ANNIVERSARY ROULETTE
Fayetteville, Arkansas | Film Short
Action, Comedy
After being betrayed by her partner, an indecisive small-town cop must fight to save her wife on their wedding anniversary.
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After being betrayed by her partner, an indecisive small-town cop must fight to save her wife on their wedding anniversary.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Our film follows EMILY, a sarcastic and charismatic small-town detective failing to balance her professional and personal life. She gets entangled in the clusterfuck of all clusterfucks when her partner, MATT, gives her a hot tip about the local drug Queenpin, LAZY SUSAN.
Of course, that call comes in on the worst possible day — Emily and KATE'S wedding anniversary. Emily tells a few little white lies to back out of the day’s activities, promising Kate that she'll be back in time for dinner. Suspicious that Emily is off to work yet hopeful she’s not, Kate lets her go.
Emily's plan to handle Lazy Susan quickly and without complications lands in the garbage when Matt betrays her, revealing himself as a double agent for Lazy Susan.
Now, Emily has to fight her way out of a situation where she is grossly outnumbered, all while maintaining appearances to Kate that she is absolutely not doing anything dangerous (again) and will soon be home soon for their romantic evening.
ANNIVERSARY ROULETTE is a tribute to the classic action comedies we grew up on. Stories where capable heroes kick all the ass, but are totally unable to navigate their interpersonal lives. Where our film innovates on the genre is by focusing on a lesbian couple, showing audiences that cathartic action stories transcend all boundaries.
(LEFT: Writer/Producer - Andrew Jenner & Director/Producer - Molly Wheat)
(RIGHT: Andrew Jenner being presented with a $5K film gear rental grant after winning the Arkansas Cinema Society 2025 Pitch Competition)
Molly and I have known each other for a while, and often our conversations focus on Queer representation in cinema. I knew when I came up with the idea for Anniversary Roulette, Molly would be the perfect partner in crime to bring this beautiful idea to life.
So far, the reaction to our story has been nothing short of inspiring. People love it. And they should — it's completely awesome. And considering the current vitriol towards the LGBTQIA community, now more than ever, our work feels vital.
Most of our crew are returning teammates from our previous projects, such as OPERATION: THANATOS, THE MIRROR, & the upcoming found-footage horror comedy, THE ROBBERY.
We're incredibly excited to bring this project to life and what it means to promote a lesbian action comedy in Arkansas in 2025. All we need now is the help of our great community — that's you!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
CAST & CREW
Costs $10,400
Our team is the best in the state. As such, they deserve to be compensated for their hard work.
TRAVEL & LODGING
Costs $700
Our two leads are out-of-state actors. This money is set aside for their travel & housing needs.
POST PRODUCTION
Costs $4,650
This chunk pays for VFX, Sound, & Editing, all incredibly necessary things for a big popcorn action movie.
DEPARTMENTAL & CONTINGENCY
Costs $3,500
This money is set aside for Art, costumes, locations, insurance, and emergencies.
CATERING/CRAFT
Costs $900
Good food makes for a good set.
EQUIPMENT
Costs $1,250
Though we won a grant from FGR, there are still a few items we will need to rent for our shoot.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Molly Wheat - (she/her) is a writer, director, producer, and cinematographer— or, more simply, a filmmaker. Her films have played at many festivals in Arkansas, Oklahoma, California, Alaska, and New York. In 2019 she was the first woman to win Best Directing at the Little Rock 48 Hour Film Project. Her short Call Me When You Can won Best Independent Film at the Rogers Film Festival in 2021, and in 2022 it won Best Microshort at the Made in Arkansas Film Festival. She found her voice as a storyteller through photography, which first led to music videos, and then films. She is a film worker as well and can be found in the production or AD department.
Andrew Jenner - (he/him) - Andrew Jenner is a Queer screenwriter from Arkansas who specializes in cathartic action stories about love and loss. His scripts have been placed in numerous festivals, including the Austin Film Festival, and his short film, THE MIRROR, has won and played in numerous film festivals.
Annalee Drain - (she/her) - Annalee holds a BFA in Digital Filmmaking. In recent years she has freelanced on a tremendous amount of music videos, TV shows, commercials, short films and feature length films in the state of Arkansas where she specializes in the Camera and Costume departments. Annalee works with the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, is the Programming Manager of the Persistence of Vision Film Festival, and works as the Film Program Manager and Lead Cinematographer for Low Key Arts.
CATHERINE DURICKAS - (she/her) - Catherine Durickas is an award-winning producer and actor based in LA. Upon graduating summa cum laude from UVM with degrees in theater and anthropology, she continued her studies at Second City, UCB, The Groundlings (and more!) She has a bi-monthly show with her sketch team Rabble Rabble at the Elysian Theater, who have over 2.5 million views across platforms. She is a Film Independent Episodic Lab Fellow, a program sponsored by Netflix. She has appeared in numerous commercials, some you probably enjoyed from the comfort of your own couch. She is repped by The RTA Agency and Mark Blake Management for acting stuffs. For word writing, she is repped by Zach Cox at Circle of Confusion.
VALERIE POLSTON - (she/her) is an actress, writer, and filmmaker based in New York City. Her short films have been accepted across several American festivals including New York Shorts International Film Festival for her work in Pomegranate. She has made rounds as a theatre actress in New York City, primarily known for her off-broadway role as Sam/Maxine in Doppleganger. She studied acting at the HB STUDIO Uta Hagen Conservatory.
JAKE HASTINGS - (he/him) - Jake Wayne Hastings is an actor whose diverse background fuels his unique screen presence. He spent years cultivating discipline and focus as a military veteran and firefighter, skills he now pairs with the sharp timing of a comedian.
MINDY VAN KUREN - (she/her) - Mindy Christine Van Kuren was born in Tacoma, Washington. Her parents, James Van Kuren of Hawaii and Barbara Van Kuren (Melton) of Kentucky met serving in the United States Air Force. As a result, Mindy traveled the globe throughout her childhood being active in sports, school and church choirs and community theatre with her sister, author Katie Jenkins. She began her career modeling and commercial acting between her schooling at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Mindy's love of performing and the arts culminated when she was cast in her first lead role in a short film about domestic violence in the fall of 2013 called Paradigm by Jess Carson (Only Human, CW The Flash). Since then she has gained experience on sets of studio films and network tv shows and by working as Executive Producer, Producer, Associate Producer, Assistant to Producers, Production Coordinator, Production Designer, Production Manager, Assistant Director, Key Craft Services, Locations Scout and Production Assistant on independent film and tv projects.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Our film follows EMILY, a sarcastic and charismatic small-town detective failing to balance her professional and personal life. She gets entangled in the clusterfuck of all clusterfucks when her partner, MATT, gives her a hot tip about the local drug Queenpin, LAZY SUSAN.
Of course, that call comes in on the worst possible day — Emily and KATE'S wedding anniversary. Emily tells a few little white lies to back out of the day’s activities, promising Kate that she'll be back in time for dinner. Suspicious that Emily is off to work yet hopeful she’s not, Kate lets her go.
Emily's plan to handle Lazy Susan quickly and without complications lands in the garbage when Matt betrays her, revealing himself as a double agent for Lazy Susan.
Now, Emily has to fight her way out of a situation where she is grossly outnumbered, all while maintaining appearances to Kate that she is absolutely not doing anything dangerous (again) and will soon be home soon for their romantic evening.
ANNIVERSARY ROULETTE is a tribute to the classic action comedies we grew up on. Stories where capable heroes kick all the ass, but are totally unable to navigate their interpersonal lives. Where our film innovates on the genre is by focusing on a lesbian couple, showing audiences that cathartic action stories transcend all boundaries.
(LEFT: Writer/Producer - Andrew Jenner & Director/Producer - Molly Wheat)
(RIGHT: Andrew Jenner being presented with a $5K film gear rental grant after winning the Arkansas Cinema Society 2025 Pitch Competition)
Molly and I have known each other for a while, and often our conversations focus on Queer representation in cinema. I knew when I came up with the idea for Anniversary Roulette, Molly would be the perfect partner in crime to bring this beautiful idea to life.
So far, the reaction to our story has been nothing short of inspiring. People love it. And they should — it's completely awesome. And considering the current vitriol towards the LGBTQIA community, now more than ever, our work feels vital.
Most of our crew are returning teammates from our previous projects, such as OPERATION: THANATOS, THE MIRROR, & the upcoming found-footage horror comedy, THE ROBBERY.
We're incredibly excited to bring this project to life and what it means to promote a lesbian action comedy in Arkansas in 2025. All we need now is the help of our great community — that's you!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
CAST & CREW
Costs $10,400
Our team is the best in the state. As such, they deserve to be compensated for their hard work.
TRAVEL & LODGING
Costs $700
Our two leads are out-of-state actors. This money is set aside for their travel & housing needs.
POST PRODUCTION
Costs $4,650
This chunk pays for VFX, Sound, & Editing, all incredibly necessary things for a big popcorn action movie.
DEPARTMENTAL & CONTINGENCY
Costs $3,500
This money is set aside for Art, costumes, locations, insurance, and emergencies.
CATERING/CRAFT
Costs $900
Good food makes for a good set.
EQUIPMENT
Costs $1,250
Though we won a grant from FGR, there are still a few items we will need to rent for our shoot.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Molly Wheat - (she/her) is a writer, director, producer, and cinematographer— or, more simply, a filmmaker. Her films have played at many festivals in Arkansas, Oklahoma, California, Alaska, and New York. In 2019 she was the first woman to win Best Directing at the Little Rock 48 Hour Film Project. Her short Call Me When You Can won Best Independent Film at the Rogers Film Festival in 2021, and in 2022 it won Best Microshort at the Made in Arkansas Film Festival. She found her voice as a storyteller through photography, which first led to music videos, and then films. She is a film worker as well and can be found in the production or AD department.
Andrew Jenner - (he/him) - Andrew Jenner is a Queer screenwriter from Arkansas who specializes in cathartic action stories about love and loss. His scripts have been placed in numerous festivals, including the Austin Film Festival, and his short film, THE MIRROR, has won and played in numerous film festivals.
Annalee Drain - (she/her) - Annalee holds a BFA in Digital Filmmaking. In recent years she has freelanced on a tremendous amount of music videos, TV shows, commercials, short films and feature length films in the state of Arkansas where she specializes in the Camera and Costume departments. Annalee works with the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, is the Programming Manager of the Persistence of Vision Film Festival, and works as the Film Program Manager and Lead Cinematographer for Low Key Arts.
CATHERINE DURICKAS - (she/her) - Catherine Durickas is an award-winning producer and actor based in LA. Upon graduating summa cum laude from UVM with degrees in theater and anthropology, she continued her studies at Second City, UCB, The Groundlings (and more!) She has a bi-monthly show with her sketch team Rabble Rabble at the Elysian Theater, who have over 2.5 million views across platforms. She is a Film Independent Episodic Lab Fellow, a program sponsored by Netflix. She has appeared in numerous commercials, some you probably enjoyed from the comfort of your own couch. She is repped by The RTA Agency and Mark Blake Management for acting stuffs. For word writing, she is repped by Zach Cox at Circle of Confusion.
VALERIE POLSTON - (she/her) is an actress, writer, and filmmaker based in New York City. Her short films have been accepted across several American festivals including New York Shorts International Film Festival for her work in Pomegranate. She has made rounds as a theatre actress in New York City, primarily known for her off-broadway role as Sam/Maxine in Doppleganger. She studied acting at the HB STUDIO Uta Hagen Conservatory.
JAKE HASTINGS - (he/him) - Jake Wayne Hastings is an actor whose diverse background fuels his unique screen presence. He spent years cultivating discipline and focus as a military veteran and firefighter, skills he now pairs with the sharp timing of a comedian.
MINDY VAN KUREN - (she/her) - Mindy Christine Van Kuren was born in Tacoma, Washington. Her parents, James Van Kuren of Hawaii and Barbara Van Kuren (Melton) of Kentucky met serving in the United States Air Force. As a result, Mindy traveled the globe throughout her childhood being active in sports, school and church choirs and community theatre with her sister, author Katie Jenkins. She began her career modeling and commercial acting between her schooling at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Mindy's love of performing and the arts culminated when she was cast in her first lead role in a short film about domestic violence in the fall of 2013 called Paradigm by Jess Carson (Only Human, CW The Flash). Since then she has gained experience on sets of studio films and network tv shows and by working as Executive Producer, Producer, Associate Producer, Assistant to Producers, Production Coordinator, Production Designer, Production Manager, Assistant Director, Key Craft Services, Locations Scout and Production Assistant on independent film and tv projects.