Superheroes
Tempe, Arizona | Film Short
Drama, Family
The co-writers of this film grew up during the aftermath of 2008 – and are now coming into their adulthood and careers during a new economic recession. This film uses these experiences to explore its effects on families, utilizing the lens of a young boy to add an innocent, optimistic perspective.
Superheroes
Tempe, Arizona | Film Short
Drama, Family
2 Campaigns | Arizona, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $1,545 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
13 supporters | followers
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The co-writers of this film grew up during the aftermath of 2008 – and are now coming into their adulthood and careers during a new economic recession. This film uses these experiences to explore its effects on families, utilizing the lens of a young boy to add an innocent, optimistic perspective.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A young art prodigy, Kai, hesitates to enter an upcoming art competition at school due to a lack of inspiration (and self-confidence.) However, as he watches his mother work relentlessly at her struggling bakery, he dedicates it to her... with the goal of using the first place prize to save her business! With guidance from his lighthearted and witty father, Kai overcomes his insecurities and finds the conviction to finish his piece. That is, until an overzealous attempt to show it off threatens its destruction! In the face of doom, the family must come together to save the day... because their true “superpower” is their ability to support and love each other through all the bad times.
Written by Olivia Sims and Liviya Kleinwachter, this film utilizes personal experiences being raised in the 2008 recession. Sims was often faced with the task of keeping an eye on her much younger siblings, so her mother could get an education to provide for them. Liviya remembers watching her parents deal with stress, and wanting nothing more than to somehow fix it.
We came together to create this project as a reflection of the past, during a time of renewed economic struggles. It honors the families we were raised in –– showing that even though sacrifices were made and it wasn't "perfect," they made it through because they had each other.
This is a story designed for the whole family. We experience the tale through the eyes of a young boy, watching his parents try to keep their bakery afloat. Young people can relate to our protagonist, who ultimately just wants his parents' love and affection, while parents and adults can feel the nostalgia of a time past. By the end, bringing all generations closer together in understanding and appreciation!
We are utilizing talent local to Arizona, but deeply passionate with their craft. They've all been training for several years, and are passionate about furthering their craft. This mirrors the crew of the film, who are all students at the Arizona State University Sidney Poitier New American Film school!
Each one of us has our own hero we are inspired by. Mothers, step-fathers, friends, coaches, and Steve Irwin... They're the ones we've dedicated this project to, and we need your help bringing it to life!
Thanks to the university, we have access to some great equipment and a location to film at. However, we still have many expenses that need to be covered such as our insurance, food costs, and production design that is made to be easily removable to due filming on-location inside of an operating business.
With just some support and TLC, we'll create something that will resonate with every generation in your home. A story that navigates the nuances of stress and how it trickles down the family unit. In return, we will gain the chance to practice the skills we've learned over the culmination of our years in our undergrad, studying our passion: film!!! Being able to flesh out the visual story of by being able to purchase more production design than a student wallet can typically handle, utilizing cinema-level equipment, and truly practice the skills we require to jump straight into the industry and follow our dreams...
Thank you for reading, share with a friend, and donate if you can!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Feed our crew and cast!
Costs $750
Our crew and cast deserve to have yummy lunches all weekend while they help us make Superheroes!
Insurance
Costs $300
This money will help us afford paying our equipment insurance so we can get the best of the best!
Location
Costs $300
This will be the interior bakery seen during most of the duration of the film!
Production Design
Costs $100
This will allow us to really flesh out the bakery, and make it very personal to the family that owns it.
Crafty
Costs $160
Everyone needs good snacks to eat to keep them energized!
Post production
Costs $200
To keep our editor happy and to get her a hard drive to store our film!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Director/Co-writer – Liviya Kleinwachter is a 22-year-old creative that has hopped around between many fields, including music and video game design. As a jack-of-all-trades, this gives her a unique ability to be able to communicate with the members of her team to develop a cohesive vision for them all to work towards. She champions collaboration, and always is interested in someone else's idea. Teamwork isn't always simple, but boy is it fruitful!
Director of Photography/Co-writer – Olivia Sims is one of the Co-Writers and Director of Photography for Superheroes! When Olivia met with Liviya to draft the story, she knew that she wanted to base the film off of her own experience. Olivia remembers how special her parents made her childhood, despite struggling through the events of the 2008 recession. From taking her and her siblings to see movies in theaters, taking them on camping trips, and putting them in numerous extracurricular activities, Olivia (as a child) never realized how difficult life actually was back then. Her parents have worked so hard to get where they are today, and given the rest of her family so many opportunities. Olivia hopes to dedicate her work to her family as a thank you for keeping her earlier years bright and magical, just as Kai’s family was able to do for him in the events of the film.
Editor – Lillian Wright is a student filmmaker at Arizona State University, specializing in editing and visual effects. Her passion for post-production began after meeting her favorite YouTubers at a local gaming convention—a moment that made her realize the profound impact digital creators can have on their audiences. Inspired by the stories of fellow fans, Lillian discovered a deeper purpose in storytelling: to create meaningful work that connects with others on a personal level. Driven by that mission, she now focuses on crafting emotionally resonant narratives through visual storytelling. Outside of filmmaking, Lillian enjoys watching movies, playing video games, and reading—constantly drawing inspiration from the worlds of film, gaming, and literature.
Sound Designer – Tiffany Pletting is a senior at ASU studying film and media production with a focus in sound. She is passionate about film and how it’s able to tell stories.
Production Designer – Camryn Swanson has been captivated by storytelling and its worlds since childhood. From building rooms out of boxes for her dolls to constructing set pieces for community theatre, she has always been fascinated by the setting characters live in. As a production designer, Camryn is dedicated to creating spaces and worlds that tell a story. She believes every element, every detail, has a purpose and message to be shared, no matter how far in the background.
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1st Assistant Director – Akhil Kanakaraj is in his final year at ASU, where he has been a community assistant, member of the Green Act Initiative, and a dedicated friend. Bringing people together and working to build and create an amazing film are one of many things he is passionate about in the field, and he's got the can-do, positive attitude required to do it. From scheduling out film shoots to helping everyone on set be as successful as possible through organization, care, and collaboration; Akhil works as hard as he can to ensure we maximize our time and energy!
Producer – Ella McMaster is a 4th year Arizona State University film student who has been helping produce projects for 3.5 years. From 3-minute short films to award-winning capstones. Ella has a passion for helping her directors see their vision come to life, helping them be able to afford to have their dream film set, building a hardworking team, and just helping everyone succeed as much as possible!
Gaffer –
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A young art prodigy, Kai, hesitates to enter an upcoming art competition at school due to a lack of inspiration (and self-confidence.) However, as he watches his mother work relentlessly at her struggling bakery, he dedicates it to her... with the goal of using the first place prize to save her business! With guidance from his lighthearted and witty father, Kai overcomes his insecurities and finds the conviction to finish his piece. That is, until an overzealous attempt to show it off threatens its destruction! In the face of doom, the family must come together to save the day... because their true “superpower” is their ability to support and love each other through all the bad times.
Written by Olivia Sims and Liviya Kleinwachter, this film utilizes personal experiences being raised in the 2008 recession. Sims was often faced with the task of keeping an eye on her much younger siblings, so her mother could get an education to provide for them. Liviya remembers watching her parents deal with stress, and wanting nothing more than to somehow fix it.
We came together to create this project as a reflection of the past, during a time of renewed economic struggles. It honors the families we were raised in –– showing that even though sacrifices were made and it wasn't "perfect," they made it through because they had each other.
This is a story designed for the whole family. We experience the tale through the eyes of a young boy, watching his parents try to keep their bakery afloat. Young people can relate to our protagonist, who ultimately just wants his parents' love and affection, while parents and adults can feel the nostalgia of a time past. By the end, bringing all generations closer together in understanding and appreciation!
We are utilizing talent local to Arizona, but deeply passionate with their craft. They've all been training for several years, and are passionate about furthering their craft. This mirrors the crew of the film, who are all students at the Arizona State University Sidney Poitier New American Film school!
Each one of us has our own hero we are inspired by. Mothers, step-fathers, friends, coaches, and Steve Irwin... They're the ones we've dedicated this project to, and we need your help bringing it to life!
Thanks to the university, we have access to some great equipment and a location to film at. However, we still have many expenses that need to be covered such as our insurance, food costs, and production design that is made to be easily removable to due filming on-location inside of an operating business.
With just some support and TLC, we'll create something that will resonate with every generation in your home. A story that navigates the nuances of stress and how it trickles down the family unit. In return, we will gain the chance to practice the skills we've learned over the culmination of our years in our undergrad, studying our passion: film!!! Being able to flesh out the visual story of by being able to purchase more production design than a student wallet can typically handle, utilizing cinema-level equipment, and truly practice the skills we require to jump straight into the industry and follow our dreams...
Thank you for reading, share with a friend, and donate if you can!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Feed our crew and cast!
Costs $750
Our crew and cast deserve to have yummy lunches all weekend while they help us make Superheroes!
Insurance
Costs $300
This money will help us afford paying our equipment insurance so we can get the best of the best!
Location
Costs $300
This will be the interior bakery seen during most of the duration of the film!
Production Design
Costs $100
This will allow us to really flesh out the bakery, and make it very personal to the family that owns it.
Crafty
Costs $160
Everyone needs good snacks to eat to keep them energized!
Post production
Costs $200
To keep our editor happy and to get her a hard drive to store our film!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Director/Co-writer – Liviya Kleinwachter is a 22-year-old creative that has hopped around between many fields, including music and video game design. As a jack-of-all-trades, this gives her a unique ability to be able to communicate with the members of her team to develop a cohesive vision for them all to work towards. She champions collaboration, and always is interested in someone else's idea. Teamwork isn't always simple, but boy is it fruitful!
Director of Photography/Co-writer – Olivia Sims is one of the Co-Writers and Director of Photography for Superheroes! When Olivia met with Liviya to draft the story, she knew that she wanted to base the film off of her own experience. Olivia remembers how special her parents made her childhood, despite struggling through the events of the 2008 recession. From taking her and her siblings to see movies in theaters, taking them on camping trips, and putting them in numerous extracurricular activities, Olivia (as a child) never realized how difficult life actually was back then. Her parents have worked so hard to get where they are today, and given the rest of her family so many opportunities. Olivia hopes to dedicate her work to her family as a thank you for keeping her earlier years bright and magical, just as Kai’s family was able to do for him in the events of the film.
Editor – Lillian Wright is a student filmmaker at Arizona State University, specializing in editing and visual effects. Her passion for post-production began after meeting her favorite YouTubers at a local gaming convention—a moment that made her realize the profound impact digital creators can have on their audiences. Inspired by the stories of fellow fans, Lillian discovered a deeper purpose in storytelling: to create meaningful work that connects with others on a personal level. Driven by that mission, she now focuses on crafting emotionally resonant narratives through visual storytelling. Outside of filmmaking, Lillian enjoys watching movies, playing video games, and reading—constantly drawing inspiration from the worlds of film, gaming, and literature.
Sound Designer – Tiffany Pletting is a senior at ASU studying film and media production with a focus in sound. She is passionate about film and how it’s able to tell stories.
Production Designer – Camryn Swanson has been captivated by storytelling and its worlds since childhood. From building rooms out of boxes for her dolls to constructing set pieces for community theatre, she has always been fascinated by the setting characters live in. As a production designer, Camryn is dedicated to creating spaces and worlds that tell a story. She believes every element, every detail, has a purpose and message to be shared, no matter how far in the background.
1st Assistant Director – Akhil Kanakaraj is in his final year at ASU, where he has been a community assistant, member of the Green Act Initiative, and a dedicated friend. Bringing people together and working to build and create an amazing film are one of many things he is passionate about in the field, and he's got the can-do, positive attitude required to do it. From scheduling out film shoots to helping everyone on set be as successful as possible through organization, care, and collaboration; Akhil works as hard as he can to ensure we maximize our time and energy!
Producer – Ella McMaster is a 4th year Arizona State University film student who has been helping produce projects for 3.5 years. From 3-minute short films to award-winning capstones. Ella has a passion for helping her directors see their vision come to life, helping them be able to afford to have their dream film set, building a hardworking team, and just helping everyone succeed as much as possible!
Gaffer –