We’re new filmmakers working to make inclusive, queer art that is honest, personal, and funny. This short film, directed by a woman, explores long-term friendships, and the ways in which we can be so horrible to the best people we’ve ever met. With a protagonist obsessed with being the protagonist.

THE STORY

In a vehicle stuffed to capacity with best friends and supplies, Aaron and Bridget barrel down the highway toward their group's annual camping trip. Trying her best to be happy about Aaron's recent engagement, Bridget thumbs through his wedding binder, full of inspirational photos and sketches. In the very back, she finds something that Aaron hadn't meant to leave there.

On a piece of paper folded small are all of the friends' names, ranked. 

Absolutely shocked by her placement, Bridget forces Aaron to pull the car over, the rest of the group now turning against him, and each other. The car's hazard lights blink as this six-sided, roadside episode explodes into a mess of accusations and confessions.

A NOTE FROM THE WRITER

I've been hearing lines of dialogue from this script in my head for the last year and a half. I'm so excited to finally have all the pieces in the right order, forming something of which I'm really proud. After hearing it out loud at a 'reading' with my roommates and a couple other friends, we're just so ready to film this.

I'm inspired by my relationships with my friends, and their relationships with each other. I'm inspired by the things we talk about, the things we fight about, the things we laugh about. This story is personal, and it's ridiculous. 

At first, Lana Dvorak came on as my script editor. Through development, it became clear that she was the one to direct this story. She has such a grasp of the emotional lives of these characters, and the beautiful ways in which they clash. Being married herself, Lana has come face-to-face with the puzzle that is fitting friends into a wedding. I can't wait to see this through her lens.

We reached out to our dream cinematographer, Adam Gundersheimer, who Lana had worked with previously. It was the colors and scale of his work that let us know he'd be perfect for this project. He's able to capture something so beautiful and candid through short-form documentaries and music videos (with Grimes, Big Thief, Adrianne Lenker, Florist). Before we even had to consider other options, he told us that he resonated with the script and that he was in. 

We're shooting some test footage later this month, which I'm already so excited to share with you. All of our meetings so far have been virtual, so you can imagine our eagerness to play around in person. This also means finally getting to see my co-star in action. We lucked out again, being able to work with our friend Kara Overlien, one of the best, smartest actors I know.

I love the backflips that we do in order to make situations about ourselves. (I've had some of my best panic attacks at other people's weddings.) This short film is about that self-obsession, selfishness, and fear of abandonment. It's about codependency, and our comfort to say and do cruel things to our best, best friends.

- Jay Stalder

WHY WE NEED YOU

We're fundraising for production and post-production. This means paying our cinematographer, sound operator, actors, and our editor. It also means renting video and sound equipment, providing food for our cast and crew, and transportation to our desert location. Shooting during a pandemic brings with it additional costs: proper PPE (personal protective equipment) and a compliance officer to ensure safety during Covid-19.

This queer, inclusive project has been a labor of love since the beginning, but now we need more than love. Luckily, our story lends itself to a small budget. We're asking for $8,000 to cover the necessary costs of bringing it to life. 

We're in the process of casting right now, and planning to shoot in March. With your contributions, we'll be able to make this short film look and sound as great as we know it can. Once finished, we'll be submitting to film festivals all across the country, so a portion of our budget goes toward submission fees. This means it may be a while before our short is available to be streamed online. Make sure you check out our incentives to see how you can watch it early!

This story makes us laugh, and makes us think aobut the ways we navigate through change in our own friendships. We hope that you'll come along with us! Be a part of this absurd, little story.