The Story

The SOUND is an experimental short film about a woman on the edge of creative and personal awakening.

After ten years in a loving but stifling relationship, Jade—a talented but creatively blocked designer—begins to hear a mysterious inner sound that disrupts her carefully-constructed life. Trapped in routine and out of sync with her partner, she finds herself drifting further from her voice and vision. As the sound grows louder, it pulls her into a vivid, transformative journey. Jade must reckon with who she’s become in her partner’s shadow—and rediscover the creative force she was always meant to be.

Told through shifting speeds of fast-forward and slow motion, the film mirrors the emotional and energetic disconnect between the couple. Jared moves in fast-forward—always thinking ahead, building, executing—while Jade exists in slow motion, grounded in feeling and searching for meaning. To him, she lags behind; full of potential, but not yet where she could be. And in his presence, she is swept into his fast-paced motion—reflecting how she alters herself just to adjust to his pace.

This film explores the cost of self-abandonment, the urgency of inner truth, and what happens when we finally choose to listen to the voice within.

Why now?

We live in a world that doesn’t always prioritize women’s rights, voices, or safety.

The Sound speaks to the quiet, personal revolutions so many women are navigating—learning to trust their bodies, their intuition, and their truth over louder and often misinformed voices. This story isn’t about a dramatic breakup; it’s about a soft but necessary awakening. In a time that demands more aligned, self-honoring voices, this film feels intimate and needed.

Jade (30)

Creative, optimistic and expressive, Jade is an artist through and through—she’s always known it, even if she hasn’t always known how to bring her vision to life. She’s free-spirited but often rigid in her own inner world, caught between her rebellious nature and a lingering need for external validation. She’s deeply community-driven and loving, but tends to prioritize other people’s needs and dreams over her own. This pattern shows up in her relationship, where she feels stuck—static and resentful—despite her deep love for her partner. Around him, she struggles to feel fully herself, unsure of how to bridge the gap between who she is and who she’s allowed to be in his presence.

Jared (30)

Charismatic and confident, Jared is the kind of person who fills a room. A natural leader and a visionary, he’s a businessman who could truly do it all. He’s driven by a desire to uplift those around him and often leads through action—showing love through service and affirmation more than physical affection. He’s an excellent communicator, except when it comes to his own emotions, which he tends to compartmentalize. Jared has always had a clear vision for his life and the discipline to execute it. He works well under pressure—he even wants healing to happen on a timeline. He’s supportive and generous, but sometimes assumes he knows what’s best for others, offering help in ways that can unintentionally undermine their growth.

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The film’s emotional landscape is expressed through fast-forward and slow-motion movement, reflecting how the characters experience one another. Jared moves in fast-forward: goal-oriented, action-driven, always looking far ahead. To him, Jade lags behind, her growth incomplete.

Jade exists in slow motion, reflective and emotionally attuned—but swept into fast-forward whenever he enters the room. This visual language captures the emotional distance between them and the quiet pressure she feels to shift her rhythm to match his.

The film’s visual style is also tied to color. The living space and wardrobe evolve from neutral, minimal, and muted tones to a palette that becomes increasingly vibrant and vivid. This gradual shift mirrors the main character’s emotional journey, using color as a visual cue for her transformation.

The visual language of this film is inspired by both the music video world and traditional narrative filmmaking. Some shots and transitions are intentionally experimental and dreamlike, blurring the line between reality and imagination. Because of that, we’re intentionally bringing on crew members with experience in both spaces—people who understand how to move fluidly between grounded storytelling and more stylized, expressive visuals.

For some context —

I’m making this film because—girl—if I had learned to listen to myself sooner, I could’ve saved so much time and heartache. I’ve stayed in situations way past their expiration date simply because I didn’t trust my gut. I didn’t even know what my own voice sounded like—I was so used to leaning on everyone else’s intuition instead of my own.

But our bodies always know.

At first, it’s just a whisper—something you almost brush off. Then it keeps nudging you…

until you’re feeling it in your chest or your stomach or something happens and you’re like, “Ohhh, that’s what that little voice was trying to tell me.” These days, I’m still not perfect, but when something doesn’t feel right, I pause. I listen. The answer is usually in there, waiting.

This story came from a song I wrote after re-reading The Artist’s Way. I’d just reflected on the creative work I’ve made since ending a long-term relationship years ago—and realized none of it would’ve existed without that time alone. After years of back-to-back relationships, I made a choice to stay single—not to avoid love, but to finally get to know me.

And wow. That time changed everything. Therapy, meditation, solo walks, books, shadow work—deep stuff. I thought I was trying to fix myself (spoiler: still not “fixed,” whatever that means), but really, I was just learning how to hear myself.

I’m so proud of the woman and artist I’ve grown into. And I sometimes think… what if I hadn’t left? Would I have ever found this version of myself? Or would she have stayed buried?

That’s the heart of The Sound—what happens when we lose ourselves, and what it takes to finally come back.

Madeleine Wood

Writer / Producer / Actor (Jade)

Madeleine is an Atlanta-based artist whose work lives at the intersection of fashion, fine art, and film. A Spelman College graduate with a BA in Fine Arts, she went on to study theatre in New York, where she launched Platform, a showcase for emerging young artists. Back in Atlanta, she kept the momentum going—founding a theater collective for young Black performers, hosting art exhibitions, producing a fashion show and artisan market highlighting black women designers, and bringing several children’s books and design pieces to life. Her work focuses on encouraging women to reconnect with themselves and move through the world with boldness, vividness, and clarity.

The Sound is currently in the pre-production phase, with shooting dates set for late September.

Our production team has been working diligently to nail down our budget, talented cast, and compelling visual elements for 3 days of filming. Our campaign will run for 30 days. With your help, we can raise $15,000 for production + post-production costs.

• Production team
• Cast + crew
• Intimacy Coordinator
• Production equipment
• Props + wardrobe
• Food for our hardworking team
• Editor + post-production costs

We need to hit at least 80% of our goal ($12,000) to unlock the funds—if we fall short, we lose everything. Every dollar gets us closer, and your contribution truly makes a difference!

Our Stretch Goals:

$15,500 – Film festival submission fees add up (!!!) and this helps us get The Sound in front of the right audiences.

$16,500 – Premiere screening costs: venue, photography, and all the magic that makes the first showing unforgettable.

$17,500 – Travel expenses for our team to attend festivals and represent the film in person.

The Timeline:

• Pre-production | June - August 2025
• Seed & Spark campaign | July - August 2025
• Production | September 2025
• Post-production | October - December 2025
• Premiere | January 2026
• Festival submission process | February 2026

Every Share & Follow Counts!

Even if you're not in a place to contribute financially, you can still make a big impact! Any and all contributions help tremendously. We need 250 followers on THIS SEED&SPARK Campaign by August 27th to stay eligible for a production grant with Film Impact GA Crowdfunding Rally, which would allow us to qualify for additional funding. Follow this campaign and @the_sound_film on Instagram to see all of our updates. Thank you!

Caption Ideas (cause we know that’s the hard part about posting!)

Help @the_sound_film and a group of indie filmmakers by supporting the experimental drama #thesoundshortfilm on @seedandspark! Link in their bio.