ALL BOYS DO
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, LGBTQ
A trans nightlife performer finds a chance at love when a complicated figure reappears from their past. All Boys Do is about a queer person navigating intimacy and heartbreak to become their most powerful self.
ALL BOYS DO
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, LGBTQ
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $12,641 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
154 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
A trans nightlife performer finds a chance at love when a complicated figure reappears from their past. All Boys Do is about a queer person navigating intimacy and heartbreak to become their most powerful self.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The setting Southern California sun paints Downtown LA in a hazy glow. On the night of a big show, drag performer Des (Dev Doee) steps outside to smoke a cigarette—when Matt (Matt Ford) recognizes them. He strikes up conversation; Matt and Des knew each other in the past, but have since lost touch. They make plans to catch up, and over the course of a night, Des and Matt have an intense reunion. But Des is a Black transfemme drag queen, and Matt is a white, young professional gay boy. Could their differences help bring them together, or will they get in the way? This is the premise for ALL BOYS DO, a movie about heartbreak, missed connections, and a queer person learning to become their truest and most powerful self.
Aaron Lovett, a queer Jewish filmmaker from the South, and Dev Doee, a drag artist based in Brooklyn, crossed paths in New York City while shooting a video for the queer-affirming makeup brand Fluide. Years later, Aaron wrote a script for a short film centered around Dev. Luckily, when Aaron told Dev about it and asked to make it together, Dev thought that was cool and not, like, super weird. A queer creative power duo was formed.
With the help of a talented team of queer and trans producers, Aaron and Dev are setting out to bring ALL BOYS DO into the world. But to make the movie a reality, they need an important piece of the filmmaking process to fall into place—the audience. The attention generated by this campaign will help prime viewers and spread the word about this impactful upcoming film. In addition, the financial support gathered by this campaign will ensure a high-caliber production and increase the chances of the film reaching wider audiences.
Aaron, Dev, and their collaborators are promising early-career creatives.
Aaron Lovett (he/they) is a writer, producer, and editor based in Los Angeles. Though ALL BOYS DO will be Aaron’s first film as writer/director, he has a proven list of accolades as an emerging screenwriter, including placing in the semi-finals (top 2%) in the Academy of Motion Picture's Nicholl Fellowship competition. Aaron also comes from a documentary background, with his previous shorts in that genre screening at the Oscar-qualifying RiverRun International Film Festival, Indie Grits Film Festival, and Carrboro NC Film Festival, among others.
Dev Doee (@devdoee, they/she) is an actor, dancer, drag performer, and beauty influencer. They have worked on the FX series Pose, and been featured as a voice in HBO marketing campaigns for Insecure. Dev has also served as the Chief Creative Officer at We Are Fluide and spoken at SXSW and Samsung about diversity in the beauty industry. ALL BOYS DO will be their debut as lead actor.
Matt Ford (@matthias, he/him) is an actor, writer, and producer. As an actor, he trained with Anthony Abeson in New York and is focused on film/television work — having appeared in PLAY and the forthcoming Cowboy, Choker, Harness, and Heart — with the occasional stage role. Following an award-winning journalism career, he pivoted to writing for the screen and is currently working on multiple TV pilots, a short film, and a feature script.
Danuta Janiszewski, L.E. Woods, and Josslyn Glenn are the tireless producers behind ALL BOYS DO. Together, they bring technical and creative expertise in film and tv production, and are excited to leverage these skills to make the best production possible. Matt Burke, a cinematographer whose work has screened both nationally and internationally, is spearheading camerawork as our Director of Photography.
For additional cast and crew information, see “The Team.”
Visually, the team is striving for an emotional, pensive mood and tone. Exterior shots of Los Angeles, the flashy and dirty interiors of bars and nightclubs, and intimate, confined spaces of apartments will make up most of our shooting locations.
Dynamic lighting and handheld camerawork will lend a personal feeling to the scenes, allowing the camera to act as a close observer to the unfolding drama. To see more inspo, check out our Cinematography + Mood Reel under "Media."
The funds raised by this campaign will help cover:
- Cast and crew compensation
- Location expenses and permits
- Feeding our amazing crew
- Lighting packages
- Hair and makeup personnel
- Post production editing, color grading, and sound design
- Covid testing and PPE
- Distribution expenses and festival submission fees
To make this film at the most professional level, we would need a budget of $20,000. However, we recognize the difficult economic times we’re living in, so our goal is to raise $15,000 and cover the rest by applying to grants and programs that could help alleviate some financial hurdles. We have also planned for a bare-bones budget of $12,000, the minimum amount necessary to be greenlit on Seed&Spark and keep the funds.
Our timeline involves:
- Production: Three-day shoot, March 11th-13th
- Post-production (editing) March - April
- Post-production (color and sound) April - May
- Private watch parties + screenings in the second half of 2023, with festival premiere in early 2024
The goal with this project is a far-reaching film festival run, leading to distribution on a queer streaming service like Revry or Dekkoo, or release on the internet for wider viewership. If successful, the film will help establish the many creatives involved as emerging top-tier talent in LGBTQ-focused storytelling.
Though some things have changed for the better, we live in a world of rising anti-queer rhetoric and violent transphobia. To make a short film with a trans lead is no small thing—it's a radical act of visibility and defiance. Big Hollywood studios and major production companies aren't likely to fund a project like this. But together, as a community, we can show the entertainment industry and culture at large that there is a place and an audience for queer and trans stories.
Please share this campaign on Instagram, Twitter, Lex, Grindr—literally anywhere a queer/trans audience and their allies are likely to see it. And please pledge some financial support if you can!
Many thanks from Aaron, Dev, Matt, Danuta, L.E., Josslyn, and the rest of the production team behind ALL BOYS DO.
The only way we will reach our crowdfunding goal is if we connect to folks outside our networks. If you’d like to be a part of supporting queer and trans filmmakers and championing diverse LGBTQ stories, you can make the difference in our success.
Please share our campaign via your social media, email, word-of-mouth, however you want!
Here are some examples of easy, to-the-point social posts. Feel free to copy and paste!
Help the team behind @allboysdo_movie by supporting their heartfelt, empowering short film about a transfemme drag queen becoming their most authentic self. Join them on Seed&Spark: https://seedandspark.com/fund/all-boys-do#story #allboysdo
I'm super excited to see @allboysdo_movie starring @devdoee and @matthias, directed by @_aaronlovett. Support them on Seed&Spark: https://seedandspark.com/fund/all-boys-do#story #allboysdo
For more information on becoming a supporter or collaborator of the film, please email [email protected] or DM us on Instagram @allboysdo_movie
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast + Crew Labor
Costs $5,000
We want to pay our highly-skilled crew and cast, made up of passionate LGBTQ creatives, a fair wage!
Post Production
Costs $3,000
We want to hire an experienced queer editor and a talented sound designer!
Locations
Costs $3,000
We need to secure a night club, an upscale apartment, and a cocktail bar for on-site production!
Covid Safety
Costs $500
This will cover daily testing, face masks, sanitation supplies, and other PPE!
Equipment Rentals
Costs $3,500
We need industry-standard equipment to make an A-list production!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
AARON LOVETT (they/he) - Writer, Director, Executive Producer
Aaron is a screenwriter, director, and novelist based in Los Angeles whose work centers LGBTQ characters in conflict with powerful social systems and explores themes of loss and intimacy. They are drawn to stories that challenge assumptions, uncover hard truths, and examine the nuances of queer experience. Their feature screenplay Night of Slow Tears was a semifinalist in the 2022 Academy Nicholl Fellowship competition, while their first TV dramedy pilot, Ghosting, was a semifinalist in the 2022 ScreenCraft Screenwriting Fellowship. Aaron is currently writing multiple TV projects, a fantasy novel, and a new feature script.
DEV DOEE (they/she) - Lead Actor as "Des" / Executive Producer
Dev Doee (they/them) is an actor, dancer, drag performer, beauty influencer, and the Chief Creative Officer of We Are Fluide. As a nonbinary artist, much of their work is centered around gender and diversity. Dev has worked with various beauty brands and clothing lines to present diverse perspectives and approaches to makeup on social media and has also spoken at SXSW and Samsung about diversity in the beauty industry. Recently recognized as a member of Ulta’s Muse 100, Dev strives to bring black queerness to the forefront of everything they do, especially in the beauty space. In addition to the makeup world, Dev can be found on the screen having worked on shows such as Pose on FX and campaigns with HBO. With their presence, they hope to ensure that all groups of people and perspectives regardless of race and gender are seen and heard.
MATT FORD (he/him) - Supporting Lead Actor as "Matt"
Matt Ford is an actor, writer, and producer who splits his time between New York and Los Angeles. As an actor, he trained with Anthony Abeson in New York and is focused on film/television work — having appeared in PLAY and the forthcoming Cowboy, Choker, Harness, and Heart — with the occasional stage role. Following an award-winning journalism career, he pivoted to writing for the screen and is currently working on multiple TV pilots, a short film, and a feature script. His production company, Equilateral Productions, produces narrative and commercial projects for clients on both coasts and in international markets. As the result of a religious upbringing followed by immersion into New York's queer nightlife, Matt focuses on telling stories that reveal humanity's capacity to grow from our predetermined roots into our chosen potential. (Along with a penchant for fantasy and sci-fi.) More recently, he was a vocal activist during the 2022 MPOX outbreak, having spoken at organized protests and being featured in The New York Times, CNN, BuzzFeed, and more. He is represented by Take3 Talent for film and television.
DANUTA JANISZEWSKI (they/them) - Producer, Unit Production Manager
Danuta is a first-gen queer and nonbinary trans writer and filmmaker located in East LA. Danuta enjoys exploring gender through multicultural contexts; developing humanized villains and complex characters; and magical realism. Tiny acts of rebellion and book recommendations are Danuta's love language. They’re a Scorpio.
JOSSLYN GLENN (she/her/ella) - Producer, 1st Assistant Director
Josslyn Glenn is a Southern California native and Black Latina transgender filmmaker, writer, spokesperson, and Outfest Programmer dedicated to promoting nuanced representations of queer and trans people of color that have historically been under- and misrepresented in media. She is also the author of She Rotates with Pluto: A Collection of Short Stories and Poems. Furthermore, she has produced award-winning short films, screening internationally, as well as content for social media and BuzzFeed’s PeroLike. She has worked on the likes of Netflix’s Disclosure, Con Todo’s Visions of Us, and ABC’s Soul of a Nation. When she is not craving nachos, she is writing her second book, Tranny Pants, a collection of diary entries, essays, interviews, poems, and short stories detailing the familial and romantic lives of trans people she has come across.
MATT BURKE (he/him) - Director of Photography
Matt Burke (he/him) is a cinematographer in LA. His work has been shown in festivals in the US, UK, and Hong Kong, and he draws inspiration from Wong Kar-Wai, Andrea Arnold and Ruben Östlund among others. In his free time he builds custom furniture.
L.E. WOODS (he/they) - Producer
Lewis E. Woods (he/they) is a producer/director whose goal is to create, inspire, and spread love through a cinematic lens. Lewis started his passion for filmmaking at an early age, inspired by movies like The Last Dragon and The Goonies. Right out of school, Lewis worked for Disney World Resorts, Universal Studios, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. In 2017, Lewis moved to Los Angeles to pursue producing and directing.
JOEY STURDIVANT (they/them) - Associate Producer
Jo Sturdivant (they/them) is a queer artist in South Central LA. On top of pursuing their own artistic endeavors including digital pop art and large-format murals, they work in production as a producer, coordinator, line-producer and on more rare occasions art department and styling. They enjoy working on projects that tell queer stories.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The setting Southern California sun paints Downtown LA in a hazy glow. On the night of a big show, drag performer Des (Dev Doee) steps outside to smoke a cigarette—when Matt (Matt Ford) recognizes them. He strikes up conversation; Matt and Des knew each other in the past, but have since lost touch. They make plans to catch up, and over the course of a night, Des and Matt have an intense reunion. But Des is a Black transfemme drag queen, and Matt is a white, young professional gay boy. Could their differences help bring them together, or will they get in the way? This is the premise for ALL BOYS DO, a movie about heartbreak, missed connections, and a queer person learning to become their truest and most powerful self.
Aaron Lovett, a queer Jewish filmmaker from the South, and Dev Doee, a drag artist based in Brooklyn, crossed paths in New York City while shooting a video for the queer-affirming makeup brand Fluide. Years later, Aaron wrote a script for a short film centered around Dev. Luckily, when Aaron told Dev about it and asked to make it together, Dev thought that was cool and not, like, super weird. A queer creative power duo was formed.
With the help of a talented team of queer and trans producers, Aaron and Dev are setting out to bring ALL BOYS DO into the world. But to make the movie a reality, they need an important piece of the filmmaking process to fall into place—the audience. The attention generated by this campaign will help prime viewers and spread the word about this impactful upcoming film. In addition, the financial support gathered by this campaign will ensure a high-caliber production and increase the chances of the film reaching wider audiences.
Aaron, Dev, and their collaborators are promising early-career creatives.
Aaron Lovett (he/they) is a writer, producer, and editor based in Los Angeles. Though ALL BOYS DO will be Aaron’s first film as writer/director, he has a proven list of accolades as an emerging screenwriter, including placing in the semi-finals (top 2%) in the Academy of Motion Picture's Nicholl Fellowship competition. Aaron also comes from a documentary background, with his previous shorts in that genre screening at the Oscar-qualifying RiverRun International Film Festival, Indie Grits Film Festival, and Carrboro NC Film Festival, among others.
Dev Doee (@devdoee, they/she) is an actor, dancer, drag performer, and beauty influencer. They have worked on the FX series Pose, and been featured as a voice in HBO marketing campaigns for Insecure. Dev has also served as the Chief Creative Officer at We Are Fluide and spoken at SXSW and Samsung about diversity in the beauty industry. ALL BOYS DO will be their debut as lead actor.
Matt Ford (@matthias, he/him) is an actor, writer, and producer. As an actor, he trained with Anthony Abeson in New York and is focused on film/television work — having appeared in PLAY and the forthcoming Cowboy, Choker, Harness, and Heart — with the occasional stage role. Following an award-winning journalism career, he pivoted to writing for the screen and is currently working on multiple TV pilots, a short film, and a feature script.
Danuta Janiszewski, L.E. Woods, and Josslyn Glenn are the tireless producers behind ALL BOYS DO. Together, they bring technical and creative expertise in film and tv production, and are excited to leverage these skills to make the best production possible. Matt Burke, a cinematographer whose work has screened both nationally and internationally, is spearheading camerawork as our Director of Photography.
For additional cast and crew information, see “The Team.”
Visually, the team is striving for an emotional, pensive mood and tone. Exterior shots of Los Angeles, the flashy and dirty interiors of bars and nightclubs, and intimate, confined spaces of apartments will make up most of our shooting locations.
Dynamic lighting and handheld camerawork will lend a personal feeling to the scenes, allowing the camera to act as a close observer to the unfolding drama. To see more inspo, check out our Cinematography + Mood Reel under "Media."
The funds raised by this campaign will help cover:
- Cast and crew compensation
- Location expenses and permits
- Feeding our amazing crew
- Lighting packages
- Hair and makeup personnel
- Post production editing, color grading, and sound design
- Covid testing and PPE
- Distribution expenses and festival submission fees
To make this film at the most professional level, we would need a budget of $20,000. However, we recognize the difficult economic times we’re living in, so our goal is to raise $15,000 and cover the rest by applying to grants and programs that could help alleviate some financial hurdles. We have also planned for a bare-bones budget of $12,000, the minimum amount necessary to be greenlit on Seed&Spark and keep the funds.
Our timeline involves:
- Production: Three-day shoot, March 11th-13th
- Post-production (editing) March - April
- Post-production (color and sound) April - May
- Private watch parties + screenings in the second half of 2023, with festival premiere in early 2024
The goal with this project is a far-reaching film festival run, leading to distribution on a queer streaming service like Revry or Dekkoo, or release on the internet for wider viewership. If successful, the film will help establish the many creatives involved as emerging top-tier talent in LGBTQ-focused storytelling.
Though some things have changed for the better, we live in a world of rising anti-queer rhetoric and violent transphobia. To make a short film with a trans lead is no small thing—it's a radical act of visibility and defiance. Big Hollywood studios and major production companies aren't likely to fund a project like this. But together, as a community, we can show the entertainment industry and culture at large that there is a place and an audience for queer and trans stories.
Please share this campaign on Instagram, Twitter, Lex, Grindr—literally anywhere a queer/trans audience and their allies are likely to see it. And please pledge some financial support if you can!
Many thanks from Aaron, Dev, Matt, Danuta, L.E., Josslyn, and the rest of the production team behind ALL BOYS DO.
The only way we will reach our crowdfunding goal is if we connect to folks outside our networks. If you’d like to be a part of supporting queer and trans filmmakers and championing diverse LGBTQ stories, you can make the difference in our success.
Please share our campaign via your social media, email, word-of-mouth, however you want!
Here are some examples of easy, to-the-point social posts. Feel free to copy and paste!
Help the team behind @allboysdo_movie by supporting their heartfelt, empowering short film about a transfemme drag queen becoming their most authentic self. Join them on Seed&Spark: https://seedandspark.com/fund/all-boys-do#story #allboysdo
I'm super excited to see @allboysdo_movie starring @devdoee and @matthias, directed by @_aaronlovett. Support them on Seed&Spark: https://seedandspark.com/fund/all-boys-do#story #allboysdo
For more information on becoming a supporter or collaborator of the film, please email [email protected] or DM us on Instagram @allboysdo_movie
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast + Crew Labor
Costs $5,000
We want to pay our highly-skilled crew and cast, made up of passionate LGBTQ creatives, a fair wage!
Post Production
Costs $3,000
We want to hire an experienced queer editor and a talented sound designer!
Locations
Costs $3,000
We need to secure a night club, an upscale apartment, and a cocktail bar for on-site production!
Covid Safety
Costs $500
This will cover daily testing, face masks, sanitation supplies, and other PPE!
Equipment Rentals
Costs $3,500
We need industry-standard equipment to make an A-list production!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
AARON LOVETT (they/he) - Writer, Director, Executive Producer
Aaron is a screenwriter, director, and novelist based in Los Angeles whose work centers LGBTQ characters in conflict with powerful social systems and explores themes of loss and intimacy. They are drawn to stories that challenge assumptions, uncover hard truths, and examine the nuances of queer experience. Their feature screenplay Night of Slow Tears was a semifinalist in the 2022 Academy Nicholl Fellowship competition, while their first TV dramedy pilot, Ghosting, was a semifinalist in the 2022 ScreenCraft Screenwriting Fellowship. Aaron is currently writing multiple TV projects, a fantasy novel, and a new feature script.
DEV DOEE (they/she) - Lead Actor as "Des" / Executive Producer
Dev Doee (they/them) is an actor, dancer, drag performer, beauty influencer, and the Chief Creative Officer of We Are Fluide. As a nonbinary artist, much of their work is centered around gender and diversity. Dev has worked with various beauty brands and clothing lines to present diverse perspectives and approaches to makeup on social media and has also spoken at SXSW and Samsung about diversity in the beauty industry. Recently recognized as a member of Ulta’s Muse 100, Dev strives to bring black queerness to the forefront of everything they do, especially in the beauty space. In addition to the makeup world, Dev can be found on the screen having worked on shows such as Pose on FX and campaigns with HBO. With their presence, they hope to ensure that all groups of people and perspectives regardless of race and gender are seen and heard.
MATT FORD (he/him) - Supporting Lead Actor as "Matt"
Matt Ford is an actor, writer, and producer who splits his time between New York and Los Angeles. As an actor, he trained with Anthony Abeson in New York and is focused on film/television work — having appeared in PLAY and the forthcoming Cowboy, Choker, Harness, and Heart — with the occasional stage role. Following an award-winning journalism career, he pivoted to writing for the screen and is currently working on multiple TV pilots, a short film, and a feature script. His production company, Equilateral Productions, produces narrative and commercial projects for clients on both coasts and in international markets. As the result of a religious upbringing followed by immersion into New York's queer nightlife, Matt focuses on telling stories that reveal humanity's capacity to grow from our predetermined roots into our chosen potential. (Along with a penchant for fantasy and sci-fi.) More recently, he was a vocal activist during the 2022 MPOX outbreak, having spoken at organized protests and being featured in The New York Times, CNN, BuzzFeed, and more. He is represented by Take3 Talent for film and television.
DANUTA JANISZEWSKI (they/them) - Producer, Unit Production Manager
Danuta is a first-gen queer and nonbinary trans writer and filmmaker located in East LA. Danuta enjoys exploring gender through multicultural contexts; developing humanized villains and complex characters; and magical realism. Tiny acts of rebellion and book recommendations are Danuta's love language. They’re a Scorpio.
JOSSLYN GLENN (she/her/ella) - Producer, 1st Assistant Director
Josslyn Glenn is a Southern California native and Black Latina transgender filmmaker, writer, spokesperson, and Outfest Programmer dedicated to promoting nuanced representations of queer and trans people of color that have historically been under- and misrepresented in media. She is also the author of She Rotates with Pluto: A Collection of Short Stories and Poems. Furthermore, she has produced award-winning short films, screening internationally, as well as content for social media and BuzzFeed’s PeroLike. She has worked on the likes of Netflix’s Disclosure, Con Todo’s Visions of Us, and ABC’s Soul of a Nation. When she is not craving nachos, she is writing her second book, Tranny Pants, a collection of diary entries, essays, interviews, poems, and short stories detailing the familial and romantic lives of trans people she has come across.
MATT BURKE (he/him) - Director of Photography
Matt Burke (he/him) is a cinematographer in LA. His work has been shown in festivals in the US, UK, and Hong Kong, and he draws inspiration from Wong Kar-Wai, Andrea Arnold and Ruben Östlund among others. In his free time he builds custom furniture.
L.E. WOODS (he/they) - Producer
Lewis E. Woods (he/they) is a producer/director whose goal is to create, inspire, and spread love through a cinematic lens. Lewis started his passion for filmmaking at an early age, inspired by movies like The Last Dragon and The Goonies. Right out of school, Lewis worked for Disney World Resorts, Universal Studios, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. In 2017, Lewis moved to Los Angeles to pursue producing and directing.
JOEY STURDIVANT (they/them) - Associate Producer
Jo Sturdivant (they/them) is a queer artist in South Central LA. On top of pursuing their own artistic endeavors including digital pop art and large-format murals, they work in production as a producer, coordinator, line-producer and on more rare occasions art department and styling. They enjoy working on projects that tell queer stories.