Simon, a happy go lucky barista, spends an uncomplicated summer with his girlfriend Maya, a budding artist, in central Texas. They spend their days obsessing over their neighbor Lionel, a successful retired artist, and the younger woman they see slipping in and out of his art studio at odd hours of the night. Their world is turned upside down when Lionel takes Maya under his wing. He shepherds her through an artistic awakening that unleashes her talent in ways she never thought possible. By stepping outside the confines of her own criticisms and limitations, Maya blossoms into the artist she was truly meant to be. Now, with Simon’s fate in her hands, she must make the difficult choice between who she loves and who she is.

Simon is an intellectual, an observer, and a nurturer. He is grounded, rooted in routine and simple pleasures. He finds comfort in the familiar. Simon is inherently inquisitive, while unburdened by the pressure to achieve and perfect. He learns Spanish with no intention of speaking it, how to fly a plane without getting his pilot’s license, the chemistry of baking without making a cake. Simon doesn’t feel the need to conquer every curiosity, but rather finds joy in the mechanics. He is Maya’s biggest cheerleader and loves her completely. He is fulfilled by his job as a barista and is satisfied brewing coffee, reading up on space exploration, living quietly and loving Maya for all of his days.  This role has been cast! Stay tuned to find out who!

Maya is an artist- an undiscovered talent on the brink of something big. She is warm, energetic, and completely focused on her work. Maya looks outward, often comparing herself to her peers. She is intimidated by the success of younger artists and is immobilized by preconceived ideas of what kind of artist she is and where she should be in her career. She otherwise lives happily with her boyfriend, Simon, who she utterly adores. Maya feels grounded by Simon and finds comfort being anchored while lost at sea. It is only when Maya allows Lionel into her process that her paintings transform from pretty pictures to pieces of art. Maya shows us that sometimes it takes stepping outside of yourself to truly find yourself. 

Lionel is a successful artist and local celebrity in town. He taught at a local university, had showcases across the country in his prime, and continues to paint in his retirement. Lionel is a shepherd and a teacher. He brings in young artists and shapes them, guiding them toward their true selves. He knows art must be bold, raw, and honest. Lionel believes art lives outside of your boundaries and encourages his protégés to lean into what scares them.

First and foremost, we will prioritize using funding to pay our talented cast and crew! Each position on set is crucial to the success of this film. Our wonderful team deserves to be compensated for sharing their unique skills with Vines. 

Art plays a key role in this film. We would like to use funds to commission artwork from real live, living and breathing local artists. We are strongly against the use of AI for what is such an imperative, special part of this story. It is critical for us to showcase the talents of humans, not computers. 

Monies received will also be used for paying for our location, set decoration, and camera, grip, and lighting equipment. With these areas of production properly funded, we can give Vines the cinematic appearance it deserves. 

Total Budget-- $46,000

You'll notice that our total budget is higher than what we are trying to raise on Seed & Spark. If you see we're getting close, please continue to donate so we can reach our total goal!

I am making this film as a way to explore the meaning of love. Love expands far beyond the boundaries of romance. Love is nurturing and supporting someone you know you’ll have to let go. Concurrently, love is letting go of someone when you know you can’t love them the way they deserve. 

Vines gives us unconscious permission to step away from something not because it’s wrong for us, but simply because it’s not right for us. This film celebrates a woman expanding beyond her limitations so she can tap into her true spirit and potential. 

Most of us have been in the position of feeling the waistband of our relationship pants tighten. You’re left with two choices: suppress your own desires to spare the feelings of the one you love, or leave life as you know it behind. My hope is that you will see yourselves in this story and feel empowered to go beyond merely fitting someone else’s expectations so you can exceed your own.  

Any contribution, big or small, truly helps move this project forward. To back us, you can choose a custom donation amount or select one of our tiered reward packages to unlock some exclusive perks. You can also help by simply sharing our campaign with family, friends, and fellow film lovers. We appreciate every ounce of support!

We will also graciously accept in-kind donations! We are in need of the following items:

• Art supplies- paint brushes, canvases, tarps, sketchbooks, paper, sketching pencils, paints, etc. Used items are great!
• Patio furniture- a table and chairs is ideal, but let me know what you got! Used items are great!
• Radio
• Original Art- if you are an artist and would like to have your work featured in this film, please contact us. We'd love to talk.
• Costumes- if you have clothing to donate, please contact us. We will be looking for t-shirts, denim overalls, and other items to be determined when we have completed casting.
• Keyboard, preferably white.
• Books for set decoration
• Oscillating Fans (with the circular wire cage)
• Bed sheets and/or fabric tarps
• Connections with local Austin restaurants who can offer discounts for catering services during our shoot.

If you would like to donate any of these items, please email us at [email protected]