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ACROSS
AN AFI VISUAL ESSAY
Our generous supporters:
STORY
Lena, the stripper, arrives at her next client's house. The lively party is in full swing, and she proudly wears her newly acquired prized accessory—an extraordinary white hat. However, shortly after her arrival, she is startled to discover he is entangled with gangsters. As the scene turns deadly, Lena slips out the back window to escape, crawling toward her car while carefully avoiding detection. As she maneuvers through the shadows, she spots a gangster stepping out of the front door wearing her white hat. He crosses the street to keep watch while his accomplices finish their business inside the house. Fueled by a mix of anger and determination, Lena resolves to reclaim her hat. All she needs to do is cross the street unnoticed and find a clever way to take back what belongs to her.
HELP BRING THIS STORY TO LIFE!
We are excited to share our vision for this film, and we need your support to make it a reality. Your donations will play a crucial role in bringing this compelling story to life, allowing us to capture its essence and share it with a wider audience.
Every contribution, no matter the size, will help cover essential production costs, including equipment, locations, and crew. Together, we can create something truly special that resonates with viewers.
THE TEAM
DOMINIKA PODCZASKA, PSC
Cinematographer, Writer
Dominika is a Polish Director of Photography and a member of the Polish Society of Cinematographers (PSC) with more than 15 years of experience behind the camera. Her career began in 2005 with documentary films and music videos.Dominika later expanded her portfolio, working on a wide range of TV commercials. Driven by her passion for narrative storytelling, she transitioned to narrative films, working on projects across Europe,. Her work has garnered over 20 awards for "BestCinematography" in both the U.S. and Europe.In 2021, PRESS Magazine recognized her as one of the Top 10 Directors of Photography to watch in Poland. She is represented by Point of You talent agency.
ROBYN WHOLEY
Director
Robyn Wholey is a Directing Fellow at AFI who previously served as an executive producer on the Oscar®-nominated film VICE, co-produced THE BIG SHORT and worked alongside Adam McKay on the pilot of the Emmy®-nominated HBO series SUCCESSION. Other producing credits include the HBO series FUNNY OR DIE PRESENTS, ANCHORMAN 2 and HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS. Robyn got her start in the theater after earning her BFA in Directing from Carnegie Mellon University's School of Drama. As a director, she has worked with Funny or Die, IAMA Theatre Company in Los Angeles, and the Williamstown Theatre Festival in the Berkshires. She recently finished the post process on a series of three short films she directed and is currently prepping her AFI thesis film that will shoot early next year.
HECTOR MARTINEZ
Producer
With a decade of industry experience, Hector is a seasoned content creator and producer from South Florida. His portfolio boasts branded content for renowned national and international companies such as Virgin Voyages, Carnival Corp., Tim Horton's, Disney, and St. Jude Children's Hospital. His work focuses on themes of connection and explores the intricacies of human relationships, the unifying bonds, and the life experiences that give our existence meaning. A recent graduate of the esteemed Film Producing program at the American Film Institute, Hector's academic foundation, combined with his extensive hands-on experience, assures his competence and readiness for any challenge on set. His leadership style fosters collaboration and innovation, bringing out the best in his crew and resulting in high-quality storytelling that aims to resonate with audiences.
CONTACT US:
dpodczaska@afi.edu
hmartinez@afi.edu
If you want to dive deeper, check out the...
FULL VISUAL PROPOSAL
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While it’s still a work in progress, it provides a glimpse into the evolving vision and direction of the film.
​​​*** OUR PREVIOUS VISUAL ESSAY "QUIET ON THE EAST" WAS OFFICIALLY SELECTED FOR
THE 2024 AFI CINEMATOGRAPHY SHOWCASE ***
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Thank you for considering supporting our project.
We can’t wait to share this journey with you!
Our generous supporters:
CONTACT US:
dpodczaska@afi.edu
hmartinez@afi.edu
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