Valerie Rhymer is a failed concert pianist turned piano teacher. Obsessed with her own shortcomings, she stumbles upon a student whose abilities playing the piano could vault her to the top of her profession. Unfortunately for her, the student’s talent comes with a few unsettling caveats… Set in the world of competitive piano, Pianette is an unflinching and poignant look at an unconventional relationship as it blossoms and ultimately unravels.
The piano has a special place in my heart. The premise of Pianette is partially inspired by my own experience as a competitive pianist. The sense of dread I had during those competitions was palpable. It was a powerful feeling that always stuck with me. When I got to NYU’s Film School I knew that I wanted to create a story set in that high-intensity world. Not only because of the authentic voice I could bring to it, but also because I know the weight that piano can carry in a relationship. My dad was my piano teacher, so playing piano and competing in competitions was something that drove us apart yet also bonded us together.
My inspirations for Pianette include Michael Haneke’s film Amour, Barry Jenkins’ film Moonlight, and the filmography of talented filmmakers like Paul Thomas Anderson and Ida Lupino. Amour, in particular, accomplishes so much of what I hope to do with this film. It creates characters that I care deeply about, a relationship that I fell in love with, and a situation that breaks my heart, all out of small, seemingly insignificant but carefully constructed moments. As an audience member who always appreciates when a film doesn’t go for the easy emotional gut-punch, I love what Haneke was able to do with Amour. Pianette will strive to paint that type of portrait.
YASHA ESKANDAR | Writer/Director
Yasha is a Junior at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, with a major in Film & Television Production and a Minor in the Business of Entertainment, Media and Technology. Born and raised in Plano, Texas, he aspires to be a writer/director. While at Tisch, he has won two Sight & Sound Showcases, for both film and television production.
PRE-PRODUCTION | November 2019
We are currently in the midst of casting, location scouting, and assembling a full crew.
PRODUCTION |December 2019
Principal photography will take place over three days in Brooklyn, NY.
POST-PRODUCTION | January/February 2020
We’ve already assembled an incredible post team, many of whom worked on my last short film, to complete a cut in time for summer and fall festival deadlines.
FESTIVAL SUBMISSIONS | March-April 2020
The film will be submitted to top-notch film festivals including SXSW, New York Film Festival, and Sundance.
Great question! Your donations will allow us to pay for the several shooting locations, renting the lighting & camera equipment, transportation costs, and most importantly, the food for my hard-working crew! The majority of whom are students that are lending their time and talent to this project for free.
Yes I could pull this film off with less money but I wouldn’t be doing right by the story. This is more than just a small passion project; it’s a story I feel I need to share. It’s a chance for me to shed light on the effects of failure and competition on the all-important student teacher relationship. YOUR donation makes that possible, nothing else.
…for reading to the bottom of this page! I appreciate you taking the time to learn more about Pianette, and hope that you’ll consider donating to help bring this project to life. I cannot do it without you!
I know that many of you have donated to passion projects in the past and still, months or even years later, are waiting to see the finished product. I promise that’s not the case this time. PIANETTE will be made available as soon as it has been finished. I take the completion of this project (and your perks!) seriously, and have every intention of sharing the finished film with you as soon as possible.