The Bed Time Story
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama
Leyla, a Turkish immigrant in New York, struggles with a severe depression that consumes her will to live. She is unable to continue her therapy sessions and medications away from home. In her quest for healing, Leyla finds love only to realize she must love herself before anyone else can.
The Bed Time Story
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $10,475 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
68 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Leyla, a Turkish immigrant in New York, struggles with a severe depression that consumes her will to live. She is unable to continue her therapy sessions and medications away from home. In her quest for healing, Leyla finds love only to realize she must love herself before anyone else can.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
T H E B E D T I M E S T O R Y
WHY ME? WHY THIS? WHY NOW?
I am in bed. I am not moving. I look at my legs. Can I move them? I am not trying. Even if I tried, would I be able to move them? I feel like my body does not belong to me; it belongs to this bed. Even if I did not get up today, life would go on as it was. Wouldn’t it?
No. This conversation can not go on within my head. It is time to speak up. It is time to acknowledge the importance of mental health. It is time to be real.
After I moved to New York from Istanbul to study theatre, I was diagnosed with Clinical Depression. Divided between two cities, I was unable to continue therapy. The process of healing felt lonely and hopeless. I sought an unacceptable amount of love and attention from others, believing that once someone saw the worth in me so would I. Yet, I was wrong. I learned that change starts from within and not through anyone else. Once I came to this realization, I knew I had to be louder about this subject. I knew people going through similar journeys and I thought they needed to know that they are not alone. That's when I wrote The Bed Time Story. Touchingly raw and truthful, The Bed Time Story depicts how a person with a mental disorder interacts with the world. It tells a real story that people who are affected by a mental illness can relate to.
People with mental illnesses have been frowned upon and left behind in the past. The discussion never really started, until recently. Even now, mental health is a very delicate subject and it is not discussed enough. As a consequence of the stigma around mental health, a lot of people with symptoms don't seek help with a fear of getting outcasted by society. It is heartbreaking that society can look down on people who live with a mental illness when the severity of it can get as life-threatening as any other illness.
Overcoming depression takes a lot of effort, time and energy not only for the people who are living with it but also for the people around them. The Bed Time Story is a movie that aspires to acknowledge this difficult healing process and put forth a creative product that will embrace the people who are going through it. For the viewers who can relate to my journey, my hope is they know they are not alone in theirs. For the people who can’t relate, this film is an opportunity to start asking questions.
Ekin Naz Demirok (Writer, Executive Producer, Actress)
YOUR DONATIONS ARE IN GOOD HANDS!
We are a team of international artists who have worked professionally both in and outside the US and we are thrilled to come together to execute this meaningful short movie. An extraordinary amount of talent and passion is harvested in the works of each member of the team and we will, without a doubt, do anything in our power to do this story justice and make you proud to be a part of this project.
For more information on our cast and crew, please click "The Team" tab at the top of the page.
PROJECT COST BREAKDOWN
Executing a movie is neither easy nor cheap! We need your help to bring this dream project to life and we would like to make sure that you know how your donations will be used. If you can't make a donation now, no worries! You can help us by spreading the word about our project to your friends and family and sharing our crowdfunding page on your social media accounts!
The Bed Time Story Expenses
For more information about our expenses please click "Wishlist" tab at the top of the page.
THANK YOU!
Whether you support us by making a donation or spreading the word about our project, we would like to thank you for your time and meaningful contribution. Please feel free to reach us at [email protected] with any questions or concerns!
All the photos are taken and edited by Cem Ali Akdeniz.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Alexa XT
Costs $1,600
Alexa XT will help us put our story on the screen in the best quality possible.
Studio Apartment Rent
Costs $2,000
This movie will be shot in a studio apartment and we need your help to rent one for four days!
Production Design
Costs $500
The right set design and wardrobe are very important for accurate representation!
Equipment Truck
Costs $600
A truck will be rented to transport our equipment between locations.
Food for Cast and Crew
Costs $1,080
We need food to survive! Two meals per person a day for a four days shoot.
Insurance
Costs $600
We will have to pay insurance for all our equipment plus the vehicle!
Share this update!
About This Team
As international artists based in New York, we value working with a diverse and multicultured group of people. We are proud to have a diversity of perspectives in our team that will help us reach more people.
Ekin Naz Demirok, Writer, Executive Producer and Lead Actress in The Bed Time Story, is a Turkish writer and actor based in New York City. She graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Drama and a minor in Childhood and Adolescence Mental Health. She also studied Screen Acting at Stonestreet Studios, where she was trained for production, post-production and writing. The Absence of You, a micro-movie she co-wrote and played lead actress in while at Stonestreet, was selected by multiple festivals and won four awards for Best Lead Actress and Best Micro-movie. Ekin Naz believes that art is meant to challenge society and help build a better one.
San Yvin, Director and Director of Photography of The Bed Time Story, is a writer, director and DP based in New York City. Of Vietnamese and French heritage, San grew up in Vietnam and moved to New York to study the film BFA program at NYU where his studio film In the blue was selected for the Fall 2018 showcase. He has also directed four other music videos, shot three short films and multiple luxury commercials--consecutively growing in budget, crew, cast number and production value. San has a long term goal of being a writer and showrunner with a focus to promote Asian cinema.
Maria Müller, Producer of The Bed Time Story, is a Romanian artist based in New York. She graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts with a major in Drama and a minor in Dance. Her most recent projects include Running in Place, the feature film Queen Marie of Romania directed by Alexis Cahill Sweet, the short film Staying Afloat directed by Elizabeth Katz and the TV series Love in NY directed by Matthew Russell. In the spring, she produced a film called My Mom's Dead and I'm Stuck in Suburbia, a coming of age drama directed by Jillian Rezen that is now in the festival circuit. In the future, she wants to work internationally and to continue to grow, inspire and be inspired by wonderful artists.
Carolina de'Castiglioni, Cece in The Bed Time Story, is an Italian native multidisciplinary artist. She moved to New York City in 2015 to attend New York University Tisch School of the Arts, from where, this May, she graduated, summa cum laude, with a BFA in Acting and a BA in Philosophy. Before moving to the big apple, de’ Castiglioni was casted as one of the leads of “Gli Immortali” (The Immortals), a docu-film by internationally acclaimed Italian singer Jovanotti. She later starred in several shorts, two of which (BARRACUDA and Getting A Scholarship) earned her many nominations and 4 awards as Best Actress by various Film Festivals.
Robert Ceriello is a Film, Televison, and Theatre actor from Long Island, New York. He began his career acting in stage productions for the Arena Players Repertory Theater under the legendary director Fred De Feis. Rob soon began landing roles in independent feature-length and short films, most notably "The Hospital Visit", directed by Aaron Fisher, "Wanderer", which premiered at the Soho International Film Festival, and the horror feature "Summit", for which he received a 'Best Actor' nomination at the Macabre Fair Film Festival. On stage, Rob originated the role of "Toby" in the Off-Off-Broadway play "The Sweet Dreams of Lizzie Tilley". Rob also acted in the ensemble web series "Here We Wait", which earned him a 'Best Actor' nomination at the International Academy of Web Television Awards. Aside from acting, Rob also writes and produces his own music and dabbles in beer-brewing and bitter-making. He is excited to work along side the entire cast and crew of "The Bed Time Story"!
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
T H E B E D T I M E S T O R Y
WHY ME? WHY THIS? WHY NOW?
I am in bed. I am not moving. I look at my legs. Can I move them? I am not trying. Even if I tried, would I be able to move them? I feel like my body does not belong to me; it belongs to this bed. Even if I did not get up today, life would go on as it was. Wouldn’t it?
No. This conversation can not go on within my head. It is time to speak up. It is time to acknowledge the importance of mental health. It is time to be real.
After I moved to New York from Istanbul to study theatre, I was diagnosed with Clinical Depression. Divided between two cities, I was unable to continue therapy. The process of healing felt lonely and hopeless. I sought an unacceptable amount of love and attention from others, believing that once someone saw the worth in me so would I. Yet, I was wrong. I learned that change starts from within and not through anyone else. Once I came to this realization, I knew I had to be louder about this subject. I knew people going through similar journeys and I thought they needed to know that they are not alone. That's when I wrote The Bed Time Story. Touchingly raw and truthful, The Bed Time Story depicts how a person with a mental disorder interacts with the world. It tells a real story that people who are affected by a mental illness can relate to.
People with mental illnesses have been frowned upon and left behind in the past. The discussion never really started, until recently. Even now, mental health is a very delicate subject and it is not discussed enough. As a consequence of the stigma around mental health, a lot of people with symptoms don't seek help with a fear of getting outcasted by society. It is heartbreaking that society can look down on people who live with a mental illness when the severity of it can get as life-threatening as any other illness.
Overcoming depression takes a lot of effort, time and energy not only for the people who are living with it but also for the people around them. The Bed Time Story is a movie that aspires to acknowledge this difficult healing process and put forth a creative product that will embrace the people who are going through it. For the viewers who can relate to my journey, my hope is they know they are not alone in theirs. For the people who can’t relate, this film is an opportunity to start asking questions.
Ekin Naz Demirok (Writer, Executive Producer, Actress)
YOUR DONATIONS ARE IN GOOD HANDS!
We are a team of international artists who have worked professionally both in and outside the US and we are thrilled to come together to execute this meaningful short movie. An extraordinary amount of talent and passion is harvested in the works of each member of the team and we will, without a doubt, do anything in our power to do this story justice and make you proud to be a part of this project.
For more information on our cast and crew, please click "The Team" tab at the top of the page.
PROJECT COST BREAKDOWN
Executing a movie is neither easy nor cheap! We need your help to bring this dream project to life and we would like to make sure that you know how your donations will be used. If you can't make a donation now, no worries! You can help us by spreading the word about our project to your friends and family and sharing our crowdfunding page on your social media accounts!
The Bed Time Story Expenses
For more information about our expenses please click "Wishlist" tab at the top of the page.
THANK YOU!
Whether you support us by making a donation or spreading the word about our project, we would like to thank you for your time and meaningful contribution. Please feel free to reach us at [email protected] with any questions or concerns!
All the photos are taken and edited by Cem Ali Akdeniz.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Alexa XT
Costs $1,600
Alexa XT will help us put our story on the screen in the best quality possible.
Studio Apartment Rent
Costs $2,000
This movie will be shot in a studio apartment and we need your help to rent one for four days!
Production Design
Costs $500
The right set design and wardrobe are very important for accurate representation!
Equipment Truck
Costs $600
A truck will be rented to transport our equipment between locations.
Food for Cast and Crew
Costs $1,080
We need food to survive! Two meals per person a day for a four days shoot.
Insurance
Costs $600
We will have to pay insurance for all our equipment plus the vehicle!
Share this update!
About This Team
As international artists based in New York, we value working with a diverse and multicultured group of people. We are proud to have a diversity of perspectives in our team that will help us reach more people.
Ekin Naz Demirok, Writer, Executive Producer and Lead Actress in The Bed Time Story, is a Turkish writer and actor based in New York City. She graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Drama and a minor in Childhood and Adolescence Mental Health. She also studied Screen Acting at Stonestreet Studios, where she was trained for production, post-production and writing. The Absence of You, a micro-movie she co-wrote and played lead actress in while at Stonestreet, was selected by multiple festivals and won four awards for Best Lead Actress and Best Micro-movie. Ekin Naz believes that art is meant to challenge society and help build a better one.
San Yvin, Director and Director of Photography of The Bed Time Story, is a writer, director and DP based in New York City. Of Vietnamese and French heritage, San grew up in Vietnam and moved to New York to study the film BFA program at NYU where his studio film In the blue was selected for the Fall 2018 showcase. He has also directed four other music videos, shot three short films and multiple luxury commercials--consecutively growing in budget, crew, cast number and production value. San has a long term goal of being a writer and showrunner with a focus to promote Asian cinema.
Maria Müller, Producer of The Bed Time Story, is a Romanian artist based in New York. She graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts with a major in Drama and a minor in Dance. Her most recent projects include Running in Place, the feature film Queen Marie of Romania directed by Alexis Cahill Sweet, the short film Staying Afloat directed by Elizabeth Katz and the TV series Love in NY directed by Matthew Russell. In the spring, she produced a film called My Mom's Dead and I'm Stuck in Suburbia, a coming of age drama directed by Jillian Rezen that is now in the festival circuit. In the future, she wants to work internationally and to continue to grow, inspire and be inspired by wonderful artists.
Carolina de'Castiglioni, Cece in The Bed Time Story, is an Italian native multidisciplinary artist. She moved to New York City in 2015 to attend New York University Tisch School of the Arts, from where, this May, she graduated, summa cum laude, with a BFA in Acting and a BA in Philosophy. Before moving to the big apple, de’ Castiglioni was casted as one of the leads of “Gli Immortali” (The Immortals), a docu-film by internationally acclaimed Italian singer Jovanotti. She later starred in several shorts, two of which (BARRACUDA and Getting A Scholarship) earned her many nominations and 4 awards as Best Actress by various Film Festivals.
Robert Ceriello is a Film, Televison, and Theatre actor from Long Island, New York. He began his career acting in stage productions for the Arena Players Repertory Theater under the legendary director Fred De Feis. Rob soon began landing roles in independent feature-length and short films, most notably "The Hospital Visit", directed by Aaron Fisher, "Wanderer", which premiered at the Soho International Film Festival, and the horror feature "Summit", for which he received a 'Best Actor' nomination at the Macabre Fair Film Festival. On stage, Rob originated the role of "Toby" in the Off-Off-Broadway play "The Sweet Dreams of Lizzie Tilley". Rob also acted in the ensemble web series "Here We Wait", which earned him a 'Best Actor' nomination at the International Academy of Web Television Awards. Aside from acting, Rob also writes and produces his own music and dabbles in beer-brewing and bitter-making. He is excited to work along side the entire cast and crew of "The Bed Time Story"!