Lashonda's a driven CEO with a passion for Korean food & Kpop; Sung-min's a brilliant artist who loves volunteering, comics, & rocking out. They're a married couple who end up cheating ON each other...WITH each other! First US romcom in 17 YEARS to cast Black&EastAsian leads, so support history!
Lashonda's a driven CEO with a passion for Korean food & Kpop; Sung-min's a brilliant artist who loves volunteering, comics, & rocking out. They're a married couple who end up cheating ON each other...WITH each other! First US romcom in 17 YEARS to cast Black&EastAsian leads, so support history!
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Story
Mission Statement
We're a nerdy Black woman & a heavy-set girl of mixed heritage, and we're wondering: where are the films about falling in love with your spouse? When's the last time you saw an Asian American man and body-realistic Black woman lead a US romcom? 17 years ago, that's when. Let's change that.About The Project
It's been 17 years since a feature romantic comedy in the US cast Black and East Asian leads. There's been a family comedy (2016) in the style of "Big Fat Greek Wedding," and there's been a South Asian romcom (2011). And that's it.
Enter "I'm Having an Affair With My Wife!" Ohio's biggest #blasian romcom ranked in the top 15 percent at the Austin Film Festival, and we made finalist in the Beverly Hills Screenwriting Competition. We're challenging how people think about marriage as we talk about having an #AffairWITH our spouses, and we need your help to explore the heartbreak and laughter that comes with "trying" to fall in love.We're proud to announce our leads, Stacey Malone and William Jeon, and we're pumped because they both have incredible journeys: Stacey's a brilliant single mother who runs her own production company, and William's fought double pressures from both his Korean and his American cultures that say an Asian man shouldn't go into acting. They play Lashonda and Sung-min, the #blasian married couple that seek out affairs online and end up cheating ON each other WITH each other.
Why a #blasian couple?
(Scroll to skip):
To summarize the podcast above, why NOT? We're busting stereotypes and having fun doing it. While Lashonda’s on a meteoric rise to CEO, Sung-min flunked out of engineering to rock out, volunteer, and draw. They originally bonded over history, art, and college adventures, but now, Lashonda wants dependability and romance, and Sung-min wants a woman who has time for sex and saving the world.
They both turn to wantanaffair.com, but they choose such high privacy settings they don’t see the pictures of their potential affairs and end up starting a relationship with each other. When they meet in person, they come to grips with their ruined marriage, and Sung-min devises a plan: they liked each other on paper, so maybe an affair is what they need. Maybe they just need to “cheat” on all the other things they’ve “married” besides each other. Lashonda cheats on her work and high society on romps through a violent bar, a risky tryst in her office, and mud-wrestling; Sung-min cheats on his free-wheeling image by working a full day for the first time in his life, romancing Lashonda her way at a high-class CEO dinner, and re-connecting with his parents and the traditional Korean heritage he’s rejected. Their fish-out-of-water “affairs” may make them hate each other, love each other, or land them in jail, but one thing’s certain: their marriage will never be the same.
We need your help to pay our leads fairly and get quality locations for our shoot. We know we can deliver a professional product: Samantha's a director who picked up her skills the rough way, getting on every set she can, in whatever role necessary, from extra to producer as she eats up the strategies of the greats. Audio supervisor, assistant director, production coordinator, consultant, or production assistant—you name it, she's done it. As primary creative she's experimented with horror, documentary, advertising, educational shorts, and narrative film, among others, and she's worked on everything from big name feature films like Fast and Furious 8 and Fences to small indie productions.
Jen's a world-traveling science fiction author with credits ranging from traditional SFWA-qualified fiction to independent microfiction. Her work's been produced in audio form, in anthologies, and in comic form; her recent #blasian screenplay, "I'm Having an Affair With My Wife!" (maybe you've heard of it) was a finalist in the Beverly Hills Screenwriting Competition and in the top 15% of scripts at theAustin Film Festival. One of her short stories was a quarterfinalist in thenationwide Screencraft short story competition, and she's twice won honorable mention in the Writers of the Future contest. She just finished an $4000 Indiegogo for her independent work about an Asian-American superhero who shoots his comic book creator.
Together, Samantha, Jen, William, and Stacey want to change the face of romantic comedy. It's been William's lifelong dream to star in a rom com; Stacey's hungry to explore the pathos of unfulfilling relationship; Samantha's excited to showcase the life and beauty of local Cleveland through film; and Jen could really use some money to buy something with Zoe Saldana's face on it.
So click to donate, check out our press page, and share our stuff on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, and wherever else people who like movies can be found. Will you help us show Hollywood Black and Asian leads CAN make bank in movies?
Incentives
$1
The Crush
Thanks for getting just a tiny bit hooked on us! You get:
-your name in the credits
-a tiny romantic micropoem or microfiction specially written just for you!
$10
The Flame
Thanks for thinking about us at night. -_^ In return, we'll help you woo your lover! You get:
-Exclusive download of the trailer, when it's released! (Convince them to see the movie with you)
-Exclusive romantic promo package featuring songs from artists like HeeSun Lee, Sheena Lee, Malice and Mario Sweet, and more! (Have your sweetie's ears swooning)
-A book of date ideas (Let your lovely know who's the best at dates)
-All prev. rewards.
$25
Sung-Min’s Choice: The Movie!
Now we're talking! In honor of our sweet artiste who loves comics, you get a superhero themed award! This includes:
-A full download of the film
-Book downloads from the Becoming Hero superhero franchise: The Becoming Hero Comic-Within-A-Novel Ebook and Audiobook, A Superhero Recipe Book, A Book of Date Ideas for Superheroes, and The Guardian Anthology
-All previous rewards.
William Jeon, our Sung-min, and his pal Brixton!
$30
The Director’s Choice
Now you're really in the in-crowd. It's like we know you! So you'll get:
-All previous awards
-A postcard from set!
PLUS!
-A PRIVATE INVITATION TO THE MAY 2017 DIGITAL HANGOUT PARTY WITH OUR LEADS, PRODUCER, AND WRITER!
That's when you get to meet everyone, play games, and ask questions to your heart's content! Requires high speed internet.
Our director and producer, Samantha Mauney Aiken.
$50
Material Love
For the fan who needs "thinginess" to show love, we've got a limited number of DVDs we'll sign!
-All previous rewards
-DVD signed by our leads
Stacey Malone, our Lashonda, will sign your DVDs!
Claimed: 11 of 25
$100
GET YOUR FACE IN THE FILM!
If you can make it to Ohio, your actual face gets to be in the film, somewhere, and you can have a meal with the cast and crew on set!
If you can't make it to Ohio, we'll put a picture of your face somewhere in the background of the film. Maybe you're on a poster. Maybe you're on bedsheets. Maybe you're in a family photo. Look for it!
-Includes all previous awards below $40 level.
$150
Professional Photoshoot!
Little did you know, Samantha's a professional photographer! She'll let you come with her to learn how to earn money photographing weddings.
OR
Samantha will travel within 100 miles of Cleveland to take professional portrait photos of YOU for up to 2 hours. Headshots, family photos, whatever!
-Includes all previous awards below $40 level.
Claimed: 1 of 5
$300
Script Consultation - The Reel Delight
You're a mover and a shaker, so we'll give you a consultation and script notes with Stacey Malone, our lead actress, who's also an award-winning screenwriter and the owner of her own independent production company.
-Includes all previous rewards below $101.
Claimed: 1 of 2
$800
Wedding Bells
Getting married? Need a photographer?
Samantha will travel up to 100 miles outside of Cleveland to capture a full day of your wedding. This is a super rad deal, and you get to support a super rad film.Claimed: 1 of 2
$1,000
The Lashonda Package: Business Sponsorship
In honor of our powerful female lead, we're offering sponsorship and product placement deals to the most enterprising among you! At this level, we promise three appearances of your product or brand in the film, plus associate producer credit.
-Includes all rewards below $101.
$1,000
Get a Movie Star (Or Movie Star Bod)
Do you want a date with a male movie star?
If you're a lady, William's offering one date; if you're a dude, or a lady who's just not into that, you might want to know William used to work as a personal trainer, and he's willing to offer one bod-sculpting powerhouse work-out session! Which will YOU choose?
-Includes all previous rewards below $101.
Claimed: 0 of 1
$3,000
BLOW UP MY CAR!
Indie filmmakers and functioning pyromaniacs rejoice! You can visit Puerto Rico between June 5-10th to BLOW UP MY CAR for your film! Or your not-film! Just blow up my car already!
$3000 covers your trip, and my car. Explosives not paid for, and you have to process all required paperwork yourself. You can either stay with me in my house for free, or you can book a hotel at your own cost! I'll take you on a tour of the island!
-Associate Producer Credit-All previous rewards below $101 level.
Claimed: 0 of 1
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$1
The Crush
Thanks for getting just a tiny bit hooked on us! You get:
-your name in the credits
-a tiny romantic micropoem or microfiction specially written just for you!
$10
The Flame
Thanks for thinking about us at night. -_^ In return, we'll help you woo your lover! You get:
-Exclusive download of the trailer, when it's released! (Convince them to see the movie with you)
-Exclusive romantic promo package featuring songs from artists like HeeSun Lee, Sheena Lee, Malice and Mario Sweet, and more! (Have your sweetie's ears swooning)
-A book of date ideas (Let your lovely know who's the best at dates)
-All prev. rewards.
$25
Sung-Min’s Choice: The Movie!
Now we're talking! In honor of our sweet artiste who loves comics, you get a superhero themed award! This includes:
-A full download of the film
-Book downloads from the Becoming Hero superhero franchise: The Becoming Hero Comic-Within-A-Novel Ebook and Audiobook, A Superhero Recipe Book, A Book of Date Ideas for Superheroes, and The Guardian Anthology
-All previous rewards.
William Jeon, our Sung-min, and his pal Brixton!
$30
The Director’s Choice
Now you're really in the in-crowd. It's like we know you! So you'll get:
-All previous awards
-A postcard from set!
PLUS!
-A PRIVATE INVITATION TO THE MAY 2017 DIGITAL HANGOUT PARTY WITH OUR LEADS, PRODUCER, AND WRITER!
That's when you get to meet everyone, play games, and ask questions to your heart's content! Requires high speed internet.
Our director and producer, Samantha Mauney Aiken.
$50
Material Love
For the fan who needs "thinginess" to show love, we've got a limited number of DVDs we'll sign!
-All previous rewards
-DVD signed by our leads
Stacey Malone, our Lashonda, will sign your DVDs!
Claimed: 11 of 25
$100
GET YOUR FACE IN THE FILM!
If you can make it to Ohio, your actual face gets to be in the film, somewhere, and you can have a meal with the cast and crew on set!
If you can't make it to Ohio, we'll put a picture of your face somewhere in the background of the film. Maybe you're on a poster. Maybe you're on bedsheets. Maybe you're in a family photo. Look for it!
-Includes all previous awards below $40 level.
$150
Professional Photoshoot!
Little did you know, Samantha's a professional photographer! She'll let you come with her to learn how to earn money photographing weddings.
OR
Samantha will travel within 100 miles of Cleveland to take professional portrait photos of YOU for up to 2 hours. Headshots, family photos, whatever!
-Includes all previous awards below $40 level.
Claimed: 1 of 5
$300
Script Consultation - The Reel Delight
You're a mover and a shaker, so we'll give you a consultation and script notes with Stacey Malone, our lead actress, who's also an award-winning screenwriter and the owner of her own independent production company.
-Includes all previous rewards below $101.
Claimed: 1 of 2
$800
Wedding Bells
Getting married? Need a photographer?
Samantha will travel up to 100 miles outside of Cleveland to capture a full day of your wedding. This is a super rad deal, and you get to support a super rad film.Claimed: 1 of 2
$1,000
The Lashonda Package: Business Sponsorship
In honor of our powerful female lead, we're offering sponsorship and product placement deals to the most enterprising among you! At this level, we promise three appearances of your product or brand in the film, plus associate producer credit.
-Includes all rewards below $101.
$1,000
Get a Movie Star (Or Movie Star Bod)
Do you want a date with a male movie star?
If you're a lady, William's offering one date; if you're a dude, or a lady who's just not into that, you might want to know William used to work as a personal trainer, and he's willing to offer one bod-sculpting powerhouse work-out session! Which will YOU choose?
-Includes all previous rewards below $101.
Claimed: 0 of 1
$3,000
BLOW UP MY CAR!
Indie filmmakers and functioning pyromaniacs rejoice! You can visit Puerto Rico between June 5-10th to BLOW UP MY CAR for your film! Or your not-film! Just blow up my car already!
$3000 covers your trip, and my car. Explosives not paid for, and you have to process all required paperwork yourself. You can either stay with me in my house for free, or you can book a hotel at your own cost! I'll take you on a tour of the island!
-Associate Producer Credit-All previous rewards below $101 level.
Claimed: 0 of 1
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
Like her character, Lashonda, Stacey Malone possesses a uniquely entrepreneurial spirit. She's independently created two film series, The Greek Chronicles and another forthcoming late 2017; she's also written several screenplays and directed stageplays while modelling, running her own independent production company 12-21 Entertainment, and raising her son. Check out her popular Instagram where she shares her journey cooking, quoting, and creating film.
When William Jeon wanted to go into acting, many of those closest to
him disapproved. He left the family restaurant business in Arizona anyway to pursue the Meisner technique and become a Los Angeles pharmacist so he could support his acting career without fear. Like his character Sung-min, William enjoys everything from juggling to Tango to improv, but lately he spends most of his spare time hiking with his dog Brixton. Fans can connect on his new Facebook, but he prefers Instagram!
Producer and Director Samantha Mauney Aiken is the kind of creative who watches. Whether she's seeing the world through a camera lens as she documents people's special moments—her clients' or her friends'—or analyzing the way language affects Facebook politics from a sociolinguistic point of view, she's paying attention to the human experience. And that's what she wants to share in film: the details, the places, the thoughts, and the people that make up the reality we're not always paying attention to. Find her on her website, and subscribe to Dead Laurels Media's new Youtube.
Jen Finelli writes stuff and travels the world meeting rad peeps. Find her fancy fiction at byjenfinelli.com, her super-unfancy comics at becominghero.ninja, and her newest book about the comic book character who shoots his author on InDemand.
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