Story:

Breaking Down Part 1 is a poetic, emotionally driven short film about a teenage girl named Sabrina, navigating the aftermath of sexual assault by someone close to her. But this isn’t a story about trauma as spectacle—it’s a story about what comes after. The silence. The small ruptures in her home. The people who love her but don’t always know how to show it. Told through a lens of restraint, stillness, and sensitivity, the film focuses on emotional survival, not plot resolution. It centers on the quiet—but powerful—moments of discomfort, confusion, and grace that come with learning how to live again. Sabrina’s world is soft but heavy. Her story isn’t loud, but it lingers. With strong performances, an intentionally understated tone, and a script that allows space for unspoken truths, Breaking Down Part 1 is a deeply personal exploration of girlhood, grief, and the quiet ways we try to heal.

Why:

I created Breaking Down Part 1 because I wanted to tell the kind of story I rarely see: a story about a young Black girl surviving trauma-not through revenge or rage, but through stillness, strength, and silence. As a filmmaker, I'm drawn to emotional truth. And as a survivor, I understand what it means to carry pain quietly. This short film is my way of holding space for the girls who thought no one would believe them. It's about voice, family, and about reclaiming your story-softly. 

Possible Perks:

$10 — “Quiet Believer”

A soft voice of support deeply felt.

1. Thank-you email from Ashley
2. Your name listed on the digital “Support Wall”  

$25 — “Still Here” Bundle

For those who believe in stories that whisper, not scream.

1. All previous perks

2. Early access to teaser trailer

3. High-res concept art + digital mood board

4. Exclusive audio note: “Why I Wrote Sabrina”

Delivery: Digital bundle

$50 — “Voice on the Page”

The film begins with the script—and you get to hold it.

1. All previous perks

2. Digital copy of the final screenplay

3. Exclusive behind-the-scenes look: Director’s annotated script notes + photos from development

$100 — “Creative Circle”

Step closer into the process.

1. All previous perks

2. Early access to the full film before public release

3. Your name in the credits under “Creative Supporters”

4. Invitation to a private behind-the-scenes Zoom with Ashley & key collaborators

$250 — “Page to Presence”

A physical keepsake from a story built with care.

1. All previous perks

2. Handwritten thank-you note

3. Signed printed script page from Ashley (limited edition)

4. Digital mini booklet: The Making of Breaking Down Part 1

$500 — “Associate Producer”

Your name becomes part of the story’s foundation.

1. All previous perks

2. Associate Producer credit in the film and on IMDb

3. 30-minute virtual creative chat with Ashley (topic: writing, directing, healing narratives, etc.)

4. Social media shoutout

$1000 — “Executive Circle”

For the ones who carry this story forward with us.

1. All previous perks

2. Executive Producer credit

3. Recognition on press kit, website, and all promotional materials

4. Invite to a private rough-cut feedback screening (virtual)

Use of Funds

Your contributions will go directly toward:

1. Pre-Production: Casting, crew, locations, rehearsals, gear rentals, cast and crew pay

2. Production: food, wardrobe, transportation, set design 

3. Post-production: Editing, sound design, music, accessibility formatting-subtitles
4. Marketing/Distribution: Poster & press kit, film festival submissions, Outreach to different youth programs and adult organizations geared to healing
5. Supporters: Printing, packaging and mailing for physical perks, hosting costs for digital content and livestream Q&A's

6. Safety: Reshoots, weather delays, tech issues, or anything unexpected

These elements will help build a strong foundation for both the short film and its potential feature-length expansion. This film is emotionally delicate and visually intentional. Every dollar helps me create a safe, ethical, and artistically strong environment—for the actors, the audience, and the story itself. $45,000 allows me to not just make a short—but make one with impact, access, and care.

Why to Support?

When you support this project, you’re not just giving money—you’re co-creating a space where stories like this can breathe.

You’re helping: A survivor feel seen. A young Black girl take center frame without having to explain herself. A director tell a story with softness and honesty, not spectacle. 

In a world that often rewards the loudest voices, you are choosing to support something quiet, intimate, and necessary. That makes you part of something rare—and something beautiful. By backing this film, you’re not just a supporter.

You’re helping rewrite how we tell stories of trauma and survival—with grace and truth.

Every dollar matters. Every backer counts.
From $10 to $1,000, your support shapes this film. Your name will be on our wall, in our hearts, and—if you choose—in the credits of a story that needed someone like you to exist.

Thank you, Ashley Rae Harper of Ashley Rae Productions