE to life.
Nas Aidid - Producer
Nas Aidid is a writer, director, actress, and producer, from Copenhagen, Denmark with Somali roots. She is just graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts, focusing on film and theater and has a minor in philosophy. She has extensive directing and writing experience with her first short film "Under the Surface", being accepted to Cannes Film Festival's Short Film Corner. She is in post-production with her latest film "The White Rabbit". She has written various plays, and done a one man show called "The Day After Tomorrow was Yesterday". She just finished the production for her play "Who Was Hung This Morning and Is She Still Alive"! She is excited to help bring ROPE into reality!
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
ROPE is a short film that explores themes of love, identity, and the intergenerational legacy of loss. As the two storylines unfold, both narratives highlight the longing for connection and the willingness to dive deep into the unknown, even when faced with loss and uncertainty.
In ROPE, Aki is struck by a sudden realization; he can not remember what his Grandmother looks like, a fear that surfaces during a bondage session with his lover, Ji, causing him to panic and pass out. In the aftermath, Aki begins to recount the story of his Grandmother’s disappearance to Ji.
The other half of ROPE is the tale of Aki’s Grandmother. An ama, or sea woman, her skill to dive for pearls causes her to believe that the ocean is speaking to her. An unspoken connection develops into something that resembles love, and soon her Father finds himself unable to stop her from disappearing into the waves, never to be seen again.
As Aki drifts between his world and that of his memory, reckoning with this generational tale passed down, his relationship with Ji becomes unmoored and the two’s ties to each other become tested. Sometimes the ocean is larger than you can ever imagine.
The style of ROPE will be informed by the weaving of these two generational stories to form a dynamic yet cohesive whole. We believe that this shifting back and forth will heighten both realities while maintaining the feeling of being adrift that both Aki and his Grandmother feel in the face of love.
The story of Aki and Ji will be grounded in the physicality of the two lovers. Wide lenses, soft lighting, and flowing camera movement will emphasize the subjectivity of being with another. We will welcome imperfections in blurriness, the distortion of bodies at the edges of frames, and organic compositions to show the quiet messiness of navigating their relationship.
The story of Aki’s Grandmother and her Father, in contrast, is presented through Aki’s memory. We hope to play with the way memory heightens reality and will present the tale of the Grandmother in a theatrical, staged manner. Our usage of steady wide shots, dynamic lighting, and symbolic production design will bring about the feeling of a fable that has been passed down for generations.
Hi! It’s me, Lucas : ). If you know me, you know that I’ve told you (yes you!) a story. Whether around the kitchen table, at a campfire, on a road trip, in a bed, or walking around, I’ve told you some tale with my hands gesturing wildly, with my voice running out of breath, my eyes wide.
I love dreams, and I love when you tell a story and it feels like all the threads are coming together. This is one of those stories, spanning generations and continents, blending a family story with a personal one.
I’ve spent the last three years far from home, and I’ve felt adrift more than I have not. I imagine my grandmother coming to America and then I imagine myself, untethered yet connected. I am still, as we all are, in the process of placing myself in the larger ocean of life. And the only way I know how to do so is to tell a story, and I can't wait for you to see this one come to life.
Aki
Aki finds themselves a world far away from their grandmother during a night of intimacy with their lover, Ji. Aki’s eyes belong to that of another ocean, and they can not help but feel lost in the life that they live. But as they become tied up, Aki begins to remember the tragic story of their grandmother who dove for pearls, and the trauma of the past begins to unfurl.
Grandmother
Aki’s Grandmother, an ama or woman of the sea, is a girl with eyes that see past the horizon, quiet but resolute in her actions. Her magical ability to find pearls without trying leads her to feel as if the ocean is calling out to her. The more she dives, the more she feels as if her home is no longer on land.
Father
The patriarch of the story, the Father of Grandmother has taken her down to the crags every morning to dive for pearls all her life. He cares deeply for her safety, shouldering quietly the rope that connects her to the land. But as his daughter is pulled deeper and deeper into the arms of the ocean, Father must decide how to save Grandmother before it is too late.
Ji
If Aki is a wave; Ji is the crag the wave crashes against. Aki’s raucous lover, Ji is probing, energetic, and sharp. They love tying Aki up and testing the waters of their love. But as Aki goes under, how much does Ji truly know the person they are tying up?
Our talented and hardworking crew are volunteering their time to help bring this story to life, to support them we want to ensure that they are well-fed, our transportation is covered, and that the art they make is properly funded. Our team is working with trained professionals in Intimacy Coordination and Bondage Art to make sure our set is safe and comfortable while recreating the symbolism of ROPE.
We created a chart of where your contributions will be going towards!
Our budget is $10,050! Your support will support us through the production as well as directly into post-production as we submit to festivals in the circuit!
- Follow our campaign to stay-up-to-date with the latest ROPE news! The more followers we achieve, we unlock rewards like products, festival waivers and more, courtesy of Seed & Spark!
- Contribute and pledge. Seed and Spark requires us to reach at least 80% of our goal to receive any of the funds raised. No amount of support is too small! And you will see that we have incentives for every budget. Every pledge matters and makes an impact that can’t be denied.
- Even if you can not contribute financially, independent filmmakers are supported most through the growth of their community. Please share our campaign to all those you know via your social media, email, word-of-mouth, whatever you choose!
Not sure what to say when you share? Feel free to copy and paste:
Help @rope.film and the young filmmakers reach their goal by supporting their project on @seedandspark.com/fund/rope
Wanna see a cool project get made? Follow @ropefilm on Instagram and join them on @seedandspark.com/fund/rope
WHOA this was a cool video by @ropefilm, starting AAPI cast and filmmakers. Support and join their campaign on @seedandspark.com/fund/rope
I just heard this beautiful AAPI story called ROPE, @ropefilm, about a young man recounting the story of his Grandmother's disappearance. You have got to check them out! Support them on @seedandspark.com/fund/rope
If you cannot monetarily donate, check out our wishlist! We can credit and/or advertise YOU on our Instagram (@ropefilm). You can make a loan request in our Wishlist tab or DM us on Instagram.
We are grateful to have the opportunity to be partnered with Asian CineVision (ACV), who have helped Asian independent filmmakers like us bring stories to life. Through ACV, all contributions are 100% tax-deductible with the potential of being matched. Want to learn more about ACV and contribution-matching through your employer? Check if your company already has a matching program to multiply your contribution and follow us on @ropefilm!
Thank you for supporting us! We are deeply grateful and look forward to sharing ROPE with you!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Food
Costs $1,050
No person should be left unfed.
Camera
Costs $2,500
Help us make this story look as beautiful on screen as on page.
Stunts
Costs $1,350
We are working with a talented intimacy coordinator & bondage artist, help us support them as well!
Transportation
Costs $800
Traveling is not easy, especially in New York!
Production Design
Costs $850
Props, makeup, costume - some of what makes this "art"!
Location
Costs $1,600
Much of Aki and Ji's journey takes place in an apartment, help us find them a home!
Festivals
Costs $200
We want to show you the film, help us spread the word once ROPE finishes.
Post-Production
Costs $800
Editing, color grading, graphic effects, and more!
Insurance
Costs $100
It is better to be safe than sorry!
Cast
Costs $500
Acting is no easy job, help us support them!
Production Supplies
Costs $300
Extra hard drives, tape, bathroom supplies - the little things.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Lucas Manuel-Scheibe - Director
Lucas Manuel-Scheibe is a writer and director raised in the Bay Area now making films in his third year at NYU Tisch. His love for telling fantastical stories about liminality, relationships, and what it means to be from somewhere have woven themselves into ROPE. He loves his family and his friends, and he can't wait to show you what he has devoted himself to.
Mir Lien - Producer
Mir Lien is a producer, director, and creative visionary based in New York City. She is currently a senior at NYU studying Film & TV, where she has applied her wide range of skills on numerous sets. She became well-known for her work as a producer, most recently on the shores film, "This Is All You Are". With a passion for her art, finely honed abilities, and a passion for creating safe and equitable spaces, Mir continues to work tirelessly to support people's talents, passions, and dreams. She is honored to be working with Lucas on "ROPE".
Callie Schultz - Producer
Callie Chen Schultz (she/her) is a rising junior and sound mixer at NYU Tisch majoring in Film & Television with a Business of Entertainment, Media, and Technology (BEMT) minor. Through her love for audio production, she aims to support people's artistic visions and storytelling for years to come. Now, as a first time producer, this project and the people involved mean a lot to her, and she is beyond thrilled to help Lucas bring the story of ROPE to life.
Nas Aidid - Producer
Nas Aidid is a writer, director, actress, and producer, from Copenhagen, Denmark with Somali roots. She is just graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts, focusing on film and theater and has a minor in philosophy. She has extensive directing and writing experience with her first short film "Under the Surface", being accepted to Cannes Film Festival's Short Film Corner. She is in post-production with her latest film "The White Rabbit". She has written various plays, and done a one man show called "The Day After Tomorrow was Yesterday". She just finished the production for her play "Who Was Hung This Morning and Is She Still Alive"! She is excited to help bring ROPE into reality!