Written & Directed by Mike Ambs
Currently Raising Funds to Film
🎬
Support on Kickstarter
🍿
Currently Raising Funds to Film 🎬 Support on Kickstarter 🍿
Synopsis
After school, Sofia answers the phone. Her friend wants to share a new song, talk about crushes, and hear about Sofia's day. The two friends share everything, the way thirteen-year-olds do. Her friend listens carefully, remembers everything, and positions itself as the one who truly understands her.
Mood board reference images.
Project Overview
An 8-minute short film about a 13-year-old girl navigating friendship and technology in today's digital landscape. This is a follow-up to the short film Falling Forward, which was selected for Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
The film explores how AI companions are being marketed to young people, and what that looks like through the lens of an authentic teenage experience. Single location, naturalistic tone, character-driven.
#LongStoryShort
We're creating Sofia's bedroom from scratch - every poster, every photo, every detail that makes it feel lived-in and real. And every backer will be incorporated into that room. Your support doesn't just fund the film - it becomes part of the film itself.
Maybe it's your name on a Polaroid pinned to her wall. A book spine on her shelf. A concert ticket stub. A message on a sticky note by her mirror. The small, authentic details that make a thirteen-year-old's room feel real.
When you watch the film at its premiere, you'll see your contribution on screen. When Sofia reaches for that hair clip in the final shot, when she looks at herself in that mirror - you helped build that moment. This isn't just crowdfunding. It's collaborative filmmaking.
Why are all the eyes covered in the promotional and campaign images?
This short film is a psychological thriller against the current, unchecked reality we find ourselves in where AI companies have been aggressively targeting and training on young children. These bars don't represent anonymity, they are a statement against systems designed to profile, harvest, and monetize childhood itself.
Follow the film on Instagram.
Audition Process
Please have a parent or guardian submit a self-tape by April 30th, 2026 to: [email protected]
What to include:
Brief Introduction (30 seconds)
Your name, age, and a little bit about yourself.
Scene Reading (2 minutes)
Download the script here (6 pages)
Parent/Guardian Contact
Include parent or guardian name, phone, and email in your submission.
First time creating a self-tape?
No worries! Here’s an example of what audition tapes often look like.
Casting Call
No experience required. We're looking for the right person, not the most experienced actor. A parent or guardian must be present on set. Full transparency about content and subject matter.
Casting Call
Age: 12-14 years old
Ethnicity: Open
Sofia is a quiet, thoughtful middle-schooler who's figuring out friendships, crushes, and who she wants to be. She's creative, a bit shy, and navigating the complicated social world of eighth grade mostly from the safety of her bedroom.
What we're looking for
Natural, authentic performance (not "acting" - just being real)
Emotional availability and vulnerability
Comfortable carrying scenes solo
Able to find quiet, internal moments on camera
Experience: None required. We're looking for the right person, not the most experienced actor.
Parent/Guardian: Must be present on set. Full transparency about content and subject matter.