Help Bring "Al. Coda" to Life: A Short Film by Delaire

Hi! I'm Delaire Gackle, a current graduate student in UGA's MFA in Film, Television, and Digital Media program. I am writing and directing my short film "Al. Coda".

Al. Coda (Italian): a musical term indicating a section to take the piece 'to the end'.

The Story:

Set in the rural south in 2003, "Al. Coda" follows Charlie and Elliot, two musically inclined best friends who have found themselves back in their hometown after touring from place to place. At their last gig, Elliot discovers Charlie's undeniable substance abuse and realizes there is nothing he can do for his best friend unless he decides to help himself.

Director’s Statement:

“Al. Coda” is a deeply personal narrative to myself and countless others. It’s a story about heartbreak and grief, but through it all, it ends with hope. There is an innate connection to healing and music, and I aim to explore that connection through my writing and filmmaking.

As Writer and Director, I had a vision to include a fully produced song in my film. In order to do that, I have been working closely with extremely talented lyricists and musicians across the University of Georgia to make this a reality. Not only will “Al. Coda” be a short film in itself, it will have a fully original song released alongside it.

During production, I plan to work alongside local Athens locations and venues, some of which you may be familiar with. ‘Al. Coda’ will showcase the natural beauty of the Oconee River and give a glimpse into the Athens music scene. The end product will be a testament to not only my love of filmmaking, but also to the love for my city.

Finding ways to create unique collaborations within film is my greatest desire as a filmmaker. This medium of art is so vast in its opportunities, and I can’t wait for ‘Al. Coda’ to explore them.

The Team:

The cast and crew for “Al. Coda” is made up of incredibly passionate and talented student Filmmakers looking to make films that they are proud of. The drive comes from an impulse to make art and create something that connects with and inspires those who see it. With your help, these students will get experience with proper equipment and extensive production design while making safety a top priority.

Delaire Gackle: Writer, Director

Graduated from UGA with an A.B. in Film Studies, Delaire has now begun her graduate career as she pursues an M.F.A. in Film Production. Coming off of directing SNOWFALL, a surreal expressionist horror short film, she wishes to explore her past experience with music through film. She has been Director of Photography for Nocturne (dir. Mia Hoffman) and Dinner Time Mischief (dir. Savannah Treu) as well as Lead Editor and Sound Designer for the Athens Historical Society. Since its founding, Delaire has served as co-president of The Tribute at UGA.

Eric Walters: Director of Photography

Eric Walters graduated with a B.S. from the University of West Georgia this past May. He won an award for Best Director of Photography in the UWG Spring Film Race Fatale, produced other films alongside his cohorts, and has directed his award winning coming-of-age short film Paradise Road and has another upcoming film titled Portrait of a Man in a Box.

Savannah Treu: Producer, 1st Assistant Director, Production Designer

Savannah Treu graduated with a B.F.A. in Animation from the University of Georgia this past May. Now, she is pursuing an M.F.A. in theatre with a focus dramatic media and production design. She has been an actress in The Reenactment (dir. Eric Walters) and has done set and costume design for SNOWFALL (dir. Delaire Gackle) along with various other short films. She currently serves as Vice President of The Tribute at UGA.

Budget:

"Al. Coda" has a goal of $2,000 USD. Here is a list of things that will go towards the making of this short film.

40% of this goal will go towards feeding and providing for the cast and crew during production.

20% will go towards props, costumes, and set decoration

20% will go towards equipment needs

10% will go towards safety equipment

The final 10% will be used for any needs that might arise on set.

Incentives:

$10 donation: Social Media Shoutout

$20 donation: Special Thanks in Credit Roll, Access to a special playlist made for “Al. Coda”

$50 donation: Digital Bundle of Al. Coda including a link to the film, Original poster, and original storyboards

$100+ donation: Access to short film pre-release to film festivals, Executive Producer Credits

**All incentives are included on previous tiers according to donation amount**

Student filmmaking is expensive, and in order to bring this to life, your donations will help us create the very best version of this story. Thank you for your donations and consideration!