Lyric Proof of concept Short Film

A heartfelt coming of age story, about a lonely 11-year-old girl who reconnects with her estranged father over their shared love of music.

THE STORY

Lyric follows an 11-year-old girl with a fiery passion for music, desperately wanting a spot at her school's annual showcase, but really, wants an applause above all else. Lyric practices her tiny keyboard many times a day. When her estranged father, Ewan makes a sudden return in her life, Lyric struggles to connect with him, but a shared love of music shifts her perspective of him.

Ewan himself is musically gifted, but struggles with alcoholism and unemployment. He keeps a tiny folded piece of paper that he uses as a guitar pick, taped to the back of his sobriety pin. He plays Lyric a melody, after writing her a piano piece  for school.

Lyric's piano teacher was so moved by the piece Ewan had written for her, she gives her a spot in the family portion of the showcase leaving Lyric elated. She rushes home to share the good news with Ewan, only to find out; Ewan had relapsed.  

When Lyric discovers a lullaby Ewan had written for her, Lyric plays it on her keyboard, despite a chunk of the paper missing. Ewan awakes to the sound, he emerges with his guitar - untaping the tiny piece of paper folded at the back of his sobriety pin, he plays the lullaby for Lyric, note for note, chord by chord.

When finished, Ewan hands the tiny folded piece of paper to Lyric. As Lyric unfolds the paper, it turns out to be the missing piece of the lullaby. Lyric alligns it to the rest of the sheet music and plays it beautifully on her little keyboard.

In that moment Lyric finally gets the applause she's been yearning for. 

MOODBOARD + SHOT INSPIRATION

THE IMPACT 

Why does this story matter?

Lyric explores the quiet emotional world of a child navigating grief, abandonment, and the complicated love of a flawed parent. This coming-of-age drama shows that healing isn’t linear and that children feel deeply, even when they can’t find the words.

The film reflects the realities many families face - addiction, relapse, reconciliation, and the fragile hope of second chances. Through Lyric’s eyes, music becomes more than a hobby; it’s her emotional language, her shield, and eventually a bridge back to her father.

This story matters because it not only reminds us that broken relationships can mend through patience and shared passions but, most importantly, that children deserve to be heard, and parents deserve a path to redemption.

Ultimately, Lyric aims to spark conversations about family wounds, the process of healing, and the often-hidden emotional worlds children navigate.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Susan Daniel is an Award winning Australian-American Writer/Director on the Autism Specturm. Graduated from Randwick TAFE with an Advanced Diploma in Screen and Media Film and Television, she has since, made a name for herself in filmmaking. Her first ever Short Film Death of a Horseman: Samuel Barrie's Journey in creating an LP was officially selected to screen at the Miami 4 Social Change Youth Film Festival, a student film she made during her first semester of Film School when she was 22.

Since then, Susan has a number of acreditions; her short film, The Dealer on Campus won Best Short Film at the Reale International Film Festival (2020) and made was offically selected to screen in festivals across the World including the Roma Short Film Festival and the Seoul International Film Festival (2021). Her most recent Short Film, The Audition was screened at the Newcastle International Short Film Festival, nominated for best no/low budget short film for Short to the Point's Monthly Film competion and even was an Audience Choice recipient at Lift-Off Sessions 10 part of the New Voices Catergory.

She continues to aspire all with her work.

 We are raising funds to cover essential production costs, including:

• Filming Expenses
• Food/catering
• Transportation
• Post Production Expenses
• Equipment
• Festival/Marketing

Funding Target: AUD $4000

Every contribution counts to help bring to life this beautiful short!