God Made Man
Austin, Texas | Film Feature
Drama, LGBTQ
Leading double lives and seeking redemption, a homeless transgender man, a penniless drag queen, and a corrupt lawyer violently collide in an urban purgatory. Over one cold winter night these three forsaken souls are shockingly changed forever. Witness this uncompromising descent into Queer Cinema.
God Made Man
Austin, Texas | Film Feature
Drama, LGBTQ
1 Campaigns | Texas, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $6,155 for post-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
101 supporters | followers
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Leading double lives and seeking redemption, a homeless transgender man, a penniless drag queen, and a corrupt lawyer violently collide in an urban purgatory. Over one cold winter night these three forsaken souls are shockingly changed forever. Witness this uncompromising descent into Queer Cinema.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Leading double lives and seeking redemption: three forsaken souls violently collide while drifting through an urban purgatory and over one cold winter night they are shockingly changed forever.
No stranger to the streets but still susceptible to its perils, Rhett, a homeless transgender man, craves harmony and acceptance while living his newfound life. He envisions reuniting with his skeptical ex-girlfriend to lock down a warm bed and to be taken seriously as a man. But his secretiveness and past aggressions may be his downfall.
Fear of being trapped in his own self-imposed purgatory, Doyle debates his morality as a conflicted African American Catholic man and a gay drag queen. But in his mind his money troubles currently outweigh any spiritual dilemmas. So his blackmail of a porn chat customer seems to be the answer to a better life. But the dangers of a hedonistic lifestyle catch up to him leaving his ill-fated extortion plan as the only option.
Where Rhett and Doyle struggle between right and wrong, Ted, more cemented in his destructive lifestyle, is endlessly stuck in a personal hell. The night begins with allegations raised of his connections to a small human trafficking ring. Now, this once seemingly Christian public servant is cast out for judgment. Ted plummets deep into a hysterical panic attack. But instead of retreating, the need to satiate his demons takes hold as he concedes to his addiction to chaos, pain and pleasures of the flesh. Reawakening his alter ego, “Mr. Ruby,” Ted dons an androgynous mask to conceal his identity and then sets out on the town to ensnare his favorite chat-site trick, Doyle.
God Made Man’s relentlessly convergent structure initially places Rhett, Doyle and Ted in profoundly different situations but then crashes them together by the film’s mid-point. As the film progresses we dive into the dual lives from which each of these characters are running. God Made Man ends with a chilling cataclysm of events as heroes rise and fall and personal demons are battled. But will Rhett, Doyle and Ted find the salvation they all desperately crave? Witness this uncompromising descent into Queer Cinema.
In these uncertain times it's crucial to tell LGBTQ stories and tell them in a honest way. When I began writing this film in 2009, I was still somewhat new to the LGBTQ scene in Austin, TX and in the middle of a break-up. While going through my self-discovery I was making new friends and learning more and more about life outside of just Gay and Lesbian (which was what I was familiar with coming from a small Texas town).
Meeting trans folks in the community was truly eye opening for me. I realized for the first time that you don't have to conform to binary gender norms. I began to question so many things- I bound my chest and shaved my head. Through this self-discovery I learned that I am not trans but fall somewhere in-between. I also learned that I shared a real empathy for transgender people, and through this I wrote a story about a transgender man and his friend. From there the story evolved into a tale of good versus evil. The hard-hitting themes in this story are not wholly representative of any one community, but these themes intrigue me as an artist and storyteller. God Made Man: God made all men (and women) equal, right? This story is about three religious men within the LGBTQ community who find each other in the various stages between good and evil: all different, all the same.
I am a queer woman writing a story to help shed light on a corner of my multifaceted community. While this specific story is different than my own I will exercise my privilege to fight against racism, sexism, and homophobia to the betterment of this family that I so dearly love. Transgender rights will not be erased, black lives will always matter and we will keep telling these important stories to show that we are here!
Even though I firmly believed in this story and its message I couldn't quite crack the formula it needed to be as powerful as it was in my brain. For years I struggled to turn God Made Man from a short film into a feature film. I even kept a "mood-board" on Pinterest of images that inspired me and I created a Spotify playlist of music that fit the mood of the film. I watched films for inspiration such as: Requiem For A Dream, Tarnation, Short Bus, Romeo+Juliet and more.
Fast forward to 2015... I knew my filmmaking buddy, Nate Locklear was looking for something artistic to do so I gathered all my material for the film and handed it over. And to my delight he cracked the formula. He's created something remarkable while staying true to my original idea and characters. It's raw, honest and so dramatic in that best way.
Once Nate came on we spent about 6 months re-writing the script and doing pre-production. We added to our mood-board and watched Black Swan and some films by master filmmaker, Wong Kar-wai for further inspiration. We were lucky to have a successful Kickstarter campaign reach its goal days before shooting began. We raised $10K for production.
Over the years while writing we also researched into the elements of this world I had created. And after learning (and continuing to learn) about the startling statistics surrounding the polemic topics in this film: transgender issues, HIV in the 21st century and modern slavery, we knew we had to approach the story truthfully and respectfully.
> 2015: 47% of all transgender people will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime (National Center for Transgender Equality).
> 20% of transgender people have experienced homelessness (National Center for Transgender Equality).
> 2016: 50% of gay black men will be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetimes (CDC).
> Every 35 hours, someone is diagnosed with HIV while cases are up 40% in the last decade in the Austin, TX area alone (The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department).
> PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis, HIV Prevention drug) provides 92%-99% reduction in HIV risk for people who take the pills every day as directed.
> 2017: Only 136,000 people currently use PrEP for HIV prevention, the majority being white males (Gilead Sciences analysis).
> 2018: 455 cases of human trafficking reported in Texas (over 6,000 victims and survivors), 50% of victims are minors (The National Human Trafficking Hotline).
These startling statistics only scratch the surface. God Made Man demonstrates how we, as filmmakers, will not back down from controversial subject matter. While still being entertainers we can also be allies for the under represented LGBTQ film community. And not only can we create a more inclusive film landscape but we can help shed light on the horrible atrocities plaguing humanity.
With our Kickstarter funds, credit cards, our lovely investor, some donations and a lot of begging, borrowing and, uhm, stealing (sort of) we went into production. And over 19 very intense and very cold days in December we shot the film. The footage came out amazing.
After production Nate set out into the wild and often lonely landscape that is editing. 25 hours of footage that all needed syncing and organizing. Plus along the way we were applying for grants and other funds. Which unfortunately didn't bear much fruit but we learned a ton. And all this was happening while we held full-time day jobs. And might I add that we weren't and aren't getting paid for any of this work- it's definitely a labor of love. Along the way I watched the cut(s) with Nate and we discussed structure and theme. And then he'd go back and trim some more.
Cut to now... We have a solid cut of the film and we've begun foley and sound work. But to finish we need just a little more money to pay for things somewhat out of our reach. We need about $2K for color grading, $1K for final sound mixing and ADR recording and another $800 for some music and $1.5K for a some visual effects. Plus we need to fly in a couple actors for dialog re-recording ($700). We're so close I can taste it!
The future of indie film will only survive with strong communities of cinephiles. We've been gathering a small following from our previous fundraisers and through social media but we still need more to make this a success. We find it extremely satisfying to connect with other cinephiles- it's by far the best part.
So many people have come together on this film sometimes working for pennies but most often for free. It's hard to believe that we've almost finished a feature film for a fraction of the price Hollywood uses. But there are just a few items out of the reach of our credits cards. So please consider joining us on this journey.
Don't forget to follow our Seed&Spark campaign by clicking the "Follow" button next to the video at the top of the page. It definitely helps our project continue to gain momentum.
We would also greatly appreciate if you could share this campaign on social media, and with friends & family.
Thank all of you so much for your interest in our film and for your generosity. It's hard to believe we're reaching the 10-year mark that this film has been in my mind. I can't wait to share God Made Man with the world.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Professional Color Grade
Costs $2,000
GMM has unique cinematography & we need a pro to make those colors pop!
Post Sound Mix
Costs $1,000
Mixing the audio elements in a film is an arduous task. The sound mixer will make it sound sweet!
Music Tracks
Costs $800
We have a composer but we need some songs (for bar scenes etc) like hip-hop and rock!
Travel For ADR
Costs $700
We have to fly some actors in to record ADR (Automated Dialog Replacement). Flyer Miles welcome!
Visual FX
Costs $1,500
We have a few shots needing some special FX enhancement. Nothing huge but crucial to the story!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Kayla Olson: Creator/ Producer/ Co-Writer/ Wardrobe Supervisor
Kayla studied musical theater at the University of North Texas. Shortly after, she moved to Austin, TX to study Radio-TV-Film at Austin Community College. She received certificates in Production Management, and Technology. While enrolled, she interned for the PBS show, The Daytripper where she met long-time collaborator, Nate Locklear. After graduating, Kayla co-created and starred in the award winning web series, Once You Leave for which she achieved a Best Actor award and several nominations. Besides acting, Kayla has also worked on a number of short films and commercials in many roles such as Assistant Director, Production Manager and Editor. She is currently dabbling in the world of podcasting! Kayla is represted by Callidus Talent Agency.
Nate Locklear: Director/ Producer/ Co-Writer/ Cinematographer/ Editor
After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Radio-TV-Film, Nate has since created several award-winning projects. He won two Emmys® for his work as Producer, Cinematographer, and Editor on the first two seasons of the PBS show, The Daytripper. Then, he went into production on the four-hour web series and transmedia story, Once You Leave. The series won multiple awards for Nate in editing, cinematography, drama, and People’s Choice, among others. It was also an official selection for the aGLIFF Film Festival, the LA WEBFEST, and the HollyWeb Festival. Nate is the co-owner of Missing Hill Productions LLC with several projects in development. Besides filmmaking, Nate also teaches film/video editing at Austin Community College.
Robert J. Barnhart: Executive Producer/Investor/Actor
Robert has a BA in comparative religion from Emory University in Atlanta, GA. He has been a strong advocate for the study of psychoactive materials in spiritual and nontraditional healing practices for many years. He sits on the board of both the Heffter Research Institute and The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. He further sits on the board of COSM, supporting the visionary artwork of Alex Grey. He was a producer of the award- winning film Sushi: The Global Catch. His latest film, A New Understanding: The Science of Psilocybin has been very well received, and he is involved in producing several more films. His producer credits include: From Shock to Awe, Huxley’s Exit, Time is Art, Mantra – Sounds into Silence, MDMA: The Movie, Changing of the Gods and Imaginatrix: The Terence McKenna Experience.
Gregg Baethge: Co-Producer/Assistant Director/Actor: "Big Fish”
Gregg went back to college in his forties to pursue his first love, film. Two of his films, Speed Dating and the documentary, Challenger Street Newspaper, were shown at the 2015 SXSW Film Festival as well as the 2015 Hill Country Film Festival. His true crime documentary film UNKNOWN was shown at SXSW 2017 and was an official selection at the 2017 Hill Country Film Festival as well. He is currently in pre-production on a new documentary for 2019.
Lee Dawn Hershey: Lead “Rhett”
Before landing the role of Rhett, Lee Dawn Hershey, a Texas native, spent a couple years in theater before further immersing themselves into the entertainment industry and creating their company, Girls With Flair! As founder and co-owner, Lee rallied women of many talents, ranging from DJs to aerialists, break-dancers to flair bartenders (which Lee is too) and beyond. Girls With Flair! has taken off, and Lee has worked directly with NBA professional Tony Parker, actor Kate Moenning, musician and entertainer Camila Grey, and model/actress/DJ Ruby Rose. This will be Lee’s first breakthrough performance as a transgender male, Rhett in God Made Man. Most recently Lee appeared in the Amazon series, The Mohave Sisters.
Sebastian Cummings: Lead “Doyle”
Sebastian is a dreamer who discovered the art of play while studying Theatre at Rutgers University and continued this discovery process working as a stage actor in Philadelphia for local companies while also self-producing theatrical work centered on sexuality and race. Sebastian enjoys the art of storytelling through film, theatre, and music and believes we can enhance our lives by sharing with one another.
Mike Gassaway: Lead “Ted”
Before acting, Mike was one of Oklahoma’s most successful and famous attorneys and represented Governors, Congressmen, Doctors and others charged with high profile crimes. He received the “Criminal Defense Lawyer of the Decade” Award in 2000 by the Oklahoma City Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. And was selected and became a member of the Rosa Parks “Wall of Tolerance” for his exemplary work in the courtroom representing and defending the civil rights of others. He was also a Golden Gloves Boxing Champion and set a World Land Speed Record for 250cc Motorcycles at the Bonneville Salt Flats (record 1989-2007). He retired to Austin to take up acting and has appeared in films for Oliver Stone and Robert Rodriguez and most recently worked with Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke in, The Magnificent Seven. He is also a Daytime Emmy® Winner. He is represented by Acclaim Talent.
Samantha Ireland: Supporting Actor “Beth”
Samantha is a native Texan, an “Austinite” to be exact. She is a film, theatre and voice actress. Most known for her work as a voice actress and extended cast member with the world popular comedy and gaming company Rooster Teeth Productions. Samantha served as a Co-Producer on the award-winning web series, Once You Leave and also played the role of ‘Molly’ in the series. With self-produced work, Samantha’s voice acting skills were featured in season two of the exciting collaborative hitRECord on TV show hosted and owned by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, on PIVOT. Samantha has teamed up with her husband in starting their own production company with several films in development and in post including the short, Wolves Inside. She is represented by Collier Talent Agency.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Leading double lives and seeking redemption: three forsaken souls violently collide while drifting through an urban purgatory and over one cold winter night they are shockingly changed forever.
No stranger to the streets but still susceptible to its perils, Rhett, a homeless transgender man, craves harmony and acceptance while living his newfound life. He envisions reuniting with his skeptical ex-girlfriend to lock down a warm bed and to be taken seriously as a man. But his secretiveness and past aggressions may be his downfall.
Fear of being trapped in his own self-imposed purgatory, Doyle debates his morality as a conflicted African American Catholic man and a gay drag queen. But in his mind his money troubles currently outweigh any spiritual dilemmas. So his blackmail of a porn chat customer seems to be the answer to a better life. But the dangers of a hedonistic lifestyle catch up to him leaving his ill-fated extortion plan as the only option.
Where Rhett and Doyle struggle between right and wrong, Ted, more cemented in his destructive lifestyle, is endlessly stuck in a personal hell. The night begins with allegations raised of his connections to a small human trafficking ring. Now, this once seemingly Christian public servant is cast out for judgment. Ted plummets deep into a hysterical panic attack. But instead of retreating, the need to satiate his demons takes hold as he concedes to his addiction to chaos, pain and pleasures of the flesh. Reawakening his alter ego, “Mr. Ruby,” Ted dons an androgynous mask to conceal his identity and then sets out on the town to ensnare his favorite chat-site trick, Doyle.
God Made Man’s relentlessly convergent structure initially places Rhett, Doyle and Ted in profoundly different situations but then crashes them together by the film’s mid-point. As the film progresses we dive into the dual lives from which each of these characters are running. God Made Man ends with a chilling cataclysm of events as heroes rise and fall and personal demons are battled. But will Rhett, Doyle and Ted find the salvation they all desperately crave? Witness this uncompromising descent into Queer Cinema.
In these uncertain times it's crucial to tell LGBTQ stories and tell them in a honest way. When I began writing this film in 2009, I was still somewhat new to the LGBTQ scene in Austin, TX and in the middle of a break-up. While going through my self-discovery I was making new friends and learning more and more about life outside of just Gay and Lesbian (which was what I was familiar with coming from a small Texas town).
Meeting trans folks in the community was truly eye opening for me. I realized for the first time that you don't have to conform to binary gender norms. I began to question so many things- I bound my chest and shaved my head. Through this self-discovery I learned that I am not trans but fall somewhere in-between. I also learned that I shared a real empathy for transgender people, and through this I wrote a story about a transgender man and his friend. From there the story evolved into a tale of good versus evil. The hard-hitting themes in this story are not wholly representative of any one community, but these themes intrigue me as an artist and storyteller. God Made Man: God made all men (and women) equal, right? This story is about three religious men within the LGBTQ community who find each other in the various stages between good and evil: all different, all the same.
I am a queer woman writing a story to help shed light on a corner of my multifaceted community. While this specific story is different than my own I will exercise my privilege to fight against racism, sexism, and homophobia to the betterment of this family that I so dearly love. Transgender rights will not be erased, black lives will always matter and we will keep telling these important stories to show that we are here!
Even though I firmly believed in this story and its message I couldn't quite crack the formula it needed to be as powerful as it was in my brain. For years I struggled to turn God Made Man from a short film into a feature film. I even kept a "mood-board" on Pinterest of images that inspired me and I created a Spotify playlist of music that fit the mood of the film. I watched films for inspiration such as: Requiem For A Dream, Tarnation, Short Bus, Romeo+Juliet and more.
Fast forward to 2015... I knew my filmmaking buddy, Nate Locklear was looking for something artistic to do so I gathered all my material for the film and handed it over. And to my delight he cracked the formula. He's created something remarkable while staying true to my original idea and characters. It's raw, honest and so dramatic in that best way.
Once Nate came on we spent about 6 months re-writing the script and doing pre-production. We added to our mood-board and watched Black Swan and some films by master filmmaker, Wong Kar-wai for further inspiration. We were lucky to have a successful Kickstarter campaign reach its goal days before shooting began. We raised $10K for production.
Over the years while writing we also researched into the elements of this world I had created. And after learning (and continuing to learn) about the startling statistics surrounding the polemic topics in this film: transgender issues, HIV in the 21st century and modern slavery, we knew we had to approach the story truthfully and respectfully.
> 2015: 47% of all transgender people will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime (National Center for Transgender Equality).
> 20% of transgender people have experienced homelessness (National Center for Transgender Equality).
> 2016: 50% of gay black men will be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetimes (CDC).
> Every 35 hours, someone is diagnosed with HIV while cases are up 40% in the last decade in the Austin, TX area alone (The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department).
> PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis, HIV Prevention drug) provides 92%-99% reduction in HIV risk for people who take the pills every day as directed.
> 2017: Only 136,000 people currently use PrEP for HIV prevention, the majority being white males (Gilead Sciences analysis).
> 2018: 455 cases of human trafficking reported in Texas (over 6,000 victims and survivors), 50% of victims are minors (The National Human Trafficking Hotline).
These startling statistics only scratch the surface. God Made Man demonstrates how we, as filmmakers, will not back down from controversial subject matter. While still being entertainers we can also be allies for the under represented LGBTQ film community. And not only can we create a more inclusive film landscape but we can help shed light on the horrible atrocities plaguing humanity.
With our Kickstarter funds, credit cards, our lovely investor, some donations and a lot of begging, borrowing and, uhm, stealing (sort of) we went into production. And over 19 very intense and very cold days in December we shot the film. The footage came out amazing.
After production Nate set out into the wild and often lonely landscape that is editing. 25 hours of footage that all needed syncing and organizing. Plus along the way we were applying for grants and other funds. Which unfortunately didn't bear much fruit but we learned a ton. And all this was happening while we held full-time day jobs. And might I add that we weren't and aren't getting paid for any of this work- it's definitely a labor of love. Along the way I watched the cut(s) with Nate and we discussed structure and theme. And then he'd go back and trim some more.
Cut to now... We have a solid cut of the film and we've begun foley and sound work. But to finish we need just a little more money to pay for things somewhat out of our reach. We need about $2K for color grading, $1K for final sound mixing and ADR recording and another $800 for some music and $1.5K for a some visual effects. Plus we need to fly in a couple actors for dialog re-recording ($700). We're so close I can taste it!
The future of indie film will only survive with strong communities of cinephiles. We've been gathering a small following from our previous fundraisers and through social media but we still need more to make this a success. We find it extremely satisfying to connect with other cinephiles- it's by far the best part.
So many people have come together on this film sometimes working for pennies but most often for free. It's hard to believe that we've almost finished a feature film for a fraction of the price Hollywood uses. But there are just a few items out of the reach of our credits cards. So please consider joining us on this journey.
Don't forget to follow our Seed&Spark campaign by clicking the "Follow" button next to the video at the top of the page. It definitely helps our project continue to gain momentum.
We would also greatly appreciate if you could share this campaign on social media, and with friends & family.
Thank all of you so much for your interest in our film and for your generosity. It's hard to believe we're reaching the 10-year mark that this film has been in my mind. I can't wait to share God Made Man with the world.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Professional Color Grade
Costs $2,000
GMM has unique cinematography & we need a pro to make those colors pop!
Post Sound Mix
Costs $1,000
Mixing the audio elements in a film is an arduous task. The sound mixer will make it sound sweet!
Music Tracks
Costs $800
We have a composer but we need some songs (for bar scenes etc) like hip-hop and rock!
Travel For ADR
Costs $700
We have to fly some actors in to record ADR (Automated Dialog Replacement). Flyer Miles welcome!
Visual FX
Costs $1,500
We have a few shots needing some special FX enhancement. Nothing huge but crucial to the story!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Kayla Olson: Creator/ Producer/ Co-Writer/ Wardrobe Supervisor
Kayla studied musical theater at the University of North Texas. Shortly after, she moved to Austin, TX to study Radio-TV-Film at Austin Community College. She received certificates in Production Management, and Technology. While enrolled, she interned for the PBS show, The Daytripper where she met long-time collaborator, Nate Locklear. After graduating, Kayla co-created and starred in the award winning web series, Once You Leave for which she achieved a Best Actor award and several nominations. Besides acting, Kayla has also worked on a number of short films and commercials in many roles such as Assistant Director, Production Manager and Editor. She is currently dabbling in the world of podcasting! Kayla is represted by Callidus Talent Agency.
Nate Locklear: Director/ Producer/ Co-Writer/ Cinematographer/ Editor
After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Radio-TV-Film, Nate has since created several award-winning projects. He won two Emmys® for his work as Producer, Cinematographer, and Editor on the first two seasons of the PBS show, The Daytripper. Then, he went into production on the four-hour web series and transmedia story, Once You Leave. The series won multiple awards for Nate in editing, cinematography, drama, and People’s Choice, among others. It was also an official selection for the aGLIFF Film Festival, the LA WEBFEST, and the HollyWeb Festival. Nate is the co-owner of Missing Hill Productions LLC with several projects in development. Besides filmmaking, Nate also teaches film/video editing at Austin Community College.
Robert J. Barnhart: Executive Producer/Investor/Actor
Robert has a BA in comparative religion from Emory University in Atlanta, GA. He has been a strong advocate for the study of psychoactive materials in spiritual and nontraditional healing practices for many years. He sits on the board of both the Heffter Research Institute and The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. He further sits on the board of COSM, supporting the visionary artwork of Alex Grey. He was a producer of the award- winning film Sushi: The Global Catch. His latest film, A New Understanding: The Science of Psilocybin has been very well received, and he is involved in producing several more films. His producer credits include: From Shock to Awe, Huxley’s Exit, Time is Art, Mantra – Sounds into Silence, MDMA: The Movie, Changing of the Gods and Imaginatrix: The Terence McKenna Experience.
Gregg Baethge: Co-Producer/Assistant Director/Actor: "Big Fish”
Gregg went back to college in his forties to pursue his first love, film. Two of his films, Speed Dating and the documentary, Challenger Street Newspaper, were shown at the 2015 SXSW Film Festival as well as the 2015 Hill Country Film Festival. His true crime documentary film UNKNOWN was shown at SXSW 2017 and was an official selection at the 2017 Hill Country Film Festival as well. He is currently in pre-production on a new documentary for 2019.
Lee Dawn Hershey: Lead “Rhett”
Before landing the role of Rhett, Lee Dawn Hershey, a Texas native, spent a couple years in theater before further immersing themselves into the entertainment industry and creating their company, Girls With Flair! As founder and co-owner, Lee rallied women of many talents, ranging from DJs to aerialists, break-dancers to flair bartenders (which Lee is too) and beyond. Girls With Flair! has taken off, and Lee has worked directly with NBA professional Tony Parker, actor Kate Moenning, musician and entertainer Camila Grey, and model/actress/DJ Ruby Rose. This will be Lee’s first breakthrough performance as a transgender male, Rhett in God Made Man. Most recently Lee appeared in the Amazon series, The Mohave Sisters.
Sebastian Cummings: Lead “Doyle”
Sebastian is a dreamer who discovered the art of play while studying Theatre at Rutgers University and continued this discovery process working as a stage actor in Philadelphia for local companies while also self-producing theatrical work centered on sexuality and race. Sebastian enjoys the art of storytelling through film, theatre, and music and believes we can enhance our lives by sharing with one another.
Mike Gassaway: Lead “Ted”
Before acting, Mike was one of Oklahoma’s most successful and famous attorneys and represented Governors, Congressmen, Doctors and others charged with high profile crimes. He received the “Criminal Defense Lawyer of the Decade” Award in 2000 by the Oklahoma City Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. And was selected and became a member of the Rosa Parks “Wall of Tolerance” for his exemplary work in the courtroom representing and defending the civil rights of others. He was also a Golden Gloves Boxing Champion and set a World Land Speed Record for 250cc Motorcycles at the Bonneville Salt Flats (record 1989-2007). He retired to Austin to take up acting and has appeared in films for Oliver Stone and Robert Rodriguez and most recently worked with Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke in, The Magnificent Seven. He is also a Daytime Emmy® Winner. He is represented by Acclaim Talent.
Samantha Ireland: Supporting Actor “Beth”
Samantha is a native Texan, an “Austinite” to be exact. She is a film, theatre and voice actress. Most known for her work as a voice actress and extended cast member with the world popular comedy and gaming company Rooster Teeth Productions. Samantha served as a Co-Producer on the award-winning web series, Once You Leave and also played the role of ‘Molly’ in the series. With self-produced work, Samantha’s voice acting skills were featured in season two of the exciting collaborative hitRECord on TV show hosted and owned by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, on PIVOT. Samantha has teamed up with her husband in starting their own production company with several films in development and in post including the short, Wolves Inside. She is represented by Collier Talent Agency.