Sleeping on Water

Sacramento, California | Film Short

Family, Drama

Nhu Than

1 Campaigns | California, United States

38 days :03 hrs :45 mins

Until Deadline

20 supporters | followers

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$1,848

Goal: $22,000 for production

The first Vietnamese-American film to explore the complexity of family bonds and the fragility of life — from the perspective of three generations of mother and daughter. This film dares to display and test the vulnerability, dreams, and courage of all who are stuck in psychological isolation.

About The Project

  • The Story
  • Wishlist
  • Updates
  • The Team
  • Community

Mission Statement

Sleeping on Water hopes to free the loneliness of collective suffering cemented by the permanent past and dead-end future, through a reminder of what is already present: the human spirit and faith.

The Story


A lost Gen Z sound-artist influencer.

A drained mother with a dream of going back to her home country.

A successful business owner and a strong conviction to heal her best friend's scarred daughter.

And a curious eight-year-old child who chooses not to speak.


In 2025, 

MAI is a Vietnamese-American ambient-experimental DJ, stage-named IAM. Outside of the screen, she is an “any twenty-year-old” living through the somber of adulthood and life’s unexpected circumstances. News speaks of Vietnam disappearing by 2050 yet her estranged mom is living in the dream of returning home. Meanwhile, Mai secretly captures sounds of her daily life, including her mother’s, to transform suffering into something manageable and comforting: music. But Mai faces disruptions in her world: Is this who I am, and what is my future?


In 2050, 

MAI and HER DAUGHTER struggle to live in the world forecasted by 2025. South Vietnam has disappeared and all of Sacramento grapples with flooding. When Mai’s late mother’s best friend shows up at the door, Mai is confronted by her past means of escape — Mai’s own reliance on sound and silence — and the unresolved distance between her and her late mother. Meanwhile, with curious eyes and a yearning heart, Mai's daughter satellites around old videos of Mai from 2025, unbeknownst to her mother.


Location

Sacramento, where the American Dream has been fulfilled.

And Vietnam, a sinking home that holds the memories of 40,000 Vietnamese-Americans in Sacramento and the lives of many more.



Estranged Relationship

A love that is conditional and unequal. Many children learn that respect is not rightfully theirs but something that is to be requested and given at the mercy of parents, whose love is twisted by the pain of life. How does a child and a parent meet within their suffering?


Sound, Silence, and Brokenness

We listen to music to mute stress, we make music to talk, and we shut up so we don't have to respond. What makes us, in suffering, choose the comfort of escaping (into sound and silence) and the validation from showcasing vulnerability – even when doing so perpetuates personal and relational dysfunction and brokenness?


The Real vs. The Attractive

For the Vietnamese-American youth – whose physical roots lie in the disappearing homeland of Vietnam – social media and the creative space act as another home, ones that quench the hope and spirit of our youth more than the often dysfunctional home in the real world. Knowing this, which "home" will we choose to raise our youth in?


Sleeping on Water would be the first film to fill the void of desensitization, anxiety, and creative power hidden within Asian-American youth in response to family dysfunction and climate crisis. 



Cast

Lê Thục Anh

As Online Influencer

award-winning actor

model | DJ from Vietnam



+ New faces from the diverse and vibrant hub of Sacramento - Auditions currently taking place.


Crew

Writer-Director-Producer: Nhu Than

A Viet-Am filmmaker from Sacramento, with desires to touch souls whose stories of pain, suffering, joy, and dreams will be voiced. Nhu has personally witnessed the suffocation of social rules, judgment, and family dysfunction, which she aims to unapologetically articulate with justice and intent. Therefore, the paths paved by social film directors like Jia Zhangke, Edward Yang, and Satyajit Ray (among others)--and Nhu's own beloved Father--convict Nhu's heart to make good movies, because life is too wonderful to live in comfort. This is exactly what Nhu will do as a filmmaker.

Co-Producer: Colin Reeves-Fortney

Colin grew up in the Los Angeles era during the golden age of public television, afterschool specials, and saturday morning cartoons. His experience creating media began on an apple iigs writing fake news reports about the neighborhood and also barely legible fan fiction for Star Trek and Godzilla. His bend towards producing happened after a brief stint in the visual effects industry when he noticed the producers all having more fun. Since then he's worked primarily in educational and corporate media production, moonlighting as various crew positions, producing two well received narrative shorts. He brings a delightful and considerate amount of compulsion to his work, supporting projects and people he truly believes in.

AD: Evan Tallman

Evan grew up in Santa Cruz, where he spent much of his free time in the water, on his couch, and at his desk. A love for writing coupled with a love for film resulted in screenwriting and eventually writing and directing Midnight Fading, a small feature film that went absolutely nowhere except for giving him an ever so small confidence boost that he can do it again! He now spends his time inching ever so closer to more projects while also seeking to support others with theirs.

Colorist: Cruz Murillo

Currently working in unscripted reality TV as an assistant editor and colorist. When Cruz is not immersed in the editing suite, she is on the hunt for unique vintage lighters to add to her growing collection.

Social Media Director: Steven Pham

Self-taught photographer & videographer. Through recording vlogs with friends and small projects, Steven developed his skillset in camera work and takes inspiration from music & films such as DPR Regime & Wong Kar-Wai. Transitioning into product photography and e-commerce content creation, Steven specializes in crafting content with a strong emphasis on business marketing and conversion rate optimization.

Graphic Designer: Andrew Le

Cinematographer, Sound Mixer, Production Designer, HMU, Composer and Sound Designer: TBA


Timeline

Pre-production: now - April 2025

Production: April 2025

Post: May - Aug 2025

Premiere, Festival Run, and Distribution: Sep 2025 -



$45,000 High-Level Budget

$30,000 Low-Level Budget

*$22,000 Green-lit

Please view the Wishlist for a brief breakdown of the budget.


100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS

A fiscal sponsorship collaboration with New Hollywood. Donate $25, get a $25 tax write-off.

Disclaimer from Seed&Spark: Whenever you receive an incentive in exchange for your pledge, your donation is partially deductible above and beyond the fair market value of the rewards that you are receiving. So for example, if for a donation of $100 you receive a ticket to our premiere that normally costs $10, the tax-deductible value of that donation is $90 ( the amount above the value of the reward that you received ). 


5% to BLUE DRAGON CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION

Blue Dragon has been a leading agency in Vietnam’s fight against human trafficking. The foundation also offers emergency assistance to those affected by the 2024 Typhoon Yagi. When you donate, the producer will personally give a matching 5% of your donation amount to Blue Dragon to go towards providing nutrition support to disadvantaged children across Vietnam. Children who grow up in remote villages, are often the first targets for those looking to exploit them.

Website: https://www.bluedragon.org/

5% to BLUE DRAGON CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION


THE FILM IS PROUDLY ENDORSED BY


THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

LET'S MAKE THIS HAPPEN.


www.sleepingonwater.com


Note

Everything you see is human-made. Not a single touch of AI was used nor considered.

Wishlist

Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.

Costume

Costs $250

Help our characters be characters with their personal look.

Craft Services

Costs $750

We need food and water to survive the demands of the art.

Insurance

Costs $1,500

The safety and health of everyone on set is our number one priority!

Crew

Costs $10,000

Our talented team deserves to be paid for their blood, sweat, and tears!

Cast

Costs $3,000

Our cast of mainly Vietnamese non-actors and their effort to capture characters with such emotional complexity should be recognized!

Camera Equipment

Costs $2,500

Our visuals need the right camera equipment. A story without a camera is a hungry caterpillar stuck in its cocoon.

Crew Lodging

Costs $2,000

Our talented crew will need a place to refuel after their hard day of work!

Music Licensing

Costs $500

The film features a 90s Vietnamese-American song about leaving one's home country behind.

Production Design

Costs $1,500

Neither is 2025 or 2050 easy to replicate. Our production design must bring justice to the characters and their world.

Cash Pledge

Costs $0

About This Team

We are a collective of skilled and passionate filmmakers and professionals. We cannot wait to bring this story to life. Your donation will help us get the pay we deserve! Thank you!



Current Team

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