About The Film

Spiro is a student short film written and directed by Peyton Freeney for the Intermediate Narrative Production class of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. He was deeply inspired by Spike Jonze’s Her but found it hard to relate to their relationship in the movie. He realized the story of longing and connection is something very familiar (if not more) to the LGBTQ experience. He saw this as the perfect opportunity to explore the concept of love through the perspective of a trans woman of color. There is a need to expand the variety of LGTBQ+ stories and we plan to do that through this film. We plan to uphold our mission behind the scenes with a majority cast and crew of women, POC, and  LGTBQ+ identifying filmmakers.

Synopsis

This film, based on Spike Jonze’s Her, explores the story of longing for love and connection in an online world where connection is at our fingertips. Adora, early in her transition, finds comfort in escaping into virtual realities with her AI, Julius. However, it is preventing her from experiencing the real world around her and fully embracing herself. When she is finally forced out of her home to celebrate a friend's birthday she must face the life she’s been avoiding. After interacting with her ex and partying with her best friend, she realizes what she has been missing. 

How Can You Help

• The film is currently in pre-production and we are planning to film in early April. A significant portion of the budget is going into locations and production design to help to create the world of our main character, Adora. We also need help cover the costs of transportation, meals, and more production needs.
• Our budget is at $1500 and any help you can donate will push us further in completing this project and supporting our team.
• Any additional funds will be used to support trans and nonbinary youth in NYC

Anything you can contribute is much appreciated!!

Primary Crew:

Director & Writer - Peyton Freeney 

Peyton Freeney (he/him) is a filmmaker born and raised in Eastern Iowa, i.e. the middle of nowhere. He is a writer, director, and animator based in New York. Whether it’s animation or live-action, he’s loved storytelling ever since he was a child and is excited to bring those stories to life today. His superpower is that he can fall asleep anywhere but don't let that fool you. He is the Film and TV representative for The Collective and the Tisch Black Student Council. He values diverse representation in stories and wherever he goes his culture and history will proudly follow.

Co-writer - Aviva Gerwein

Aviva Gerwein (she/her) is a junior at NYU Tisch studying dramatic writing and comedy. Aviva loves hiking, cooking, exploring the city, and finding new kinds of cheese at Trader Joe’s. Aviva spends her life trying to live up to her life peak of winning 2nd-grade class president and it is very important to her that everyone stays hydrated.

Producer - Jasmine LeCount-McClanahan

Jasmine LeCount-McClanahan(she/her) is a writer, filmmaker, and photographer originally from South Orange, NJ affectionately called MAPSO but now based in NYC. Jasmine is currently a junior in NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, studying Film and TV with a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. She is passionate about telling stories that shine light on narratives that don’t normally get the limelight and injustices that go unseen. Her other passions include music, absorbing useful and useless facts, and researching the history of her family tree. In everything she does, she strives to remain curious and allow light and love to shine through her.

Director of Photography - Nifemi Adegboye

Nifemi Adegboye(she/her) is currently based in New York, NY and is a senior at New York University majoring in Film & Television Production with a minor in Business in Entertainment, Music, & Television at Tisch School of the Arts. She has experience with short film and commercial production, production design, live broadcast production, and producing with Ark Media & HBO, CMG Studios, Amazon, and various independent film productions. 

She is a determined artist focusing primarily on developing herself as a producer, screenwriter, and cinematographer. "Birds & Bees," her most recently released short film that explores the experience and impact of police violence on Black children, was selected as a finalist at NYU's Film Fusion Festival. 

Her current focus is on honing her skills in cinematography and producing. She has a passion for working with like-minded individuals creating art that speaks on the Black experience.

Production Designer - Tia Simone Alexander-Greene

Tia Simone Alexander-Greene(she/her) is a 3rd year student studying Film and Television production at New York University. At an early age she recognized her affinity for creative expression through art, music, film and fashion, and has sought out opportunities to stretch her creative muscles in any way she can. After working on various productions throughout her time at NYU, Tia began to fall in love with the world of production design and has worked as production designer for multiple projects. She looks forward to working alongside her peers in the upcoming production of "Spiro". 

Sound Mixer - Veronica Hein 

From small town Illinois, Veronica Hein(she/her) came to NYC and is a sophomore pursuing a BFA degree at NYU Tisch School of the Arts majoring in FIlm/TV. An internal transfer from Liberal Studies, Veronica is getting her foot out the door and has sound mixed and boom operated for a number of student films and some local projects outside NYU. She is so excited to be apart of Spiro and help contribute to the creative vision.

Sound Desginer - Kendi King

Kendi King(she/her) is a second-year Film major at NYU who specializes in sound work, editing, and writing. She can be found wandering the halls of Tisch, pondering if the fluorescent lights have any Vitamin D as she spends so much time in the editing labs she rarely sees the sun

Assistant Director - Makayla Leilua

Makayla Leilua is a Junior in Film and Television at NYU Tisch with a minor in Social and Cultural Analysis. The writer grew up in a little suburb called Rowland Heights in Los Angeles County, CA. She specializes in comedy, specifically writing sitcoms and telling Joe Mama jokes on the fly. She currently works for Untitled Entertainment’s TV Development department and longs for the day an equally sexy, unpaid intern spends hours writing coverage for her scripts. 3 Fun Facts: she is an Asian ginger, the oldest of nine, and has a weekly mental breakdown at the Astor Place Starbucks every Thursday. Fine, one more fun fact: she loves you <3

Other Ways You Can Help

Follow us on Instagram! @spirofilm2022