Alien Numbers

My name is Inna Ivanovskaya, and I am the creator of the project Alien Numbers.

An American immigrant, lost in the web of a bureaucratic system, finds her identity and a sense of belonging through resilience, perseverance, and hope.

This grief for homeland!

It’s despair

And hopelessness of daily worry!

I’m equally indifferent where

— Alone, entirely, and wholly, —

I am, which way I slowly stagger,

Back from the market, walking homeward,

Into a home, that like a barrack,

Still doesn’t know that I’m the owner!

Each temple’s vacant, every home

Is strange to me, — I care for no one.

But if a tree blooms where I roam, —

Especially, if it’s the rowan…

Marina Tsvetaeva “A Grief for Homeland”

Translation by Andrey Kneller

the STORY

The story will follow the main character - strong willed woman - who made a decision to leave her country, her home behind in order to escape an authoritarian political regime, but who now trapped in the web of bureaucracy and in the uncertainty of living in a different country yet striving to find her identity and gain her freedom.

Questions asked:

What makes one an American citizen?

Does one have to deserve papers? Does one have to earn them in any way?

How big is the sacrifice? How far is one ready to go? How much am I ready to sacrifice?

Do we always have to give up something to get what we want?

Why are people with money more welcomed here than others? If the money is a factor, does it matter what kind of person you are, what you stand for, and what your principles are?

Through a blend of cinematic storytelling and poetic imagery, Alien Numbers will capture the emotional turbulence and literal alienation experienced by immigrants grappling with the realities of living in a country that often renders them nameless and faceless, reduced to mere numbers on bureaucratic documents.

PROOF OF CONCEPT

My team and I have shot a short performative documentary on 16mm film (click to watch) over the summer of 2022 to express in an artistic way how it feels to be an immigrant. This is a beginning of the exploration of the topic and a proof of concept.

We are officially identified as aliens or strangers on paper and are assigned with a number. Are we numbers or the same human beings as everyone else no matter whether we hold the citizenship of the United States or not? - is something I find myself questioning far too often while in the process of attaining my papers.

This short film began a broader exploration of immigration in the USA that will find its place in a more elaborated version of this film.

our GOAL!

WE NEED YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT.

And any equipment you could lend us.

Any lighting.

Your time.

Your hand.

Your advice.

It is time!

It is happening!

Give us a hand!

Whom us? Meet the TEAM so far:

Inna IVANOVSKAYA - Director/Writer/Producer

Vasilisa KOROLEVA - Co-Producer

Victor POSA - Cinematographer

We are moving towards PRODUCTION!

Budget plan:

Production expenses: renting equipment, hiring a few more crew members, meals (we need that energy!)

+

Post-production: editing, color, sound design, composer + submitting for film festivals!

It's a LOT!

It takes a HUGE effort to make the film.

So... we need your LOVE.

We can't wait to deliver this film to y'all!

Warmly,

Inna and the Team!;)