<h3>How do I want to grow as a Designer?</h3>I want to grow as a designer by deepening my ability to integrate design seamlessly with storytelling. With Lunaris, my goal is to create a layered experience where the visuals, narrative, and music work in harmony. I aim to carry this approach into future projects, exploring different genres while ensuring each one has a unique design language. I’m already applying this with my second project, Dastardly Bastards, which has a distinct tone, but through thoughtful design, I’m able to create a cohesive and standout identity for it.

<h3>What kind of Communal and Civic Impact do you hope your project will have?&nbsp;</h3>The podcast can foster a community of listeners who resonate with the themes of identity exploration and emotional freedom. By targeting both young and mature audiences, it aims to bridge generational gaps, allowing for shared dialogues about the importance of inclusivity and self-acceptance. It also creates a space where diverse identities are represented and celebrated, making it socially significant for marginalized groups.

How will you learn new skills?This project will provide me with the opportunity to learn to develop a narrative podcast from start to finish—covering everything from scriptwriting, recording, and post-production, to marketing. Along with that, I will learn how to develop the visual style of a show and what goes into said process. I will gain hands-on experience in each step of the process, working closely with professionals from various fields. Typically, a newcomer in entertainment will focus on a single aspect of a production pipeline, but this project will allow me to acquire a broad range of skills across the entire medium, giving me a holistic understanding of podcast production and design.

<h3>How the Inspiration Fund Can Help You Grow?</h3>The Inspiration Fund can help me grow by providing the financial support needed to fully produce an episode, allowing me to refine my process without the burden of financial stress. This will make it easier to streamline production as I continue creating additional episodes throughout the season. Beyond the practical support, receiving the fund would give Lunaris and my overall vision for narrative podcasting greater legitimacy, enabling me to collaborate with new talent and further establish myself in the field.

&nbsp;What mediums will you use?The primary medium will be a narrative podcast, immersing listeners in the world of Lunaris through audio storytelling. The podcast will feature voice acting, sound design, and music to convey emotional depth and action-packed sequences. Along with that, we’ll be accompanying the podcast with visual designs that will offer listeners the opportunity to immerse themselves deep in the show and its style.

How do I want to grow as a Maker?As a maker, I want to refine my technical skills in both audio production and visual creation. My goal is to develop a streamlined process that I can apply to future projects while continuing to create my own original content. I also aim to mentor and advise young creatives, helping them succeed in the narrative podcast field. Collaborating with other artists in podcasting and sound design will further expand my expertise and help shape my creative direction.

What inspirations will you draw on?Your project draws heavily from shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender, Steven Universe, and Infinity Train, blending adventure, humor, and deep emotional arcs. These inspirations help ground Lunaris in a space that balances serious topics like gender and suicide with the lighter exploration of superpowers and astrological mythology​. Lastly, the Spiderverse franchise allows the audience to engage with the IP by imagining their own "Spidersona." Similarly, Lunaris will invite the audience to envision their own "astrological creature spectrum."

<h3>How do I want to grow as an Artist?</h3>I want to grow as an artist by deepening my ability to tell powerful stories through narrative podcasts. My art is rooted in storytelling, and I aim to continually push myself to evoke deeper emotions in my work. By focusing on long-form storytelling, I can explore rich character development and create more immersive experiences. With Lunaris, for example, I’m working to develop a unique style that blends the lightheartedness of superhero worldbuilding with contemporary themes of identity and death, allowing for a more meaningful connection with the audience.

What kind of artistic impact do you hope your project will have?&nbsp;I hope my project will inspire creatives by showcasing an alternative way to tell their stories. Just as a short film can lead to a feature film or an indie feature can transition into a box office hit, I envision this narrative podcast format serving as a stepping stone to a TV series. Whether it involves the actual podcast itself or a separate IP. This approach will demonstrate a creator's capability to manage a full show, having honed their skills through the narrative podcast medium.

<h3>What kind of Environmental and Political Impact do you hope your project will have?&nbsp;</h3>Lunaris will have a strong political impact by encouraging young listeners to embrace broader ways of thinking at an early age. This will help listeners become more receptive to new ideas and more willing to reflect on and question the evolving conventions of the communities they inhabit. Ultimately, this will allow them to contribute to a more inclusive and progressive societal mindset.&nbsp;

<h3>What kind of Social and Intellectual Impact do you hope your project will have?&nbsp;</h3>Lunaris aims to challenge binary gender norms while addressing the process of grieving a loved one lost to suicide. By presenting difficult topics it will allow the listener to understand the “gray areas” of life before they are fully shaped by societal norms. This approach fosters open dialogue on grief, identity, and emotional complexity. The goal is for this to be one of a listeners’ earliest stories that help them embrace a more open-minded &amp; empathetic way of connecting with their peers.

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What is your project idea and how will it help you achieve that?The project idea for Lunaris is to produce a narrative podcast with accompanying designs, blending audio storytelling with visual engagement. This approach will create an interactive, multi-sensory experience that appeals to a wide audience—those drawn to rich narrative content as well as those interested in visual artistry. The grant will enable me to fully produce an episode by covering production costs, freeing up resources for marketing and festival submissions. This support will help me focus on both the creative and promotional aspects, ensuring the project reaches a larger audience.

Alexzander Ellenbogen - Imagination Fund Proposal

Project Proposal

Build your own visual library

Alexzander Ellenbogen - Imagination Fund Proposal

Project Proposal