Bessie Shows Her Ass
Oakland, California | Film Short
Drama, History
Only recently has queer history surfaced in academia and popular culture. In our series of Queer Harlem Renaissance shorts, we disseminate that history through witty scripts and gorgeous filmmaking. Support this addition to "Congo Cabaret" and "Smoke, Lilies and Jade."
Bessie Shows Her Ass
Oakland, California | Film Short
Drama, History
2 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $45,008 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
74 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Only recently has queer history surfaced in academia and popular culture. In our series of Queer Harlem Renaissance shorts, we disseminate that history through witty scripts and gorgeous filmmaking. Support this addition to "Congo Cabaret" and "Smoke, Lilies and Jade."
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
One night in 1928, at the height of the Harlem Renaissance, an incident occurred that set Harlem buzzing. The principal players were all well-known.... and all queer.
Bessie Smith, possessing one of the greatest voices in the blues, is performing at Harlem's Lafayette Theater and just wants to rest between shows. Porter Grainger, Bessie's musical director and aspirant to New York's interracial gay circles, cajoles the diva into attending a Manhattan party hosted by Carl Van Vechten, a white writer and self-styled publicist for the Harlem Renaissance. Bessie will be his trophy entertainer for the night.
We follow Porter and Bessie from the theater dressing room to Van Vechten's midtown apartment, where Bessie's slow burn explodes.
From Robert Philipson
As founder and artistic director of Shoga Films, I have been writing and producing pieces about the Queer Harlem Renaissance since my first music video, "Ma Rainey's Lesbian Licks," put out in 2006. Amongst our more notable achievements in that regard is "The Queer Harlem Renaissance: A Prospectus," narrated by Daveed Diggs and "Smoke. Lilies and Jade," an adaptation of the first positive depiction of homoerotic desire in American literature -- also a product of the Harlem Renaissance -- narrated by Billy Porter. None of this brings in a profit and so each new venture is approached as a passion project.
In this case, we have the good fortune of recruiting the experienced director Cas Sigers who is lending her talents and calling on her community of Atlanta-based film folks to bring this witty, unexpected script to light.
From Cas Sigers
Let me tell you about a woman who is so electric, so unapologetically bold that she didn't command the stage, she demanded the world's attention at a time when society told women to be quiet. She wasn't just a star; she was a storm; and her name was Bessie Smith, the Empress of the Blues.
I have been asked to direct this powerful short film which amplifies the legacy of one of the most dynamic voices of the Harlem Renaissance. Now while this part of history often spotlights the men of that era like Langston Hughes and Alain Locke -- and they were amazing -- the women were its backbone. The women held it down, and no one embodies this more than Bessie Smith. She was outspoken and brave but vulnerable. Betsy is literally a masterclass in raw authenticity. She wasn't just the voice of the blues, she was the voice of the blues.
From Team Shoga
These are dark times for the LGBTQ community, and the African American community has always had a hard row to hoe. It's only been in the final decades of the 20th century that queer history has been excavated and the work is far from over. Our Queer Harlem Renaissance series will insure that our ancestors -- their pain AND, more importantly, their joy -- will be preserved and disseminated for the benefit of future generations. "Bessie Shows Her Ass" is the third in a trilogy of "Tales from the Queer Harlem Renaissance" that we plan to package and get on to some major streaming platform.
Our goal is to raise $50,000 in 45 days. In order to receive any funds through Seed&Spark, we must reach 80% of that goal. We can do it, but only with your help!
We've crafted an incentive list with tiers including exclusive artwork, early film access, and opportunities to be on set during filming. Donations and funding go towards location costs, production needs, equipment rentals, and supporting our crew.
Incentives can be accessed for as low as $15, but spreading the word is also a valuable form of support. Let others know about our campaign; check out and like our daily posts on Instagram (@shogafilms) and Facebook (@shogafilms). Go to our website and sign up for our newsletter. In fact, you can click here to read our latest newsletter, "Shoga Spotlights Bessie," for a deeper dive into the subject matter at hand.
FAQs
Is my pledge tax-deductable?
Yes! Shoga Films is a 501(3)c non-profit organization. You will receive a charitable donation acknowledgement for the amount pledged.
How will the money be spent?
Check out the pie chart derived from the wishlist page. All money raised will be spent on production.
When will I see the film?
If you pledge at the $50 level, you'll see the film before anybody else. A private link will be sent to you even before its premiere.
What is the project timeline?
Glad you asked. Here is a graphic of our best-case scenario.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Producers, Directors, Cast
Costs $15,000
Narrative film stands or falls on its actors. Actors need a good director. Producers bring everything together, especially $$.
Gear, costumes, props
Costs $15,500
Production staff needs cameras, lighting equipment; art dept needs period costumes, supplies, props, a 1928 auto
Production staff
Costs $17,000
We're planning a full scale production for a 4-day shoot: DP, Designer, Wardrobe Supervisor, Hair & Makeup, Grip, Gaffer, Sound Mixer
Locations
Costs $2,500
Two locations needed: a sound stage and an outdoor location to serve as the exterior of a NYC apartment bldg
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
The Team
Cas Sigers-Beedles // Director
A professional writer, director, and producer with over 15 years of experience. Most recently, she wrote and directed the all-female heist film Scheme Queens, which premiered in the summer of 2022. She also wrote the feature film Unthinkably Good Things shot in Rome, Italy.
Robert Philipson // Writer & Executive Producer
A former professor of African-American studies with a passion for jazz and art. As a published author and Harlem Renaissance historian, he has produced multiple films about the intersectionality of race, music, and sexuality.
Marc Smolowitz // Consulting Producer
A multi-award-winning director, producer, and executive producer with over 50 successful independent films to his credit. Amongst his better-known features are the renowned films Who I Am Not (SXSW), Being BeBe (Tribeca), The Weather Underground (Sundance), and House of Cardin (Venice).
Eric Michael Kochmer // Producer
A writer / director / producer with a background in experimental theater, mentored under Elizabeth Swados at LaMama Theater. Upon relocating to LA, he produced and starred in avant-garde filmmaker George Landow's film Dialogues (2009). He currently heads up his own production company Cinesthesia Factory.
Adam McMath // Producer
A longtime nonprofit leader and arts administrator focusing on Black LGBTQ media. he spent 15 years as a marketing executive for a global corporation, leading the commercial services department with a $50 million per year budget. McMath continues to consult with corporations on their commercial marketing efforts.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
One night in 1928, at the height of the Harlem Renaissance, an incident occurred that set Harlem buzzing. The principal players were all well-known.... and all queer.
Bessie Smith, possessing one of the greatest voices in the blues, is performing at Harlem's Lafayette Theater and just wants to rest between shows. Porter Grainger, Bessie's musical director and aspirant to New York's interracial gay circles, cajoles the diva into attending a Manhattan party hosted by Carl Van Vechten, a white writer and self-styled publicist for the Harlem Renaissance. Bessie will be his trophy entertainer for the night.
We follow Porter and Bessie from the theater dressing room to Van Vechten's midtown apartment, where Bessie's slow burn explodes.
From Robert Philipson
As founder and artistic director of Shoga Films, I have been writing and producing pieces about the Queer Harlem Renaissance since my first music video, "Ma Rainey's Lesbian Licks," put out in 2006. Amongst our more notable achievements in that regard is "The Queer Harlem Renaissance: A Prospectus," narrated by Daveed Diggs and "Smoke. Lilies and Jade," an adaptation of the first positive depiction of homoerotic desire in American literature -- also a product of the Harlem Renaissance -- narrated by Billy Porter. None of this brings in a profit and so each new venture is approached as a passion project.
In this case, we have the good fortune of recruiting the experienced director Cas Sigers who is lending her talents and calling on her community of Atlanta-based film folks to bring this witty, unexpected script to light.
From Cas Sigers
Let me tell you about a woman who is so electric, so unapologetically bold that she didn't command the stage, she demanded the world's attention at a time when society told women to be quiet. She wasn't just a star; she was a storm; and her name was Bessie Smith, the Empress of the Blues.
I have been asked to direct this powerful short film which amplifies the legacy of one of the most dynamic voices of the Harlem Renaissance. Now while this part of history often spotlights the men of that era like Langston Hughes and Alain Locke -- and they were amazing -- the women were its backbone. The women held it down, and no one embodies this more than Bessie Smith. She was outspoken and brave but vulnerable. Betsy is literally a masterclass in raw authenticity. She wasn't just the voice of the blues, she was the voice of the blues.
From Team Shoga
These are dark times for the LGBTQ community, and the African American community has always had a hard row to hoe. It's only been in the final decades of the 20th century that queer history has been excavated and the work is far from over. Our Queer Harlem Renaissance series will insure that our ancestors -- their pain AND, more importantly, their joy -- will be preserved and disseminated for the benefit of future generations. "Bessie Shows Her Ass" is the third in a trilogy of "Tales from the Queer Harlem Renaissance" that we plan to package and get on to some major streaming platform.
Our goal is to raise $50,000 in 45 days. In order to receive any funds through Seed&Spark, we must reach 80% of that goal. We can do it, but only with your help!
We've crafted an incentive list with tiers including exclusive artwork, early film access, and opportunities to be on set during filming. Donations and funding go towards location costs, production needs, equipment rentals, and supporting our crew.
Incentives can be accessed for as low as $15, but spreading the word is also a valuable form of support. Let others know about our campaign; check out and like our daily posts on Instagram (@shogafilms) and Facebook (@shogafilms). Go to our website and sign up for our newsletter. In fact, you can click here to read our latest newsletter, "Shoga Spotlights Bessie," for a deeper dive into the subject matter at hand.
FAQs
Is my pledge tax-deductable?
Yes! Shoga Films is a 501(3)c non-profit organization. You will receive a charitable donation acknowledgement for the amount pledged.
How will the money be spent?
Check out the pie chart derived from the wishlist page. All money raised will be spent on production.
When will I see the film?
If you pledge at the $50 level, you'll see the film before anybody else. A private link will be sent to you even before its premiere.
What is the project timeline?
Glad you asked. Here is a graphic of our best-case scenario.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Producers, Directors, Cast
Costs $15,000
Narrative film stands or falls on its actors. Actors need a good director. Producers bring everything together, especially $$.
Gear, costumes, props
Costs $15,500
Production staff needs cameras, lighting equipment; art dept needs period costumes, supplies, props, a 1928 auto
Production staff
Costs $17,000
We're planning a full scale production for a 4-day shoot: DP, Designer, Wardrobe Supervisor, Hair & Makeup, Grip, Gaffer, Sound Mixer
Locations
Costs $2,500
Two locations needed: a sound stage and an outdoor location to serve as the exterior of a NYC apartment bldg
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
The Team
Cas Sigers-Beedles // Director
A professional writer, director, and producer with over 15 years of experience. Most recently, she wrote and directed the all-female heist film Scheme Queens, which premiered in the summer of 2022. She also wrote the feature film Unthinkably Good Things shot in Rome, Italy.
Robert Philipson // Writer & Executive Producer
A former professor of African-American studies with a passion for jazz and art. As a published author and Harlem Renaissance historian, he has produced multiple films about the intersectionality of race, music, and sexuality.
Marc Smolowitz // Consulting Producer
A multi-award-winning director, producer, and executive producer with over 50 successful independent films to his credit. Amongst his better-known features are the renowned films Who I Am Not (SXSW), Being BeBe (Tribeca), The Weather Underground (Sundance), and House of Cardin (Venice).
Eric Michael Kochmer // Producer
A writer / director / producer with a background in experimental theater, mentored under Elizabeth Swados at LaMama Theater. Upon relocating to LA, he produced and starred in avant-garde filmmaker George Landow's film Dialogues (2009). He currently heads up his own production company Cinesthesia Factory.
Adam McMath // Producer
A longtime nonprofit leader and arts administrator focusing on Black LGBTQ media. he spent 15 years as a marketing executive for a global corporation, leading the commercial services department with a $50 million per year budget. McMath continues to consult with corporations on their commercial marketing efforts.