In the Palm of Space: A UCLA Thesis Film

Hello!

My name is Lucian Patton, and I am incredibly excited to be entering my final year at UCLA's School of Film and Television.

For the culmination of my education and time at UCLA, I will be directing a 13-minute thesis film titled In The Palm of Space.

The film is about a young musician who, feeling both increasingly estranged from her deep love of music and trapped by her professional trajectory, makes a drastic and irrevocable decision. The story follows her through the aftermath of this choice- she must learn to redirect her passion for music, rebuild her relationship with her lifelong piano teacher, and reckon with the ways in which her life and future have been fundamentally altered.

The film will be shot over 4 consecutive 12-hour days (Nov 30th, through Dec 4th)

In this project, I hope to explore the contrasting circumstances of individual stasis and growth in the context of artistic pursuits. I am interested in the idea of growth becoming a form of stillness, and stillness serving as a foundation for growth.

How do we expand and change in those periods when we are asked (or forced) to slow down? - When we revisit and contemplate our most fundamental relationships with the world around us?

This film centers around a character so in love with her craft, she must rip herself away from it so that she does not begin to hate it.

Julie rediscovers her voice and passion in the absence of her music.

I hope this project will serve as a meditation on the delicate relationship between an artist and the world that is not their art. On the discovery of beauty found in banality- the discovery of music found in noise.

I am asking for your help to make this project a reality.

Filmmaking is an expensive medium, and there are many costs I will need to cover to bring this project to life. These include Camera and Equipment, Location rental/permits, and Production Design among others. I’ve attached a complete breakdown of the projected budget below.

Thank you for your consideration - Any contribution will be greatly appreciated!

Director - Lucian Patton

Lucian Patton is an independent filmmaker and writer based in Los Angeles and the Bay Area. He grew up just north of San Fransisco, where he developed his love for film and theater. He is currently a 4th-year film student at UCLA, where he is emphasizing in directing. Lucian has worked on short films, music videos and commercials as a director, DP, 1st AC, and gaffer. He has also worked in theater as a director and actor since he was a wee lad- A.C.T., BCAST, Shakesperience and Marin Shakespeare Company. He has worked for several years as a Creative Assistant at Out of the Blue Productions. He is passionate about stories that explore the universality of the human condition, as well as the little eccentricities we all possess that make us all so beautiful!

Check out some of his past projects! HERE

Producer - Shubhra Dubey

Shubhra Dubey is an independent director and producer based in Los Angeles, with experience in producing both narrative and documentary films. She has previously interned for companies such as Westbrook Media, WGBH, and Participant Media. Shubhra is a rising senior at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts majoring in film production. She hopes to use her platform as a mixed media creator to champion stories that promote empathy, stories of community, and stories that heal. (Link to my website: Shubhra Dubey )

Director of Photography - Sela Pierce

Sela is a Director of Photography and Gaffer, originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. They are a graduate of UCLA’s School of Theatre, Film and Television, majoring in Film and Television with a concentration in Cinematography. Since beginning their career in the industry, Sela has worked their way into the commercial film landscape, working on set for Disney, Hailey Bieber, A24, Olivia O’Brien, The Food Network, and more. Their work has been featured at numerous film festivals, including Urbanworld Film Fest, NewFilmmakers Los Angeles, QueerX Film Fest, Louisiana LGBT+ Film Fest, and New York Lift-Off Film Fest. As well as this, Sela is also currently working as an Assistant Editor on an independent documentary.

Assistant Director - Skye Schoenhoeft

Skye Schoenhoeft (she/they) is an independent filmmaker currently based in Los Angeles. She has worked with film for her entire life, creating narrative, documentary, and experimental works, her films earning two student Emmys and participating in five film festivals. As a senior directing student at UCLA’s School of Film and Television, they are currently working on their peers’ films, as well as writing/directing their own thesis project. Skye seeks to create a more inclusive film industry and expand representation for neurodiverse and queer communities. One day, she might get an internship.