dreamscape

Logline:

After watching a queer talk show on tv, a boy named Cedric decides to dive into a surreal and dreamlike femme-world against his mother ́s will.

Synopsis:

In the late 80s, vivid colors and an air of plasticity envelop an independent house, emphasizing a sense of absurdity. Cedric, a queer and femme teenager, struggles under the oppressive rule of his mother, Lauren. Lauren discovers a pair of waxy pink heels and an issue of Gay Time Magazine in Cedric’s room and, enraged, she grounds Cedric.

During a tense family dinner in front of the TV, Cedric stumbles upon a talk show featuring two queer drag hostesses, Sassy Frass and Cherry Poppins, discussing a utopian, femme-only society. Intrigued, Cedric’s interest is abruptly cut short when Lauren, irritated, strikes the TV, turning it off.

Determined to see more, Cedric sneaks into the bathroom to continue watching the show on a small TV, finishing his meal in the tub. Suddenly, the hostesses vanish from the screen and appear in Cedric’s bathroom. Just as they are about to leave to return to the femme- world they came from, Cedric decides to join them. Alerted by the noises coming from the bathroom, Lauren bursts in, but it’s too late – Cedric and the hostesses leap into the TV, catapulting into a new world.

Cedric is now in a dreamlike corridor which leads to a a dark, surreal room where he meets unapologetic queer femmes embodying different archetypes of femmehood. Finally, Cedric finds himself on a stage while the hostesses and the femmes he encountered await a performance of his own. As the lights dim and Cedric starts dancing, feeling truly free and fully connected to his femmehood, he notices somebody amongst the crowed, his mother. But as the euphoria peaks, the hostesses tell him it’s time to return.

Cedric is abruptly pulled back to reality, finding himself back in his bathtub. A knock on the bathroom door is followed by a motherly voice asking if he’s alright. The door opens, but instead of his mother, it is one of the hostesses!

Budget:

We have received a small grant from Dansk Artist Forbund, while the vintage shop Quirky Lane in Copenhagen has generously agreed to lend us clothes and Huset KBH is providing us with the space in Xenon for filming, free of charge.

We are also incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by an amazing team who voluntarily contribute their time, work, and equipment to bring this project to life. However, we still need financial support to cover essential expenses such as set design, props, transportation, small equipment rentals, and food and refreshments during the shooting days.

Your support would make a significant difference in helping us complete this project. Thank you for considering contributing to dreamscape!

Timeline:

Visual style, genre and format:

Dreamscape is going to be about 20 minutes long and shot in 2.39:1. It will present a visual universe that blends the playful and surreal with the campy charm of late 80s and early 90s cinema, reflecting both the film’s themes and its stylistic influences. Drawing inspiration from the works of philip-orca dicorcia, gillian wearing, cindy sherman, and nadia lee cohen, it will balance a sense of the ordinary as hyper-real yet laden with deeper truths, which take life through humorous and playful, but nonetheless pointed, aesthetic. It is also influenced by a plethora of films, such as the stepford wives, valley of the dolls, but i am a cheerleader, blue velvet, pink flamingos, scorpio rising, kenneth anger’s magic lantern cycle, the adventures of priscilla queen of the desert, showgirls, bound, and beetlejuice.

The cinematography will feature bizarre angles and simplicity, static shots and lingering on simple actions until they become uncanny. with primo primes, the cinematography will deliver crisp yet nuanced skin tones, while the lighting will rely on three-point setups and chiaroscuro to create depth and contrast. most scenes will use artificial lighting to maintain a consistent, controlled aesthetic, except for the opening shot of the house which will feature also natural light. As cedric transitions into the femme world, the visuals will become softer and more dream-like. Techniques such as low frame rates, petzval swirl, and halation effects will enhance the ethereality of this world. The color palette will include rich, vivid hues with gentle, long shadows to contrast the comedic elements with underlying truths.

Audience:

Although Dreamscape revels in a playful atmosphere and vibrant aesthetic, it also serves a deeper emotional purpose: to create a safe space for teenage queer fun and imagination. Cedric represents a strong role model for queer teens, offering a relatable figure who exemplifies the power of embracing one's true self and seizing control of one’s own narrative. This short film aims to educate heteronormative audiences, normalising queer femmehood and broadening their understanding. In addition, it delves into the realms of camp and surrealism within queer cinema, reviving a legendary style. To reach our target audience, we plan to submit Dreamscape to film festivals that focus on queer cinema, host screenings at cultural spaces, schools, universities, and community centers followed by Q&As or panel introductions. We will also collaborate with organisations that promote diversity and inclusion by providing them with screening materials and discussion guides.

The team behind it:

Gloria Berenice Moreno, director and photographer, has written dreamscape and will be directing it as well. In her works she often plays with and debunks gender tropes and stereotypes, such as in her short film (teaser) Prettier Sister (2022), or in her photographic works like Take Out Your Tongue ‘for You’ve Always Been a Liar (2022), Ode to Lynch’s Nudes( 2021, ongoing), Show Me Your Queer (2020) or My Kind of Femininty (2019). Examples of her professional works include: LGBT+Danmark’s campaign Vi Har Brug For Hinanden (2021), Erika de Casier’s music video Polite (2021), Prada FW22 Runway teasers (2022), Dell Technologies Sustainability campaign (2023).

Sarah Bergen is a 28-year-old writer, director, and producer from Copenhagen, and will be producing dreamscape alongside Federica. Sarah creates queer feminist films that portray reality in all its complex and contradictory nature. Her work is dedicated to the strange experience of being human and living in these small bodies that we call ours, oftentimes exploring the soft pull in the human chest related to love and hope. Sarah works towards crafting a warm, haptic cinema that immerses viewers in visceral experiences, using sensory-driven elements. Sarah has also worked for numerous years as an art curator and producer for ARTEM, a Copenhagen-based art and culture platform dedicated to exhibiting the works of young filmmakers and artists. To see Sarah’s two latest shorts, visit her vimeo page: https://vimeo.com/user210556744

Federica Valeria Rizzo is an experienced film producer and will be overseeing production for dreamscape in both the pre production phase (Jun-Oct 2024), on set (9-13th Oct 2024) and during post production (Oct 2024-Feb 2025). Federica has been educated at Bocconi University, Copenhagen Business School and Waseda University in creative business processes with a special focus on media. Federica has experience in production both in Italy and in Denmark for short and long fiction, documentaries, commercials and fashion. She has worked with and has been funded by the following Danish funding institutions and production companies: NG Media, Super 8, Super 16, Netflix, Isaac Productions, Kelope Pictures and København FV. Federica has produced an array of vibrant, interesting moving pictures. To see her work, visit her webpage: https://www.onlyuglypictures.com/portfolio

Christy Dokbua is a 27 year old danish and thai director, producer and writer based in Malmö/Copenhagen. Christy has a masters in management of creative business processes from Copenhagen Business school and has worked extensively in film programming and events curation for the documentary film festival CPH:DOX for some years. She has produced

and acted in music videos for local up-coming Danish bands AICK and Reveal Party. Christy is currently working on her own debut short documentary “Seldom Made”, about musician Emily Holm Nyhuus exploring the complexities of being

a musician on tour experiencing the highs and lows while tending and respecting one’s own mental illness and identity.

Friederike Jaich is a German producer, photographer and graphic designer with a strong foundation in communications based in Dublin, Ireland. Friederike has a master’s degree in Cognition and Communication from University of Copenhagen. Specialising in defending artistic freedom, Friederike has utilised her skills to ampify the voices of marganalised artists thorugh powerful storytelling. Her transition into film production is marked by a commitment to social justice and a deep

understanding of media’s impact. She is passionate about communication that goes beyond transmitting information - one that fosters innovation and change. With a focus on design and storytellting, she creates impactful content, graphics

and visuals.

Lila Nanate is a young French producer with a freshly earned master’s degree in Gender and Women’s Studies. Over the past few years, she has gained valuable experience working with cultural centres and music festivals, and she played a key role in creating La Città dell’Utopia International Film Festival in Rome. Since 2024, she has dedicated herself to the production and distribution of work by emerging artists, painters, and directors.

Andreas Würtz is a versatile creative based in Copenhagen, specializing in styling, modeling, and creative direction. Andreas’ journey in the realms of fashion and design has been exhilarating. From collaborating with esteemed publications like ‘L’Officiel Magazine’ to learning the ropes alongside industry giants such as Vogue and Elle, Andreas has refined skills and developed a keen eye for aesthetics. Right now, being the content creator for the Danish designer Nikolaj Storm, Andreas thrives in the realm of creative direction and production design, bringing visions to life. Andreas has had the privilege of contributing to notable projects with esteemed entities such as Nordic Films’ DR, Super 16, Filmværksted, Silicon Gothic, and Ony Ugly Pictures, enriching the creative repertoire and providing invaluable experiences across

various genres.

Direcor of Photography

Mikkel Ulriksen

Production Sound Mixer

Mads Ulriksen

Costume Supervisor

Noa Tanti

Costume Desginer

Pau Nielsen

Props Assistant

Camilla Plener

Confirmed cast:

Nessie Beik: Lauren

David Pereira: Cedric

Christopher Mitchell: Sassy Frass

Lukas Hartvig-Møller: Cherry Poppins

Aske Wulff: Rocky

Bryn Frederiksmose: Finn

Noa Tanti: Juicy

Morgan Hemmingshøj: Crutch

Andreas Würtz: Dusty

Naima Fischer: Alex

Pippy/Poppy: Lea Gregersen