Maya - Thesis Short Film

CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

A QUESTION:

Let me ask you a question...when was the first time that you truly felt perceived? We all have one moment when we started to take notice of who we are and became conscious of what we look like and how the rest of the world looks at us. What does it mean to have this experience as a young Black girl?

This semester I want to take the time to explore this experience through a short film. This is my thesis film, Maya. Maya is a coming-of-age story about a young black girl who has made one key discovery. The discovery of self.

THE STORY:

On Maya's first day of school, she finds her cousin Luise on the playground and asks him if she can play with his friends. He agrees and leads her over to his friends who are skeptical of her and reject her because she’s a few shades too dark to play with them. Luise, more concerned with keeping his friends, doesn't defend Maya, completely betraying her. Maya's one and only friend in school is gone.

The story that follows is her adapting to the new reality that she is different from the other kids and doing everything in her power to fit it. Maya reaches a boiling point on Luise’s special day, his birthday. For just a moment, Maya forces Luise to feel what she has felt the entire film: Shame, embarrassment, and isolation. But for Maya, she gets to taste sweet, sweet revenge.

I want this film to be an exploration of this journey through a child’s eyes about what it means to be darker-skinned in a world that hates you if you are.

For this film I'm not interested in the push and pull between white and black kids, but instead, I want to look at what it means to have people that look like you, berate you for looking just like them.

WHY THIS STORY:

This isn't just a Black story. It is a story about being other and trying to understand your place in the world, something we have all experienced and can relate to. So in a way, we are all Maya. So I would like to invite you to join us in making this film a reality.

WHY WE NEED FUNDING:

Creating a short film can be expensive! From renting equipment to feeding crew, the cost adds up quickly. This is a student short film so funds are limited. Any donations that we received will go directly to feed and transport our incredible cast and crew who are all working, for FREE, to make this project a reality. The rest of the funds will go towards production design, securing locations, and renting equipment to bring the visuals of the project to life. Right now we are scheduled to shoot at the end of March so securing these funds ahead of time is essential to have our team adequately prepared for the shoot. Without your support making this film would be impossible! We will be accepting donations throughout Black History Month! If you aren't able to donate please consider sharing our campaign

Feel free to follow us on instagram @maya.thefilm for updates on the film!

THE TEAM:

Nadera Herbert-Bey [Writer/ Director]

Nadera, originally from Atlanta, is producer, writer, and director. Since embarking on her journey as a filmmaker she has been fascinated by genre-bending and how we can talk about societal issues in a refreshing way for audiences. In everything that she has directed she has tried to bring a unique visual style to her work and is excited to bring that same passion with her NYU thesis film MAYA. Her notable works include Tribeca official selected films such as a narrative short called Chicken where she was a producer and a feature documentary called On the Line: The Richard Williams Story. As Nadera looks forward to the rest of her career after NYU, she hopes to continue being a voice for marginalized groups through her work as a storyteller.

Jason Wang [Director of Photography]

Having come to the U.S six years ago after growing up in China, Jason is now a director of photography currently pursuing his BFA at NYU Tisch. He believes cinematography is at its best when serving the story in an undistracting manner(straight up stole from the king Deakins) and he is also in desperate need to find a hobby outside of film.

Kelly Kunyi [Producer]

Kelly Kunyi Wang is a filmmaker, producer, and proud dog mom currently studying in NYC at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Her interests are deeply rooted in coming-of-age themes, particularly those involving elements of vulnerability, consent, and delving into what it means to be Asian in America. A writer at heart, she strives to help bring meaningful and compelling stories—like this one—to life.

Jordan Miles [Producer]

Jordan Miles is a writer, director, and producer in her junior year at NYU. With a passion for children’s entertainment, she has written a wide range of stories, from animation to live action scripts. Jordan is excited to work on MAYA and see Nadera’s vision come to life.

Winona Lu [Producer]

Winona has always found solace and belonging in films and stories. In all that she does and works on, Winona hopes to bring out the essence of the story at hand and help it to reach people in the same way stories have reached her. Her study at NYU Tisch has given her the skills to do so, as has her onset experiences in many departments.

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