Demon Twink

New York City, New York | Film Short

Comedy, LGBTQ

Annabella Leonetti

1 Campaigns | New York, United States

05 days :22 hrs :52 mins

Until Deadline

17 supporters | followers

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$2,685

Goal: $5,000 for production

A naive gay man’s unfulfilling life is upended overnight when he comes face-to-face with the devil.

About The Project

  • The Story
  • Wishlist
  • Updates
  • The Team
  • Community

Mission Statement

Sadness is not the only relatable emotion we can tap into. There is so much untapped joy, stupidity, and laughter in queer relationships, that is often forgone. As we enter a political climate with so many unknowns, it’s important to uplift proud and joyous voices for our communities and audiences.

The Story

SYNOPSIS:

MARK is a freshman in college, insecure from difficult high school experiences that still live fresh in his mind. He doesn’t yet know where he’ll fit into the world and doesn’t make an effort to learn, instead falling back on an unhealthy but distracting sex life. While leaving a routine hookup at a house party, he’s noticed by ADRIAN, a slender and conniving college senior surveying from the shadows...who's also the devil.


BELOW: A SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTIONAL IMAGE FOR "DEMON TWINK"


ABOUT THE FILM:

Unabashedly queer stories are already few and far between, and if you discount the ones that end in death, heartbreak, or immense tragedy you have, like, “But I’m a Cheerleader” and “Dicks: The Musical.” "Demon Twink" aims to blur the lines between comedy and body horror - with historical references like that of Oscar Wilde and Emily Dickinson.

Throughout this rollercoaster of a story, we laugh, we cry, we get...undeniably horny? A house party, followed by MARK's disappearance into the LIMIN-ANAL, a liminal space resembling that of...yup, you guessed it, an anus, we end up at a the climax of the film - MARK's discovery that the students attending the University are not all that they seem. When a sorority sister makes an unsightly discovery of several of the students true identities, everyone must team up together to exorcise the possessed students, and save the school from DEMON TWINK.


BELOW: A BREAK DOWN OF OUR BUDGET


SO...WHY SHOULD YOU DONATE?

An award-winning writer and producer, Annabella Leonetti has teamed up with writer and director Jonah Goldman with one goal in mind: to bring an accurate, meaningful representation of queer characters to the big screen. Already far and few, queer films and filmmakers alike are threatened every day due to the current political climate in the USA, as well as heteronormative nature of the entertainment history. By utilizing a primarily queer crew, and casting queer talent, "Demon Twink" creates a safe, welcoming environment for queer creatives to band together to make art.


Some of Annabella's previous work has gone on to win several awards in the festival circuit, and our goal is to do the same with this project, submitting "Demon Twink" to festivals across the nation following the finishing of the film. In our ever-changing world today, it is important for us to continue to make art that our community feels good about and relates to, and that we as a community band together to create balance in what is such a one-sided industry.


BELOW: A STILL FROM LEONETTI'S AWARD-WINNING LGBTQ SHORT, "NOTHING FELT LIKE HER"

Wishlist

Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.

Art Department Materials and Set Design

Costs $200

Part of the film takes place in a liminal space - help us ensure out Art team has the materials needed to build this set!

Wardrobe, HMU, and SFX Materials

Costs $100

We need to purchase costumes, hair and makeup materials, and SFX make-up materials.

Catering & Craft Services

Costs $1,200

One of the most expensive costs on set, is feeding all cast and crew. Help us provide healthy, hot meals 2x a day + snacks!

Camera, Grip, and Electric Equipment

Costs $2,000

We're looking to raise funds to rent our camera, grip equipment, and lights!

Transportation

Costs $300

We'd like to ensure transportation via passenger van to and from set each day, especially on the days we are shooting outside of NYC!

Post Production

Costs $100

Help us bring on an editor, colorist, VFX artist and sound designer!

Locations

Costs $1,000

We are looking to secure an apartment for filming!

Cash Pledge

Costs $0

Original Score Composition

Costs $100

We'd like to bring on a composer to write and produce and original score for the film!

About This Team

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR....

Jonah is a Writer, Director, and Actor from Los Angeles, CA. After studying at George Washington University in DC, Jonah eventually moved to NYC. Previously directing for the stage, and originally starting "Demon Twink" as a feature-length screenplay, Jonah decided to adapt the film to a short to use as a proof-of-concept for his directorial debut in film.


ABOUT THE PRODUCER...

Annabella is an award-winning Writer and Producer based in Brooklyn, NY. Her recent credits include producing several short films and music videos in a variety of genres, as well as two original screenplays titled "Nothing Felt Like Her" and "I Saw God".  

Annabella's work aims to shine a light on the uniqueness of queer experiences, all while challenging gender norms in the film industry - both on screen, and on set. By working with diverse groups of talented professionals, their goal is to break barriers and create opportunities for marginalized voices to be heard.


A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR...

I was on a date the other night with this guy – it wasn’t really a date, it was an hour of drinks where we had to both pretend we definitely weren’t going back to my place after. Anyway, as he’s telling me about how he wishes theater was still what it was in the 70s (neither of us were even remotely alive then), I was focusing on his lips. I didn’t want to kiss them, they were covered by a Top Gun stache that he definitely grew after seeing Top Gun. No, I was more fascinated by how he pronounced his “A’s”. He tells me him and his friend are making a map of the cheapest cigarette vendors in Brooklyn. All I hear is “map.” M-aa-p. M-ah-p? There’s this fascinating drop of the jaw he does that floats his “A’s” into a soft “awe” sound. It’s almost vocal fry but it’s not. It could be the remains of some western European accent but he’s already told me about growing up in western Massachusetts. There’s no interrogation needed, a few moments later he tells me his dad is Dutch. It’s clear he’s collected small nuggets of his father’s accent and molded them into his own voice. I love people. We’re funniest when we don’t mean to be, when we think we’re just being ourselves. There’s a joyous humor in discovering someone’s unique reaction or trait they thought you’d never notice. Writing and directing is a way for me to experiment with that, to explore the impetuses that make someone who they are. Hell, I was closeted at one point, for no reason other than wanting to have sleepovers with guys without my parents freaking out. Then, immediately after coming out I went to college to study mechanical engineering because I knew that was my passion…at 17. These of course came with their own struggles but honestly, it’s more fun to laugh at them. What I can now see as hilarious life choices are still a part of me, as everyone’s choices are, and it’s such a gift that they never really leave us. People are awesome even when they’re not, and they have stories and depth that deserve to be seen. Even the worst person you know was made that way by something or somebody, and it’s inhuman of us to not want to immediately understand what that was. That “date” ended with us getting too high to do anything and falling asleep half naked in each other’s arms. He woke me up with a muffled “I should go” and the two of us wobbled to my door and tried to kiss with our dry, cracked mouths. I told him I was going back to bed then watched the first 5 episodes of “The Comeback” starring Lisa Kudrow. You have to laugh.


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