LOVE & VODKA was at the European Film Market in Berlin, Germany, during mid-February 2024, checking out all the film market stands and companies in research for the day that our feature is completed and ready for sales and distribution.

One of the key findings at the market this year outlined the need to create content that fights against stereotypes and provides an opportunity to see a culture in a different light.

After EFM, we are confident that LOVE & VODKA is a film that will do well in the marketplace with viewers of all ages and backgrounds. As we push through post-production, we look forward to engaging with sales companies and distributors for our future release.

Hello Everyone! I

t's been a busy week, full of ups and downs, and so I'm writing to you all to catch you up. We finished our Final Cut -- our Ukrainian editor, Yakiv, finished the last cuts to LOVE & VODKA and it felt like a major accomplishment.

Those GoFundMe contributions made helped me to pay him another installment of the $7000 that I owe him as editor. Thank you!

I still owe him around $3000, which for some people may not be a lot of money, but for me right now, after not being able to work due to the film industry union strikes, and after already spending so much of my own money toward this passion project, feels like a lot.

We still also need to get the sound post done, as well as color grading and pay for some stock footage.

This past week, I felt a bit down, to be honest.

​Many established producers will tell you that its harder to make a micro-budget passion project with unknowns than it is a multi-million dollar, packaged picture with bankable stars -- and though I haven't experienced that myself, I can say that when you are taking a chance on unknown actors and you, yourself, are not yet considered "known" as a director (even IF you DO have one feature under your belt that has done very well... in my case, "Darcy") -- all I can say that pushing this project forward has felt, at times, as if I'm pushing a bolder uphill with gale-force winds blowing straight at me.

The one thing that keeps me going is that it's turning out to be a lovely little film. The performances are delightful. It's full of good laughs. It's honest. And it makes me cry during the heart-felt moments. So I'm very proud of it. If I weren't, I couldn't put myself out there.

Look, if I had the right organizations to back me and push this picture along, I know it would do well. And I'm definitely working toward that end. But it takes constant work and the ability to put yourself out there again, and again.

I'm including this video of our Associate Producer Ariel Wan who is someone on my side. She's believed in me from he get go and recorded this video before we had our first film production crowdfunding campaign.

I'll come back soon with an updated version because - just recently - Ariel viewed the Final Cut and is extremely excited to see what we've made. It's a wonderful feeling to show what you've made to the very people who believed in you from the get-go and hear their encouraging and satisfied feedback.

They took a chance on you and you didn't disappoint them. To that end, I'm asking you to take a chance on us and this film.

Even if you don't have funds yourself, perhaps you know of the right Ukrainian organization that is looking to support a film about the American-Ukrainian transatlantic friendship.

By supporting #LOVEANDVODKAMOVIE ... you are supporting activism in the form of a movie. We've done our best to provide hope to Ukrainian refugees and give them something to be hopeful and happy about... Thank you. Heidi

As many of you may know from reading the last blog entry or by checking out any of our socials, the #LoveandVodkaMovie is in post-production, and more specifically, we have started a GoFundMe to raise funds for the finalization of the film. Among other things, these funds will be going towards color correction as well as sound post. 

In my opinion, it becomes clear how much cinema relies on sound, especially in its absence. This I have realized while watching the initial drafts of the film, but also through other films that I have seen recently. The clearest example of this is in The Boy and the Heron, a 2023 release from the legend Hayao Miyazaki. This film has a lot of magical qualities, from the illustration and animation to the beautiful foley art and soundtrack. The sound design is really beautiful, allowing the audience, well at the very least me, to be transported into the world within the film. Although Love and Vodka is not in the same vein as The Boy and the Heron, I hope it can become a film that produces a similar magical experience.

All the best for now, and please consider donating to our GoFundMe!

​Sincerely, 
Love and Vodka Intern, Sophie 

привіт (Hello) Everyone! 

We've got our #GoFundMe page up and running and hope you will consider taking a look, watching our #teasertrailer and sharing to spread the good word.

As we near the finish line of the overall creative process, having transitioned from production to post, we need to go into #crowdfunding mode one more time to pay for everything.

But we always like to make it fun and so there are going to be cool videos and updates for you to read along the way.

Thanks so much and see you on the other side, hopefully -- in the cinema!

Best,
Heidi
Producer/Director

Hey everybody! It's been a while...

I hope all of you had a wonderful New Year and holiday season and am wishing you rest and relaxation for 2024. That would certainly be beneficial for us folks on the #LoveandVodkamovie. In terms of film updates, our team has been working on the editing process, and we are all very excited about the progress. Everything is looking good! Additionally, we are making progress on the sound design and composition ideas for the film. 

Will be posting weekly updates so don't forget to check in,

xoxo,
the #loveandvodkamovie team

Well, we did it!  After 45 days and a LOT of generosity from our supporters, we reached our goal for production on the crowdfunding site Seed&Spark and went DIRECTLY into production not even a week later. 

There is so much to catch up on and share.
​
For now, we want to send out our heartfelt thanks from Michigan to all those around the world who sent both dollar pledges and in-kind donations. We appreciate you and will be keeping you up-to-date on our latest.
​

We did it!  From the end of June to early July 2023, we started and ended production in a mind-bending 11 days!  Thanks to everyone who helped to make our dream of gathering our shots and coverage a reality.  Now onto post-production!

When the world changes while you're trying to make a movie?  What if the story of the very country you wanted to make the movie about changes - and you can't help but become swept up in it?

If you are like us, you work to revise the original story and give it that twist that will not only keep up with the times, but also help lead change for the better.

We've been keeping up with the times of Ukraine over the past five years. They are ever-changing.

One thing that we have learned along the way is about how passionate and resilient Ukrainian people are -- and how much they become even more so in the face of adversity.

Can you still make a rom-com while a war is going on? We like to think that we are preparing for better times and focussing on love and hope. It's not denial. Nor is it lack of caring - far from it. We believe that you must spread love to extinguish hate; especially when you are on outside looking in.

No one likes to feel helpless. As filmmakers, we believe that cinema is the way to be the change you want to see in the world.

We've hit a bump. Stopped at 56%. But that's okay - we've got 20 days left and we know people have been busy!

Look, there's lots going on the world today. Interest rates are high. Violence is in every headline. People are worried about whether they should save or spend.

And yet, there is goodness out there. You just have to focus on it and hold it in your heart and mind. Sounds kitschy in a cynical atmosphere, but what you believe does come true.
That's why we want to make this film. We believe that you can rely on hope (and hard word) to get through the tough times.

The good news is that we have backers for post production in Europe! The tough news is that we need to get through production to get to post.

Join us on our journey as we get our next pledges and help us make our hopes, beliefs and dreams a reality!

xoxoxo,
Your LOVE & VODKA Team