When the going gets tough, what keeps you moving? For Masha Shevchuk, the answer: her mother.

Shevchuk, a master’s student at the Marshall School of Business, moved to the United States with her mother at 16, at the outset of the Russia-Ukraine war. Now 21, she said the maternal bond has helped her persevere through her personal and professional hardships.

Her film, “Our Wings,” tells the story of a young Shevchuk as she navigates the competitive environment of a rhythmic gymnastics academy. While battling her troubles, she finds a guiding light in her mother, whose support allows her to overcome bullying and self-doubt.

As director and producer of the short film, Masha Shevchuk strove to create a cinematic representation of Leotaire, a rhythmic gymnastics apparel company that she founded with her mother, Tetiana Shevchuk — who also stars in the film — capitalizing on her business acumen and her mother’s design skills.

When promoting Leotaire to local gymnasiums, Masha Shevchuk recalled being constantly dubbed as the “mother-daughter” company and strove to use this memorable element of their identity as the foundation for increasing brand awareness. The title, “Our Wings,” was derived from their brand’s logo and symbolised both Masha and Tetiana’s love for one another.

“We fly because we’re there for each other,” Masha Shevchuk said.

In the film, jealous peers destroy Masha Shevchuk’s leotard with scissors, and her mother burns the midnight oil to handmake a new one. It is Tetiana Shevchuk’s physical support and emotional comfort that motivate Masha Shevchuk to be resilient, leading to her victory in a competition that closes out the film.

Despite Masha Shevchuk’s lack of directorial experience, Noah Lee, the film’s director of photography, said he was impressed by Masha Shevchuk’s vision and leadership, which he said struck a balance between taking charge of key narrative decisions and seeking the crew’s advice.

“[It’s] a little rare to see the director where they have a pretty clear vision of what they want everything to pan out, especially with very early-on production,” Lee said. “She had a very good vision of the overall final product.”

Masha Shevchuk, a Ukrainian rhythmic gymnastics champion, grew up practicing around 30 hours a week while balancing schoolwork. During those years, she said her mother always supported her, including their tradition of long, therapeutic discussions after every practice session.

“She was my safe haven,” Masha Shevchuk said. “She was always there.”

Having launched a rhythmic gymnastics apparel company of her own in Ukraine, creating custom leotards and equipment for Olympians and world champions, Tetiana Shevchuk’s success encouraged Masha Shevchuk to major in business administration.

However, her curiosity and active involvement on campus soon led her to discover film. While serving on the crew of a student film, Masha Shevchuk became familiar with the technical aspects of camerawork and said she found a love for working with others through film.

Reflecting on her own journey allowed her to conceive of “Our Wings,” which Masha Shevchuk described as a way to empower both parents and children to be there for one another.

“‘We should do this,’” Masha Shevchuk recalled telling her mother when first drafting the script. “‘It’s time [to] tell a story about ourselves … Our story is worth sharing.’”

Inspired, Masha Shevchuk then called upon crewmates from the earlier student film set for guidance on bringing her story to life.

The film was funded by NISHOHI, a Japanese sports equipment retailer, and was filmed at the Rhythmic Academies of Pasadena and Los Angeles. Sofiia Mychilkina, a resident student of the academy, was nominated by her coach to star in the film as young Masha Shevchuk due to their physical similarities and Sofiia Mychilkina’s talent.

Though her first acting role proved more challenging than expected, Sofiia Mychilkina said she found it enjoyable throughout.

“It was difficult, because when I was supposed to be sad, I was having so much fun [that] I couldn’t make myself cry,” Sofiia Mychilkina said. “We even put onions near my eyes, [and] it still didn’t really work.”

Beyond physicality, Sofiia Mychilkina said she recognized the emotional resonance between her and Masha Shevchuk’s stories. Sofiia Mychilkina said she deeply cherishes familial support and believes it is the driving force behind every athlete.

“[It motivates] them to go forward and reach their goals,” said Elena Mychilkina, Sofiia Mychilkina’s mother.

After four weeks of filming in the summer heat, Masha and Tetiana Shevchuk’s bond was showcased July 25, when “Our Wings” premiered at the Los Angeles Shorts International Film Festival at Regal L.A. Live. Elena Mychilkina recalled how the last scene of the film — when the camera pans around Sofiia, and the real Masha Shevchuk makes an appearance — brought tears to her eyes, and she said it drove home the story’s authenticity.

Masha Shevchuk graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and is en route to graduate this semester with a master’s of science in finance. She said she hopes to pursue a career in the intersection of film, business and finance while continuing to expand her directorial portfolio.

“[It’s] been a long journey of managing growing up and just trying to find my sweet spot under the sun,” Masha Shevchuk said.