Help Raise Money for Flutter - a Short Film

My name is Dmitry Gubin and I am the writer and director of Flutter, a short film I am planning to make in August. Flutter tells a story of Semyeon - a teenage Jewish refugee and his grandfather who recently arrived in New York City from Soviet Union. Together, they live in a small room of a cheap motel in Queens. It is summer and Semyeon earns money by selling his drawings on the street. Semyeon is forced to learn how to survive as he faces adversity, anti-Semitism, and death in the 1990s New York City. The film includes elements of magical realism, drama, and action. I previously worked as a cinematographer and editor on several short film productions and this will be my first time directing.

While the film is a work of fiction, it is rooted in my personal experiences. When my family and I, Jewish refugees, arrived in NYC in 1989 and were placed into a small room of a rundown hotel in Brooklyn. We were part of the last wave of the Jewish exodus from Soviet Union. There are very few films that tell stories of the Jewish immigrant experience in the 1990s. In order to make the story as authentic as possible, I will be casting Russian-speaking immigrant actors for the main roles of Semyeon and his grandfather, Alexander. While this is a deeply personal story, its message is universal, relevant, and relatable. During this time of mass migration, prejudice, rising anti-Semitism, and discrimination there has not been a more urgent time to make this film.

Today, I am asking for your contribution to help me make this film. I am looking to raise at least $5000 for equipment rentals, to cover travel and production expenses, to compensate some of the main cast and crew members for their time, and to cover some of the post-production costs.

I thank you for your time and contribution.