CHARLES: A Short Film
Donation protected
CHARLES is an 8-minute NYU student-film. The film is a dramedy exploring the understanding of death through a child's perspective and the loss involved in growing up. Taking inspiration from films like Little Miss Sunshine, Juno, and The Florida Project, CHARLES aims to tackle heavy subject matter with humor, heart, and eccentricity.
THE STORY:
When 7-year-old Sadie comes downstairs one morning with the news that her imaginary friend "Charles" has died, her family must figure out how to cope with the child's not-imaginary grief.
WHAT WE NEED:
UPDATE: We have just completed filming but are still very much in need of funds to complete post-production and pay off existing bills.
As the project has progressed, the budget too has grown. Filmmaking in New York City is incredibly expensive, and, unfortunately, I am short just a few hundred dollars to cover the costs of the location, transportation, equipment rentals, and meals for the cast and crew.
I am incredibly grateful for any amount you are able to give. Your support means the world to me in bringing my vision of this story to life.
All supporters will be thanked in the final credits of the film and given a link to view the film when it's completed. Those who contribute $150 or more will be given executive producer credit and a signed copy of the script.
WHO WE ARE:
AUDREY LARSON
Writer/Director
Audrey is a junior studying Film & Television Production at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Audrey wrote and directed the short film Camping Trip, which won a national gold medal at the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and an audience award at the Cine Las Americas International Film Festival. The film screened at 14 film festivals nationwide, including Newport Beach Film Festival and Dances with Films. Miracle on 14th Street, an audio drama she wrote and produced, won the Tony Hawkins award at NYU for best adaptation. At just 14 years old, Audrey co-founded Fountain of Youth Productions, a New England filmmaking organization that produced short films created by youth and conducted community workshops and events. Audrey ran FYP throughout high school, producing two short films with the group and head starting an online summer screenwriting program and script contest. Audrey has interned at the Andrew Wilson Agency in Boston and the Boston International Kids Film Festival. Currently, she is an intern at Screen Media Films. Additionally, Audrey works as a freelance video editor and runs her own business creating demo reels for actors.
STEPHANIE LEMESIANOU
Producer
Stephanie is a Greek-Cypriot undergraduate student at New York University studying Film & Television. Coming from a small island country that is rich with a history of conflicts, conquests and division, Stephanie has always been passionate about giving a voice to stories that might seem small to the rest of the world, but deserve to be heard. With her experience in media, Stephanie has collaborated with different Media Teams globally, through the European Youth Parliament and MediMUN, all the while promoting the values of global unity. She has written, directed and shot several short films throughout her time at NYU and has obtained a Minor in Producing. Above all, Stephanie is a humanitarian and a true believer in the power of storytelling.
CAST:
WILLIAM FRANKE (Richard): notable credits include HBO's High Maintenance, The Blacklist, Law & Order: SVU, All My Children, and As The World Turns. www.WilliamFranke.com.
LUCINDA LEE DAWSON GRAY (Sadie): Lucinda Lee, age 8, recently completed filming on the short film Strawberry Shake by Sundance alum Dianne Bellino. She lives in Brooklyn with her filmmaker parents and two dogs.
JJ PYLE (Sheila): notable credits include Criminal Minds, Boardwalk Empire, and the film Biting Personalities (winner of the SoCal Cinema slam). http://jjpyle.com/
MASON CUFARI (Benjamin): Mason is an articulate 5 year old who can memorize lines and has an ability to show emotion on demand. He has appeared in a commercial for Verizon, a video for Good Housekeeping, and a PBS documentary.
GINNINE COCUZZA (Neighbor): notable credits include PBS's American Experience: Woodrow Wilson, Decant (NYU), and Marbles (NYU). Ginnine holds a Phd in performance studies from NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
THE STORY:
When 7-year-old Sadie comes downstairs one morning with the news that her imaginary friend "Charles" has died, her family must figure out how to cope with the child's not-imaginary grief.
WHAT WE NEED:
UPDATE: We have just completed filming but are still very much in need of funds to complete post-production and pay off existing bills.
As the project has progressed, the budget too has grown. Filmmaking in New York City is incredibly expensive, and, unfortunately, I am short just a few hundred dollars to cover the costs of the location, transportation, equipment rentals, and meals for the cast and crew.
I am incredibly grateful for any amount you are able to give. Your support means the world to me in bringing my vision of this story to life.
All supporters will be thanked in the final credits of the film and given a link to view the film when it's completed. Those who contribute $150 or more will be given executive producer credit and a signed copy of the script.
WHO WE ARE:
AUDREY LARSON
Writer/Director
Audrey is a junior studying Film & Television Production at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Audrey wrote and directed the short film Camping Trip, which won a national gold medal at the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and an audience award at the Cine Las Americas International Film Festival. The film screened at 14 film festivals nationwide, including Newport Beach Film Festival and Dances with Films. Miracle on 14th Street, an audio drama she wrote and produced, won the Tony Hawkins award at NYU for best adaptation. At just 14 years old, Audrey co-founded Fountain of Youth Productions, a New England filmmaking organization that produced short films created by youth and conducted community workshops and events. Audrey ran FYP throughout high school, producing two short films with the group and head starting an online summer screenwriting program and script contest. Audrey has interned at the Andrew Wilson Agency in Boston and the Boston International Kids Film Festival. Currently, she is an intern at Screen Media Films. Additionally, Audrey works as a freelance video editor and runs her own business creating demo reels for actors.
STEPHANIE LEMESIANOU
Producer
Stephanie is a Greek-Cypriot undergraduate student at New York University studying Film & Television. Coming from a small island country that is rich with a history of conflicts, conquests and division, Stephanie has always been passionate about giving a voice to stories that might seem small to the rest of the world, but deserve to be heard. With her experience in media, Stephanie has collaborated with different Media Teams globally, through the European Youth Parliament and MediMUN, all the while promoting the values of global unity. She has written, directed and shot several short films throughout her time at NYU and has obtained a Minor in Producing. Above all, Stephanie is a humanitarian and a true believer in the power of storytelling.
CAST:
WILLIAM FRANKE (Richard): notable credits include HBO's High Maintenance, The Blacklist, Law & Order: SVU, All My Children, and As The World Turns. www.WilliamFranke.com.
LUCINDA LEE DAWSON GRAY (Sadie): Lucinda Lee, age 8, recently completed filming on the short film Strawberry Shake by Sundance alum Dianne Bellino. She lives in Brooklyn with her filmmaker parents and two dogs.
JJ PYLE (Sheila): notable credits include Criminal Minds, Boardwalk Empire, and the film Biting Personalities (winner of the SoCal Cinema slam). http://jjpyle.com/
MASON CUFARI (Benjamin): Mason is an articulate 5 year old who can memorize lines and has an ability to show emotion on demand. He has appeared in a commercial for Verizon, a video for Good Housekeeping, and a PBS documentary.
GINNINE COCUZZA (Neighbor): notable credits include PBS's American Experience: Woodrow Wilson, Decant (NYU), and Marbles (NYU). Ginnine holds a Phd in performance studies from NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
Organizer
Audrey Larson
Organizer
New York, NY
