Ghost Ballet (Short Film)

WHAT IS GHOST BALLET?

Ghost Ballet is about a young ballerina that has let her desire for perfection ruin the happiness she once felt performing. She must be lead on a spiritual journey to refocus on what's important and gain a deeper appreciation for her craft and those who came before her.

This film speaks to the artist in all of us. It is a representation of wanting to orchestrate a perfect dance but discovering that nailing each and every part of the choreography is not as important as how you are feeling while you do it.

Artists have always been perfectionists, and as our younger generations grow up being flooded with nothing but “perfection” on social media, they need to be reminded that their journey may be difficult and full of mistakes. Mistakes are how we learn and grow, and seeking out the advice of those who came before us can be invaluable.

OUR MISSION

There is a pressure in this day and age to be at the top of your industry, to have the most followers or most power, and while competition can be a good thing, this race to the top often brings feelings of self-doubt, failure, and a desire to quit.

We want our film to show that taking a step back to realize that there are many ways to define “success” and finding beauty in the journey, can help us be better artists and people.

WHAT IS THIS FILM ABOUT?

Ghost Ballet is a narrative short film featuring an original score and original choreography that brings us on a journey from self-doubt to self-assurance.

Andrea, our main ballerina, fails at the end of her performance, disappointing both her director and her fellow ballerina, Sarah.

When she is ready to quit, a ghost lures her back on stage, and teaches her important lessons both about life and about dance.

At the end, Sarah finds Andrea practicing on stage, and the two share a smile, knowing the future is bright.

OUR TEAM

Mercedes Garcia - I am the Writer, Director and Producer of Ghost Ballet. I'm an award-winning filmmaker who's worked in development for 3-Pas Studios, Gorilla Flicks, and Nickelodeon, as well as in curation and programming for several international film festivals.

Here's my DIRECTOR'S REEL:

OMID IRANIKHAH - EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Omid Iranikhah is an award-winning Iranian-American filmmaker and author. Along with Mercedes Garcia, he co-founded the production company Stray Cats Productions, under which he has so far directed the award-winning short films "Don't Be a Stranger" and "Coffee With Baba."

COMPOSER - CYRUS GHAZIZADEH

Cyrus is a Spanish composer based in Los Angeles, California. He began his music career early on while playing flamenco guitar in the south of Spain. In his early 20's he moved to the US to pursue music as a professional composer. He has worked for major networks such as Netflix, Disney or YouTube and continues to grow with a unique and diverse musical approach that mixes Spanish folklore, classical, electronic and contemporary film music.

WEBSITE

CHOREOGRAPHER - JENN HENRY

Jenn Henry has been dancing and choreographing since 1996. She makes dance for stage, film, and site-specific spaces from her home base in the Mojave Desert of California.

WEBSITE

AARON COVALESKI - PRODUCER

Aaron Covaleski, a recent graduate of Cornell University, is currently residing in Denver, Colorado pursuing his MFA in Screenwriting for TV and Film at Stephens College and currently working with Stray Cats Productions.

SHANGBAI JIANG - DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Shangbai Jiang 姜上白 - Born in Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province, China Mainland. A cinematographer, colorist, poet, gamer and cook.

WEBSITE

BEATRIZ VASQUEZ - GHOST BALLERINA

Highly sought after dancer, choreographer and instructor. Passionate about dance as a performative art, her work is known for its aesthetics, beauty and attention to detail. She is a USA Congress Recognized artist, She has worked for music videos, films, theatre companies and for her favorite modality, the stage.

WEBSITE

ANDREA SANTOS - YOUNG BALLERINA

Andrea has been dancing since she was 12 years old and has recently picked up ballet. However, she's no stranger to movement as she did color guard with the Blue Devils and became a 2x World Champion in 2022 and 2023.

SARAH MORGAN - BALLERINA

Sarah has been dancing since she was a child and has recently decided to pursue ballet. In her short time, she has given a solo ballet performance at the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, CA, and believes ballet to be a beautiful and unique form of expression.

WHAT YOU'LL BE HELPING WITH

So far, we've put in almost $3000 to reserve our location and start building some of the set, but have realized our initial budget isn't going to be enough. Your help would contribute not just to this film, but to the future of everyone's career.

Our cast and crew is currently working for FREE or at a breadcrumb rate for their work (dinner and $100) because they believe in me and in this film.

So I would like to make a film that everyone will be proud of, and that actually does their talent justice.

I'm asking for an additional minimum of $5000

~$500 would go to craft services, breakfast and lunch for two days for our cast and crew

~$2,500 to camera and lighting equipment rental

~$1, 500 to finish building our set

~$500 to rent a truck to transport our equipment

Our next comfortable goal would be $7000

The complete additional $2000 of which would go to compensating my cast and crew for their work

So far we have secured:

Director of Photography

Camera Team

Gaffing and Grip Team

Composer

Choreographer

Main Actors

1st AD

2nd AD

Editor

HMU Artist

Storyboard Artist

PA

This is about 25 people who are doing me a personal favor and because they love the art. $2000/25 = only $80/person as a small thank you.

Our IDEAL GOAL would be $10,000

To better compensate cast, crew and extras as well as save $800 to be able to submit our film to film festivals, so that we can all use it as a stepping stone for our career.

$200 would be used to take my 81 year old grandpa out to a steakhouse, because he's the one helping me build the set.

WHY HELP?

Many people believe in me as a creator, and I want to continue to give them reason to believe.

My unlimited passion will get get this film made, but any help you can give along the way to make it better in quality will be deeply appreciated.

In addition to my appreciation and gratitude, here are some incentives:

(tier above $10 comes with all previous tiers)

$5 - Your name is featured on a social media post

$10 - Your name is featured in the credit roll as a thank you

$15 - You get a thank you video from the director that we'll post on social media

$20 - Signed electronic poster of the film by cast and crew

$50 - You get to be a featured extra in the film (we show your face on screen)

$75 - You get an hour with me on Zoom to pick my brain on anything - writing, producing, development, directing, etc. (I've been recognized by the California Legislature Assembly for my work in film)

$100 - Associate Producer Credit on IMDB and a featured Single Card Social Media post with your headshot and bio

$150 - You get to come to our Zoom ballet rehearsals and watch

$200 - Co-Producer Credit on IMDB and a featured Single Card Social Media post with your headshot and bio

$300 - You get to come to our Zoom production meetings to watch and learn

$350 - Puts you in a random selection to officially name the character of Sarah (Ballerina) - Can be named and immortalized after a loved one (if in memory of someone, we'll put it in the credits)

$400 - Puts you in a random selection to officially name the character of Andrea (Main Young Ballerina) - Can be named and immortalized after a loved one (if in memory of someone, we'll put it in the credits)

$450 - Puts you in a random selection to officially name the character of Beatriz (Ghost Ballerina) - Can be named and immortalized after a loved one (if in memory of someone, we'll put it in the credits)

$500 - Puts you in a random selection to officially give Ghost Ballet a title (you'll also be one of the first people to watch the final cut to help you decide on a name)

$550 - You get a personal class on how to schedule for film and access to my templates ( We shot 34 pages in 2 days and the film has won several awards)

$600 - Producer Credit on IMDB and a featured Single Card Social Media post with your headshot and bio

$700 - Producer Credit on IMDB with a Single Title Card in the credits and a featured Single Card Social Media post with your headshot and bio

$1000 - Executive Producer Credit on IMDB with a Group Title Card in the credits and a featured Single Card Social Media post with your headshot and bio

$1500 - Executive Producer Credit on IMDB with a Single Title Card in the credits and a featured Single Card Social Media post with your headshot and bio

$5000 You'll be invited to festivals where you'll be introduced as Executive Producer on the Film and get to take pictures on red carpets and be an official representative of the film for any and every festival we get into

$10,000 - You get personal mentorship by me for 6 months

THANK YOU for taking the time to read, any help whether it be donating or sharing this, is so immensely appreciated.

THANK YOU for helping art and independent creators.

THANK YOU for making a difference.