What happens when we choose to love someone, not in spite of who they are, but because of who they are?

My name is Rhys. I have been telling stories since I was five years old. Since making my first short film when I was eleven, I knew immediately that filmmaking was what I wanted to spend my life doing. I have gone on to write, direct, and produce over eight short films and one feature film. Each of these have been modestly budgeted shoots, funded from working summer jobs and using readily available free and low cost materials to serve as props and costumes.

For the past year and a half, I have been working on a feature film script, for which I am now creating a proof of concept, in hopes of advancing the larger film. Titled Da Vedere, which means “To See” in Italian, this story follows Angelo Cipriani, a highly sought-after Renaissance artist with a big secret: he was born female.

As a young child, Angelo established his place in the world as a boy and never looked back. His fear of exposure led him to enjoy solitude and reject the fame and fortune an artist of his talent was afforded. Notably, he became infamous for his refusal to paint for others.

Angelo spends his time seeing, but rarely allows himself to be seen. Then, an undeniable request from the Duke of Milan, Arturo Belini, to paint a portrait of his wife, Flora, suddenly forces Angelo to spend every daylight hour with her.

Flora is trapped in a loveless marriage and a slave to aristocracy; she takes this chance at freedom to explore her own desires and interests within the presence of someone who actually wants to know her, sharing with Angelo her interests in botany and her dream of becoming a teacher.

As Angelo and Flora get to know one another, their professional relationship becomes a friendship, and over the months, as Angelo’s walls slowly crumble, the two begin an affair.

The proof of concept for Da Vedere not only introduces the world to Flora and Angelo, but also opens a dialogue regarding the unique fear, and ultimately the liberation, of allowing another to truly see you as a genderqueer person.

It is the moment in which Flora discovers Angelo’s truth and chooses to love him anyway.

Now more than ever, stories about trans and queer people must be told. They must be championed and supported because our community is not only facing erasure, but extreme political violence.

My goal with this project is to inspire and uplift trans people, while also reinforcing the fact that we are not new; we have always been here, and we are not going anywhere.

All donations will go directly toward the purchase of props and costumes, set decoration, location permits, equipment rental, craft services, and transportation and lodging for cast and crew.

If you’re interested in viewing our production plan, which outlines the schedule and logistics for travel, filming, and lodging, please visit this link: Production Plan

If you’re interested in viewing some of my past projects, including several short films, my feature film, Amaryllis, and my photo story which got me accepted into Cal State Northridge’s highly-regarded film school, please visit this link: Youtube

All donors will receive a ‘Special Thanks’ mention in the credits of the completed project!

Updates will be provided throughout preproduction, production, and post-production!