Codependent
Los Angeles, California | Series
Comedy, LGBTQ
Twenty-something twins decide to pursue a job in entertainment as one person because they cannot function in society independently. Our series pilot, Codependent, explores the seemingly unattainable balance between individuality and codependency.
Codependent
Los Angeles, California | Series
Comedy, LGBTQ
2 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $15,755 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
74 supporters | followers
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Twenty-something twins decide to pursue a job in entertainment as one person because they cannot function in society independently. Our series pilot, Codependent, explores the seemingly unattainable balance between individuality and codependency.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
What's the Squeeze?
Codependent is a TV show about being so close to someone that your life blends. You share everything: a home, friends, work, goals, parents, and in this case, a face. Codependent explores whether you should lean full force into these relationships or fight for independence.
Peeling Back the Layers
In this pilot, Max and Tristan's careers reflect most of the younger generations. They can't seem to land a job outside of customer service and haven't found their place in Corporate America. What's even harder is that they're going after the same jobs in the same industry. Because slots are so minimal, they are trained to compete. But Max and Tristan say screw that! They use their likeliness to their advantage, eliminate the competition, use their identical faces, and act as one person when one of them manages to land a position as a producer's assistant.
The series will examine if the industry standard is competitive for a reason, or if it is all a sham, and Max and Tristan have found a way to beat the system.
Who's Makin' the Lemonade?
Hi! Wade and Weston here! We’re the writers and creators of Codependent. We're twins. We’re funny. We love film and writing and all that. We've tried to build our careers in entertainment, but nothing lucrative has stuck. Wade used to be an assistant for a very successful film producer (who will not be named and has nothing to do with this pilot!) and is currently a barista. Weston (me) has had many unpaid internships in the industry but stopped because, uh, he needs money. Weston currently works in sales at a Yoga studio.
This story is heavily based on our experiences as twins and the unique perspective that comes with it. We’ve battled with competition and comparison, just like anyone in a close relationship.
We want to make a show about how challenging it is for creative people in this new hyper-consumerist digital age to fit into the workplace. For someone like my brother and I, the skills we’ve developed (experts at YouTube parodies, Astrology TikToks, and telling stories), don’t exactly align with sitting in an office all day. This is how we fit into the world. This pilot. Writing — sharing our thoughts on how things work, making people laugh, and being goofy! Help us do what we love.
Our Fruity Characters
Tristan
He uses his server job to network but fails after being too blunt about his goals. Tristan is impulsive, talks himself up a lot, and speaks his feelings whenever he can. Tristan has a rebellious rule-breaking tendency, which is why he quits impulsively and hooks up with a random customer afterward. Max keeps Tristan in check.
Jane
She is a Yoga girl, a career woman, and a shameless Erewhon regular. She's caring, supportive, funny, spontaneous, and focused. Jane has been Max and Tristan's best friend since high school, and she notoriously puts all the effort into their friendship. Her grounded energy balances Tristan and Max's out-of-this-world energy.
Max
He has a fake film job as an assistant for an old-time producer who wants to be a tech bro now. Max is insecure in his abilities and downplays this new job even though it’s a good opportunity for him. He is organized, a planner, stressed, future-oriented, and will always crack a joke when he’s uncomfortable. Tristan helps Max loosen up and express himself.
Budget Breakdown
Plant the Seeds
If you've read this far, you're probably a fan already, so let's be real. If you want more up-to-date content about the show or just want to see more of our fun-loving personalities, we can be found on Instagram here. <3. If you can't donate (which you probably can, just do it babe) share this fundraising page with your friends so we can reach this goal together, and follow the campaign page for real-time updates!
FOLLOW CODEPENDENT ON INSTAGRAM
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Travel
Costs $3,500
We've got to take the film crew to NY! This location is essential; NYC trajects the twins' decision to live as one person.
Locations!
Costs $3,000
In LA and NY, we need to rent a space that resembles a mansion and a restaurant. We also need $ to acquire permits for public places.
Cast+Crew
Costs $3,000
They've got bills! They've gotta eat!!!
Film Bro Equipment
Costs $3,000
Our talented DP needs this money for a camera (Sony A6300 for you nerds), lighting rentals, and other camera equipment.
Post Production / Festival Submissions
Costs $3,000
We need to pay for festival submissions (15 festivals) and for people to make our pilot look/sound amazing! (coloring, sound mixing, etc)
Misc- costumes, props, movie magic!
Costs $1,000
The production designers and costumers need money so our pilot looks so aesthetic and SLAY.
Marketing
Costs $1,000
This section includes money for social media marketing, payment to a graphic designer, and the merchandise we are gifting to donors.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Hi, Wade and Weston McElhaney here!
We are the writers and creators of Codependent. When you're the two youngest in a family of four siblings and twins, how can you not be the family's circus clowns? We started entertaining in the family unit and have been branching out ever since. Creativity is the driving force of our lives, and we started at a young age by making silly movies for ourselves. And then for YOUTUBE. And people saw our crazy movie parodies -- millions of them! Intertwined with our at-home shenanigans, we studied acting and theater. After high school, we got an associate degree in acting and film BFA from Chapman University and Dodge College. During this time, we also pursued comedy on social media and gained over 200k followers.
Along the way, we met the director of Codependent, Caitlyn Phu, in film school.
Caitlyn is BEYOND talented and the perfect person to direct Codependent. She's directed many award-winning short films, editorials, and music videos, including "Self Control" by Jacklen Ro, a jury nominee at NFFTY. She's fun, FUNNY, and cool, just like our pilot!
Some of Caitlyn's films...
Some of Ciatlyn's music videos...
Codependent's director of photography is Kyle Farscht. His portfolio is STUNNING, with commercial credits for designer brand Miaou and content credits for Out Magazine and RuPaul's Drag Race. He also shoots music videos, fashion visualizers, and short films. Kyle's balanced attention to color, aesthetics, and playfulness is why he's Codependent's DP. Oh, and he's a drag queen, so he's a true multifaceted icon.
Kyle's eye
Our head producers are Emily Partida & Rosie Cummings.
Emily has been our best friend since high school. She studied filmmaking at NYU Tisch and works as the Marketing and Distribution Coordinator at the indie film distribution company, Utopia.
We met Rosie in college and instantly clicked through our mutual offbeat humor.
Outside of her love of filmmaking, Rosie is the producer of the number one fashion and beauty podcast on Apple and Spotify called Lipstick on the Rim, hosted by actress and businesswoman Molly Sims.
Codependent combines all of our passions into one: acting, writing, and comedy. We feel like we've been preparing for this, and all our work will help this project succeed. We have always been drawn to twin stories because it's a dynamic that hasn't been explored honestly on-screen.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
What's the Squeeze?
Codependent is a TV show about being so close to someone that your life blends. You share everything: a home, friends, work, goals, parents, and in this case, a face. Codependent explores whether you should lean full force into these relationships or fight for independence.
Peeling Back the Layers
In this pilot, Max and Tristan's careers reflect most of the younger generations. They can't seem to land a job outside of customer service and haven't found their place in Corporate America. What's even harder is that they're going after the same jobs in the same industry. Because slots are so minimal, they are trained to compete. But Max and Tristan say screw that! They use their likeliness to their advantage, eliminate the competition, use their identical faces, and act as one person when one of them manages to land a position as a producer's assistant.
The series will examine if the industry standard is competitive for a reason, or if it is all a sham, and Max and Tristan have found a way to beat the system.
Who's Makin' the Lemonade?
Hi! Wade and Weston here! We’re the writers and creators of Codependent. We're twins. We’re funny. We love film and writing and all that. We've tried to build our careers in entertainment, but nothing lucrative has stuck. Wade used to be an assistant for a very successful film producer (who will not be named and has nothing to do with this pilot!) and is currently a barista. Weston (me) has had many unpaid internships in the industry but stopped because, uh, he needs money. Weston currently works in sales at a Yoga studio.
This story is heavily based on our experiences as twins and the unique perspective that comes with it. We’ve battled with competition and comparison, just like anyone in a close relationship.
We want to make a show about how challenging it is for creative people in this new hyper-consumerist digital age to fit into the workplace. For someone like my brother and I, the skills we’ve developed (experts at YouTube parodies, Astrology TikToks, and telling stories), don’t exactly align with sitting in an office all day. This is how we fit into the world. This pilot. Writing — sharing our thoughts on how things work, making people laugh, and being goofy! Help us do what we love.
Our Fruity Characters
Tristan
He uses his server job to network but fails after being too blunt about his goals. Tristan is impulsive, talks himself up a lot, and speaks his feelings whenever he can. Tristan has a rebellious rule-breaking tendency, which is why he quits impulsively and hooks up with a random customer afterward. Max keeps Tristan in check.
Jane
She is a Yoga girl, a career woman, and a shameless Erewhon regular. She's caring, supportive, funny, spontaneous, and focused. Jane has been Max and Tristan's best friend since high school, and she notoriously puts all the effort into their friendship. Her grounded energy balances Tristan and Max's out-of-this-world energy.
Max
He has a fake film job as an assistant for an old-time producer who wants to be a tech bro now. Max is insecure in his abilities and downplays this new job even though it’s a good opportunity for him. He is organized, a planner, stressed, future-oriented, and will always crack a joke when he’s uncomfortable. Tristan helps Max loosen up and express himself.
Budget Breakdown
Plant the Seeds
If you've read this far, you're probably a fan already, so let's be real. If you want more up-to-date content about the show or just want to see more of our fun-loving personalities, we can be found on Instagram here. <3. If you can't donate (which you probably can, just do it babe) share this fundraising page with your friends so we can reach this goal together, and follow the campaign page for real-time updates!
FOLLOW CODEPENDENT ON INSTAGRAM
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Travel
Costs $3,500
We've got to take the film crew to NY! This location is essential; NYC trajects the twins' decision to live as one person.
Locations!
Costs $3,000
In LA and NY, we need to rent a space that resembles a mansion and a restaurant. We also need $ to acquire permits for public places.
Cast+Crew
Costs $3,000
They've got bills! They've gotta eat!!!
Film Bro Equipment
Costs $3,000
Our talented DP needs this money for a camera (Sony A6300 for you nerds), lighting rentals, and other camera equipment.
Post Production / Festival Submissions
Costs $3,000
We need to pay for festival submissions (15 festivals) and for people to make our pilot look/sound amazing! (coloring, sound mixing, etc)
Misc- costumes, props, movie magic!
Costs $1,000
The production designers and costumers need money so our pilot looks so aesthetic and SLAY.
Marketing
Costs $1,000
This section includes money for social media marketing, payment to a graphic designer, and the merchandise we are gifting to donors.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Hi, Wade and Weston McElhaney here!
We are the writers and creators of Codependent. When you're the two youngest in a family of four siblings and twins, how can you not be the family's circus clowns? We started entertaining in the family unit and have been branching out ever since. Creativity is the driving force of our lives, and we started at a young age by making silly movies for ourselves. And then for YOUTUBE. And people saw our crazy movie parodies -- millions of them! Intertwined with our at-home shenanigans, we studied acting and theater. After high school, we got an associate degree in acting and film BFA from Chapman University and Dodge College. During this time, we also pursued comedy on social media and gained over 200k followers.
Along the way, we met the director of Codependent, Caitlyn Phu, in film school.
Caitlyn is BEYOND talented and the perfect person to direct Codependent. She's directed many award-winning short films, editorials, and music videos, including "Self Control" by Jacklen Ro, a jury nominee at NFFTY. She's fun, FUNNY, and cool, just like our pilot!
Some of Caitlyn's films...
Some of Ciatlyn's music videos...
Codependent's director of photography is Kyle Farscht. His portfolio is STUNNING, with commercial credits for designer brand Miaou and content credits for Out Magazine and RuPaul's Drag Race. He also shoots music videos, fashion visualizers, and short films. Kyle's balanced attention to color, aesthetics, and playfulness is why he's Codependent's DP. Oh, and he's a drag queen, so he's a true multifaceted icon.
Kyle's eye
Our head producers are Emily Partida & Rosie Cummings.
Emily has been our best friend since high school. She studied filmmaking at NYU Tisch and works as the Marketing and Distribution Coordinator at the indie film distribution company, Utopia.
We met Rosie in college and instantly clicked through our mutual offbeat humor.
Outside of her love of filmmaking, Rosie is the producer of the number one fashion and beauty podcast on Apple and Spotify called Lipstick on the Rim, hosted by actress and businesswoman Molly Sims.
Codependent combines all of our passions into one: acting, writing, and comedy. We feel like we've been preparing for this, and all our work will help this project succeed. We have always been drawn to twin stories because it's a dynamic that hasn't been explored honestly on-screen.