Brain Cancer is for Pussies!
Crystal Lake, Illinois | Film Feature
Drama, Family
In a small lake town, 17-year- old Skylar cares for her dying father—until a viral TikTok forces her to define herself beyond his illness.
Brain Cancer is for Pussies!
Crystal Lake, Illinois | Film Feature
Drama, Family
1 Campaigns | California, United States
63 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$39,700
Goal: $100,000 for production
In a small lake town, 17-year- old Skylar cares for her dying father—until a viral TikTok forces her to define herself beyond his illness.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
How do you keep living when the person who raised you is slowly fading away?
Is it brushing crumbs from his beard? Rubbing his back while he vomits from chemo? Making edibles together and laughing through the ache? Or is it just holding your own heart together while the world is turned upside down?
Brain Cancer is for Pussies! is a feature film that lives in these moments-- the good, the bad, and the ugly.
SYNOPSIS
Seventeen-year-old Skylar is spending the last summer before adulthood caring for her father, Eric, who is battling terminal brain cancer. As her friends prepare to leave their small Midwestern town for college and new lives, Skylar finds herself caught between two worlds: the ordinary chaos of being a teenager and the quiet reality of caring for someone she loves as he slowly slips away.
Skylar desperately holds onto the pieces of life that still feel normal. But when the intimate moments she shares with her father begin to reach an audience beyond their living room, the lines between memory, performance, and grief start to blur.
Set against the backdrop of a lakeside hometown and the fleeting freedom of adolescent summer, Brain Cancer is for Pussies! is a coming-of-age story about caregiving, complicated family ties, and how to keep living when the person who taught you how to live is no longer there.
THE CHARACTERS
Our protagonist. 17-year-old Skylar. Observant, funny, and quietly resentful, Skylar is the only one staying behind the summer before college to care for her dying father. When their private life goes viral, she’s pulled between real connection and online attention — desperate to feel young, seen, and not left behind.
Eric. Skylar’s dad. Now battling terminal brain cancer. Wry, disciplined, and determined, he fights each day to preserve dignity and humor as his body fails. Making videos with Skylar makes him feel alive.
Alex. Kind, earnest, and slightly awkward. Skylar's work crush. Alex represents the normal teenage life Skylar is missing. He sees her beyond her father’s illness — and offers her a glimpse of possibility.
Ivy and Zachary. Skylar’s loyal best friends, both preparing to leave for college. Supportive but moving forward.
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The Short Film
We shot a proof of concept short film for this project, also titled ‘Brain Cancer is for Pussies!’. While the story has taken on a new life since we filmed in Fall 2025, Skylar and Eric still exist in the same story world.
.jpg)
The short film has been sent out to various film festivals and we are waiting to hear back! Click here to watch the trailer.
Hi-- Izzy here!
So, why this project?
This story is inspired by the last summer I spent with my dad before he passed away. I look back on it with unexpected fondness, grateful for that time. Like Skylar, I was 17—caught between my own teenage world and being present with my dad.
My dad was laughing and humming songs from Hamilton until the very end, and that spirit—resilient, playful, and alive—runs quietly through the heart of this film.
.jpg)
Making a feature film is expensive, and that's why we are asking for your support!
WE MUST HIT 80% OF OUR GOAL IN ORDER IN 45 DAYS TO BE GREEN LIT
OUR PLAN
The 45-day campaign wraps at the end of May. We will be shooting the film this summer in our hometown: Crystal Lake, IL.
When filming is complete, we will move directly into post-production where we’ll refine the edit, sound, and final look. Upon completion, we plan to submit to as many film festivals as we can. After the festival season is up, we will release it for public viewing!
.jpg)
There are so many ways to support this project!
Are you a Crystal Lake resident?
Have you—or someone close to you—been impacted by GBM or another type of cancer?
Looking for a heartfelt coming-of-age story that offers an escape from all the darkness around us?
This story is for YOU!
SHARE this campaign with friends, family, and film lovers.
FOLLOW us on social media @sodapop_pictures and REACH OUT if you're interested in getting involved.
INTRODUCE us to potential collaborators or donors.
Every bit of engagement amplifies this project.
Thank you for helping us bring it to life.
Love, Emma & Izzy
And now... a message from someone very special who we miss dearly...
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
equipment
Costs $10,000
Professional cameras, lights, and sound gear let us capture the story clearly and make the film look and sound cinematic.
cast & crew
Costs $45,000
Your support helps us hire talented actors and a hardworking crew and compensate everyone fairly!
production design (& props & costumes & makeup)
Costs $10,000
These details bring the film’s world to life!
film festivals & distribution & marketing
Costs $3,000
Making the film is only half the journey — getting it seen is the rest.
locations
Costs $2,500
Funds for locations allow us to secure permits and access the right settings.
transportation
Costs $7,500
Getting people and equipment safely to and from set is essential
post production
Costs $5,000
Editing, sound design, color correction, and music shape the emotional experience of the film. This is where the story truly comes together.
Lodging
Costs $5,000
It's important for us to put our cast and crew up in comfortable locations.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Hi! We’re Emma and Izzy, co-producers of Brain Cancer is for Pussies.
The idea for the film grew out of our personal experience as teenagers supporting our dad through his battle with glioblastoma.
In 2024, we shot a proof-of-concept short under the same title. The following year, Izzy expanded the story into a full-length feature, which we’re set to film this summer.
Our team is made up of Midwest-based creatives, the majority of whom are women. We’re excited to collaborate with such a talented group to bring this deeply personal story to life.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
How do you keep living when the person who raised you is slowly fading away?
Is it brushing crumbs from his beard? Rubbing his back while he vomits from chemo? Making edibles together and laughing through the ache? Or is it just holding your own heart together while the world is turned upside down?
Brain Cancer is for Pussies! is a feature film that lives in these moments-- the good, the bad, and the ugly.
SYNOPSIS
Seventeen-year-old Skylar is spending the last summer before adulthood caring for her father, Eric, who is battling terminal brain cancer. As her friends prepare to leave their small Midwestern town for college and new lives, Skylar finds herself caught between two worlds: the ordinary chaos of being a teenager and the quiet reality of caring for someone she loves as he slowly slips away.
Skylar desperately holds onto the pieces of life that still feel normal. But when the intimate moments she shares with her father begin to reach an audience beyond their living room, the lines between memory, performance, and grief start to blur.
Set against the backdrop of a lakeside hometown and the fleeting freedom of adolescent summer, Brain Cancer is for Pussies! is a coming-of-age story about caregiving, complicated family ties, and how to keep living when the person who taught you how to live is no longer there.
THE CHARACTERS
Our protagonist. 17-year-old Skylar. Observant, funny, and quietly resentful, Skylar is the only one staying behind the summer before college to care for her dying father. When their private life goes viral, she’s pulled between real connection and online attention — desperate to feel young, seen, and not left behind.
Eric. Skylar’s dad. Now battling terminal brain cancer. Wry, disciplined, and determined, he fights each day to preserve dignity and humor as his body fails. Making videos with Skylar makes him feel alive.
Alex. Kind, earnest, and slightly awkward. Skylar's work crush. Alex represents the normal teenage life Skylar is missing. He sees her beyond her father’s illness — and offers her a glimpse of possibility.
Ivy and Zachary. Skylar’s loyal best friends, both preparing to leave for college. Supportive but moving forward.
The Short Film
We shot a proof of concept short film for this project, also titled ‘Brain Cancer is for Pussies!’. While the story has taken on a new life since we filmed in Fall 2025, Skylar and Eric still exist in the same story world.
The short film has been sent out to various film festivals and we are waiting to hear back! Click here to watch the trailer.
Hi-- Izzy here!
So, why this project?
This story is inspired by the last summer I spent with my dad before he passed away. I look back on it with unexpected fondness, grateful for that time. Like Skylar, I was 17—caught between my own teenage world and being present with my dad.
My dad was laughing and humming songs from Hamilton until the very end, and that spirit—resilient, playful, and alive—runs quietly through the heart of this film.
Making a feature film is expensive, and that's why we are asking for your support!
WE MUST HIT 80% OF OUR GOAL IN ORDER IN 45 DAYS TO BE GREEN LIT
OUR PLAN
The 45-day campaign wraps at the end of May. We will be shooting the film this summer in our hometown: Crystal Lake, IL.
When filming is complete, we will move directly into post-production where we’ll refine the edit, sound, and final look. Upon completion, we plan to submit to as many film festivals as we can. After the festival season is up, we will release it for public viewing!
There are so many ways to support this project!
Are you a Crystal Lake resident?
Have you—or someone close to you—been impacted by GBM or another type of cancer?
Looking for a heartfelt coming-of-age story that offers an escape from all the darkness around us?
This story is for YOU!
SHARE this campaign with friends, family, and film lovers.
FOLLOW us on social media @sodapop_pictures and REACH OUT if you're interested in getting involved.
INTRODUCE us to potential collaborators or donors.
Every bit of engagement amplifies this project.
Thank you for helping us bring it to life.
Love, Emma & Izzy
And now... a message from someone very special who we miss dearly...
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
equipment
Costs $10,000
Professional cameras, lights, and sound gear let us capture the story clearly and make the film look and sound cinematic.
cast & crew
Costs $45,000
Your support helps us hire talented actors and a hardworking crew and compensate everyone fairly!
production design (& props & costumes & makeup)
Costs $10,000
These details bring the film’s world to life!
film festivals & distribution & marketing
Costs $3,000
Making the film is only half the journey — getting it seen is the rest.
locations
Costs $2,500
Funds for locations allow us to secure permits and access the right settings.
transportation
Costs $7,500
Getting people and equipment safely to and from set is essential
post production
Costs $5,000
Editing, sound design, color correction, and music shape the emotional experience of the film. This is where the story truly comes together.
Lodging
Costs $5,000
It's important for us to put our cast and crew up in comfortable locations.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Hi! We’re Emma and Izzy, co-producers of Brain Cancer is for Pussies.
The idea for the film grew out of our personal experience as teenagers supporting our dad through his battle with glioblastoma.
In 2024, we shot a proof-of-concept short under the same title. The following year, Izzy expanded the story into a full-length feature, which we’re set to film this summer.
Our team is made up of Midwest-based creatives, the majority of whom are women. We’re excited to collaborate with such a talented group to bring this deeply personal story to life.