At the End of the Leash
New York City, New York | Film Short
LGBTQ, Romance
A businessman falls for his dog walker, unaware that the man he’s falling for is already part of his life.
At the End of the Leash
New York City, New York | Film Short
LGBTQ, Romance
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
44 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$4,775
Goal: $10,000 for production
A businessman falls for his dog walker, unaware that the man he’s falling for is already part of his life.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
ABOUT THE FILM
At the End of the Leash is an LGBTQ+ short film adapted from a short story by Jeffrey Ricker. The film follows Carl, a busy dog owner, who unexpectedly meets Brian, a charming dog walker at a local park, and is unaware that Brian has been caring for his dog through an agency.
As their relationship develops, Brian keeps his role as Carl’s dog walker a secret, until the truth comes out, testing their trust and the future of their relationship.
MOODBOARD
(References: Fellow Travelers, Heated Rivalry, American Gods, All of Us Strangers)
WHO?
Noah Ricketts, known for Fellow Travelers, American Gods, and The Great Gatsby, will star as Brian, the dog walker and lead role.
Casting is currently underway for the role of Carl, the businessman and principal supporting role in the story.
I'm Daniel, known for directing The Circuit: New York and The Circuit: Puerto Vallarta and I'm excited to bring this queer romance to the screen. My work is driven by a desire to spotlight underrepresented voices and tell inspiring queer stories, especially for my younger closeted self who secretly read gay romance books until my parents threw them away, and for anyone else who needs more of them.
Noah Ricketts (Lead Actor), Daniel Lui (Director/Creator), Trey Sherman (Co-Producer)
PRESS
At the End of the Leash has been featured in the following publications:
Queerty, June 10, 2026
WHY?
With the screenplay completed and story rights secured, funding is the final hurdle. With your support, we can bring this story to life and increase LGBTQ+ representation in film!
Funding will go toward:
- Cast and crew compensation
- Cast and crew meals
- Equipment
- Insurance
- Locations
- Wardrobe
- Post-Production
WHAT'S NEXT?
When funding is secured, we're aiming to begin production in summer 2026, with post-production wrapping by fall. The film will premiere on the festival circuit, followed by a wider release on streaming platforms.
STRETCH GOALS
150% ($15,000): Additional funding will allow us to expand our cast and crew, adding even more talent to this story.
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD
Copy and paste: Noah Ricketts' (Fellow Travelers) stars in At the End of the Leash, a new gay romance film now crowdfunding on Seed&Spark. Watch the teaser & support the film here: seedandspark.com/fund/attheendoftheleash
Any contribution, big or small, helps bring this film to life. Thank you so much for your support!
Daniel
IG: @danlproductions
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast
Costs $2,500
This funding supports compensation for our entire cast and animal talent, helping bring the film’s characters to life.
Crew
Costs $3,500
This funding compensates our crew who will help bring the film to life on set, including camera, sound, and production support.
Equipment Rental & Insurance
Costs $1,500
This funding will allow us to rent a high-quality camera package to bring this film to life, including a FX6 & professional audio equipment.
Post Production
Costs $1,500
This funding will support post-production, including editing and color grading support to help bring the film to its final form.
Locations
Costs $300
This funding will go toward securing key locations that are essential to the story.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Director / Creator: Daniel Lui
Daniel Lui is an up-and-coming director who has showcased his talents across a range of popular TV shows, including Love & Hip Hop, American Idol, Evil Lives Here: Shadows of Death, Live PD, Chopped, and Unexpected. Driven from his experience and determination as an Asian queer filmmaker, Lui embarked on a mission to amplify LGBTQ+ representation and racial diversity in television and film. His passion led to the creation of The Circuit: New York, an LGBTQ+ docuseries streaming on Amazon Prime and an exciting spin-off film set in Puerto Vallarta playing at festivals this year. His work has been featured in Queerty, DNA Magazine and Instinct Magazine.
Co-Producer: Trey Sherman
Trey Sherman is a skilled creative with more than 10 years of experience in television production. His debut directorial film won "Best Documentary Short" at Queer Voices: NYC film festival. A sequel is in pre-production. He also co-hosts Just Press Play with Ell & Trey, a talk show showcasing the real lives of the LGBTQ+ community through storytelling and play. Previous producer credits include BET's America in Black, The Problem with Jon Stewart on Apple TV+, NBC's Meet the Press, and various shows at CBS News.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
ABOUT THE FILM
At the End of the Leash is an LGBTQ+ short film adapted from a short story by Jeffrey Ricker. The film follows Carl, a busy dog owner, who unexpectedly meets Brian, a charming dog walker at a local park, and is unaware that Brian has been caring for his dog through an agency.
As their relationship develops, Brian keeps his role as Carl’s dog walker a secret, until the truth comes out, testing their trust and the future of their relationship.
MOODBOARD
(References: Fellow Travelers, Heated Rivalry, American Gods, All of Us Strangers)
WHO?
Noah Ricketts, known for Fellow Travelers, American Gods, and The Great Gatsby, will star as Brian, the dog walker and lead role.
Casting is currently underway for the role of Carl, the businessman and principal supporting role in the story.
I'm Daniel, known for directing The Circuit: New York and The Circuit: Puerto Vallarta and I'm excited to bring this queer romance to the screen. My work is driven by a desire to spotlight underrepresented voices and tell inspiring queer stories, especially for my younger closeted self who secretly read gay romance books until my parents threw them away, and for anyone else who needs more of them.
Noah Ricketts (Lead Actor), Daniel Lui (Director/Creator), Trey Sherman (Co-Producer)
PRESS
At the End of the Leash has been featured in the following publications:
Queerty, June 10, 2026
WHY?
With the screenplay completed and story rights secured, funding is the final hurdle. With your support, we can bring this story to life and increase LGBTQ+ representation in film!
Funding will go toward:
- Cast and crew compensation
- Cast and crew meals
- Equipment
- Insurance
- Locations
- Wardrobe
- Post-Production
WHAT'S NEXT?
When funding is secured, we're aiming to begin production in summer 2026, with post-production wrapping by fall. The film will premiere on the festival circuit, followed by a wider release on streaming platforms.
STRETCH GOALS
150% ($15,000): Additional funding will allow us to expand our cast and crew, adding even more talent to this story.
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD
Copy and paste: Noah Ricketts' (Fellow Travelers) stars in At the End of the Leash, a new gay romance film now crowdfunding on Seed&Spark. Watch the teaser & support the film here: seedandspark.com/fund/attheendoftheleash
Any contribution, big or small, helps bring this film to life. Thank you so much for your support!
Daniel
IG: @danlproductions
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast
Costs $2,500
This funding supports compensation for our entire cast and animal talent, helping bring the film’s characters to life.
Crew
Costs $3,500
This funding compensates our crew who will help bring the film to life on set, including camera, sound, and production support.
Equipment Rental & Insurance
Costs $1,500
This funding will allow us to rent a high-quality camera package to bring this film to life, including a FX6 & professional audio equipment.
Post Production
Costs $1,500
This funding will support post-production, including editing and color grading support to help bring the film to its final form.
Locations
Costs $300
This funding will go toward securing key locations that are essential to the story.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Director / Creator: Daniel Lui
Daniel Lui is an up-and-coming director who has showcased his talents across a range of popular TV shows, including Love & Hip Hop, American Idol, Evil Lives Here: Shadows of Death, Live PD, Chopped, and Unexpected. Driven from his experience and determination as an Asian queer filmmaker, Lui embarked on a mission to amplify LGBTQ+ representation and racial diversity in television and film. His passion led to the creation of The Circuit: New York, an LGBTQ+ docuseries streaming on Amazon Prime and an exciting spin-off film set in Puerto Vallarta playing at festivals this year. His work has been featured in Queerty, DNA Magazine and Instinct Magazine.
Co-Producer: Trey Sherman
Trey Sherman is a skilled creative with more than 10 years of experience in television production. His debut directorial film won "Best Documentary Short" at Queer Voices: NYC film festival. A sequel is in pre-production. He also co-hosts Just Press Play with Ell & Trey, a talk show showcasing the real lives of the LGBTQ+ community through storytelling and play. Previous producer credits include BET's America in Black, The Problem with Jon Stewart on Apple TV+, NBC's Meet the Press, and various shows at CBS News.