MUSE — A Thesis Film

Logline

When former supermodel Lana Chaney loses her day job, she reluctantly accepts help from an obscure designer in hopes of saving her career. As the world of fashion closes in around her, Lana must confront the pressures of perfection and the agendas lurking beneath the industry’s glamorous façade.

Our Vision

From the Writer (Hannah Wawersik)

“So often, we discuss the importance of the female gaze. When writing MUSE, we wanted to tell a story about the female gaze orchestrated from a male point of view—and how that’s reflective of the true female experience.”

MUSE unfolds as a drama/thriller that delves into the modeling industry’s relentless beauty standards and the pressure women face to be “perfect”—both on and off the runway. My aim was to create a script where the audience can explore how personal struggles, external judgments, and hidden motives collide, leaving each of us to wonder: how far would we go to reclaim our sense of self?

From the Director (Jenna Buffington)

“As a filmmaker, my vision is to create compelling stories about the experiences of girls and women. MUSE is a film that tackles the need for ‘perfection’—especially under society’s constant gaze. I’m excited to leave parts of it open for interpretation, while still capturing a gripping drama/thriller atmosphere.”

In MUSE, we see how pressures around appearance, fueled by social media and cultural expectations, can be overwhelming. By highlighting Lana’s journey, I want to spark conversations about how we define beauty, how we cope with trauma, and the power in reclaiming our stories—even when they’re messy.

From the Producer (Joseph Prado)

“MUSE is a project highlighting themes of the female experience, relentless beauty standards, and the complexities of survival—especially when others around you may have their own agendas.”

As the producer, I’ve been responsible for pulling together the right team and ensuring we have the resources we need to make this film happen. My focus is to support the incredible women behind this story and give them a platform to share these resonant themes authentically.

Where Your Contribution Goes

We’re dedicated to using every dollar in a way that best serves the story—and respects the people behind it. Your support will help us cover:

1. Cast & Crew

• We have talented individuals both in front of and behind the camera, all working tirelessly to bring MUSE to life. Your donation will ensure they are all properly fed and housed as they work to bring this film to life.

2. Equipment & Locations

• From locations to camera gear to specialized lighting to creating a realistic fashion show environment, we want every frame to feel both stylish and haunting. 

3. Production Design

• MUSE centers on the fashion world. Costumes, set dressing, and makeup are essential to immersing you in this high-stakes environment.

4. Post-Production

• Editing, color correction, music composition, sound design—these final touches elevate the film from a rough cut to a polished piece ready for the screen.

5. Film Festival Submissions & Marketing

• To ensure this story finds its audience, we plan to submit to festivals and promote MUSE across multiple platforms.

Join Us

By backing MUSE, you’re helping amplify a story centered on complex women’s experiences—told by the women who’ve lived and observed them. We’re excited to share Lana’s journey, the twists of the fashion world she inhabits, and the deeper questions about identity and acceptance.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about our project. Every donation, big or small, brings us one step closer to making MUSE a reality. Even if you can’t contribute financially, sharing our campaign link and following our progress on social media is a huge help.

Let’s bring MUSE to life together!

Thank You

From all of us—Joseph, Jenna, and Hannah—we’re grateful for your support in bringing MUSE to the screen. We can’t wait to share this journey with you.