All We Were: A Short Film

"Here's the thing: you're in love with a version of a person that you've created in your head, that you are trying to, but cannot fix. The only thing you can fix is yourself." - AG

Olivia, a struggling artist and hopeless romantic, is blindsided when her successful boyfriend, Nico, suddenly dumps her. The two then reflect on all their relationship was from two perspectives. For her, he's a broken distraction she can fix; for him, she's a beautiful mystery just out of reach. What happens when you fall in love with the idea of someone you've created in your head instead of who they actually are? Can you honestly say you knew all we were?


All We Were is a non-linear doomed romance that explores a toxic couples relationship from both perspectives. Writer and director, Emily Aleece Burton, felt the urge to create this film after experiencing a similar breakup that led her to facing her own trauma and PTSD by transforming her pain into writing in order to heal herself. This film is for the  women who feel broken by toxic relationships. She hopes this film can heal them too. While most "breakup" films are told by male directors and male screenwriters from a male protagonist's perspective, Burton wants to showcase a new perspective that most audiences don't get the chance to know too well in these types of film: the woman. With most breakups, you only get one side of the story. This film gives you both and allows the audience to decide on interpretation who was right and where it all went wrong.

THE PLAN:
By donating, not only are you supporting female filmmakers, but you're supporting a cast and crew heavily made up of women, People of Color, People of the LGBTQ+ community, whom most have had to graduate in the worst possible job market and economic crisis of our life. Your contribution will go towards helping independent artists who haven't had a chance to create and work for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic in hopes this film goes on into the 2021-2022 film festival circuit. 

100% of our funding will go straight towards...
— COVID-19 Related Costs:  PPE for all cast and crew, testing, sanitation, and quality-checked/low-contact craft service meals. 
— Rental Equipment for Crew: While trying to stay frugal with our equipment needs, we still need quality equipment for our camera, sound, and lighting department to rent for their minimum needs. This total is roughly around $4,000 alone.
—  Transportation & Food: Any necessary reimbursement for cast and crew traveling from out of town. As well as, ensuring everyone is provided quality meals, snacks, and beverages. 
— Film Festival Fees: The glory of independent filmmaking is getting a film into festival circuit in order to gain exposure and distribution. This is also in hopes that enough exposure will allow us to turn this short into a full-length feature someday. 
— Fair Pay for Cast & Crew: While this current budget does not allocate enough for a fair compensation for cast and crew, our dream would be to raise enough to give everyone on this film some form of compensation. Though everyone working on this film is doing it from the kindness of their hearts, all artists deserve to be paid for their dedication and hard work for making this story come to life. 

We start production in December and the aid you can provide us will help to ensure these artists have a chance to tell this story before the end of 2020. 


THE CAST:
Emily Aleece Burton (Writer/Director/"Olivia") is a multi-disciplinary artist and recent graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, School of Filmmaking where she received her Masters of Fine Arts in Screenwriting. Along with having a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Theatre Performance from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Emily has developed a passion for telling authentic stories that center on strong women, vulnerability, desire, social psychology and dynamic relationships. While Emily's main passion lies in comedy television, her feature and short length films tend to focus their lens on a more dramatic and deeper truth of humanity. Though she has directed theatre and music videos previously, All We Were will be her narrative film directorial debut. 

Matías De La Flor ("Nico") is an actor/singer born in Lima, Peru. Currently a BFA candidate at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, School of Drama. Credits onstage include: ‘In the Heights’, ‘Henry V’, ‘The Trial’, ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, “Misalliance.’ On screen credits: ‘Where’s Rose’(Release 2021), ‘Daemon’(Release 2021), ‘The Long Black Line’, ‘Do not Take Order’, Artist in Residence(Directorial Debut, 2021). With a keen interest in working on stage and on screen, All We Were is an exciting new project to embark on. A big thank you to all who continue to teach, inspire, and support.

INCENTIVES: 
$100+ donation will receive a personal shoutout in the Special Thanks credits. 
$500+ donation will receive an exclusive link to see the final screening. 
$1000+ donation will receive an "Associate Producer" credit.
$2000+ donation will receive a "Executive Producer" credit.
All incentives will include a personal thank you note from the writer/director.

Thank you for taking the time to consider us and we hope to have your support. 
If you are unable to donate, please share this on all social media platforms! Any and all support helps! Follow Emily on Instagram  for any updates! Check out our official instagram page  for details as well!