Besties
Detroit, Michigan | Film Short
Horror, LGBTQ
After being left home alone for a weekend, teenager Abi discovers something terrifying about her best friend, Jess. A short LGBTQ+ horror film to be shot on location in Metro-Detroit, Michigan, Besties explores themes of queer self-discovery, friendship, and trust.
Besties
Detroit, Michigan | Film Short
Horror, LGBTQ
3 Campaigns | Illinois, United States
3 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$160
Goal: $6,500 for production
After being left home alone for a weekend, teenager Abi discovers something terrifying about her best friend, Jess. A short LGBTQ+ horror film to be shot on location in Metro-Detroit, Michigan, Besties explores themes of queer self-discovery, friendship, and trust.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Please consider a donation to the production of Moon Abbott’s upcoming short film, Besties!
What is Besties?
Besties is a short queer horror film from emerging transgender non-binary filmmaker Moon Abbott. Moon is known for their previous works, Rebound and When Life Gives You A Lawnmower. Moon also was named Best Filmmaker in 2025 according to the Chicago Reader. Besties is Moon’s newest film that aims to uplift and inspire queer youth to be themselves as told through a monster allegory.
LOGLINE: After being left home alone for a weekend, teenager Abi discovers something terrifying about her best friend, Jess.
GENRES: Horror, LGBTQ, coming-of-age
THEMES: Queer self-discovery, friendship, trust
MAIN AUDIENCE: Horror/monster/cryptid fans, queer teenagers, lesbians, bisexual girls and women
Meet the Characters of Besties
ABI - 16, Jess’s best friend, Adam’s daughter, has a good relationship with her dad and is closer to Jess than anyone else, has a complicated relationship with the loss of her mother as it happened at a very young age, has never expressed interest in dating any girl before, quick-witted, responsible, and overall a strong, bright, teenager.
JESS - 16, Abi’s best friend, has maybe expressed subtle interest in girls before but has never been with one, reliable, often treated like family when at Abi and Adam’s apartment, although harbors a terrifying secret from even her best friend.
ADAM - 40s, Abi’s dad, single parent, easy-going, just the right amount of over-protective, has a good and trustworthy relationship with his daughter.
The Logistics
Besties is filming on location in metro-Detroit, Michigan. Our shoot is currently scheduled for December 2026. The film should be completed around Spring 2027.
We are asking for $7000 to help fund part of our film. The rest of the funding will likely come from grants we’ve applied for. Should we exceed our crowdfunding goal, our cast and crew wages will increase and we will be able to pay everyone even better than originally planned for their hard work and talent!
Below is a breakdown of how we plan to use the money raised through crowdfunding:
- 50% of the funds raised will go toward PAYROLL (paying our cast and crew!).
- 17% of the funds raised will go toward ART DEPARTMENT (costuming, props, etc.).
- 14% of the funds raised will go toward EQUIPMENT RENTAL (renting the necessary camera gear to tell the story).
- 7% of the funds raised will go toward INSURANCE (as a contingency for safety on set).
- 7% of the funds raised will go toward FOOD (so we can feed our cast and crew!).
- 4% of the funds raised will go toward DISTRIBUTION (applying to film festivals after the film is completed!).
Writer/Director Statement
“I wrote Besties to help heal my repressed transgender identity that I harbored as a teenager. As a queer artist, it is of the utmost importance to me to represent my queer characters authentically. It is always my goal to tell queer stories that accurately voice queer characters. I am famous for saying that I often won’t write a script or story if it's not queer in some way. This is because my trans identity specifically is so deeply part of who I am. I am often disappointed by the lack of positive or genuine queer representation in media and want to be part of the change I wish to see. Besties is particularly representative of my queer youth, my repressed trans identity, and my want to see positive representation in queer film.
A lot of queer horror ends in tragedy or trauma for its queer characters, and Besties subverts this expectation and instead ends on a positive note, proving to young queer girls that they can be themselves and still find the love they seek. The transgender allegory and queer themes make this film incredibly relevant at the moment, especially considering the political environment around transgender and queer issues in the USA. We are actively making steps to secure the youth’s future, and creating Besties feels like a natural step I can take to contribute.”
-Moon Abbott
Share with your besties!
Please spread the word that we are crowdfunding on your social media and with your friends and family! Feel free to copy and paste the following text to share with folks:
Support transgender artists make a queer horror film! Consider a donation to "Besties" by the award-winning filmmaker Moon Abbott today! Check it out here: https://seedandspark.com/fund/besties-short-film#story
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Art Department (Props, Set, Wardrobe, etc.)
Costs $1,000
This film will require an in-depth custom costume and specific props to tell the story. Help us achieve the best result!
Equipment Rentals
Costs $1,000
In order to properly portray this story, we need to secure proper film equipment to assist with lighting and camera operations.
Insurance
Costs $500
It's important to stay insured in case things go awry. Help us make sure this happens!
Distribution
Costs $300
This amount of money will go toward our film festival circuit after the film is complete. Help us ensure people see the film!
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Besties is not only an LGBTQ+ film in theme, it will also feature a majority queer crew! Help support queer artists in our mission to tell authentic, feel-good queer film. Meet just some of our talented team members below!
Moon Abbott (they/he)
Writer, Director, Producer
Moon Abbott (they/he) is a trans non-binary creative with a focus in writing, filmmaking, and education. They have a Bachelor’s Degree in Cinema Art + Science with a Minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Columbia College Chicago. Known for queer, character-driven, genre-bending stories, their creative work often examines the concepts of gender and sexuality from various, authentic, and historical perspectives. Their portfolio includes a plethora of award-winning short films, screenplays, stage plays, and published articles and analyses.
Some of their better known works include the short films “Rebound,” a romantic comedy about discovering one’s queer identity, and “When Life Gives You A Lawnmower,” a campy horror comedy with no dialogue set in suburban 1950s America. Moon is also the co-founder and Festival Director of Chicago-based film festival New Generation Filmmakers Forum. Most recently, Moon was named Best Filmmaker 2025 in the Chicago Reader.
Kennedy Calvert (she/her)
"Abi"
Kennedy Calvert, 16, is excited to be making her film debut in the role of Abi. While this is her first short film, Kennedy has been involved in numerous school and community theater productions, including playing Sandy in SpongeBob and Davey in Newsies. Outside of acting, she enjoys playing the bassoon, tennis, and spending time with her family and friends.
Cameryn Beaty-Burnett (she/her)
"Jess"
Cameryn is an 18 year old Carlson High School graduate of the class of 2026. She’s been involved in performing arts since she was 9 years old and plans to study Music Education at Eastern Michigan University! Her most recent roles include: Gabriella Montez - High School Musical (CHS), Dragon - Shrek (CHS), and Karen - SpongeBob (CHS). She has two years of experience as an assistant music director in an advanced ensemble as well as student teaching two middle school choirs! This is her first experience in film and she is very excited for this amazing opportunity!!
Donald Corbin (he/him)
"Adam"
Donald Corbin, 43, of Southgate, Michigan has spent nearly all his life performing. Participating in his first stage production at the age of 6, he has since dedicated himself passionately to the creation and enjoyment of theatre. He shares this passion with Sydnee, his wife of 8 years, and Elliott, his daughter for all 7 of hers. Donald considers it a privilege to be able to tell stories, to help create something that can connect with and move others, and he hopes never to stop sharing that.
Nathan Gallagher (he/him)
Producer
Nathan Gallagher (he/him) is an award winning director/producer based in the Midwest. With over nine years of experience producing and directing narrative films, Nathan is dedicated to exploring the techniques and strategies that he can apply as a filmmaker to evoke a sensory and visceral response in the viewer. Always learning and growing as a creative, Nathan has used this adaptable approach to conceptualize out-of-the-box ideas when crafting narrative stories.
Judas Gray (they/them)
Production Designer
Judas Gray (they/them) has done makeup for multiple short films in the past including I Wish I Had Her Body and Makeup Tips For The Aging Ghost. They also have 4 years of experience in doing makeup for haunted houses and have experience as a costume designer for the stage. Most recently, Judas was the Production Designer for the award-winning short film When Life Gives You A Lawnmower. They are based in Michigan.
Sam Tudor-Hidy (he/him)
Director of Photography
Sam Tudor-Hidy has been working in the film and television industry for the past 5 years. During that time he has operated Steadicam and Jib on over thousand live shows for Stadium, Big Ten Network and CHSN combined and is the main Steadicam operator for the Bulls, Blackhawks and White Sox Pre and Post Game shows. You can also see his skills on multiple different independent film and music video projects, where his passion for lighting and camera operating shine through.
Nadeen Alwan (they/them)
Script Supervisor, Editor
Nadeen Alwan is a video editor, videographer, and documentary filmmaker based in Chicago. They're most interested in stories that focus around the intersection of class, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality, primarily within the Arab world in an effort to push the boundaries of the kinds of representation we see on screen. Most recently, they have worked on the short films Rebound (2023) and When Life Gives You A Lawnmower (2025) as editor and colorist. They are currently an Engineer at Chicago Sports Network.
Alyssa Rae Thomas (she/they)
Editor
Alyssa Rae Thomas (she/they) is a filmmaker, editor, and choreographer. Born and raised in metro-Detroit, she holds a double BA in Film, TV, & Media and Art History from the University of Michigan. She has written, directed, and produced several short films as well as choreographed for both the screen and the stage. Her work often focuses around issues of body image, mental health, and gender nonconformity.
Kaitlyn Cross (she/her)
Assistant Director
Kaitlyn is a kindergarten teacher based in Michigan. She loves working on films as well as theatre projects in her area. The last film she worked on was “When Life Give you a Lawnmower”, where she was also the assistant director. As always, gay rights!
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Please consider a donation to the production of Moon Abbott’s upcoming short film, Besties!
What is Besties?
Besties is a short queer horror film from emerging transgender non-binary filmmaker Moon Abbott. Moon is known for their previous works, Rebound and When Life Gives You A Lawnmower. Moon also was named Best Filmmaker in 2025 according to the Chicago Reader. Besties is Moon’s newest film that aims to uplift and inspire queer youth to be themselves as told through a monster allegory.
LOGLINE: After being left home alone for a weekend, teenager Abi discovers something terrifying about her best friend, Jess.
GENRES: Horror, LGBTQ, coming-of-age
THEMES: Queer self-discovery, friendship, trust
MAIN AUDIENCE: Horror/monster/cryptid fans, queer teenagers, lesbians, bisexual girls and women
Meet the Characters of Besties
ABI - 16, Jess’s best friend, Adam’s daughter, has a good relationship with her dad and is closer to Jess than anyone else, has a complicated relationship with the loss of her mother as it happened at a very young age, has never expressed interest in dating any girl before, quick-witted, responsible, and overall a strong, bright, teenager.
JESS - 16, Abi’s best friend, has maybe expressed subtle interest in girls before but has never been with one, reliable, often treated like family when at Abi and Adam’s apartment, although harbors a terrifying secret from even her best friend.
ADAM - 40s, Abi’s dad, single parent, easy-going, just the right amount of over-protective, has a good and trustworthy relationship with his daughter.
The Logistics
Besties is filming on location in metro-Detroit, Michigan. Our shoot is currently scheduled for December 2026. The film should be completed around Spring 2027.
We are asking for $7000 to help fund part of our film. The rest of the funding will likely come from grants we’ve applied for. Should we exceed our crowdfunding goal, our cast and crew wages will increase and we will be able to pay everyone even better than originally planned for their hard work and talent!
Below is a breakdown of how we plan to use the money raised through crowdfunding:
- 50% of the funds raised will go toward PAYROLL (paying our cast and crew!).
- 17% of the funds raised will go toward ART DEPARTMENT (costuming, props, etc.).
- 14% of the funds raised will go toward EQUIPMENT RENTAL (renting the necessary camera gear to tell the story).
- 7% of the funds raised will go toward INSURANCE (as a contingency for safety on set).
- 7% of the funds raised will go toward FOOD (so we can feed our cast and crew!).
- 4% of the funds raised will go toward DISTRIBUTION (applying to film festivals after the film is completed!).
Writer/Director Statement
“I wrote Besties to help heal my repressed transgender identity that I harbored as a teenager. As a queer artist, it is of the utmost importance to me to represent my queer characters authentically. It is always my goal to tell queer stories that accurately voice queer characters. I am famous for saying that I often won’t write a script or story if it's not queer in some way. This is because my trans identity specifically is so deeply part of who I am. I am often disappointed by the lack of positive or genuine queer representation in media and want to be part of the change I wish to see. Besties is particularly representative of my queer youth, my repressed trans identity, and my want to see positive representation in queer film.
A lot of queer horror ends in tragedy or trauma for its queer characters, and Besties subverts this expectation and instead ends on a positive note, proving to young queer girls that they can be themselves and still find the love they seek. The transgender allegory and queer themes make this film incredibly relevant at the moment, especially considering the political environment around transgender and queer issues in the USA. We are actively making steps to secure the youth’s future, and creating Besties feels like a natural step I can take to contribute.”
-Moon Abbott
Share with your besties!
Please spread the word that we are crowdfunding on your social media and with your friends and family! Feel free to copy and paste the following text to share with folks:
Support transgender artists make a queer horror film! Consider a donation to "Besties" by the award-winning filmmaker Moon Abbott today! Check it out here: https://seedandspark.com/fund/besties-short-film#story
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Art Department (Props, Set, Wardrobe, etc.)
Costs $1,000
This film will require an in-depth custom costume and specific props to tell the story. Help us achieve the best result!
Equipment Rentals
Costs $1,000
In order to properly portray this story, we need to secure proper film equipment to assist with lighting and camera operations.
Insurance
Costs $500
It's important to stay insured in case things go awry. Help us make sure this happens!
Distribution
Costs $300
This amount of money will go toward our film festival circuit after the film is complete. Help us ensure people see the film!
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Besties is not only an LGBTQ+ film in theme, it will also feature a majority queer crew! Help support queer artists in our mission to tell authentic, feel-good queer film. Meet just some of our talented team members below!
Moon Abbott (they/he)
Writer, Director, Producer
Moon Abbott (they/he) is a trans non-binary creative with a focus in writing, filmmaking, and education. They have a Bachelor’s Degree in Cinema Art + Science with a Minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Columbia College Chicago. Known for queer, character-driven, genre-bending stories, their creative work often examines the concepts of gender and sexuality from various, authentic, and historical perspectives. Their portfolio includes a plethora of award-winning short films, screenplays, stage plays, and published articles and analyses.
Some of their better known works include the short films “Rebound,” a romantic comedy about discovering one’s queer identity, and “When Life Gives You A Lawnmower,” a campy horror comedy with no dialogue set in suburban 1950s America. Moon is also the co-founder and Festival Director of Chicago-based film festival New Generation Filmmakers Forum. Most recently, Moon was named Best Filmmaker 2025 in the Chicago Reader.
Kennedy Calvert (she/her)
"Abi"
Kennedy Calvert, 16, is excited to be making her film debut in the role of Abi. While this is her first short film, Kennedy has been involved in numerous school and community theater productions, including playing Sandy in SpongeBob and Davey in Newsies. Outside of acting, she enjoys playing the bassoon, tennis, and spending time with her family and friends.
Cameryn Beaty-Burnett (she/her)
"Jess"
Cameryn is an 18 year old Carlson High School graduate of the class of 2026. She’s been involved in performing arts since she was 9 years old and plans to study Music Education at Eastern Michigan University! Her most recent roles include: Gabriella Montez - High School Musical (CHS), Dragon - Shrek (CHS), and Karen - SpongeBob (CHS). She has two years of experience as an assistant music director in an advanced ensemble as well as student teaching two middle school choirs! This is her first experience in film and she is very excited for this amazing opportunity!!
Donald Corbin (he/him)
"Adam"
Donald Corbin, 43, of Southgate, Michigan has spent nearly all his life performing. Participating in his first stage production at the age of 6, he has since dedicated himself passionately to the creation and enjoyment of theatre. He shares this passion with Sydnee, his wife of 8 years, and Elliott, his daughter for all 7 of hers. Donald considers it a privilege to be able to tell stories, to help create something that can connect with and move others, and he hopes never to stop sharing that.
Nathan Gallagher (he/him)
Producer
Nathan Gallagher (he/him) is an award winning director/producer based in the Midwest. With over nine years of experience producing and directing narrative films, Nathan is dedicated to exploring the techniques and strategies that he can apply as a filmmaker to evoke a sensory and visceral response in the viewer. Always learning and growing as a creative, Nathan has used this adaptable approach to conceptualize out-of-the-box ideas when crafting narrative stories.
Judas Gray (they/them)
Production Designer
Judas Gray (they/them) has done makeup for multiple short films in the past including I Wish I Had Her Body and Makeup Tips For The Aging Ghost. They also have 4 years of experience in doing makeup for haunted houses and have experience as a costume designer for the stage. Most recently, Judas was the Production Designer for the award-winning short film When Life Gives You A Lawnmower. They are based in Michigan.
Sam Tudor-Hidy (he/him)
Director of Photography
Sam Tudor-Hidy has been working in the film and television industry for the past 5 years. During that time he has operated Steadicam and Jib on over thousand live shows for Stadium, Big Ten Network and CHSN combined and is the main Steadicam operator for the Bulls, Blackhawks and White Sox Pre and Post Game shows. You can also see his skills on multiple different independent film and music video projects, where his passion for lighting and camera operating shine through.
Nadeen Alwan (they/them)
Script Supervisor, Editor
Nadeen Alwan is a video editor, videographer, and documentary filmmaker based in Chicago. They're most interested in stories that focus around the intersection of class, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality, primarily within the Arab world in an effort to push the boundaries of the kinds of representation we see on screen. Most recently, they have worked on the short films Rebound (2023) and When Life Gives You A Lawnmower (2025) as editor and colorist. They are currently an Engineer at Chicago Sports Network.
Alyssa Rae Thomas (she/they)
Editor
Alyssa Rae Thomas (she/they) is a filmmaker, editor, and choreographer. Born and raised in metro-Detroit, she holds a double BA in Film, TV, & Media and Art History from the University of Michigan. She has written, directed, and produced several short films as well as choreographed for both the screen and the stage. Her work often focuses around issues of body image, mental health, and gender nonconformity.
Kaitlyn Cross (she/her)
Assistant Director
Kaitlyn is a kindergarten teacher based in Michigan. She loves working on films as well as theatre projects in her area. The last film she worked on was “When Life Give you a Lawnmower”, where she was also the assistant director. As always, gay rights!