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Goodnight, a short film

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$17,175 raised

101% of $17k goal

100 contributors

49 Weeks running

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By Isabel Pask

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Personal campaign Keep it all New York, NY, US

Goodnight,

A short film about cycles of paid care, freedom and play, and the journey from childhood to death.

SYNOPSIS

A hospice nurse revisits the comfort and fear of childhood when she enlists her children’s babysitter to take care of her for the night.

We begin with DARIA, a hospice nurse, caring for a young patient. The patient’s family dances and sings around her bed, joyously ushering her from this world to the next. But when the family asks Daria to join them, she finds herself unable to participate in the ceremony.

At home, Daria finds MAX, her children's babysitter who has just dropped Daria’s children off at their dad’s for the night. It is revealed that Max is there for an extra shift, but tonight...the child is Daria. She has asked Max to babysit her for the night—feeding her, bathing her, playing games with her, and putting her to sleep, as if she were a child.

When bedtime comes, as it must, Daria’s need for Max’s care intensifies, and together they find a way to say goodnight.

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

Goodnight , examines what happens when we grow up and forget how to play. What came so naturally to us as children becomes increasingly difficult as we become the caretakers.

The nostalgic pull of childhood tells us there was a time when someone else kept us safe, structured our time, kissed our faces, and when play could exist without fear.

Can we access this freedom as adults? If yes, how? Is anything irretrievably lost, is anything gained?

This story explores what it’s like to remember how to play when we’ve forgotten how to, and how to give of ourselves generously even when we don’t feel like it.

At different points throughout our lives, we all find ourselves both in the position of a caretaker, and in positions that require care. This film looks at what that exchange can cost us, and what we stand to gain from it – financially and emotionally.

THE TEAM

ISABEL PASK

Director, Co-Writer, Producer

Isabel Pask is a Brooklyn-based, Texan-born director, actor, writer, and producer with Puerto Rican roots. She is a member of the theatrical collectives The Bellwether Project and Notch Theatre Company, a contributing artist for CNT Productions, and a producer for The Sol Project and Sunshine Films. Her latest short, GET LOST (dir. Victoria Pedretti) is currently in post production. Her work as a writer, producer, and actor has been recognized at numerous international film festivals, including Big Apple Film Festival, Madrid International Film Festival, Venice Shorts, Vancouver International Women in Film Festival, Toronto Indie Filmmakers Festival, and Women’s Voices Now Film Festival. Isabel is the 2023 recipient of The National Theatre Conference's Paul Green Award, which recognizes excellence in new professional theatre talent. Isabel is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University.

ANNIE FOX

"Max", Co-Writer, Producer

Annie Fox is an actor and writer based in New York. TV Credits include WeCrashed (Hulu), Blue Bloods (NBC), Seasoned (Showtime, upcoming). Feature film work includes Something's More Than One Thing, Fire Island, Home Free. Broadway: Lobby Hero. Regional credits include McCarter Theatre Center, Cleveland Playhouse, Theatreworks Silicon Valley, Philadelphia Fringe. She is a member of the Society Theatre company and NYU MFA alum.

INÉS GOWLAND

Cinematographer

Ines

Inés Gowland is an Argentinean filmmaker whose work has screened worldwide, including such festivals as Sundance, SXSW, Clermont-Ferrand, Atlanta, and San Sebastián. She has an MFA in Filmmaking from New York University and was selected for the 2019-2020 ASC Vision Mentorship Program. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Inés studied Cinematography at Universidad del Cine before moving to New York to attend NYU Graduate Film Program where she became a Graduate Fellow for Cinematography.

Inés is the recipient of the Chris Columbus Film Production Award, the Roger King Finishing Fund, the Nestor Almendros Award for Cinematography, the First Run Award for Cinematography, the Peter Gould Scholarship and was a finalist for the ARRI Volker Bahnemann Award for Cinematography 2017. Inés is a member of International Collective of Female Cinematographers.

DAGMARA DOMINCYZK

"Daria"

For the last twenty years, DAGMARA DOMINCZYK has worked in numerous films, such as being the female lead of THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, ROCK STAR opposite Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston, HIGHER GROUND opposite Vera Farmiga, THEY, and the coming of age indie, ABE. She's appeared in many television shows, currently a series regular on the breakout hit HBO series SUCCESSION, BOARDWALK EMPIRE, THE DEUCE, THE GOOD WIFE, and PERSON OF INTEREST. On-and-off Broadway, her most recent stage turn was starring opposite Ann Dowd in Signature Theatre’s production of "Night is A Room", and Broadway show credits include starring in "Golden Boy", "The Violet hour", "Enchanted April", and "Closer". Dominczyk is an author (The Lullaby of Polish Girls, Random House) and currently working on her follow-up novel. She can also be seen in the Maggie Gyllenhaal directed feature, ‘The Lost Daughter.’ Dominczyk most recently appeared in the Sofia Coppola helmed A24 feature, ‘Priscilla’ opposite Cailee Spaeny. She will next be seen in Lions Gate’s feature ‘Millers Girl’ opposite Jenna Ortega.

MICHELLE VEINTIMILLA

"Lily"

Michelle made her Broadway debut in the Tony nominated musical, THE VISIT. Last year, she received rave reviews for her performances in MCC’s, WHICH WAY TO THE STAGE, and in Goodspeed’s ANNE OF GREEN GABLES. Michelle starred as ‘Vanessa Sanchez’ on ABC’s THE BAKER AND THE BEAUTY. Other TV credits include GOTHAM, SEVEN SECONDS, and BIG SKY. Most recently, she starred in Steven Belber’s film, WHAT WE DO NEXT.

CATHERINE GILDEA

Producer

Catherine Gildea is a Brooklyn-based producer. Prior to moving to New York to pursue a career in entertainment, Catherine worked in venture capital for three years, investing in early-stage technology companies and managing fund finance. She currently works at Red Barn Films, where she helps to produce independent film projects. Catherine studied English at Harvard University with a focus in poetry and creative writing.

DARYL BRIGHT CLAY

Producer

Hailing from the DMV Metropolitan area, Daryl Bright Clay is a filmmaker and performing artist currently based in Brooklyn. She is a founding member of CNT Productions and was selected for Gotham's 2022 TV Lab. Most recently, she was the showrunner’s assistant for Branden Jacobs Jenkins, who adapted Octavia Butler’s Kindred for FX/HULU. Her contributions have been recognized by HBO, the American Black Film Festival, and Sundance’s Horizon Awards. Along with being a YoungArts & UCB Diversity scholar, Daryl is a graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Carnegie Mellon’s School of Drama. As a former babysitter & caretaker in her own right, she's excited to find her own form of "play" in bringing this project to life!

IRIS BEAUMIER

Producer

Iris Beaumier is an actor, producer born and raised in New York City. TV/Film: “Modern Love”, “Blindspot”, “Alternatino”, Mariannes Noires. Broadway: The Little Prince. Select NYC/regional credits: The Dark Star (Josephine Baker, LaMaMa, AUDELCO award for Best Lead Actress), Cabaret (Sally Bowles, Asolo Rep), Dr. Rees Ziti (ArsNova ANTFest), Ragtime (Sarah, Theatreworks Silicon Valley). Prior, she was Assistant Director for Round Room Image’s “Deafness in Ethiopia” series. She is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University.

ALEX CORTINAS

Casting Director

Alex is a New York-based casting professional for theatre, television, and film at The Telsey Office. Previous projects and offices include Paramount’s 80 for Brady; Showtime’s drama anthology series, The First Lady; Grey’s Anatomy; Not Dead Yet; Stranger Things; Warner Brothers Television Studios; and ABC Network. His previous work on independent films have been recognized at various film festivals, including the Tribeca Film Festival; Hollyshorts; Outfest Fusion; NewFest Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival; Washington DC Reel Affirmations; Atlanta’s Out on Film; Pittsburgh’s Reel Q Film Festival. Alex is a Graduate of Syracuse University’s Department of Drama.

TIMELINE AND BUDGET

We are shooting this film in January 2024! Which means that it's right around the corner. We will film on location in NY for two full days of shooting.

Most of the funds we raise will go towards the artists directly involved with making this happen: our camera team, sound team, actors, designers, and crew. And then there is the other stuff! We need to cover equipment rentals, insurance, festival entry fees, transportation, hard drives, props, costumes, craft services, and more.*

*Full budget breakdown available upon request

FUTURE LIFE OF THE PROJECT

While Goodnight, is a short film that will stand alone and be submitted to film festivals in the 2024 cycle, we also hope that it serves as a proof of concept to accompany a feature film we are currently working on that takes place in the same world.