THE OFFER
NARRATIVE SUMMARY
Together Tomorrow has been in development for over two years and has already made a meaningful impact here in North Carolina. Produced by the Carrboro, NC-based production company High Dive Studio, Together Tomorrow brings partners together from NYC, LA and NC for a true collaborative film project.
In August 2026, we recorded the music and lyrics at Sonark Studios in rural Hillsborough, NC. The Triangle-based Heart of Carolina Jazz Orchestra performed the original score, joined by actor-singers from Chapel Hill, New York City, and Chicago, as well as music supervisor/producer Donny Dykowsky from New Jersey. Our producing partners and composer/lyricists, Lisette Glodowski and Richard C. Walter, are based in Chapel Hill and Raleigh.
We will film at the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center in downtown Wilmington, NC with local production partner Honey Head Films, who have become trusted friends over the last few years. Their commitment to independent filmmaking and the North Carolina film community is a big part of what makes this project possible.
AUDIENCE & DISTRIBUTION
PROJECT IMPACT
Together Tomorrow, given its rich inspiration rooted in classic MGM musicals (Singin' in the Rain, Hello Dolly, etc.), has significant potential for broad edutainment value at various venues throughout North Carolina.
We intend to hold Q&As regarding the film's production geared towards high school- and college-aged filmmakers, composers, choreographers, actors, etc., as well as lecture-style presentations regarding Broadway's 'Golden Age' and how it shaped the project.
Together Tomorrow is an original musical short film exploring feminine friendship and collaboration against the backdrop of a competitive art fair. Divided into three acts and three songs—“What Do You See?”, “Something Else,” and “Tomorrow”—the film blends theater with classic Hollywood musicals to celebrate friendship and the beauty of creating together.
The film draws particular inspiration from musicals of the 1940s and early 1950s, including Cover Girl (1944), On the Town (1949), and An American in Paris (1951). We will use a square 1.375:1 aspect ratio to emphasize full-body movement while allowing for intimate close-ups during pivotal emotional moments.
The artistic partnerships of Basquiat/Warhol and Truffaut/Godard are also significant inspirations. Their distinct styles merged to create innovative work that was not simply “better” than what either artist might have made alone, but something neither could have achieved independently.
That spirit of collaboration shaped our own writing process. Director Jonathan Cea and North Carolina-based composer and lyricists Lisette Glodowski and Richard Walter worked closely to develop the narrative, shaping each song and expanding ideas from the initial draft. Their deep knowledge and love of musical theater brought energy and dimension to each character. The process of constantly bouncing ideas off one another embodied the film’s central ideals, and the resulting music benefited enormously from that openness.
Our primary audience are musical fans–people who love theater and film musicals. This is an underserved but deeply devoted audience. While films like Wicked, In the Heights, and Hamilton have brought renewed attention to the form, original musicals made specifically for the screen remain rare.
Our strategy is to take the film directly to its audience. Alongside a traditional festival run, we plan to partner with musical theater companies, dance studios, arts organizations, classrooms, and nonprofits to organize screenings and build programs around the film. We see Together Tomorrow as an opportunity to engage audiences through music, dance, and filmmaking—and perhaps take the film “on tour.”
We are also committed to a targeted festival strategy, beginning with regional festivals in North Carolina and the South. From there, we will focus on mid- to high-tier East Coast festivals that are accessible to our collaborators in both North Carolina and New York City.