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HELP BRING THIS FILM TO LIFE — A RAW, REAL STORY ABOUT BEAUTY, PAIN & BECOMING WHO YOU REALLY ARE
My name is Gabriella Leonardi. I am a bestselling poet of the series 'The Art of a Damaged Soul' . I am also an actor and award winning screenwriter and I’m creating a deeply personal short film titled 'The Mirror That Consumes You' — a neon-soaked, poetic exploration of body image, distorted beauty, and the quiet unraveling that happens when chasing a dream in an image-obsessed world.
Based on my current lived experience, this film follows a woman on the brink of thirty — still running hard toward her dream of becoming an actor — who suddenly finds herself questioning the reflection staring back at her.
Is she developing body dysmorphia? Is it an eating disorder?
Or is it simply the world she grew up in, whispering that she will never be “enough”?
The Mirror That Consumes You unfolds like a kaleidoscope — mixing poetry, memory, surreal imagery, and haunting neon visuals to capture the crushing beauty standards that so many people silently battle. Each glow stick in the film represents an insecurity. Each reflection reveals a truth. Each moment pushes her closer to confronting the real question:
Is she broken — or is the world around her?
WHY THIS FILM MATTERS
So many of us are drowning quietly under filters, comparison culture, and impossible expectations.
I wanted to make something honest. Something that says:
“If you’ve ever felt consumed by your reflection — you are not alone.”
This project isn’t just a film — it’s a conversation, a mirror held up to the pressures we carry, and an offering of connection to anyone who has ever questioned their own worth.
ABOUT MY PRODUCTION COMPANY:
This is the first film produced under my new company, Damaged Soul Productions.
Damaged Soul Productions, founded by me, Gabriella Leonardi, is a creative umbrella dedicated to weaving poetry, cinema, and television into transformative art. Born from a desire to bring people together through the raw beauty of human experience, the company serves as a platform for damaged souls — voices shaped by hardship, resilience, and truth. We turn pain into power and storytelling into connection.
This film is the heartbeat of everything the company stands for.
WHY I NEED YOUR HELP
This is a zero-budget passion project — a film being made possible only because incredibly talented creatives have offered their time, skill, and energy to bring it to life.
But even with a volunteer team, there are still essential costs I cannot cover alone.
Your contributions will directly fund:
️ Food for the cast & crew
People are giving their time for free — the least I can do is feed them.
Travel expenses
Helping the team get to set safely and reliably.
Festival submission fees
So this film can be shared with audiences, open conversations, and reach people who need to see it.
Even the smallest donation genuinely makes a difference - some range from £20 to others that cost £100 per entry.
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES (Breakdown)
Approximate anticipated costs:
Crew meals + on-set refreshments: £100
Travel support for cast/crew: £120
Film festival submissions: £894
Total needed: £1,114
Transparency matters to me — every pound goes straight into making the film possible. I am investing my own money into this too but I have rent to pay so I need some help! eek.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
✔ Donate — any amount is appreciated.
✔ Share this fundraiser with friends, social media, and anyone who believes in indie film or mental-health storytelling.
✔ Support Damaged Soul Productions as it takes its very first step into the world.
Your help doesn’t just fund a film — it fuels a message.
It creates space for healing.
It gives voice to something so many of us feel but rarely say aloud.
THANK YOU
To everyone who donates, shares, or simply reads this — thank you.
Thank you for believing in me, in this story, and in the power of honest filmmaking.
I can’t wait to make something beautiful, heartbreaking, and true — together.
Never Ending Bravery,
Gabriella Leonardi
Founder, Damaged Soul Productions
Writer, Director , Producer and Lead Actor of The Mirror That Consumes You