American Retail
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Film-Noir
The film explores a fictitious billion dollar retail chain, Entropy, whose American Apparel / Abercrombie & Fitch-esque hybrid entices shoppers, only to crush the dreams of those who work there. Here, a disillusioned sales associate will have to face inner demons after her sister vanishes.
American Retail
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Film-Noir
3 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $6,635 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
36 supporters | followers
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The film explores a fictitious billion dollar retail chain, Entropy, whose American Apparel / Abercrombie & Fitch-esque hybrid entices shoppers, only to crush the dreams of those who work there. Here, a disillusioned sales associate will have to face inner demons after her sister vanishes.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Growing up in a small town in Prince George's County Maryland, my family didn't have much money. Shopping was something that we did to escape. Sounds antithetical, no? Though I wasn't able to buy many of the things that I wanted, I found solace in those outings with my mom. You see, when you have less money, you always feel like you have to dress to impress, no matter the cost.
Flash forward to New York City. While attending college at New York University, to make ends meet I got a job at a trendy fashion store, the flagship of a national chain. This brand the company advertised was presented as the answer to a question I didn't even know I had.
As I slipped on a free outfit provided by the store, I finally felt accepted, because I would see others wearing this specific brand in classes, on the street and in the subway. Being able to afford the clothes I saw all of the NYU students wearing around campus made me feel like I fit in. If I wore the rebellious, risquè, alluring brand that everyone wanted to emulate, maybe someone would want to emulate me.
Now I was one of the faces of this brand.
It meant something.
They were more than just clothes or even an identity. They were an ideology.
That feeling has never left me. I made some amazing friendships from that job. I also saw some dark perversity lying underneath. Like any customer service job, retail has a way of luring you into the comforts that you need. Brands promise to fix all your problems. But at the same time, they exploit and expose you to some dark truths.
I began penning American Retail my senior year of college. The audience for this piece ranges from millennials struggling in the gig economy, customer service representatives who are exploited on a daily basis, anyone who has ever felt smarter than their boss, and retail associates who are considered expendable commodities.
It also deals with the most vulnerable people in our service sector and depicts the rampant sexual exploitation inherent in the brand marketing of its primary commodity--you. And what it's selling, might not be what you think.
Exploitation in retail continues today. American Apparel's founder, Dov Charney, was accused of sexual misconduct and fired from his own store. Abercrombie & Fitch's demeaning and over sexualization of workers ended in a class action lawsuit filed by over $250,000 workers. And it's no secret that Victoria's Secret, as led by CEO's Leslie Wexler and Ed Razek, peddled its wares while operating a misogynistic work culture with bullied and harassed employees and models, all the while propelling their version of the "male fantasy," and catering to the "cool clientele." Even now, more news is coming out regarding Kanye West and his Adidas collaboration. The list goes on.
When will we stop exploiting and commodifying people's bodies for corporate profit?
GOALS:
This short film is a proof of concept for a larger film of the same name, also written by Carlotta Summers.
The screenplay for the feature film has already received critical acclaim including:
- QUARTERFINALIST Screen Craft Feature Film Competition, 2023
- QUARTERFINALIST Screen Craft Film Fund, 2023
- HONORABLE MENTION Big Apple Film Festival Screenplay Competition, 2023
Helping us make the short will enable Carlotta to submit for grant consideration, graduate schools (as she aims to direct the feature version!), film festivals for the short and submission to private investors currently interested in the feature.
(Provided by UCLA Hollywood and Diversity Report 2023)
(Provided by UCLA Hollywood and Diversity Report 2023)
(Provided by UCLA Hollywood and Diversity Report 2023)
HELP US CHANGE THIS!!
For this short proof of concept we are raising money to pay the location, props clothing, insurance / contingency and the crew.
BUT we also have STRETCH GOALS!
If we make our $6,000 goal, that is the BARE MINIMUM of what we need to make the film.
In order to pay the actors, provide adequate food, secure transportation for out of town talent and get the camera that we want to film this amazing short, we need to make at the most $9,000.
Help us make our stretch goals!!
Stretch Goal #1: Help us reach 7k!
An extra $1,000 can help pay for our LEAD ACTORS and BACKGROUND performers! Actors are artists too and they deserved to be compensated for their time!!!
Stretch Goal #2: Help us reach 8k!
An extra $2,000 can help pay for a higher quality ARRI ALEXA MINI CAMERA! You can't shoot a good film without a good camera. Help us cover this expense!
Stretch Goal #2: Help us reach 9k!
An extra $3,000 can help us cover the costs for food, on set craft services, and transportation! Everyone needs to eat. Help us feed the cast and crew!
When it's daylight the store is up and running, with an effortless vibrance. Lots of rich colors, warm lighting, and minimalistic white background highlight the hustle and bustle of a booming retail business and the natural beauty of a progressive environment.
At night, the store changes into high contrast, neon lights and a dark underbelly is revealed through fiery reds, neon lights, and an eerie surrealist presence waiting to be discovered in the darkness.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Location
Costs $2,000
Every brand needs a space! We have a wonderful location based in NYC and we would love to rent it for the shoot.
Crew
Costs $2,000
Every good film needs a fantastic crew, and we would like to pay the artists we work with!
Props & Retail Clothing
Costs $1,000
We making a retail store! We need to fill it with clothing, racks, hangers, a register, and much more to make it read on camera!
Insurance
Costs $1,000
Always. Have. Insurance! We need this to protect everyone and everything on set!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
------------>
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Growing up in a small town in Prince George's County Maryland, my family didn't have much money. Shopping was something that we did to escape. Sounds antithetical, no? Though I wasn't able to buy many of the things that I wanted, I found solace in those outings with my mom. You see, when you have less money, you always feel like you have to dress to impress, no matter the cost.
Flash forward to New York City. While attending college at New York University, to make ends meet I got a job at a trendy fashion store, the flagship of a national chain. This brand the company advertised was presented as the answer to a question I didn't even know I had.
As I slipped on a free outfit provided by the store, I finally felt accepted, because I would see others wearing this specific brand in classes, on the street and in the subway. Being able to afford the clothes I saw all of the NYU students wearing around campus made me feel like I fit in. If I wore the rebellious, risquè, alluring brand that everyone wanted to emulate, maybe someone would want to emulate me.
Now I was one of the faces of this brand.
It meant something.
They were more than just clothes or even an identity. They were an ideology.
That feeling has never left me. I made some amazing friendships from that job. I also saw some dark perversity lying underneath. Like any customer service job, retail has a way of luring you into the comforts that you need. Brands promise to fix all your problems. But at the same time, they exploit and expose you to some dark truths.
I began penning American Retail my senior year of college. The audience for this piece ranges from millennials struggling in the gig economy, customer service representatives who are exploited on a daily basis, anyone who has ever felt smarter than their boss, and retail associates who are considered expendable commodities.
It also deals with the most vulnerable people in our service sector and depicts the rampant sexual exploitation inherent in the brand marketing of its primary commodity--you. And what it's selling, might not be what you think.
Exploitation in retail continues today. American Apparel's founder, Dov Charney, was accused of sexual misconduct and fired from his own store. Abercrombie & Fitch's demeaning and over sexualization of workers ended in a class action lawsuit filed by over $250,000 workers. And it's no secret that Victoria's Secret, as led by CEO's Leslie Wexler and Ed Razek, peddled its wares while operating a misogynistic work culture with bullied and harassed employees and models, all the while propelling their version of the "male fantasy," and catering to the "cool clientele." Even now, more news is coming out regarding Kanye West and his Adidas collaboration. The list goes on.
When will we stop exploiting and commodifying people's bodies for corporate profit?
GOALS:
This short film is a proof of concept for a larger film of the same name, also written by Carlotta Summers.
The screenplay for the feature film has already received critical acclaim including:
- QUARTERFINALIST Screen Craft Feature Film Competition, 2023
- QUARTERFINALIST Screen Craft Film Fund, 2023
- HONORABLE MENTION Big Apple Film Festival Screenplay Competition, 2023
Helping us make the short will enable Carlotta to submit for grant consideration, graduate schools (as she aims to direct the feature version!), film festivals for the short and submission to private investors currently interested in the feature.
(Provided by UCLA Hollywood and Diversity Report 2023)
(Provided by UCLA Hollywood and Diversity Report 2023)
(Provided by UCLA Hollywood and Diversity Report 2023)
HELP US CHANGE THIS!!
For this short proof of concept we are raising money to pay the location, props clothing, insurance / contingency and the crew.
BUT we also have STRETCH GOALS!
If we make our $6,000 goal, that is the BARE MINIMUM of what we need to make the film.
In order to pay the actors, provide adequate food, secure transportation for out of town talent and get the camera that we want to film this amazing short, we need to make at the most $9,000.
Help us make our stretch goals!!
Stretch Goal #1: Help us reach 7k!
An extra $1,000 can help pay for our LEAD ACTORS and BACKGROUND performers! Actors are artists too and they deserved to be compensated for their time!!!
Stretch Goal #2: Help us reach 8k!
An extra $2,000 can help pay for a higher quality ARRI ALEXA MINI CAMERA! You can't shoot a good film without a good camera. Help us cover this expense!
Stretch Goal #2: Help us reach 9k!
An extra $3,000 can help us cover the costs for food, on set craft services, and transportation! Everyone needs to eat. Help us feed the cast and crew!
When it's daylight the store is up and running, with an effortless vibrance. Lots of rich colors, warm lighting, and minimalistic white background highlight the hustle and bustle of a booming retail business and the natural beauty of a progressive environment.
At night, the store changes into high contrast, neon lights and a dark underbelly is revealed through fiery reds, neon lights, and an eerie surrealist presence waiting to be discovered in the darkness.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Location
Costs $2,000
Every brand needs a space! We have a wonderful location based in NYC and we would love to rent it for the shoot.
Crew
Costs $2,000
Every good film needs a fantastic crew, and we would like to pay the artists we work with!
Props & Retail Clothing
Costs $1,000
We making a retail store! We need to fill it with clothing, racks, hangers, a register, and much more to make it read on camera!
Insurance
Costs $1,000
Always. Have. Insurance! We need this to protect everyone and everything on set!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
------------>