Traumantic

Traumantic is a romantic comedy short film that follows Jane, a 36 year old woman who has endured one disastrous date after another. Blending awkward humor with relatable truth, the film captures the chaos, vulnerability, and absurdity of modern dating showing that even the worst moments can sometimes lead to something real. This is our final student project at AUT, and as both writer and director, I want to create a story that audiences laugh at, connect with, and see themselves in.

As AUT third-year film students, we are dedicated to telling stories that matter stories that speak to the heart. But to make Traumantic a reality, we need your support. Every donation will go directly into production costs helping us create authentic settings, capture powerful performances, and bring this moving vision to the screen. 

Crew Members 

Director - Caelyn Lee 

Cinematographer - Tobias Heyes 

Producer - Paul Wang 

1 AD - Nawari Ngawari Tamanui-Fransen 

Sound - Damian Henry 

Lighting - Keona Robertson 

Why do we need funds? 

Making a film, even a short one, takes more than just creativity it takes resources. We want to be transparent about where your support will go, so you can see exactly how your contribution makes a difference. Every dollar helps us create a smoother production and a stronger final film. 

We are raising money to cover essential costs such as: 

• Props – everyday items and small set pieces that bring Jane’s world to life. 
• Locations – securing spaces to film that fit the story and feel authentic. 
• Costumes – outfits that reflect character personalities and make the film visually believable. 
• Food – keeping our hardworking cast and crew fueled and happy on long shoot days. 
• Payments ! - Yes We need to pay....their incredible effort!! :) 

Traumantic is a student short film produced as part of my final year in the Communication Studies program at AUT. It’s a romantic comedy with a twist: instead of focusing on the idealized, glossy version of love we so often see on screen, it explores the funny, awkward, and sometimes painful side of dating that most of us can relate to. The story follows Jane, a 36 year old woman navigating a series of disastrous encounters that highlight both her insecurities and her resilience. What makes the project stand out is the mix of lighthearted humor with a deeper, very real look at how we carry the pressure of expectations around love, marriage, and “falling behind” in life. 

I’m making this film because I want to tell a story that feels familiar yet fresh a story that makes people laugh out loud while also leaving them with something to think about. We’ve all had moments that felt like the end of the world, only to realize later they were just one chapter in a bigger, sometimes messier, journey. Traumantic embraces that chaos and reframes it as both comedic and human. 

On a personal level, this project is a chance to take everything I’ve learned at AUT  from storytelling and directing to collaboration and production management and put it into practice. It’s not just about making a film for a grade; it’s about making something meaningful with the help of a talented crew, and creating a piece of work that can live beyond. 

At its core, Traumantic is about the messiness of being human. It’s a comedy, but it also speaks to something so many people quietly carry: the pressure to “keep up” in life and love, the embarrassment of failure, and the vulnerability of putting yourself out there again and again. By telling Jane’s story with humor and honesty, the film shines a light on the universal awkwardness of dating and the quiet resilience it takes to keep going. 

This project matters because it reflects experiences that rarely get the spotlight. Not every love story begins with perfection  sometimes it begins with spilled drinks, wrong names, or missed time. Backing this film means supporting a story that makes audiences laugh, but also helps them feel seen in their own imperfect journeys. It’s about reminding people that it’s okay to not have it all figured out, and that there’s beauty and comedy in the chaos.