Remnants of Nova tells the story of Dani and Nova in the midst of a chaotic relationship.
Dani Cadeaux is a rising queer artist, garnering a large social media following that has led to her first live performance at a venue in Jersey City. Her partner and the band's guitarist, Nova, has been struggling with depression for years. As the pressures of Dani’s career take over, Nova continues to feel more and more isolated, left on the sideline, and no longer a priority.
The morning of the concert, Nova confesses they don’t have it in them to play in the show. In a fury, Dani gives Nova an ultimatum, play in the show or their relationship is over. At the turning point of their relationship, Nova and Dani break up, leaving Dani without her guitarist and more importantly her emotional lifeline. Dani scrambles to find a replacement and get her show off without any hiccups, the pressure mounting with each passing minute.
Remnants of Nova is written by James Barker and Kimmie Devereux. Story by Kimmie Devereux. Production by Richard Ormsby with Rock and Sky Productions.
From Simple Idea to Feature Film Dream
As the story came to fruition, James and Kimmie realized that Remnants of Nova wasn’t meant to solely be a short film; these characters deserved to be fleshed out in a way that only a feature film can do.
After talking with producer Richard Ormsby, the decision was made to use the short film format as a “proof of concept” to show investors, filmmakers, and the rest of the world what the feature film will feel like. This gives them, as independent, hungry filmmakers, a chance to create their story in a pocket-sized way as they grow their film and investor base. Learn more about the film's creators below:
Rising Queer Screenwriter/Songwriter Kimmie Devereux: Fighting for Mental Health Awareness in the Queer Community
Over the past few years, Kimmie Devereux, an LGBTQ+ pop artist based in Nashville, has garnered a devoted fan base within the online queer community thanks to her music.
By openly sharing her own mental health journey on social media, Kimmie has created a safe haven for her followers, allowing them to feel comfortable confiding in her with their own mental health struggles. In the fall of 2021, a follower reached out to Kimmie, bravely sharing their struggles with suicidal ideation. At the time, Kimmie was actively involved with The Trevor Project, a non-profit organization focused on suicide prevention in LGBTQ+ youth, and was able to provide resources for them to get the help they needed. Over time, they formed a bond and an internet friendship, where Kimmie was consistently there to listen whenever they needed someone to lean on. One late winter night, Kimmie received a call from this friend saying they wanted to end their own life. This was the moment Kimmie realized she wasn’t always going to be present when they were in this dark place.
Being a songwriter, the only thing Kimmie knew to do was write. "For LJ" became a song that conveyed a message of hope and resilience, which then became the catalyst for the captivating story that unfolds within Remnants of Nova.
Writer/Director James Barker: Tackling Mental Health From a Deeply Personal Perspective
Tackling the trials of mental health in a sincere and realistic way has been a desire for writer/director James Barker ever since he was hospitalized in the fall of 2018.
Struggling with depression for most of his life, and intense suicidal ideation after the loss of a close friend in college, James spent a week in a behavioral health clinic in New Jersey. Not only was this a profound personal experience, but it opened his eyes to the reality of how many people struggle with mental illness to varying degrees.
After years of growth through therapy, internal reflection, and artistic expression, James grew into a person that wanted to share this cathartic experience with others who are struggling in their own way, hoping to make the world just a little nicer and a bit less lonely.
How ‘Remnants of Nova’ Was Born
In September of 2022, James came to Kimmie wanting to collaborate together on a project of some sorts. After years of knowing each other, Kimmie and James had a short-hand, feeling comfortable sharing their most intimate struggles.
Kimmie expressed to James the experience she had with the friend struggling with
suicidal ideation – an experience that resonated deeply with James. They knew this was the starting point for their story and Remnants of Nova began to flourish. Hours-long conversations, many stemming from personal, emotional experiences, drove the story to where it is today.
They poured themselves into Dani and Nova, seeing not only themselves, but their friends and loved ones in these characters.
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