Private Project

"Our Hands" from Fallout: A New American Musical

In the late 1980s, one family flees Soviet Ukraine's chaos, landing in Brighton Beach, New York—a lively enclave known as "Little Odessa." Forced to start over, they trade respected careers for manual labor jobs, confronting the harsh realities of immigrant life. Their modest home becomes both a sanctuary and a symbol of uncertainty. The father, a former physics teacher now driving a cab, tries to become a teacher again. As the family struggles to find their place, they find hope and resilience in one simple idea: we build our future by working with our hands.

  • Alex Teplish
    Director
  • Dmitry Koltunov
    Director
  • Dmitry Koltunov
    Writer
  • David Goldsmith
    Writer
  • Dmitry Koltunov
    Music & Lyrics
  • Marissa Hecker
    Vocals
  • Chris Kelly
    Music Production
  • Matthew Dean Marsh
    Vocal & String Arrangements
  • Chris Kelly
    Bass
  • Amanda Lo
    Violin
  • Matthew Dean Marsh
    Piano
  • Dmitry Koltunov
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Music Video, Short, Web / New Media
  • Genres:
    Drama, Family, Music Video
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 6 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 15, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital AI Generated
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Alex Teplish, Dmitry Koltunov

Dmitry Koltunov and Alex Teplish are visionary creatives who combine technology and artistry to produce evocative multimedia experiences. Immigrants from the Soviet Union, Dmitry and Alex arrived in the United States as Jewish refugees, each forging successful careers in technology while nurturing profound passions for the arts.

Dmitry, a talented composer, crafted the musical score for the Broadway-bound production "Fallout," highlighted by the emotionally powerful song, "Our Hands." To amplify the storytelling, Dmitry teamed up with Alex, whose pioneering work in artificial intelligence-driven animation offered a groundbreaking visual dimension.

Together, Dmitry and Alex developed an immersive animation experience that vividly captures the essence of their formative neighborhoods and celebrates the rich cultural tapestry that shaped their identities. Their work seamlessly merges musical artistry with cutting-edge technology, creating a unique snapshot of the vibrant communities that continue to inspire them.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This film captures the very heart of the immigrant experience—it's a story about dreams, sacrifices, and the powerful love that drives us to build a brighter future for our children. Set in the mid-1980s, it traces the immigration journey of over one million Soviet Jews who courageously escaped persecution and antisemitism in the Soviet Union, leaving everything behind to start anew in America. The phrase that became the chorus was originally spoken by Dmitry's grandmother, words steeped in wisdom and courage that were later transformed into a song. She said, 'We work with our hands, so our children can work with their minds, so their children can work with their hearts.' This film is dedicated to honoring the extraordinary family members who bravely left their entire worlds behind, forging a path of hope so that the next generation could have opportunities they themselves could only dream of.