MARIANA ARÔXA
A Jillack of Many Trades. Reckless Optimist.
In 1899, a widow on the brink of suicide has
a primal awakening
in the office of an offbeat doctor.
O | The Short Film
The Story
We journey into the day widow Elena Williamson (aka Elena Hernandez) goes to see a famous doctor in a nearby town (Dr. Johnson) as her last resort to help heal the severe depression that has been driving her into daily suicidal thoughts.
During her consultation, she discovers Dr. Johnson is not who she imagined him to be. His demeanor leads her to trust his process of a novel treatment he brings from England.
She experiences her first orgasm through this treatment, and discovers a whole new life lies ahead of her.
The first step of healing herself, and millions of women that come after her, officially begins, as she becomes of one of the pioneers in Pleasure Activism of her time.
ABOUT THE CHARACTERS
ELENA HERNANDEZ, formerly ELENA WILLIAMSON
(Mariana Arôxa)
Elena was raised in privilege. She was one of the two twin daughters of José Hernandez -- a California oil baron who struck gold by striking oil in different regions of Southern California. Her family demanded perfection of both siblings.
Her sister, Christine, and her both got married at 18 -- her sister's husband owned textile companies in New York where they moved immediately after her marriage.
Elena married the wealthy oil mogul Frederick Williamson, who consistently abused her, under the guise of procreation.
On a trip to trades in Europe, his ship sank before he reached European shores. His immediate blood family with him, leaving Elena with all of his inheritance.
A widow at the age of 24, she was left rich, yet completely dissociated from her body and identity -- a ghost in a human body.
DR. AMOS JOHNSON (Mason Heidger)
Amos was born in Ferndale, CA in 1872. His father, Joshua Johnson, was one of the most prominent doctors in the region. Despite his reputation, Dr. Johnson could not save his wife, who died of tuberculosis when Amos was 16 years old. This tragedy profoundly impacted Amos' emotional wellbeing, since he was attached to his mother by the hip.
When Amos turned 18, his father sent him to St. Thomas Medical School in London. There he went on to receive the most advanced medical education with the promise of returning to take over the family practice upon graduation.
In London, he met a British medicine student, James Geshwald. They formed a special bond that went well beyond friendship.
Once Amos concluded his studies, his father summoned him to take over the practice in Ferndale. Joshua Johnson then immediately retired and moved to Thailand, a dream he had since he was young. Amos was back in Ferndale, but missing London terribly. The Ferndale townspeople did not take this young and eccentric new Dr. Johnson kindly. Amos poured his pain and rejection into his work, and began pioneering medical revolutions in his spare time.
WHERE THIS STORY TAKES US
Our intention with this short is to showcase a small but crucial window of life between two characters that clash to heal one another, in their own unique and imperfect ways.
Mariana Arôxa has written 8 (45-minute) episodes expanding on the lives of Elena, Amos and the characters that surround them. "O" is the intro card to pitch this mini-series to streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Paramount +.
Our why
"So much of the fight women have been in historically has been of survival amidst spaces of negation — especially around pleasure and ownership of their bodies."
- adrienne maree brown, Pleasure Activist
"The fear that we cannot grow beyond whatever distortions we may find within ourselves keeps us docile and loyal and obedient, externally defined, and leads us to accept many facets of our oppression as women. (...)
But when we begin to live from within outward, in touch with the power of the erotic within ourselves, and allowing that power to inform and illuminate our actions upon the world around us, then we begin to be responsible to ourselves in the deepest sense. For as we begin to recognize our deepest feelings, we begin to give up, of necessity, being satisfied with suffering and self-negation, and with the numbness which so often seems like their only alternative in our society." - Uses of The Erotic: The Erotic As Power, Audrey Lorde
"As a woman with a strong Catholic upbringing, I am still healing from the trauma of not freely knowing my body, of the narratives of my pleasure as a sin that must be avoided at all costs. The story "O" tells is also my own, and that of so many others who have been taught to deny the joy their bodies can bring, instead of celebrating it. Through this film, we hope to offer a catharsis towards reclaiming that with is our birthright." -- Mariana Arôxa
We aim to spread this female pleasure-driven treasure to international film festivals and Omeleto (the YouTube reference channel for top level short films), and even more expansively -- to use this art piece as our pitch for the mini-series that expands on the stories that lead to this short experience.
Mariana also has two other historical shorts and a sci-fi pilot in her writing portfolio. "O" is intended as a calling card to show the vibrational tone of the stories she writes about -- focused on justice, liberation, freedom of expression and gender fluidity.
location
The perfect location doesn't exi---
Private Historical Victorian Home, Glendale, CA
(aka the location we dream of, for all the shots we need. The photos above reference the rooms we will be using for the film)
historical authenticity: wardrobe
The wardrobe of 1899 is quite intricate and we're making sure we bring the fullest authenticity to this project. The corset, specifically, carries a lot of weight into Elena's storyline -- the type of corset she wears is not typical of what most women of her time chose. There is a very peculiar reason for it, under wraps for now.
Our inspiration has come directly from historical research on the fashion of the times (as it relates to the character's specificities), as well as shows such as The Gilded Age (HBO), 1883 (Paramount +), Enola Holmes (Netflix).
low budget, high production value:
We are incredibly blessed to have a lot of high tier collaborators (more on that below, on "Our team" section. This means that a film that could've easily cost $80,000+ to make, is now a $33,000 budget film.
The quality of the audiovisual product we are bringing to life is of the finest Hollywood standards and the bulk of our funds will be used to pay the crew, rent equipment, the location, and all insurance/safety costs.
Here's a quick breakdown of where the funds will go:
Our team:
Mariana Arôxa | Writer + Actor | Elena Hernandez
With over a decade working as a professional actor in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Mariana began writing as a creative outlet to develop her acting craft. She then realized she had a love for writing as deep as her love for acting. She then began to write characters that she couldn't find on casting profiles. It's been a journey of love ever since. She also works as an actor in film, theatre, video games, and as a voice-over artist. She is now based in Los Angeles.
Mason Heidger | Actor | Dr. Amos Johnson
Mason has been a professional actor for over a decade since graduating from The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, in 2010. He has since appeared in over 40 films, including 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, as Officer Rucka. He also won Best Performance of the Year at the 2019 Actor's Awards in Los Angeles.
Remy Neymarc | Cinematography
A rare talent of visual storytelling and a reference for visual artistry in New York. He has brought masterpieces to life at Neymarc Visuals -- a company he shares with his brother, Andre Neymarc. He has been establishing a solid filmmaking career with his eye for magnificent creations.
A sample of his award-winning work can be found here, featured on Omeleto. We are one lucky team to have his invaluable vision directing the photography of this art piece.
Gerson Lopes | Music + Photography
A multi-hyphenate artist, Gerson is an established photographer with a high level education in music composition.
Gerson has a keen eye and ear for magic.
This film beckons a very delicate and specific musical flow of storytelling. Gerson's energy, intuition and talents yet another elevation for the production value of this art piece.
Rae Cofsky | Director
Director, actor, choreographer and coach, Rae is originally from a small town in central Massachusetts, and is now based in LA. She has a B.A. in Theatre Arts + Communication from Westfield State University and has earned her MFA at the Academy of Art University (San Francisco). She is extremely passionate about collaborating with artists on social justice, womxn and LGBTQIA+ driven art pieces. It is an honor to have her sensibility guiding O's direction.
Vera Vanatko | Assistant Production/ On Set Angel
Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Vera Ludmila is known for her exquisite healthy dishes with a Brazilian touch, great taste in music, and an absolute passion for filmmaking. She has worked with countless music and film legends and lovers ever since her chef career started in New York in the 80's. She is currently living in Los Angeles. More info on her catering work can be found here.
We are now seeking to fill the following crew positions:
Grip
Gaffer
Slate
1st AD
Sound Engineer
HMU
If you know of any diverse, female identifying and/or LGBTQIA+ rockstars who share their talents in such roles, we are HERE FOR IT. Check out the contact form below to reach out with your recommendations!
be a part of the magic:
what you get for making a movie with us:
a.k.a. let's talk rewards!
We believe in serving the Masters of Art and Beauty as a source of collective expansion. By contributing to this project, you are doing the same.
Gratitude is a powerful manifesting frequency and we are incredibly grateful for your support. There are many tiers of rewards beyond our gratitude.
You might be wondering why we offer contribution tiers of repetitive numbers: We believe in the power of sacred geometry, so we choose to offer our perks in alignment with this high vibrational frequency. Here they are:
At $11:
What it does: It covers one meal for one of our crew members.
What you'll get: Special Thank You in the film credits, and our gratitude for your support coming right back to you in magic and miracles designed for all you desire. It's powerful magic.
At $22:
What it does: It covers two meals for our crew.
What you'll get:
(1) Special Thank You in the credits
(2) Social Media shout-out (you let us know which platform and handle)
(3) 2 exclusive stickers from our film
At $33:
What it does: It covers 3 meals for our on-set family. You're literally feeding art in a 333 alignment, and magnetizing more support far beyond money for us.
What you'll get:
(1) Special Thank You in the credits
(2) Social Media shout-out (you let us know which platform and handle)
(3) 3 exclusive stickers from our film
At $55:
What it does: Feeds 3 crew members for a 10 hour shoot day.
What you'll get:
(1) Next Level Special Thanks in the credits
(2) Social Media shout-out (you let us know which platform and handle)
(3) 8 exclusive stickers from our film
(4) A personal note from Mariana
At $88:
What it does: You'll feed 5 cast/crew members for a day's shoot, along with coffee for the team! Rockstar vibes.
What you'll get:
(1) Next Level Special Thanks in the credits
(2) Social Media shout-out (you let us know which platform and handle)
(3) 4 exclusive stickers from our film
(4) A personal note from Mariana
(5) A one-of-a-kind Polaroid memento from set -- this will be more valuable than you can imagine someday. We guarantee it (we are a team of clairvoyant filmmakers).
At $111:
What it does: You'll help pay for 10% of our insurance costs to make magic happen safely for us all. Angel vibrations.
What you'll get: Abundance Flow Special Thank You in the credits, a social media shout out (you let us know which platform and handle), 4 exclusive stickers from our film, a personal note from Mariana, a one-of-a-kind Polaroid memento from set, and a link invite to one of our virtual screenings.
(1) Next Level Special Thanks in the credits
(2) Social Media shout-out (you let us know which platform and handle)
(3) 4 exclusive stickers from our film
(4) A personal note from Mariana
(5) A one-of-a-kind Polaroid memento from set -- this will be more valuable than you can imagine someday. We guarantee it (we are a team of clairvoyant filmmakers).
(6) A link invite to our first virtual screening!
At $222:
What it does: You'll help pay for one day of rental for our basic equipment (camera).
What you'll get:
(1) Next Level Special Thanks in the credits
(2) Social Media shout-out (you let us know which platform and handle)
(3) 4 exclusive stickers from our film
(4) A personal note from Mariana
(5) A one-of-a-kind Polaroid memento from set -- this will be more valuable than you can imagine someday. We guarantee it (we are a team of clairvoyant filmmakers).
(6) A link invite to our first virtual screening,
(7) Be the first to watch an edited scene of our final film (it's a really, really, good one too...).
At $555:
What it does: You'll fund a 10 hour work day for two of our crew members.
What you'll get:
(1) Abundance Flow Extra Special Thank You credit on our film,
(2) Social Media shout-out (you let us know which platform and handle)
(3) 8 exclusive stickers from our film
(4) A personal note from Mariana
(5) A one-of-a-kind Polaroid memento from set -- this will be more valuable than you can imagine someday. We guarantee it (we are a team of clairvoyant filmmakers)
(6) A link invite to our first virtual screening,
(7) Be the first to watch an edited scene of our final film,
(8) Receive 4 tickets to see the first live screening of the film,
(9) Full access to our behind the scenes exclusive materials.
At $777:
What it does: You'll fund our production design materials and props that will make our set feel like Elena's home and Dr. Johnson's office with the authenticity of Victorian times.
What you'll get:
(1) Angel Guardian of the Arts credit on our film,
(2) Social Media shout-out (you let us know which platform and handle)
(3) 8 exclusive stickers from our film
(4) A very personal note from Mariana
(5) A one-of-a-kind Polaroid memento from set -- this will be more valuable than you can imagine someday. We guarantee it (we are a team of clairvoyant filmmakers)
(6) A link invite to our first virtual screening,
(7) Be the first to watch an edited scene of our final film,
(8) Receive 4 tickets to see the first live screening of the film,
(9) Full access to our behind the scenes exclusive materials.
At $1,111:
What it does: You'll have funded 80% of our rental costs for a 12 hour day shoot on our dream location.
What you'll get:
(1) PATRON OF THE ARTS film credit on IMDb,
(2) Social Media shout-out (you let us know which platform and handle)
(3) 8 exclusive stickers from our film
(4) A very personal note from Mariana
(5) A one-of-a-kind Polaroid memento from set -- this will be more valuable than you can imagine someday. We guarantee it (we are a team of clairvoyant filmmakers)
(6) A link invite to our first virtual screening,
(7) Be the first to watch an edited scene of our final film,
(8) Receive 4 tickets to see the first live private screening of the film,
(9) Full access to our behind the scenes exclusive materials.
(10) Access to our private live stream on set during shoot days (a Big Brother of Victorian Era film Making)
At $5,555:
What it does: You've fully funded our location costs (including fees/deposit, et al).
What you'll get:
(1) PATRON OF THE ARTS film credit and ASSOCIATE PRODUCER credit on IMDb,
(2) Social Media shout-out (you let us know which platform and handle)
(3) 8 exclusive stickers from our film
(4) A very, very personal note from Mariana
(5) A one-of-a-kind Polaroid memento from set -- this will be more valuable than you can imagine someday. We guarantee it (we are a team of clairvoyant filmmakers)
(6) A link invite to our first virtual screening,
(7) Be the first to watch an edited scene of our final film,
(8) Receive 4 tickets to see the first live private screening of the film,
(9) Full access to our behind the scenes exclusive materials,
(10) Access to our private live stream on set during shoot days (a Big Brother of Victorian Era film Making)
(11) FULL ACCESS TO THE SET ON SHOOT DAYS for you and a guest.
At $11,111:
What it does: You've funded a third of the film. You are literally bringing 33.3% of what we need to make this magic happen with full authenticity, beauty and safety. You're calling in the most powerful magic there is — that of art and beauty, expressed.
What you'll get:
(1) PATRON OF THE ARTS film credit and EXECUTIVE PRODUCER credit on IMDb, a social media shout out (you let us know which platform and handle), 8 exclusive stickers from our film, a personal note from Mariana, a one-of-a-kind Polaroid memento from set,
(2) Social Media shout-out (you let us know which platform and handle)
(3) 8 exclusive stickers from our film
(4) A very, very, very personal note from Mariana
(5) A one-of-a-kind Polaroid memento from set -- this will be more valuable than you can imagine someday. We guarantee it (we are a team of clairvoyant filmmakers)
(6) A link invite to our first virtual screening,
(7) Be the first to watch an edited scene of our final film,
(8) Receive 6 tickets to see the first live screening of the film,
(9) Full access to our behind the scenes exclusive materials,
(10) FULL ACCESS TO THE SET ON SHOOT DAYS for you and a guest,
(11) Access to our private live stream on set during shoot days (a Big Brother of Victorian Era film Making)
(12) As an extra special piece of awesome, our celeb fashion photographer, Gerson Lopes, will do one exclusive photo shoot of you (and a guest to join you) on one of the Victorian rooms of our location (that are not in use during the film shoot).
At $33,333:
You're officially the Medici of our Michelangelo vibrations. You're calling in the magic of all Theater Gods upon your life, and it's coming swiftly. You know in your soul what it means to serve Art and Magic, and you're in full trust of the infinite miracles it brings.
What it does: Well, it GREEN-LIGHTS this art piece with more than enough abundance to make it an eternal space of expansion to anyone who sees it. Especially those calling in freedom, body reclaiming and catharsis. You are making it possible for this project to flow as a source of pleasure activism into the flow of the film industry. You are literally expanding many, many lives -- starting with our team.
What you get: You get every single perk aforementioned at the PATRON OF THE ARTS tier and 50% of all profits of this film (as it enters streaming services). You will also be our number one guest at every film festival's red carpet. You will be the true star of the film. On our next projects, you will always be thanked in the credits -(IMDB included), because you were one of the first to believe in our team's potential to bring harmony between commercial feasibility and art/beauty.
talk to us!
We're here to expand the original and independent filmmaking experience to the fullest. If you'd like to connect, email us at: