Michael's Thesis Film: "Night Moves"

Hi! My name is Michael Blair. Many of you may know me from various parts of my life—thanks for reading this! I'm currently pursuing an MFA in filmmaking from the City College of New York and I'm setting up this GoFundMe to help raise funds for my final thesis film, a 15-minute short titled Night Moves.

The Story

The film follows two strangers who meet on a winter night outside a small restaurant in Queens, finding themselves slowly pulled together by the taste of certain foods, the sound of certain songs, and the textures of their memories.

I was inspired to make a film that reflects the neighborhood I live in and its many small, independent restaurants. To me, restaurants represent the heart and soul of the city, yet they are also often among its most economically precarious spaces. The film is structured as a lowkey hangout comedy, yet it also attempts to reckon with the absurdity of an economic system that forces many restaurants to operate on a knife's edge.

What I'm Raising Money For

We shot the majority of the film over four long, cold, but incredibly fun nights in late February. It was a truly fantastic experience and I learned so much in the process. But there's still more to do!

Your donations will go a long way to help cover:

Cast and Crew

More than anything, the most satisfying part of this experience has been working with such a dedicated, skilled, and supportive group of classmates and friends. It has truly been a labor of love and I'm incredibly grateful. Here's some more info on the killer Night Moves Squad:

Cast

Fareeha Khan as Neda

Carla Villa as Adela

Crew

Cassie Grimaldi, Producer

Chyan Lo, Director of Photography

Jonathan Chu, Editor

Neda Jebelli, Assistant Director

Henry Hoagland, Sound Recordist

Prabhat Gurung, Assistant Camera

David Beal, Gaffer

Yaari Tal, Line Producer

Ike Allen and Caroline Wallis, Art

Katie Kirkland, Media Management Technician

Kelly Kirkland, Wardrobe

and finally...

Thank you!

Any donation of any value that you feel comfortable making is incredibly appreciated. Thank you!