"Good Night” tells the story of Talya, a 12-year-old American Israeli from the New York suburbs at the paramount stage of her adolescent life: Bar and Bat Mitzvah year. But what promised to be a year of celebration and self discovery alongside her closest friends is brought to a sudden halt when her parents announce that the family is moving to Israel. Over the course of the following weekend Talya tries to grapple with the idea of leaving her American friends and life behind, not to mention missing her best friend’s Bat Mitzvah. She begins to question the basic truths she has taken for granted in life -– starting with those told to her by her parents.
This script is extremely close to me – it’s based on the
experience I went through when I was told my family would be moving to
Israel. While I am privileged to have an excellent relationship with
my parents and family today, and they are by far my biggest supporters
and support system, I can’t lie that I was angry when I was told we
were moving. I was angry and I let my parents know it through my
behavior, just as Talya will in the film.
It’s a story about the hard truths of life, but also about the warmth
and love of the people who help us get through these moments. It’s a
story about understanding that one is always alone, but that one is
also always surrounded by family and friends. It’s a story about the
messiness of life, about its nuances, and how these moments both break
us down and build us up.
The intended audience is international and multi-generational: leaving home and the transition out of childhood is relevant across all human experience. The film is planned to be sent for world-wide film festival distribution, and I believe it has the potential to span many categories and not just fall into a specific niché or age category.
This project is currently in the pre-production and financing stage, with key chief crew locked in and the script completed. We plan to cast and finish pre-production in the fall in order to shoot by January-February 2026.
Donations are matchable, and in-kind donations also qualify for tax deductions
All funding will go towards production costs!
Perks
A Thank You in the credits, and a special film sticker!
A handwritten thank you note from Shira + all the perks above!
A Special Thank you to you in the credits + everything above!
An Executive Producer credit + all the above!
Highlights
See all activity12Crew
Shira
Chait (Director and Writer) is a director, colorist, and
filmmaker, currently based in Austin, Texas. Born and raised in New
York, Shira completed her B.A. in Film Studies and American Studies at
Tel Aviv University summa cum laude, and began her M.F.A. in film
production at the University of Texas at Austin in the fall of 2023.
When not working on her own projects, Shira is a freelance colorist
and considers her color work integral to her filmmaking journey.
Shira's works often focus on the liminality of national and personal
identity, and especially on the experience of those in the seams
between cultures. She takes great inspiration from everyday life, and
the nuances that fill our personal stories. “Good Night” will be her
fifth narrative short as director/writer.
Riley Church (Producer) is a graduate of UT Austin, earning a B.A. in Plan II Honors and a B.S. Radio-Television-Film with a certificate in Museum, Archive, and Library Studies. Originally from Austin, they have been selected for over 50 film festivals around the world, including grand prizes for their short documentary, DEBATABLE. Riley is passionate about expanding perspectives via media creation, recently using their skills for the Harris-Walz Presidential Campaign.
Will Florer (Producer) is a Texas-born producer and creative strategist with a passion for developing and sharing stories that matter. A graduate of UT Austin’s Radio-TV-Film and Plan II Honors programs, he has produced several short films including his own undergraduate thesis, Set Me Free. He now works at the University of Texas at Austin for the McCombs School of Business, leading a new university-wide leadership initiative called Texas Trailblazers, and he is thrilled to support Good Night by advising on fiscal strategy.
Adir Elihav Golan (Co-Writer) is from South Africa. He has B.A. in English and Creative writing from Southern New Hampshire University. Adir writes both prose and scripts, his short fantasy story "Crimson Snow" was published on SNHU's Penmen Review. He recently graduated from UT Austin with an MFA in Screenwriting.
Nevo Shirazi (Director of Photography) is a Cinematographer based in Los Angeles. He majored in filmmaking at Sam Spiegel Film School and began his career as a Camera Operator on the acclaimed TV Series DISMISSED (Kan 11) and NORMAL (Netflix). Nevo worked as a Cinematographer on many successful short films featured in renowned festivals such as the Clermont Ferrand Film Festival and POFF Tallinn Black Nights. He earned his Master’s in Cinematography from the American Film Institute, where he shot his thesis film, FOWL PLAY, and filmed two 35mm shorts that were selected to screen at the AFI Visual Essay Showcase. Nevo recently shot his debut feature film.
Sierra Arnold (Production Designer) is a production designer based Austin, Texas who discovered her love of visual storytelling in the art department and has never looked back. This will be her third year in her journey to be a full-time production designer for narrative film.
Activity
A Thank You in the credits, and a special film sticker!
A handwritten thank you note from Shira + all the perks above!
A Special Thank you to you in the credits + everything above!
An Executive Producer credit + all the above!
