"A lonely kindergarten teacher drifts through non-working hours at her favorite coffee shop, only to be approached with an unexpected connection."

Weeping Ms. Willow is a student-led short film based in Wilmington, North Carolina, that is inspired by romantic comedy films such as When Harry Met Sally (1989), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), and You've Got Mail (1998). Flicker Film Society members selected the script for this film in a blind vote for our Spring semester production.

Each semester, the Flicker Film Society produces a short film, intending to give its members an environment to learn new skills and flex their creative strengths. The process is formatted with the intention of giving students early experience with working on a larger crew - 41 people this semester - and we spend the bulk of the semester in the pre-production planning phase, before carrying out our 2-3 day shoot. Your donation will go towards fostering the growth of a new and exciting generation of filmmakers, as well as helping them express their unique perspectives on screen.

Here is the breakdown of your donation, and how it will be used:

Craft Services - 50%

With around 50 total people on set for two 12-hour days of shooting, we need to make sure we can provide healthy meals for all crew and cast, who all graciously provide their free time to help bring the world of the film to life.

Art Department - 10%

Decorating the interior of Ms. Willow's apartment, as well as the cozy coffee shop that she frequents will require resources for our talented art and production crew to truly brighten the space!

Locations - 30%

To ensure a smooth shoot, external locations will be outsourced for the filming of Weeping Ms. Willow. Working with local business owners to secure an authentic coffee shop, as well as negotiating with local homeowners, our location manager will utilize 30% of our resources to secure the locations that are essential to the world of the film.

Contingency - 10%

Any unforeseen expenses - super glue on the day of shooting to repair an important prop, extra batteries, etc.

Non-anonymous donors will have their names listed in the film's credits!

Meet the team:

Carlie Joye (Director)

Carlie Joye is a dedicated filmmaker and a senior at the University of North Carolina - Wilmington, specializing in media production, writing, and environmental topics. She has worked on 30+ student and independent sets, primarily in assistant camera, location manager, and directing roles. This is her sixth time directing and her seventh and final major production with Flicker Film Society. For Weeping Ms. Willow, Carlie incorporates elements of romance and coming-of-age, reflecting Willow's struggle to re-enter the world, drawing inspiration from classic romcoms and 80s and 90s coming-of-age films. She aims to foster a team-oriented process to make Weeping Ms. Willow memorable for the cast and crew.

Ed Driefuss (Cinematographer)

Ed Dreifuss (they/he) is a fourth-year film studies major and Honors student at UNC Wilmington. They have participated in over 20 short films, specializing in camera, lighting, and post-production color. He has participated in the Flicker Film Society for the past four years, and has great confidence in this team of filmmakers.

Lia Hodges (Production Designer)

Lia Hodges is currently a Sophomore at UNCW, double-majoring in Communication Studies and Film Studies. She has been involved in the past 3 Flicker semester productions in the Art Department. She has loved her time on past productions and can’t wait to bring what she has learned into her position on Weeping Ms. Willow. Lia is excited to take on this new leadership role and looks forward to bringing the production to life!

Jack Knight (Producer)

Jack Knight is a Senior at UNCW and the President of Flicker Film Society. He has been a member of the club since 2022, and this is his 7th production with the club. He has produced various short sketches and films with his peers, focusing on cinematography and editing. He aspires to continue producing short films, documentaries, and narrative feature films!

Henry Graves (Producer)

Henry Graves is an aspiring Cinematographer currently in his third year studying Film at UNCW. He currently serves as the Vice President of Flicker Film Society, and is producing Weeping Ms. Willow along with Jack Knight, the club’s president. Henry has worked on many student films, primarily within the Camera Department. Weeping Ms. Willow is his 6th production with the club, and second as a Producer. He plans to pursue Camera work after graduation, but thoroughly enjoys every aspect of production.