"Ageusia" has a female lead and all but one of the major supporting characters are female. We hope for our lead actress to be a person of color. Our characters are very much working class people and do not have wealth. Our cast and crew will contain a diverse mix of race, gender, and sexuality.

 

The skeleton of the story for "Ageusia" first came to me back in April 2016 as I was walking home late one evening. I had just shot my short film, "La Mechante Reine," and was already itching to make something else. The image of Bertha, a depressed lunch lady who gave up on her dream of dancing, planted itself into my brain and has truthfully never left. Despite usually making horror films, I wanted to try something new: romance. The first draft of "Ageusia" came together quickly over one night, and I did not touch it for months. I eventually revisited it, cleaned it up, and submitted it to the BlueCat Screenplay Competition after hearing about them from a friend. In September 2017, it won. 

 

When "Ageusia" won BlueCat, I received validation for a thought I couldn't shake: this was my strongest piece of writing yet. It had to be. Though I've written dozens of shorts and 6 features I'm very proud of, they hold nothing to "Ageusia." Sometimes when I read it, I can't even believe that it came from me. It feels like it was given to me by an ethereal being. However it got to me, it is my duty to make the film as powerful as possible. 

 

 

I've waited just over 16 months to start a crowdfunding campaign for this film because I knew I had to be patient. I don't have the money or resources to make an amazing short that many filmmakers do, and it seemed like a no-brainer that I had to make "Ageusia" my MFA thesis film.

 

Even though I will receive resources from my school that some students can only dream of, I still need extra help. The school does not provide money for food, cast payment, outside equipment rentals, costume design, or strong production sound. These are things I need to pay for out of pocket. And as anyone who's ever attended college knows, there's not exactly a lot of money to be made during student life!

 

 

"Ageusia" and its themes are so close to my heart. And if you've ever felt depressed, anxious, stuck, or less-than, I know it will be close to your heart, as well. We are not making a film about pretty people falling in love. This is about two real, ordinary human beings finding one another, complete with all the awkward baggage such a scenario would bring in our own lives. Life is messy, and so is the world of this film. 

 

It would mean so much to me if you would consider becoming a part of the "Ageusia" team and taking Bertha's journey with us. We are absolutely confident that we have something special on our hands, and we need the best production resources available to help this film stand out and get into the festivals that bring the right kind of exposure. We have high hopes that we can make an "Ageusia" feature film one day. And for that to ever be a reality, we need to make a killer short first!

 

Though she sometimes feels like she's given up on them, truthfully, Bertha's dreams are always with her. We all have the ability to make our own dreams come true, but it shouldn't be seen as weakness to have to seek help from others every now and again. We truly hope you help turn "Ageusia" from dream to reality. Because, like Bertha, I will never give up on my dreams. You shouldn't either.

 

Thank you so much!