The Pick-Up
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Romantic Comedy
In a world that feels increasingly fragmented, “The Pick-Up” brings audiences a funny and touching story about true human connection. Even if that connection is awkward and weirdly romantic and not at all the way we might have remembered it from high school.
The Pick-Up
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Romantic Comedy
1 Campaigns | New Jersey, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $15,090 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
68 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
In a world that feels increasingly fragmented, “The Pick-Up” brings audiences a funny and touching story about true human connection. Even if that connection is awkward and weirdly romantic and not at all the way we might have remembered it from high school.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Fresh off a recent win for Best Short Screenplay at the New York Screenwriting Awards, "The Pick-Up" is about a romance that could have, perhaps should have, been between two long-estranged friends: Drew, a socially conscious schoolteacher, and Caleb, a well-off tech executive. In the film’s opening scene, Drew walks past a row of classic Brooklyn brownstones. She pushes along her small utility cart, the kind one sees so often being used by New Yorkers lugging around their laundry or groceries. The weather is warm. The day is young.
But Drew is anything but jubilant or relaxed. She is intent upon picking up an item that she saw posted in her local Buy Nothing group. In fact, it will be the first of several Buy Nothing pick-ups she has scheduled for the day. Yet this is the only one she has been truly dreading. Because on the other side of that exchange will be the one person from her past who can instantly make her feel like the silly, naive schoolgirl she was at seventeen. The one person who can make her doubt for just a second that she really has it all together and is now anything less than a badass woman: her old friend (crush… friend?) Caleb.
Their reunion is... awkward. Yet somehow there remains an affection between them. Afterwards, the film takes us on a humorous, yet tender journey through the two friends’ memories, regrets, and hopes for the future as they traverse the city from one pick-up location to the next.
Images from the films, The Exploding Girl (2009) and Before Sunset (2004), which serve as some of The Pick-Up's visual inspiration.
Our film will be shot entirely on location in the charming neighborhoods of Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, and Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn, New York. Following in the tradition of other walk-and-talk romance films, “The Pick-Up” will feature the city as a dynamic set piece in which the characters will be allowed to find greater freedom of movement and by extension greater ease with which they can express themselves.
We have targeted shoot dates in May in order to maximize the loveliness of Brooklyn in spring as well as to optimize the season’s natural light. Utilizing a combination of steadicam and stationary shots, we hope to convey not only the energy of the city, but the feeling of two people being buoyed up by that energy as their friendship rekindles and intimacy springs anew.
Various Brooklyn streets and Cobble Hill Park, where we'll be filming in May 2024.
Only in recent years have we begun to see more opportunities open up for Asian Americans to be the authors of their own stories in cinema, and I am continually inspired by trailblazers, such as industry veteran Jon M. Chu and relative newcomers Sean Wang and Celine Song, to be hopeful for the future of Asian American filmmaking. As a Chinese American filmmaker myself, I am always seeking to expand the breadth of Asian representation within the media, which means not always focusing on the race of a character in heavy-handed ways, but rather considering a character's racial identity as part of the larger scope of their portrayal as a human.
Whether the genre is absurdist comedy, drama, or romance, my objective is always to write character-driven narratives that feel complex, layered, and most importantly truthful. So when it came to “The Pick-Up,” rather than tell the familiar story of two people meeting and falling in love, I was far more interested in the idea of a reckoning between two old friends and exploring what feelings might once have existed between them. The narrative seeks to capture that bittersweet feeling of "What if?," of missed opportunities, and our growth out of those moments.
Finally, I am chuffed to be shooting this film on location in the Brooklyn neighborhoods I called home for over a decade and which inspired my last two short films. The streets of New York continue to play a vital role in my work, essentially functioning as another major character within these stories.
Writer & director Karen Wang on the set of Separate Ways.
CAST AND CREW
The lion’s share of our budget will be allotted to paying our talented cast and crew. They are indispensable to the success of our production and deserve to be fairly compensated for their hard work, even though many of them have signed on to work at significantly discounted rates.
CATERING AND CRAFT SERVICES
Catering is yet another essential cost for us. To support everyone who’s working on set, we aim to provide them with healthy and delicious food to maintain their energy levels and morale.
LOCATIONS
While it doesn’t cost a thing to walk down the streets of Brooklyn, filming in them is another matter entirely. A number of community associations, local businesses, and friends in the area have agreed to let us film on their property for free. However, there are still a few key locations that can only be secured through paying hefty location fees.
THE BOTTOM LINE (... OR 80%)
Seed & Spark requires that we raise at least 80% of our campaign goal in order for the project to be greenlit. Consequently, we must reach at least this percentage within 45 days, or we won't receive any of the funds raised!
It's no news to anyone that COVID-19 deeply impacted the film and television industries for a number of years. And the reality is that while those businesses are slowly making their comeback, production levels are still nowhere near what they once were-- especially in the wake of multiple labor strikes in 2023. Now more than ever, it is vital that we support independent film, and we would be thrilled to have you come on board Team Pick-up! You can help make this film a reality in a number of ways:
1. Pledging
The most concrete way to bring this dream to fruition. Please check out our list of incentives and become a contributor!
2. Spreading the Word
In order to accomplish our goal, we must reach beyond our own personal networks. Send this page to your friends and family to increase our site traffic. Under the "Make a Pledge" button, there are also buttons to "Follow" and "Share." Doing both will help to ensure that our campaign remains alive and achievable!
3. Following Us On Social Media
Our handle across Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and ‘X’ (fka Twitter) is @thepickupfilm. By following us, you will be kept abreast of any updates on the film and gain access to behind-the-scenes photos and videos!
Thank you for taking the time to check out our campaign. We are grateful for any amount you can contribute! Your support for "The Pick-Up" makes you more than just a donor; it makes you a partner by investing in our team of artists and their hard work and talents.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Locations
Costs $2,000
In order to secure a safe and hospitable environment for the cast and crew to make the magic happen, a few locations will require payment.
Cast
Costs $2,500
Although this is non-union project, we would like to pay our actors the minimum rate for working artists according to SAG guidelines.
Production Insurance
Costs $1,000
Production insurance is a must-have in order to secure certain permits, equipment, and locations for filming.
Crew
Costs $7,500
We love our crew, and we'd love to pay them!
Catering & Craft Services
Costs $2,000
Besides making sure our cast and crew are compensated fairly, we need to feed them with nourishing food as well. Filmmaking is hard work!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Karen Wang (Writer/Director) is an award-winning writer, director, and producer of films. After co-producing a spate of films from the late 2000s through the early 2010s, including the coming-of-age drama, Indigo Children, and animated short, Alpha Fish, she wrote and directed the short films, Sick and Separate Ways. Her script, Wake Me Up, won Best Short Screenplay at the Katra Film Series (2022), while her most recent script, The Pick-Up, won Best Short Screenplay at the New York Screenwriting Awards (2023). For the past two decades, Karen has served regularly on the juries and curation teams of a number of screenwriting competitions and independent film incubator programs, including Tribeca All Access, the Sloan Filmmaker Fund, the McKnight Screenwriting Fellowship, and Gotham Week’s Project Market. She is elated to be returning to the Brooklyn neighborhoods she once called home to shoot her latest project.
Rachel Whelan (Producer) has been working in film, TV, and commercials in NYC for over 15 years, most recently as an assistant director, producer, and coordinator. She has produced video content for clients such as The Met, Conde Nast, and World Vision, while her numerous film and television credits include the multi-award winning comedy, Wedgerino; the animated short, Alpha Fish; and Chopped. And no matter what anyone says, Rachel still considers her time as the 2nd 2nd AD on Beyoncé's "Yoncé" music video to be a career highlight. She considers it an amazing privilege to get to work alongside some of the most hard-working, talented people on the planet. (And sometimes the actors aren’t bad either!)
Justin Donham (Producer) has worn many hats over the years including actor, producer, stage manager, AD, and sound designer. His credits include Broadway, off-Broadway, extensive touring, and a NY soap or two. He's thrilled to be collaborating again with Karen Wang and the entire team for The Pick-Up.
Jessica Kass (Producer) wields an extensive background as an actor, singer, improv artist, writer, and director, and is excited to collaborate with Karen Wang on her latest project, The Pickup. Jessie brings an unmatched enthusiasm for storytelling to the production team!
Naomi Amarger (Director of Photography) is a French cinematographer living between Paris and New York, represented by the Apicorp Agency. After starting out as an actress, Naomi studied cinematography at the Louis-Lumiere National Film School in Paris, and developed her skills working as a camera assistant at Panavision in New York. Her first narrative feature, Divertimento, directed by Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar, won the Jury Special Award at the Cinémania Film Festival in Montréal, and the Audience Award for Best Feature at the Washington DC International Film Festival. Her first documentary feature, The Disappearance of Shere Hite, premiered at Sundance International Film Festival in the US Documentary Competition and was nominated for 3 Critics Choice Documentary Awards. Recently, Naomi received the Award for Best Cinematography at the CINEF Film Festival in Kinshasa, Congo, for her work on Ativio. Naomi is a member of the International Collective of Female Cinematographers (ICFC) and the French collective Femmes à la Caméra, and was selected for the American Society of Cinematographer’s Vision Mentorship Program in 2022.
Justin B. Tolley (Editor) has nearly fifteen years of experience in post-production, specializing in commercials, narrative films, and documentaries. As both an Editor and an Assistant Editor, his work has premiered at festivals nationwide, including the films, Low Down (2014 Sundance - Grand Jury Prize Nominee, Chicago International Film Festival - Audience Choice), Mission:Congo (2013 TIFF & DOC NYC), Without Shepherds (Winner, 2013 Brooklyn Film Festival), Hot Coffee (2011 Sundance) and The Art of Getting By (2011 Sundance). He is also a founding company member of the award-winning New York experimental comedy theater group, the New York Neo-Futurists. Currently based in Richmond, Virginia, Justin finds inspiration in his family and his beloved dog, Molly, a delightfully neurotic poodle/pitbull/mystery-muppet. Thrilled to join The Pickup team, Justin brings his passion for storytelling, a dry sense of humor, and a wealth of experience.
Segnon Tiewul (Composer) is a distinguished music artist, producer, songwriter, and composer. His impactful contributions to the medium of cinema are showcased through his scoring work on films like, Chateau Rosaline 1937; Welcome, Moving Forward; Emcee Memoirs; and Helmet City: Mecha Gardens. In 2021, he co-founded New World Nomads, a creative consultancy firm, which specializes in leveraging innovative technologies, such as Web3 and AI, to bridge the gap between emerging and established creatives for groundbreaking collaborations.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Fresh off a recent win for Best Short Screenplay at the New York Screenwriting Awards, "The Pick-Up" is about a romance that could have, perhaps should have, been between two long-estranged friends: Drew, a socially conscious schoolteacher, and Caleb, a well-off tech executive. In the film’s opening scene, Drew walks past a row of classic Brooklyn brownstones. She pushes along her small utility cart, the kind one sees so often being used by New Yorkers lugging around their laundry or groceries. The weather is warm. The day is young.
But Drew is anything but jubilant or relaxed. She is intent upon picking up an item that she saw posted in her local Buy Nothing group. In fact, it will be the first of several Buy Nothing pick-ups she has scheduled for the day. Yet this is the only one she has been truly dreading. Because on the other side of that exchange will be the one person from her past who can instantly make her feel like the silly, naive schoolgirl she was at seventeen. The one person who can make her doubt for just a second that she really has it all together and is now anything less than a badass woman: her old friend (crush… friend?) Caleb.
Their reunion is... awkward. Yet somehow there remains an affection between them. Afterwards, the film takes us on a humorous, yet tender journey through the two friends’ memories, regrets, and hopes for the future as they traverse the city from one pick-up location to the next.
Images from the films, The Exploding Girl (2009) and Before Sunset (2004), which serve as some of The Pick-Up's visual inspiration.
Our film will be shot entirely on location in the charming neighborhoods of Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, and Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn, New York. Following in the tradition of other walk-and-talk romance films, “The Pick-Up” will feature the city as a dynamic set piece in which the characters will be allowed to find greater freedom of movement and by extension greater ease with which they can express themselves.
We have targeted shoot dates in May in order to maximize the loveliness of Brooklyn in spring as well as to optimize the season’s natural light. Utilizing a combination of steadicam and stationary shots, we hope to convey not only the energy of the city, but the feeling of two people being buoyed up by that energy as their friendship rekindles and intimacy springs anew.
Various Brooklyn streets and Cobble Hill Park, where we'll be filming in May 2024.
Only in recent years have we begun to see more opportunities open up for Asian Americans to be the authors of their own stories in cinema, and I am continually inspired by trailblazers, such as industry veteran Jon M. Chu and relative newcomers Sean Wang and Celine Song, to be hopeful for the future of Asian American filmmaking. As a Chinese American filmmaker myself, I am always seeking to expand the breadth of Asian representation within the media, which means not always focusing on the race of a character in heavy-handed ways, but rather considering a character's racial identity as part of the larger scope of their portrayal as a human.
Whether the genre is absurdist comedy, drama, or romance, my objective is always to write character-driven narratives that feel complex, layered, and most importantly truthful. So when it came to “The Pick-Up,” rather than tell the familiar story of two people meeting and falling in love, I was far more interested in the idea of a reckoning between two old friends and exploring what feelings might once have existed between them. The narrative seeks to capture that bittersweet feeling of "What if?," of missed opportunities, and our growth out of those moments.
Finally, I am chuffed to be shooting this film on location in the Brooklyn neighborhoods I called home for over a decade and which inspired my last two short films. The streets of New York continue to play a vital role in my work, essentially functioning as another major character within these stories.
Writer & director Karen Wang on the set of Separate Ways.
CAST AND CREW
The lion’s share of our budget will be allotted to paying our talented cast and crew. They are indispensable to the success of our production and deserve to be fairly compensated for their hard work, even though many of them have signed on to work at significantly discounted rates.
CATERING AND CRAFT SERVICES
Catering is yet another essential cost for us. To support everyone who’s working on set, we aim to provide them with healthy and delicious food to maintain their energy levels and morale.
LOCATIONS
While it doesn’t cost a thing to walk down the streets of Brooklyn, filming in them is another matter entirely. A number of community associations, local businesses, and friends in the area have agreed to let us film on their property for free. However, there are still a few key locations that can only be secured through paying hefty location fees.
THE BOTTOM LINE (... OR 80%)
Seed & Spark requires that we raise at least 80% of our campaign goal in order for the project to be greenlit. Consequently, we must reach at least this percentage within 45 days, or we won't receive any of the funds raised!
It's no news to anyone that COVID-19 deeply impacted the film and television industries for a number of years. And the reality is that while those businesses are slowly making their comeback, production levels are still nowhere near what they once were-- especially in the wake of multiple labor strikes in 2023. Now more than ever, it is vital that we support independent film, and we would be thrilled to have you come on board Team Pick-up! You can help make this film a reality in a number of ways:
1. Pledging
The most concrete way to bring this dream to fruition. Please check out our list of incentives and become a contributor!
2. Spreading the Word
In order to accomplish our goal, we must reach beyond our own personal networks. Send this page to your friends and family to increase our site traffic. Under the "Make a Pledge" button, there are also buttons to "Follow" and "Share." Doing both will help to ensure that our campaign remains alive and achievable!
3. Following Us On Social Media
Our handle across Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and ‘X’ (fka Twitter) is @thepickupfilm. By following us, you will be kept abreast of any updates on the film and gain access to behind-the-scenes photos and videos!
Thank you for taking the time to check out our campaign. We are grateful for any amount you can contribute! Your support for "The Pick-Up" makes you more than just a donor; it makes you a partner by investing in our team of artists and their hard work and talents.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Locations
Costs $2,000
In order to secure a safe and hospitable environment for the cast and crew to make the magic happen, a few locations will require payment.
Cast
Costs $2,500
Although this is non-union project, we would like to pay our actors the minimum rate for working artists according to SAG guidelines.
Production Insurance
Costs $1,000
Production insurance is a must-have in order to secure certain permits, equipment, and locations for filming.
Crew
Costs $7,500
We love our crew, and we'd love to pay them!
Catering & Craft Services
Costs $2,000
Besides making sure our cast and crew are compensated fairly, we need to feed them with nourishing food as well. Filmmaking is hard work!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Karen Wang (Writer/Director) is an award-winning writer, director, and producer of films. After co-producing a spate of films from the late 2000s through the early 2010s, including the coming-of-age drama, Indigo Children, and animated short, Alpha Fish, she wrote and directed the short films, Sick and Separate Ways. Her script, Wake Me Up, won Best Short Screenplay at the Katra Film Series (2022), while her most recent script, The Pick-Up, won Best Short Screenplay at the New York Screenwriting Awards (2023). For the past two decades, Karen has served regularly on the juries and curation teams of a number of screenwriting competitions and independent film incubator programs, including Tribeca All Access, the Sloan Filmmaker Fund, the McKnight Screenwriting Fellowship, and Gotham Week’s Project Market. She is elated to be returning to the Brooklyn neighborhoods she once called home to shoot her latest project.
Rachel Whelan (Producer) has been working in film, TV, and commercials in NYC for over 15 years, most recently as an assistant director, producer, and coordinator. She has produced video content for clients such as The Met, Conde Nast, and World Vision, while her numerous film and television credits include the multi-award winning comedy, Wedgerino; the animated short, Alpha Fish; and Chopped. And no matter what anyone says, Rachel still considers her time as the 2nd 2nd AD on Beyoncé's "Yoncé" music video to be a career highlight. She considers it an amazing privilege to get to work alongside some of the most hard-working, talented people on the planet. (And sometimes the actors aren’t bad either!)
Justin Donham (Producer) has worn many hats over the years including actor, producer, stage manager, AD, and sound designer. His credits include Broadway, off-Broadway, extensive touring, and a NY soap or two. He's thrilled to be collaborating again with Karen Wang and the entire team for The Pick-Up.
Jessica Kass (Producer) wields an extensive background as an actor, singer, improv artist, writer, and director, and is excited to collaborate with Karen Wang on her latest project, The Pickup. Jessie brings an unmatched enthusiasm for storytelling to the production team!
Naomi Amarger (Director of Photography) is a French cinematographer living between Paris and New York, represented by the Apicorp Agency. After starting out as an actress, Naomi studied cinematography at the Louis-Lumiere National Film School in Paris, and developed her skills working as a camera assistant at Panavision in New York. Her first narrative feature, Divertimento, directed by Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar, won the Jury Special Award at the Cinémania Film Festival in Montréal, and the Audience Award for Best Feature at the Washington DC International Film Festival. Her first documentary feature, The Disappearance of Shere Hite, premiered at Sundance International Film Festival in the US Documentary Competition and was nominated for 3 Critics Choice Documentary Awards. Recently, Naomi received the Award for Best Cinematography at the CINEF Film Festival in Kinshasa, Congo, for her work on Ativio. Naomi is a member of the International Collective of Female Cinematographers (ICFC) and the French collective Femmes à la Caméra, and was selected for the American Society of Cinematographer’s Vision Mentorship Program in 2022.
Justin B. Tolley (Editor) has nearly fifteen years of experience in post-production, specializing in commercials, narrative films, and documentaries. As both an Editor and an Assistant Editor, his work has premiered at festivals nationwide, including the films, Low Down (2014 Sundance - Grand Jury Prize Nominee, Chicago International Film Festival - Audience Choice), Mission:Congo (2013 TIFF & DOC NYC), Without Shepherds (Winner, 2013 Brooklyn Film Festival), Hot Coffee (2011 Sundance) and The Art of Getting By (2011 Sundance). He is also a founding company member of the award-winning New York experimental comedy theater group, the New York Neo-Futurists. Currently based in Richmond, Virginia, Justin finds inspiration in his family and his beloved dog, Molly, a delightfully neurotic poodle/pitbull/mystery-muppet. Thrilled to join The Pickup team, Justin brings his passion for storytelling, a dry sense of humor, and a wealth of experience.
Segnon Tiewul (Composer) is a distinguished music artist, producer, songwriter, and composer. His impactful contributions to the medium of cinema are showcased through his scoring work on films like, Chateau Rosaline 1937; Welcome, Moving Forward; Emcee Memoirs; and Helmet City: Mecha Gardens. In 2021, he co-founded New World Nomads, a creative consultancy firm, which specializes in leveraging innovative technologies, such as Web3 and AI, to bridge the gap between emerging and established creatives for groundbreaking collaborations.