Sonder
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, Comedy
Two friends, in their late 20s, meet up to rekindle a waning friendship that dawned in college. Does distance really make the heart grow fonder? With Black women at the center, this is a universal story about change, life trajectories, and nostalgia. It’s witty, honest, and meditative.
Sonder
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, Comedy
1 Campaigns | California, United States
27 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$2,425
Goal: $10,000 for production
Two friends, in their late 20s, meet up to rekindle a waning friendship that dawned in college. Does distance really make the heart grow fonder? With Black women at the center, this is a universal story about change, life trajectories, and nostalgia. It’s witty, honest, and meditative.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Rue and Malaya met in college and became inseparable: Malaya helped Rue step out of her comfort zone, and Rue helped Malaya with trust and vulnerability. But when they walked across that graduation stage, the friendship became harder to maintain. Through the trials and tribulations of their mid-20’s, job hopping, moving, relationships, and familial obligations, Rue and Malaya’s friendship began to wilt. Now, the two are looking to meet up and hoping to rekindle a bond that was once so central to their lives. Does distance really make the heart grow fonder?
Director's Statement
After reading Toni Morrison’s Sula for the first time, I found myself hyperfixated, starting over as soon as I read the final words. The themes of selfhood and friendships changing over time (especially in your 20s) are so universal that I wanted to tell that story, but through a modern lens for a Gen Z audience. I wrote the script as a way to transmute some of the melancholy I feel when I think about relationships (of all kinds), places, dreams, and worldviews in my life that have been lost to time. It’s a story to provoke audiences to cherish the present when it’s here and embrace the memories when they’re all that’s left. I see this story as an opportunity for younger Millennials and Gen Z to get a coming-of-age story as we transition to adulthood, similar to what Insecure provided to Millennials.
Themes:
Change over Time
Life is malleable like clay, and the hands of time change our relationships, our dreams, and how we see & define ourselves
Sonder
Everyone, everywhere, is living such a unique life that we have no control over, no matter how close to them we may feel, even if we want the best for them
Transitioning into adulthood
Astrologically and neurologically speaking, we don’t fully enter adulthood until 27-30. This is a period in life that is often marked by the cementing of ourselves as individuals and more direction in how we want to decorate our lives
Our Plan:
Access to resources remains one of the largest barriers for independent filmmakers. As the world grows increasingly interesting, art and community will always be among our most powerful tools for connection and catharsis.
We hope that you see this as an opportunity to help our team tell a story that is harder to find, particularly in Black communities and other communities of color. The team is putting the finishing touches on the pre-production process, and with your help, we can go into production to bring this story to life. Once we reach our goal and the campaign is finished, we plan to jump right into principal photography, immediately followed by post-production. Digital copies and private screenings of the film are tentatively set for early 2027. We are excited to be on this journey with you, and hope that you can share with your community (online and in-person) to spread the word and build the community.
What happens if we exceed our goal before the campaign ends? We would still love for you to donate and spread the word because any and every dollar beyond our goal allows us the freedom to push our creativity and compensate your cast & crew. It's commonplace that Black artists have to scrape together what we have just to get by, and come out in the red financially, but it would be a breath of fresh air for us to work with more than the bare minimum.
CHARACTERS
Ruth “Rue” Williams (Female, 27):
Rue, a young woman from Detroit, MI, living in Los Angeles, has abandoned her childhood dream of becoming a chef, settling for a social media manager position at a restaurant recommendation company. Rue yearns for balance and stability (particularly material stability), trading in desire and the fear of the unknown. But how loud are the thoughts of “what if?” when people who remember the old you come back around?
Malaya Jackson (Female, 27):
Malaya Jackson is a young woman from Oakland, CA, who has recently achieved her dream of becoming a sports agent. Malaya moves a million miles an hour, swiftly with power, and it’s that very speed and tenacity that prevent her from ever settling in life. Her ferocity is commendable, but she took off before listening to the rest of that African proverb: she moves fast, and she moves alone, so exactly how far has she come? How do you maintain relationships when you’re unwilling to move at any pace but your own?
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Team Camera
Costs $4,271
Your pledge will help us with covering the camera crew and their equipment!
Production
Costs $2,529
Your pledge will help us cover talent, set decoration, cast wardrobe, and other expenses relating to the creation of Sonder!
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Nicholas Earl - Writer/Director & Producer
Nicholas Earl is a writer and director from Flint, Michigan, currently living in Los Angeles, CA. With an early affinity for the visual arts, Nicholas spent his childhood as an illustrator and painter before discovering his passion for filmmaking in college. He earned his degree from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, and at 21, his self-produced short film was selected for the Art All Night: Trenton Film Festival and became a finalist for the Atlanta Comedy Film Festival. Since graduating, he has worked at Creative Artists Agency, Anonymous Content, and Mythical Entertainment. Drawn to themes of race, class, and gender, Nicholas’s creative vision is to tell stories that are culturally specific in subject matter yet universal in theme, seeking to both entertain and provoke thought among audiences.
Sydney Alexandria Owens - Co-Producer
A native Detroiter from the west side of the city, an entertainment finance professional with experience working at two major studios, and a burgeoning producer. Sydney’s hope and motivation are to blend the business with the creative and tell interesting and diverse stories for all audiences. She relishes new opportunities and is always down to learn and explore any situation put in front of her. Networking and making connections fuel her passion, and believing storytelling can help educate, heal, as well as entertain, is a particular interest for her. After completing a successful campaign with her first short film, Zombiez in da Hood, she is eager to jump back in with Sonder!
Jolarson Tati - Director of Photography
Jolarson Tati is a cinematographer and filmmaker currently studying at the ArtCenter College of Design. Drawn to intimate and emotionally grounded storytelling, his work explores themes of memory, love, identity, and human connection through cinematic visuals. He hopes to create films that not only resonate emotionally but leave people feeling understood long after they watch them.
Blesst Bowden as Ruth "Rue" Williams
Blesst Bowden is an actress, dancer, and writer born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She began her performing arts journey at the age of four, training at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, and later earned a double major in Theatre (Acting) and Law, History, and Culture from the University of Southern California. Throughout her career, Blesst has worked across film, television, theatre, voiceover, and more than 20 national commercials. Her credits include Queendom Come, Behold My Heart, Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown, and BioShock. In addition to performing, Blesst has also expanded into screenwriting and looks forward to bringing original stories to life, both in front of and behind the camera.
Paige McGhee as Malaya Jackson
Paige McGhee is an actor and artist based in Los Angeles, CA. Her work is deeply rooted in her heritage-Black folks from the South, strong Trinidadian women, and the vibrant city life of LA and Miami. A graduate of California Institute of the Arts with a BFA in Acting, Paige has appeared as Grace in Blumhouse's Into the Dark on Hulu and starred in multiple national SAG commercials. In 2025, Paige was selected for the Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab's Acting Track, founded by Emmy Award winner Lena Waithe, where she is receiving mentorship from Behzad Dabu.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Rue and Malaya met in college and became inseparable: Malaya helped Rue step out of her comfort zone, and Rue helped Malaya with trust and vulnerability. But when they walked across that graduation stage, the friendship became harder to maintain. Through the trials and tribulations of their mid-20’s, job hopping, moving, relationships, and familial obligations, Rue and Malaya’s friendship began to wilt. Now, the two are looking to meet up and hoping to rekindle a bond that was once so central to their lives. Does distance really make the heart grow fonder?
Director's Statement
After reading Toni Morrison’s Sula for the first time, I found myself hyperfixated, starting over as soon as I read the final words. The themes of selfhood and friendships changing over time (especially in your 20s) are so universal that I wanted to tell that story, but through a modern lens for a Gen Z audience. I wrote the script as a way to transmute some of the melancholy I feel when I think about relationships (of all kinds), places, dreams, and worldviews in my life that have been lost to time. It’s a story to provoke audiences to cherish the present when it’s here and embrace the memories when they’re all that’s left. I see this story as an opportunity for younger Millennials and Gen Z to get a coming-of-age story as we transition to adulthood, similar to what Insecure provided to Millennials.
Themes:
Change over Time
Life is malleable like clay, and the hands of time change our relationships, our dreams, and how we see & define ourselves
Sonder
Everyone, everywhere, is living such a unique life that we have no control over, no matter how close to them we may feel, even if we want the best for them
Transitioning into adulthood
Astrologically and neurologically speaking, we don’t fully enter adulthood until 27-30. This is a period in life that is often marked by the cementing of ourselves as individuals and more direction in how we want to decorate our lives
Our Plan:
Access to resources remains one of the largest barriers for independent filmmakers. As the world grows increasingly interesting, art and community will always be among our most powerful tools for connection and catharsis.
We hope that you see this as an opportunity to help our team tell a story that is harder to find, particularly in Black communities and other communities of color. The team is putting the finishing touches on the pre-production process, and with your help, we can go into production to bring this story to life. Once we reach our goal and the campaign is finished, we plan to jump right into principal photography, immediately followed by post-production. Digital copies and private screenings of the film are tentatively set for early 2027. We are excited to be on this journey with you, and hope that you can share with your community (online and in-person) to spread the word and build the community.
What happens if we exceed our goal before the campaign ends? We would still love for you to donate and spread the word because any and every dollar beyond our goal allows us the freedom to push our creativity and compensate your cast & crew. It's commonplace that Black artists have to scrape together what we have just to get by, and come out in the red financially, but it would be a breath of fresh air for us to work with more than the bare minimum.
CHARACTERS
Ruth “Rue” Williams (Female, 27):
Rue, a young woman from Detroit, MI, living in Los Angeles, has abandoned her childhood dream of becoming a chef, settling for a social media manager position at a restaurant recommendation company. Rue yearns for balance and stability (particularly material stability), trading in desire and the fear of the unknown. But how loud are the thoughts of “what if?” when people who remember the old you come back around?
Malaya Jackson (Female, 27):
Malaya Jackson is a young woman from Oakland, CA, who has recently achieved her dream of becoming a sports agent. Malaya moves a million miles an hour, swiftly with power, and it’s that very speed and tenacity that prevent her from ever settling in life. Her ferocity is commendable, but she took off before listening to the rest of that African proverb: she moves fast, and she moves alone, so exactly how far has she come? How do you maintain relationships when you’re unwilling to move at any pace but your own?
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Team Camera
Costs $4,271
Your pledge will help us with covering the camera crew and their equipment!
Production
Costs $2,529
Your pledge will help us cover talent, set decoration, cast wardrobe, and other expenses relating to the creation of Sonder!
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Nicholas Earl - Writer/Director & Producer
Nicholas Earl is a writer and director from Flint, Michigan, currently living in Los Angeles, CA. With an early affinity for the visual arts, Nicholas spent his childhood as an illustrator and painter before discovering his passion for filmmaking in college. He earned his degree from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, and at 21, his self-produced short film was selected for the Art All Night: Trenton Film Festival and became a finalist for the Atlanta Comedy Film Festival. Since graduating, he has worked at Creative Artists Agency, Anonymous Content, and Mythical Entertainment. Drawn to themes of race, class, and gender, Nicholas’s creative vision is to tell stories that are culturally specific in subject matter yet universal in theme, seeking to both entertain and provoke thought among audiences.
Sydney Alexandria Owens - Co-Producer
A native Detroiter from the west side of the city, an entertainment finance professional with experience working at two major studios, and a burgeoning producer. Sydney’s hope and motivation are to blend the business with the creative and tell interesting and diverse stories for all audiences. She relishes new opportunities and is always down to learn and explore any situation put in front of her. Networking and making connections fuel her passion, and believing storytelling can help educate, heal, as well as entertain, is a particular interest for her. After completing a successful campaign with her first short film, Zombiez in da Hood, she is eager to jump back in with Sonder!
Jolarson Tati - Director of Photography
Jolarson Tati is a cinematographer and filmmaker currently studying at the ArtCenter College of Design. Drawn to intimate and emotionally grounded storytelling, his work explores themes of memory, love, identity, and human connection through cinematic visuals. He hopes to create films that not only resonate emotionally but leave people feeling understood long after they watch them.
Blesst Bowden as Ruth "Rue" Williams
Blesst Bowden is an actress, dancer, and writer born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She began her performing arts journey at the age of four, training at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, and later earned a double major in Theatre (Acting) and Law, History, and Culture from the University of Southern California. Throughout her career, Blesst has worked across film, television, theatre, voiceover, and more than 20 national commercials. Her credits include Queendom Come, Behold My Heart, Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown, and BioShock. In addition to performing, Blesst has also expanded into screenwriting and looks forward to bringing original stories to life, both in front of and behind the camera.
Paige McGhee as Malaya Jackson
Paige McGhee is an actor and artist based in Los Angeles, CA. Her work is deeply rooted in her heritage-Black folks from the South, strong Trinidadian women, and the vibrant city life of LA and Miami. A graduate of California Institute of the Arts with a BFA in Acting, Paige has appeared as Grace in Blumhouse's Into the Dark on Hulu and starred in multiple national SAG commercials. In 2025, Paige was selected for the Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab's Acting Track, founded by Emmy Award winner Lena Waithe, where she is receiving mentorship from Behzad Dabu.