Story
Short Summary
Hello, my name is Aydan Eyes and I am the writer and director of Wonderful. Last year, I graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of the Fine Arts in film with a concentration in screenwriting. That summer, I completed production of another short film titled, Mom Jolie, which follows a mother who is trying to reconnect with her son who doesn’t remember her. A few months ago, Mom Jolie had its festival premier and will continue to be in the circuit for the next couple of years.
Now the time has come to begin fundraising for my next film project, Wonderful.
The idea for Wonderful stems from a fear of never being able to escape a toxic relationship. If you lost yourself…your unique identity in only a short period of time, where would you be if it lasted even longer?
Wonderful explores themes of mental abuse, manipulation, and the loss of the self. Nadya, who was once a successful opera singer, can no longer connect to the art she was always so passionate about. Through her husband Ivan’s manipulation, she lost all sense of emotion and is now numb to everything. Overtime, she has become him in many abusive ways, resulting in a perpetual whirlwind of chaos and disorder in the household.
Wonderful will take on a gothic, psychedelic, and psychological horror feel. The idea that your mind is no longer the one that used to occupy your body is terrifying, and so I think this style is the best way to approach the film. Abstract and experimental storytelling will also be important elements of this film in order to capture the state of confusion Nadya is experiencing.
The funding of this campaign is very important to me because the film explores scenarios and themes that come from a very authentic and personal place. Every aspect of the making of it will be taken wholeheartedly.
What We Need & What You Get
Our goal for this fundraiser is $3,500. The funds will go towards paying actors, feeding the cast and crew, securing equipment and insurance, set design and props, special effects makeup, and future festival submissions. Essentially, we will use the funds to make this film come alive, no matter what.
Donating will not only help us, but there is of course a return for you. If you donate:
- $50-99: you get a digital copy of the screenplay
- $100-149: you will get a digital copy of our storyboards
- $150-199: you will get a copy of the official poster of the film
- $200-499: you will be invited to a special screening of the film once completed
- $500+: you will be credited as an executive producer in the film
*No matter how much you donate, you will receive a Thank You credit in the end credits of the film.*
*If you donate within one of the specific ranges, you will also receive the items above it in the bulleted list. For example, if you donate the amount of money to get an executive producer credit, you will also be invited to the special screening of the film, receive the official poster, and digital copies of the storyboards and screenplay.*
*All items will be sent to you once the final cut of the film is completed. This is to ensure you get the finalized versions of everything, and not just works in progress.*
If we do not reach our intended goal, we will still use the funds to get Wonderful made, no matter what.
The Impact
This project is valuable to the world, because unfortunately, the themes of the film are relatable to so many people. When you watch a film that reflects something you have been through, you feel less alone and more acknowledged.
After watching Mom Jolie, many people approached me and told me how much it resonated with them, and how the characters remind them of real people in their own lives. I know Wonderful will do the same.
Risks & Challenges
Whatever happens, we are committed to making this film. Many obstacles stood in our way during the making of Mom Jolie, but we broke through. We are in the same mindset with Wonderful.
Other Ways You Can Help
We understand if you don’t donate to our campaign! If you like what we are proposing though, feel free to share the IndieGoGo link and spread word of our production around to people you think would be interested.
You can also follow my film account on Instagram (@aydanfilms) for updates!
Key Roles
Crew
Aydan Eyes (Writer/Director/Producer/Editor): Aydan promises to remain true to his own spirit. In order to capture a story that resonates, he is not afraid to chase after his most honest thoughts and feelings. Writing characters who metamorphose after confronting their deepest flaws and inner turmoil is something Aydan is very passionate about. He recently completed his short film, Mom Jolie, which is currently in the festival circuit. He is also involved with music and has recently released his first solo album titled, Akashic, which can be found on all streaming services under the name Aydan Eyes.
Christina Hoffman (Producer): Christina is a writer/filmmaker based in Philadelphia. After graduating from Temple with a Bachelor of the Fine Arts in film last year, Christina directed and produced her short film, Homecoming. She co-wrote The Sleepover, a short horror film, and is thrilled to be producing Wonderful. Christina was also a co-casting director for Mom Jolie. Outside of filmmaking, Christina is working to self-publish her first collection of short stories.
Novoneela Dria (Director of Photography): Novaneela is a cinematographer from the Philadelphia area who has a great eye for creating beautiful compositions that speak louder than words. She loves to think about the best ways to visually tell a story and how shots reflect the atmosphere and the characters of a film. Previously, Novaneela has worked on Act Three ,a poetic experimental film, and Prom Fight, an action film set in Chinatown.
Harry Fuertes (1st Assistant Director): Harry is a Temple graduate with a degree in film, and has mostly created experimental work, but is looking to branch out to more narrative storytelling in the coming years. He has an upcoming experimental short film titled, Act Three. Harry has previous experience as a production assistant and assistant director, and is excited to jump into this wild cinematic journey alongside Aydan Eyes.
Noah Cohen (2nd Assistant Director): Noah is a filmmaker from the Philadelphia area who specializes in directing and editing with a passion for comedy, classic horror, and animation. Noah enjoys observing the everyday troubles of people and finding humor in the little moments that happen in the world all the time. He fell in love with telling stories when he was young, making short films with toys and has grown to direct more short films in a variety of styles including narrative, documentary, and animation. Recently, he completed a comedy-noir titled, Midnight Flowers, which has received critical acclaim in the festival circuit. Noah was also the assistant director for Mom Jolie.
Kat Mata (Production Design): Kat is a recent graduate of Temple University where she earned a BFA in Film and Media with a concentration in narrative directing. She has a background in theater and photography and is especially passionate about creating and studying queer horror. In addition to music videos, documentaries, and other narrative shorts Kat wrote and directed Honeymoon Hotel, about a bride killing her abusive husband on their wedding night. It is the second of her two lesbian vampire thesis films and will be released to festivals in 2025.
*More crew members will be announced during the fundraising of the film.*
Cast
Iryna Scarola (Playing Nadya): Iryna Scarola is a dedicated actress who trained with The Barrow Group, The Juilliard Extension Program, and Lee Strasberg’s method acting class. Iryna made her feature film debut in Terror Trips (2021), and has since appeared in several short films. In 2024, she produced and starred in her own film, Horizon, showcasing her passion for storytelling. Drawn to exploring complex subjects, Iryna finds endless inspiration in people and their unique stories.
Jordan Allen Bell (Playing Ivan): Jordan is a theatre, film, and television actor working primarily in New York City. His National Veterans Affairs PSA, Rails (dir. The Fackrell Brothers) is airing and ready for viewing. Spooky Action, where Jordan plays a man searching for his son who was kidnapped by time travellers, is also available now on Prime Video. Over the summer, he played Francis Friar in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing at the Gene Frankel Theater. Jordan is a proud father of two children, and is living the dream of pursuing a career as an actor, only made possible by his loving wife, Erika.
