Private Project

Awakening

Suffering from sleep paralysis, a lonely young woman fights to overcome her sexual trauma after meeting a kindred spirit and potential lover online. But she soon finds it’s impossible to move forward without confronting her past.

  • James Legris
    Director
    I Want You Baby, Getaway
  • James Legris
    Writer
    I Want You Baby, Getaway
  • Nora Abayomi Papke
    Writer
  • James Legris
    Producer
    I Want You Baby, Getaway
  • Ryan Shuler
    Producer
    Remember/Tomorrow, I Want You Baby, Kissing Other People
  • Ari Veach
    Producer
    Remember/Tomorrow, Kissing Other People
  • Nora Abayomi Papke
    Key Cast
    "Jessie"
    Law & Order: Organized Crime, I Want You Baby; Black Moon, White Rabbit
  • James Legris
    Key Cast
    "Lucas"
    Murder at Blackthorne Manor, I Want You Baby, Getaway
  • Ari Veach
    Key Cast
    "The Assailant"
    Remember/Tomorrow, Exorsisters
  • Sheldon Walker
    Director of Photography
    We Love New York, Life to the Lees, I Want You Baby
  • Sally SangHee Bae
    Production Designer
    BLUR: A HuMech Story, Big News, A Quiet Odyssey
  • Ryan Shuler
    Editor
    K2 TOG, Remember/Tomorrow, I Want You Baby
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Psychological, Drama, Romance
  • Runtime:
    22 minutes 41 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 19, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    30,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital (8K)
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director - James Legris
Director Statement

The pandemic changed the world, and it certainly changed the way we create and exist as artists. “Awakening” was born in the Fall of 2020, and it was a thrilling experience bringing a personal story to life at a time when the world was striving for connection. In a sense, that’s what “Awakening” is about -- two souls seeking a deeper connection amidst all the chaos of the modern city. But it’s also a piece about survival in a darker sense as well. Many survivors of sexual violence don’t tell their truths for a long time, if ever. Many things feed into this pattern of behavior, and that makes the road to healing oftentimes bumpy. This story is addressing the obligation we as survivors owe to ourselves: the necessity to heal, so that we can be open to new connections and receive the love we all deserve.

-Nora Abayomi Papke, Lead Actress & Co-Writer (Story by)