**About the Writer & Director – Shakira**

Hi, my name is Shakira, and I am a passionate emerging filmmaker dedicated to telling bold, emotionally resonant stories that explore the complexities of identity, resilience, and self-discovery. With a background in acting, she brings a deeply personal and authentic perspective to her work.

As the writer and director of Wake Me, I aim to shed light on the quiet yet profound struggles many women face in navigating societal expectations and personal desires. Essentially the struggle of embracing their authentic selves and listening to their inner voice. I approach this complex human journey through the character Jasmin with honesty and compassion, ensuring that the moments reflected in the film highlight many of the emotional struggles we can and do face in our lives.

It was born from a very personal journey of self-development that I have been through and continue to go through. In 2019, after 11 years of marriage I found myself separating from my husband and became a single mother. It was a time of my life that I truly needed to come into myself and learn more about myself. I felt I had been "asleep" for the majority of my life, and had been seeking for answers to who I was, and what I wanted in life - all from external factors like people I knew, my environment, my interests and connections etc. I was very religious, and this played a massive influence on my family and how I went about life. When my husband and I separated, all of this fell away. I had to find myself, who was I deep down, what did I want in life, what really mattered? I learned about my inner child and this little voice inside that had always been there but that I'd ignored for most of my life. I have since been following that inner voice more and more in life and it has led me down some amazing paths.

I wanted to share this story in the hope that one woman out there will see herself in the journey of our character Jasmin and want to know herself more, care for her inner child more, and listen to her inner voice. It's a story that I have carefully considered how to craft, and with the right team I hope to deliver beautifully.

Through Wake Me, we aim to create a film that not only captivates audiences but also fosters empathy and understanding around the complexities of choice, grief, and self-empowerment.

**How the Funds Will Be Used**

Every dollar raised will go directly toward bringing Wake Me to life. Our primary focus is on fairly compensating our incredible cast and crew who believe in this story and are dedicating their time and craft to making it a reality.

If we surpass our goal, funds will support key areas of production, including:

✅ **Crew & Equipment** – Hiring skilled professionals and securing high-quality cinematography, sound, and lighting equipment.

✅ **Location & Set Design** – Showcasing Queensland’s stunning landscapes while creating immersive and authentic settings.

Your support helps us create a deeply impactful, visually stunning, and emotionally resonant film that will connect with audiences and spark important conversations.