The Spark

New York City, New York | Film Short

Comedy

Natalie Neckyfarow

1 Campaigns | New York, United States

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This campaign raised $10,170 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.

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When PR Associate Lily is assigned the book launch for Tantra expert Raven Lucia, she has a huge wakeup call: she’s not actively creating her life, she’s just letting it happen to her. Will she be able to reconnect with her desire and go after what she really wants?

About The Project

  • The Story
  • Wishlist
  • Updates
  • The Team
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Mission Statement

Women tend to put others' needs and desires over their own and often have a difficult time articulating what they want, both personally and sexually. In telling this story, it is our aim to empower women to claim their own desires as well.

The Story

The Spark, a 12 minute short film, follows the journey of PR Associate Lily as her boss Claudia assigns her the book launch for “A Good Girl’s Guide to Tantra”. 


As she prepares her presentation, she’s visited by the author, Raven Lucia. Or rather a Dream version that she imagines, who acts like a Fairy Godmother of sorts, guiding Lily as she attempts to reignite the spark with her husband Mark.


As Lily navigates her own discomfort around sex and strives to pull off a successful launch, she must learn to connect with and go after what she really wants.


This film is distinctly a comedy but it also honors the depth and meaningfulness of female embodiment and pleasure.


For the tone of this film, we are drawing on inspiration from Not Dead Yet



and An Astrological Guide for Broken Hearts



with a sprinkle of Jane the Virgin for Fantasy elements.




These stills from our Director Meredith Dobbs' film In Waves show the balance between comedy and depth we are looking to achieve.



Last year, as I was going through a divorce, I realized I had become deeply disconnected from experiencing pleasure. So, as I was figuring it out, I did what any writer does: I wrote about it.


The process has been simultaneously terrifying and empowering. I’ve had to heal all of the parts of myself which made it feel taboo for me to explore this topic both on paper and in my life.


The more in touch I became with my own sexuality, the more creative I was, and the more confident I became going after the things that I’m passionate about. 


Writing The Spark was a huge part of my personal transformation during this time of my life.  And by making this film, I hope to empower other women to step out of their comfort zone and into their truth. And to fully explore their own pleasure and sexuality too.

In the spirit of empowering women and to create a safe space for this story to be told on set, I’m assembling an all-female and non-binary creative team and crew. 



Already on board is director Meredith Dobbs, whose trilogy of films In Waves, Rerun, and a third film in development follow a young woman navigating pleasure, heartbreak, and embodiment through non-traditional romantic relationships.


And co-producer Maria Palacio, the founder of Revolution Me Film Festival, has produced more than 10 films. Working in the field for more than 12 years, she heavily focuses on telling and helping bring women’s stories to life.


As for myself, writer, producer and lead actress (Lily), Natalie Neckyfarow, I've been acting for over 20 years on stage and screen. My original play (not exactly a) ONE WOMAN SHOW had a NYC workshop in December 2022 at The Tank NYC and Target Margin Theater. I'm also an award-winning producer for my work on the web series Redheads Anonymous.


Joining Natalie Neckyfarow as Lily ...




Sweta Keswani (Raven Lucia) made a move from Mumbai to New York in 2010, after making her mark in the Indian prime time TV scene. She’s had recurring roles in NBC’s “New Amsterdam” and AMC’s supernatural thriller “Nos4a2.”  She has co-starred with James Spader in “The Blacklist'' and featured in Apple TV's dark anthology series “Roar.” She starred in “As They Made Us,” directed by Mayim Bialik, alongside Dustin Hoffman and Candice Bergen. Currently, she can be seen in Apple TV’s “The Beanie Bubble,” alongside Elizabeth Banks and Zach Galifianakis. She co-created the acclaimed web series “Struggle City,” which won Best Web-series at the Vegas Movie Awards 2020.


Gisela Adisa (Claudia) is a Broadway, TV and film actor whose last onstage project had her leading the touring cast of the Broadway revival of ‘1776’. Onscreen highlights include roles in the Sundance winner ‘Nanny’, and episodes of ‘FBI,’ Kaleidoscope’ and ‘Raising Kanan’. Gisela has voiced characters for two Netflix and Dreamworks animated series, and recorded the solo feature song, “Cool Like Me” for Netflix’s ‘Ridley Jones.’


Sean Hinckle (Mark) has been seen on TV/Film in Atlanta (FX/Hulu), Servant (AppleTV), FBI (CBS), Kaleidoscope (Netflix). Off-Broadway: Bassianus (Titus Andronicus, HERE Arts Center), Stewart (Beneath the Gavel, 59E59 Theaters), Hamlet (Hamlet, New York Shakespeare Exchange). International/Regional Theatre: Edmund (King Lear, International Tour), Associate Pastor Joshua (The Christians, Mill Mountain Theatre & Lean Ensemble Theater), The Playmakers (Ensemble, Florida Studio Theatre). "Extremely grateful and excited to be a part of telling this story with this incredible team!"



We're raising $12,000 to make this film. Our budget covers production and post-production, with some money set aside to submit to film festivals to bring this story into the world.


The majority of our budget will go to paying seasoned women/non-binary creatives with 55.8% going to our creative team and crew and 16.9% going to our cast which is 75% women.



Additional expenses include Locations, Catering, Equipment, Music, Props, Wardrobe and Festival Fees.


We are currently in pre-production with production slated for mid-July.


We plan to have a finished film by early September and will begin submitting to festivals at that time.


In addition, this film is a springboard for a feature film that I'm writing which follows Lily's journey as she continues to explore her sexuality and reclaim her own power.


It is my intention to submit my feature script to festivals, to capitalize on the success of this short to garner support for the production of the feature.


Women tend to put others' needs and desires over their own and often have a difficult time articulating what they want, both personally and sexually. 



We need more stories that encourage women to live into their full authentic expression because when women limit themselves they limit the impact they can have in the world.


By telling stories about women moving through their own discomfort to ask for what they want, we are rewriting the script about centuries old beliefs about how women should show up in the world, and we are creating new possibilities. And that is pretty powerful stuff!!


This important story and incredible team is why I hope you’ll consider supporting us as we raise the money to make this film.


When you pledge your support now, you are taking a stand for women’s desires, personally, professionally and sexually. 


And I have some fun perks lined up for you. 


Whether you’re looking for a little inspiration for your own sexual awakening or you’d just like to get a behind-the-scenes view of the making of this film, there’s something for you.


So please pledge, follow and share this campaign with your friends. And while you’re at it, come follow us on Instagram @thesparkshort


Thank you so much for being a part of our team and taking a stand for the full expression of women’s desires.


Let’s celebrate women’s pleasure together.

Wishlist

Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.

Cash Pledge

Costs $0

Creative Team & Crew

Costs $6,690

This money goes to pay the salaries of our all female and non-binary creative team.

Cast

Costs $2,025

Help us pay our 75% female professional cast for their creative contribution.

Equipment & Insurance

Costs $1,385

There is no film without the right equipment and insurance to cover both the equipment and everyone working on our set.

Catering

Costs $500

Help us keep our Cast and Crew nourished onset so they can do their best work.

Locations

Costs $500

Help us find the perfect apartment, office space, and restaurant to bring this story to life.

Music, Props & Wardrobe

Costs $400

So our final film looks and sounds great.

Festival Fees

Costs $500

Submission fees for festivals so we get the finished film out in the world and share this story.

About This Team

Director

Via Detroit and London, Meredith Dobbs is an award-winning Brooklyn-based director, writer, producer, and editor, and she's been making commercial work and indie films for the last 10 years. Her films are usually love stories, exploring the in-between bits rather than the happily-ever-afters. She loves making improv dramas, small talk with strangers, and cookies.



Co- Producer

Maria Palacio is a Brooklyn based film producer, creative, teacher & photographer. Inspired through her own experience as an up-and-coming filmmaker she established Revolution Me Film Festival in 2016 to create a forum to nurture other emerging artists in the field. She has produced over 10 films heavily focused on women and diverse stories. Maria's latest film,Unlocked premiered at the Chelsea Film Festival in 2023 in NYC and continues on its festival circuit. She is now working on her first directed/co-produced documentary, The Fighter in Us. Her documentary series is one of 89 recipients of the 2022 NYC Women's Fund.



Writer, Producer, Lead Actress (Lily)

Natalie Neckyfarow is NYC Actress, Writer, and Producer who tells stories about women getting in touch with their truth, challenging the status quo and stepping into their full expression. Acting highlights include: Samatha  (Best Leading Actor Nom, NYC 48 Hour Film Festival), Moony's Kid Don't Cry (Theatre Row), Sci-Fi High: The Movie Musical, Time Trumpet (Comedy Central), Ordinary Days (benefit concert), and The Body of a Woman as a Battlefield in the Bosnian War (NYC Premiere). Her original play (not exactly a) ONE WOMAN SHOW had a NYC workshop in December 2022 at The Tank NYC and Target Margin Theater. She’s also an award-winning producer for the web series Redheads Anonymous.



Production Designer

Nicole Rinaldi is a Brooklyn-based filmmaker. As a Production Designer, she has worked on features and shorts, ranging from 1600's period pieces to a storybook village, to even a grimy motel built in an AFI lecture hall. Nicole is drawn to films that allow her to elevate the narrative by integrating psychological elements into her designs. She’s either the most polite punk you know or the most grunge librarian you’ve ever met. Aside from being a bookworm and crafty, Nicole also considers herself a milkshake aficionado testing new recipes at home.




Sweta Keswani (Raven Lucia)

After making her mark in the Indian prime time TV scene, Sweta Keswani made a move from Mumbai to New York in 2010. She’s had recurring roles in NBC’s “New Amsterdam” and AMC’s supernatural thriller “Nos4a2.”  She has co-starred with James Spader in “The Blacklist'' and featured in Apple TV's dark anthology series “Roar.” She starred in “As They Made Us,” directed by Mayim Bialik, alongside Dustin Hoffman and Candice Bergen. Currently, she can be seen in Apple TV’s “The Beanie Bubble,” alongside Elizabeth Banks and Zach Galifianakis. She co-created the acclaimed web series “Struggle City,” which won Best Web-series at the Vegas Movie Awards 2020.




Gisela Adisa (Claudia)

Gisela Adisa is a Broadway, TV and film actor whose last onstage project had her leading the touring cast of the Broadway revival of ‘1776’. Onscreen highlights include roles in the Sundance winner ‘Nanny’, and episodes of ‘FBI,’ Kaleidoscope’ and ‘Raising Kanan’. 

Gisela has voiced characters for two Netflix and Dreamworks animated series, and recorded the solo feature song, “Cool Like Me” for Netflix’s ‘Ridley Jones.’




Sean Hinckle (Mark)

Sean Hinckle has been seen on TV/Film in Atlanta (FX/Hulu), Servant (AppleTV), FBI (CBS), Kaleidoscope (Netflix). Off-Broadway: Bassianus (Titus Andronicus, HERE Arts Center), Stewart (Beneath the Gavel, 59E59 Theaters), Hamlet (Hamlet, New York Shakespeare Exchange). International/Regional Theatre: Edmund (King Lear, International Tour), Associate Pastor Joshua (The Christians, Mill Mountain Theatre & Lean Ensemble Theater), The Playmakers (Ensemble, Florida Studio Theatre). "Extremely grateful and excited to be a part of telling this story with this incredible team!"






Current Team

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