Fundraising For Student Short Rom Com Miss Chief

MISS CHIEF — DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

by Varvara Aristakesyan

Good morning, oh and in case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!

My name is Varvara, and I am a junior at Barnard college of Columbia University. Me and my team of Columbia students are making a film, and we need your support!

When I took the “safe” route and started studying Economics (can you imagine?), straying from my passion for filmmaking to avoid judgment, let me tell you—my life turned into a mess. I wasn’t just losing out on opportunities; I was losing the people I cared about most.

And that’s why I’m making a short film Miss Chief now. Olivia, the main character, joins the academic newspaper because she’s way too embarrassed to admit she’s a die-hard romance writer… and, oh well, it totally backfires on her! The universe gives her a much-needed reality check, and only after making a complete fool out of herself, she accepts her passion!

As you can see, I also chose my passion at the end — hence why I am making this film.

And now you, people who actually chose Economics and made tons of money, can help me fund my film, right? Joking, just joking! Or am I?

Now, back to the film. It is going to give you butterflies—you can’t escape it—because, yep, it’s a rom-com, and who doesn’t love a little love and chaos? We have our self-conscious Olivia, her best friend Lily, who’s super confident and always glowing with her positive energy, and Dylan, a charming tennis player, who starts the whole mess (oh whose handsome boys…) But it’s not all fluff. Miss Chief also touches on the insane pressure we face in college, where you’re expected to know everything: who you are, what you want to be, how to properly hit on tennis players… Okay, maybe not the last part. But God, the amount of embarrassing situations I ended up in just because I didn’t know how to flirt. It’s a pity they don’t teach that skill in college…

But isn’t it fun to watch someone be absolutely incompetent at flirting? Well, our character is!

We’re really excited about this film, and any extra support would truly help us out, as we are responsible for a big team (p.s. made a small mistake in the video—we actually have around 14 crew and 5 cast members, which means ~40 meals for two shooting days, but I didn’t mean to say 40 crew members… oh, this youthful maximalism and tendency to exaggerate!) We still need to make sure they’re all well-fed (the least we can do for them). Oh, and here’s the best part: our entire cast and crew are students (with dreams…)!

A little about me: I’ve already worked as the director and DP on two music videos (including one for rising Spotify star Kacey Fifield). I’ve also served as the director of photography for several Columbia student films. Oh, and I wrote and directed a short film about the immigrant experience that was featured in a three-month departmental showcase at the college’s art building. Pretty cool, right?

What sets this film apart? The cinematography (we’re talking gorgeous shots), the humor (because life’s a joke and we’re laughing at it), and two strong, totally different women who will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even spill your popcorn. Yes, they’re flawed—but aren’t we all? And they’ll always find the light at the end of the tunnel.

Think How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days meets The Notebook (well, The Notebook part might only be in Olivia’s dreams about Dylan…)

We’re aiming to raise $1,500 for the film. Here’s the breakdown: around $400 to feed our hardworking crew (because no one can shoot on an empty stomach), $200 to rent a 16mm lens that we’re missing and really need and lighting equipment, $200 to buy props, $200 for festival submissions, 500$ to compensate outside contractors.

Your contribution won’t go unnoticed! For a $40 contribution, you’ll get the film poster with our very gorgeous cast (a physical copy if you are from US, and a digital one if you are not). For $70, you’ll get the poster signed by the cast (and these are Columbia actors, so trust me, they’re gonna go far! You can definitely sell that poster later for like… 2 million dollars). And for $100 (yay!), you’ll not only get the poster, but your name will also be included in the credits as one of the sponsors.

Students can receive a digital copy of a poster for only 7$!

But you have to claim your prize! To get the poster or have your name included in the end credits, please send an email at varvara.dance (@gmail.com).

And don’t worry—we’re not stopping at just making the film. We are sending Miss Chief to some of the best film festivals out there, like Tribeca, Just For Laughs, New York Film Festival, etc., hoping to show the world what we’ve created.

Anything you can give helps, and thank you so much for supporting our film!

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out!

So, are you ready to join us on this crazy, romantic, funny, and eye-opening ride?