Floating Away
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Family
How much of yourself would you give up for the people you love? How do you hold onto your inner child when forced to grow up too fast? Floating Away explores these questions as Charlotte struggles between her responsibility as a maternal figure to her younger brother & her own desires as a teenager.
Floating Away
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Family
2 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $6,500 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
36 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
How much of yourself would you give up for the people you love? How do you hold onto your inner child when forced to grow up too fast? Floating Away explores these questions as Charlotte struggles between her responsibility as a maternal figure to her younger brother & her own desires as a teenager.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Set against a hot summer day on her brother’s 7th birthday, the film follows 17 year-old Charlotte as she navigates the complexities of taking care of her brother while struggling to take care of herself. Forced to step into the maternal role her mother never was for her, Charlotte strives to not let her brother be an obstacle in the pursuit of fulfilling her needs, and going to her best friend’s party. Only after she’s pushed to her limits is she confronted by her own vulnerability – a young girl in need of love and support, which Zack ultimately provides her.
Emotionally charged, intimate, and playful, Floating Away speaks to the universal conflict of wanting to grow up and take on the responsibility of adulthood, while yearning to hold onto childhood innocence and be taken care of.
With the close relationship Charlotte and her brother share at the heart of the story, this coming-of-age film demonstrates the difficulties faced when familial expectations and pressures are pushed on us in our youth. Growing up does not require leaving your younger self behind – for Charlotte, it involves nurturing her inner child as she copes with the passing of her youth. And by the end of the film, she understands that the needs of her brother are just as important as her own.
An ode to the love between siblings that is so prevalent in my life, this film is very close to my heart, and I have dedicated the last year and a half to developing it as my NYU thesis film. One of the most defining and fulfilling aspects of my identity has been being an older sister to four siblings many years younger than me. Throughout my youth, I often found it easier to take care of others, but have learned the value in finding a balance between giving, without losing sight of my own needs – aiming to inspire the same for others through Charlotte’s journey.
This production will not be possible without your valued support. Seed&Spark requires that we raise at least 80% of our goal in 30 days or we won't receive any funds at all. As a predominantly female-led team driven to bring this story to life, your contributions will equip us with the necessary resources to create the film at the highest quality, creativity, and authenticity we envision. Now is a historic time in film history with the rise of women telling their stories behind and in front of the camera. By supporting female filmmakers at the independent level, you are championing the long-term shift the film industry needs.
Through our partnership with SIMA Studios, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting creative projects that advance positive social change, contributions to Floating Away of $250 or higher are tax deductible, but any amount is so appreciated. Every donation helps.
Our $6,500 goal is the bare minimum needed to get the film made at a production quality everyone involved will be proud of, covering all essential areas required to make the film including: transportation, production design, costumes, food, insurance, Covid PPE, sound, lighting, camera equipment, lodging and stipends for crew and cast. The full breakdown of where the funds will be spent can be found under the ‘Wishlist’ tab.
Reaching the following stretch goals will help us achieve our full potential with this project and make the film the best it can be:
$8,000 – we will be able to rent more camera and lighting equipment to enhance our vision.
$10,000 – we will be able to cover post-production fees (editing, coloring, sound design, music composition) to complete our film, as well as distribution and film festival submission costs to share our story with the world.
After having to postpone our shoot last year due to COVID, the health, safety and quality of care for our team remains our top priority, and we will abide by all COVID regulations during production. We have been working diligently for the past several months to prepare for filming, which will take place this September in Amagansett, NY – my second home, where I have spent most summers growing up.
CONTRIBUTE: Any and all contributions are invaluable in bringing our vision to life and will help us reach our full potential with this story. Every dollar counts.
FOLLOW: Follow us on Instagram & Facebook (@floatingawayfilm) and Seed & Spark for all project updates, BTS content and sneak peeks. The more followers we get on Seed & Spark, the more rewards and discounts we will receive for our film.
SPREAD THE WORD: Aside from making direct contributions, we would be endlessly grateful for your support by sharing our fundraising link. Here are some examples of posts you can copy and paste, and share with friends to help spread the word about our project:
Help recent NYU film graduate @chloelipman and her female-led team by supporting her thesis film, @floatingawayfilm here: www.seedandspark.com/fund/floating-away
Support @chloelipman and the Floating Away filmmaking team on @seedandspark to help bring her NYU thesis film to life! Join them here: www.seedandspark.com/fund/floating-away
Thank you so much for helping to make Floating Away a reality. We are so excited to share the film and can’t wait for you to be part of this production!
Much Love,
The Floating Away Team
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
EQUIPMENT
Costs $2,000
We need to rent lights + camera gear to achieve the highest visuals and cinematic experience.
PRODUCTION DESIGN + COSTUMES
Costs $500
Set dressing, props, costumes – everything we need to make this lively, vibrant world come to life!
SET OPERATION
Costs $1,200
This will cover insurance, PPE, crew + cast stipends – it wouldn't be possible without them!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
FOOD + CATERING
Costs $1,300
Help keep our hard working talent and crew fed + happy for the duration of our 4 shoot days!
TRANSPORTATION + LODGING
Costs $1,500
This will cover costs for our amazing cast + crew traveling from NYC to The Hamptons.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Chloe Lipman, Director/Writer
Chloe is a filmmaker and artist who recently graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Film & Television Production. She has worked as a director, writer, and cinematographer for multiple short films, and on set for companies including Adidas and H&M. Always aiming to bring each story’s emotional core to screen with authenticity and evocative imagery, Chloe is driven to tell stories that tap into the complexities of human relationships and touch people through moving visuals and performances.
Tiana Cantu, Producer
Tiana is a creative producer that enjoys tackling what is sitting at the heart of any story. In her own work, she strives to push important stories forward that serve to represent narratives that are often ignored. As a co-founder of LadyTrap productions and graduate for New York University with a major in Film and Televisoin and minor in Producing as well as Social and Cultural Anaylsis, Tiana is motivated every day to dig deeper, think bigger and remember why each and every story is truly so impactful. She is so excited to be a part of the "Floating Away" team as it truly captures the delicacy between taking care and being taken care of. With so many young girls having to grow up so quickly, this story passionately displays intricate characters with complicated experiences.
Raine Shank, Producer
Raine is a producer who values collaboration above all else when it comes to storytelling and filmmaking. She is currently living and working in New York City. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, her interests lie in bringing stories that may seem small or uncommon into the larger consciousness and to connect people through them. She has her BA in Cinema Studies and a minor in Media Studies from the University of Oregon. As a producer it is important to her to find passion-fuled stories that can't help but be told and a crew that shares the passion and can't help but work on them. She is excited to be working on “Floating Away” because of the care and attention attached to this film and this story.
Mélisse Riahi, Director of Photography
Mélisse Riahi is a Director of Photography who has worked across the globe, from LA, NY, Paris and Milan, holding a MFA in Cinematography from American Film Institute. Her ambition as a filmmaker is to tell stories about people from around the world because she understands how important it is for art to act as a bridge between cultures and people who otherwise may not be exposed to the vast contrast in lifestyles.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Set against a hot summer day on her brother’s 7th birthday, the film follows 17 year-old Charlotte as she navigates the complexities of taking care of her brother while struggling to take care of herself. Forced to step into the maternal role her mother never was for her, Charlotte strives to not let her brother be an obstacle in the pursuit of fulfilling her needs, and going to her best friend’s party. Only after she’s pushed to her limits is she confronted by her own vulnerability – a young girl in need of love and support, which Zack ultimately provides her.
Emotionally charged, intimate, and playful, Floating Away speaks to the universal conflict of wanting to grow up and take on the responsibility of adulthood, while yearning to hold onto childhood innocence and be taken care of.
With the close relationship Charlotte and her brother share at the heart of the story, this coming-of-age film demonstrates the difficulties faced when familial expectations and pressures are pushed on us in our youth. Growing up does not require leaving your younger self behind – for Charlotte, it involves nurturing her inner child as she copes with the passing of her youth. And by the end of the film, she understands that the needs of her brother are just as important as her own.
An ode to the love between siblings that is so prevalent in my life, this film is very close to my heart, and I have dedicated the last year and a half to developing it as my NYU thesis film. One of the most defining and fulfilling aspects of my identity has been being an older sister to four siblings many years younger than me. Throughout my youth, I often found it easier to take care of others, but have learned the value in finding a balance between giving, without losing sight of my own needs – aiming to inspire the same for others through Charlotte’s journey.
This production will not be possible without your valued support. Seed&Spark requires that we raise at least 80% of our goal in 30 days or we won't receive any funds at all. As a predominantly female-led team driven to bring this story to life, your contributions will equip us with the necessary resources to create the film at the highest quality, creativity, and authenticity we envision. Now is a historic time in film history with the rise of women telling their stories behind and in front of the camera. By supporting female filmmakers at the independent level, you are championing the long-term shift the film industry needs.
Through our partnership with SIMA Studios, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting creative projects that advance positive social change, contributions to Floating Away of $250 or higher are tax deductible, but any amount is so appreciated. Every donation helps.
Our $6,500 goal is the bare minimum needed to get the film made at a production quality everyone involved will be proud of, covering all essential areas required to make the film including: transportation, production design, costumes, food, insurance, Covid PPE, sound, lighting, camera equipment, lodging and stipends for crew and cast. The full breakdown of where the funds will be spent can be found under the ‘Wishlist’ tab.
Reaching the following stretch goals will help us achieve our full potential with this project and make the film the best it can be:
$8,000 – we will be able to rent more camera and lighting equipment to enhance our vision.
$10,000 – we will be able to cover post-production fees (editing, coloring, sound design, music composition) to complete our film, as well as distribution and film festival submission costs to share our story with the world.
After having to postpone our shoot last year due to COVID, the health, safety and quality of care for our team remains our top priority, and we will abide by all COVID regulations during production. We have been working diligently for the past several months to prepare for filming, which will take place this September in Amagansett, NY – my second home, where I have spent most summers growing up.
CONTRIBUTE: Any and all contributions are invaluable in bringing our vision to life and will help us reach our full potential with this story. Every dollar counts.
FOLLOW: Follow us on Instagram & Facebook (@floatingawayfilm) and Seed & Spark for all project updates, BTS content and sneak peeks. The more followers we get on Seed & Spark, the more rewards and discounts we will receive for our film.
SPREAD THE WORD: Aside from making direct contributions, we would be endlessly grateful for your support by sharing our fundraising link. Here are some examples of posts you can copy and paste, and share with friends to help spread the word about our project:
Help recent NYU film graduate @chloelipman and her female-led team by supporting her thesis film, @floatingawayfilm here: www.seedandspark.com/fund/floating-away
Support @chloelipman and the Floating Away filmmaking team on @seedandspark to help bring her NYU thesis film to life! Join them here: www.seedandspark.com/fund/floating-away
Thank you so much for helping to make Floating Away a reality. We are so excited to share the film and can’t wait for you to be part of this production!
Much Love,
The Floating Away Team
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
EQUIPMENT
Costs $2,000
We need to rent lights + camera gear to achieve the highest visuals and cinematic experience.
PRODUCTION DESIGN + COSTUMES
Costs $500
Set dressing, props, costumes – everything we need to make this lively, vibrant world come to life!
SET OPERATION
Costs $1,200
This will cover insurance, PPE, crew + cast stipends – it wouldn't be possible without them!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
FOOD + CATERING
Costs $1,300
Help keep our hard working talent and crew fed + happy for the duration of our 4 shoot days!
TRANSPORTATION + LODGING
Costs $1,500
This will cover costs for our amazing cast + crew traveling from NYC to The Hamptons.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Chloe Lipman, Director/Writer
Chloe is a filmmaker and artist who recently graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Film & Television Production. She has worked as a director, writer, and cinematographer for multiple short films, and on set for companies including Adidas and H&M. Always aiming to bring each story’s emotional core to screen with authenticity and evocative imagery, Chloe is driven to tell stories that tap into the complexities of human relationships and touch people through moving visuals and performances.
Tiana Cantu, Producer
Tiana is a creative producer that enjoys tackling what is sitting at the heart of any story. In her own work, she strives to push important stories forward that serve to represent narratives that are often ignored. As a co-founder of LadyTrap productions and graduate for New York University with a major in Film and Televisoin and minor in Producing as well as Social and Cultural Anaylsis, Tiana is motivated every day to dig deeper, think bigger and remember why each and every story is truly so impactful. She is so excited to be a part of the "Floating Away" team as it truly captures the delicacy between taking care and being taken care of. With so many young girls having to grow up so quickly, this story passionately displays intricate characters with complicated experiences.
Raine Shank, Producer
Raine is a producer who values collaboration above all else when it comes to storytelling and filmmaking. She is currently living and working in New York City. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, her interests lie in bringing stories that may seem small or uncommon into the larger consciousness and to connect people through them. She has her BA in Cinema Studies and a minor in Media Studies from the University of Oregon. As a producer it is important to her to find passion-fuled stories that can't help but be told and a crew that shares the passion and can't help but work on them. She is excited to be working on “Floating Away” because of the care and attention attached to this film and this story.
Mélisse Riahi, Director of Photography
Mélisse Riahi is a Director of Photography who has worked across the globe, from LA, NY, Paris and Milan, holding a MFA in Cinematography from American Film Institute. Her ambition as a filmmaker is to tell stories about people from around the world because she understands how important it is for art to act as a bridge between cultures and people who otherwise may not be exposed to the vast contrast in lifestyles.