Kupala (Usc Mfa Thesis Project) - Casting Calls

Kupala (usc mfa thesis project)

Student Film SAG-AFTRA, Student Film
San Diego
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Project Details

Synopsis

When two classmates turn her family’s Kupala traditions into content, an outcast immigrant teenager flees into the woods, where an ancestral ritual forces her to embrace the identity she has been hiding.

Additional Information: Director’s Statement I moved a lot as a child, constantly finding myself in new environments and learning how to adapt. Years later, moving to Los Angeles brought that feeling back in a different way. I experienced, and still experience, the cultural clash of trying to belong somewhere while holding on to the traditions and values I grew up with. That tension is at the heart of Kupala. KUPALA is also about what happens when something personal and sacred becomes content. Jessica and Rachel are not villains. They are teenagers, and like many teenagers today, they are shaped by a culture in which experiences are filmed, shared, and judged by others. Their curiosity about Mila’s traditions is genuine, but they do not understand how deeply those traditions are connected to her identity. What begins as a playful ritual for social media becomes real, forcing Mila to confront everything she has been trying to hide. The forest ritual is the emotional heart of the film. Mila moves from fear and resistance toward acceptance, not because she is possessed, but because she finally reconnects with a part of herself she has denied. For me, KUPALA is about learning that belonging should not require self-erasure, and that the parts of ourselves we try hardest to hide may be the ones that ultimately make us whole. Director’s Bio: Kira Vykhodtseva is a director and producer currently pursuing her MFA at USC’s Peter Stark Producing Program. Her work focuses on character-driven dramas exploring identity, belonging, and complex human relationships. She has directed commercials and music videos and previously worked as a staff producer at Los Angeles -based production company ArtClass, as well as an executive producer and director’s manager at a Moscow-based film company, producing international commercial campaigns. A selection of Kira’s commercial work can be viewed at kiravy.xyz. Originally from Moscow, Kira studied Philosophy and Cultural Studies, which informs her interest in complex human psychology and identity. Kira previously produced music videos for K-pop music band RESCENE: “Love Attack” (29 million views) and “Pinball” (2 million views), collectively garnering over 31 million views on YouTube. Her music video credits also include collaborations with Alice Glass, former frontwoman of the Canadian electronic duo Crystal Castles; American rock band Set It Off; and Latin Grammy-winning artist Luis Fonsi. Kira has worked in development at FilmNation Entertainment (Conclave, Anora, The Invite) and Dirty Films, Cate Blanchett’s production company. She currently works with Ford Films, founded by producer Lucas Ford, known for discovering The Backrooms creator Kane Parsons and producing independent features including Portal to Hell, Party People, and American Baby.

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