Discomfort, Texas
Los Angeles, California | Film Feature
Drama, LGBTQ
Discomfort, TX is a raw, intimate journey through the universal experience of loss and the fragile magic we carry into adulthood in spite of it. It follows Frank, a young burnout, as he strives to save his twin sister's life. Your support helps tell a story that lingers long after the lights fade.
Discomfort, Texas
Los Angeles, California | Film Feature
Drama, LGBTQ
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $68,285 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
77 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Discomfort, TX is a raw, intimate journey through the universal experience of loss and the fragile magic we carry into adulthood in spite of it. It follows Frank, a young burnout, as he strives to save his twin sister's life. Your support helps tell a story that lingers long after the lights fade.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A feature film about lost magic and the impossible lengths we go to for the ones we love...
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Following a tragic car accident in 2018, my twin sister, Nora Rose-Hines, was placed in the CCU and declared legally brain dead, but we hadn't lost her yet.
For five long days, trapped inside a run-down hospital, our two sets of queer parents and I, alongside her two best friends in the world, hoped, waited, cried and prayed...to anything that would listen. Then, when there was finally nothing left to try, we let go.
DISCOMFORT, TX is a fictionalized version of the hope we found, the love we shared and the lessons we learned in those five days.
This is not a story that seeks to focus on or glorify the pain we felt, nor linger on the trauma that we endured in those five days, but of what can be found in even those darkest corners of grief - undeniable love.
This is a love story at its core.
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Los Angeles: FRANK is unmoored; no plan for the future or even the present when a tragic car crash in Discomfort, Texas puts his twin sister, JANE, driving to her first year of college with her best friend ADA, in a permanent coma.
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Frank, once defined by his intense connection with Jane, now finds himself traveling to rural Texas to be there for his family, but when he arrives, he finds they've already given up hope.
Overcome with guilt, grief, and helplessness, he makes a desperate, impulsive decision: he’s going to save her — not with medicine, but with a miracle. Along with Ada and his ex-girlfriend/Jane's ex best-friend, SUZANNE, Frank sets out on a road trip to find COCO, Jane’s childhood stuffed panda and good luck charm, left behind at a motel somewhere along the drive.
In his heart, he believes that the sound of the music box inside the stuffed animal will help guide Jane back from her coma.
If they can find it first.
.png)
Think the visual language and emotional freedom of CAPTAIN FANTASTIC meets the baked-in nostalgia of REALITY BITES with the familial complications of THE SQUID AND THE WHALE.
Other Comparable Titles & Their Box Office/Revenue Performance:
- Thunder Road (2018): On a budget of $190K this film made $450K worldwide, SXSW Grand Jury Winner (PROFIT OF 260K)
- The Fits (2015): With a budget of around $100K, this film was acquired by Oscilloscope; Cannes + TIFF premiere, made back its investment with interest. (PROFIT OF 60K)
- Short Term 12 (2013): On a budget of $400K this film grossed over $1M gross + multiple breakout careers (including Brie Larson) (PROFIT OF 1.1 MILLION)
- Shithouse (2020): Budget ~$15K → SXSW Grand Jury Winner → IFC distribution (PROFIT OF OVER 185K)
Like these stats and looking to make a bigger contribution to the film?
Got an idea or want to get involved in a bigger way? Reach out to [email protected]. We’re totally open to chatting about custom perks, cameos, brand placement, credit/logo features, or even sharing your work with our mailing list. We’re also always grateful for in-kind support too. Let’s figure out something that works for both of us.
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DISCOMFORT, TEXAS is blessed to be working with a professional cast of both highly accomplished Non-Union and SAG performers, including...
FRANK HINES - Actor/Comedian JACK SHAW
(50k followers) (second from right)
- Jack Shaw is a comedian and actor who, since winning a Golden Ticket on Kill Tony, has been touring the country performing stand-up comedy at the Comedy Mothership, the Comedy Store, the Hollywood Improv, and many more. He’s appeared in national commercials for Spectrum, Subway, and Sling TV, and has acted in Hulu’s "Good American Family" and Tubi’s "Game Bros". He's also lifelong friends with both William and Nora Rose-Hines.
JANE HINES - Actor/Artist MALLORY HIGGINS
(Founder and Principle Artist of design group Paper Queen Co.) (far right)
- Mallory Higgins is a British-American actress and multidisciplinary artist based in Los Angeles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Studio Arts from Loyola Marymount University, where her passion for storytelling through both performance and visual expression was deeply nurtured. In addition to acting, Mallory is an accomplished visual artist and musician. She is especially excited to bring her artistry behind the scenes as part of the art department for Discomfort, where she’ll be hand-painting several key scenes (animated). Portraying the beautifully layered character of Jane is such an honor for Mallory, and she’s grateful to collaborate with such a gifted cast and crew. After appearing in numerous short films, Discomfort marks her feature film debut.
SUZANNE - Actor/Influencer CLAIRE YOUNG
(12.5K followers) (second from left)
- Claire Young, a Texas native, is a SAG actor with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting and a concentration in Screenwriting. She is thrilled to dive into the role of Suzanne in Discomfort Texas. Claire's appeared in many national commercials and performs regularly with her sketch comedy team in Los Angeles, where she also writes original comedic material. Outside of performing, Claire enjoys bouldering, roller skating, yoga, and expressing her love of fashion—she recently worked in the costume department on an upcoming Marvel TV show. She’s incredibly excited to be a part of such a meaningful story, alongside a talented cast and crew.
ADA - Actor MAYA BOYCE
(500K followers) (far left)
- Maya Boyce is an actor and writer hailing from Los Angeles, California. In 2024, she graduated from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee with a BFA in Contemporary Theatre, appearing in plays such as "Do You Feel Anger?", “Everybody", and her original one-act play “Housefly." Since graduating she has performed in a number of projects, including sitcom “Road to Healing” and horror short “Mimic,” both currently in post-production. She is deeply honored to be a part of this stellar cast.
BIG COCO - Sheen Faulconer (center)
- Trained in both physical theater and traditional cinema (himself an accomplished writer/director), Sheen Faulconer brings a rare mix of hyper-body control and emotional intelligence to the role of Big CoCo, the anthropomorphic panda bear that accompanies our main characters. With a background in movement work, puppeteering, and mask performance, Faulconer approaches Big CoCo with remarkable commitment and heart.
In addition to such wonderful talent as Lauren Lane (CeCe Babcock from THE NANNY series) and a soundtrack graciously provided by musical powerhouse Goodnight, Texas (click the link to hear their music) and more!
- The Representation of Queer Family Units: Growing up as the son of four gay parents, I never knew any other kids who's families looked like mine. Discomfort, Texas remedies the isolation of this experience by authentically reflecting the complexities and love within queer families today. Drawing from my lived experience, the film portrays family not just as biology but as chosen bonds, layered histories, and resilient support. It honors queer kinship with honesty, warmth, and nuance—showing how family shapes identity, heals wounds, and holds us through loss. The power and effect of queer love is on full display in Discomfort, Texas.
- Puppetry and Overhead Projectors as Storytelling Tools: Integrating puppets and overhead projector animations in the film diegetically (Jane is a visual artist and uses these tools to communicate with Frank, Ada and Suzanne throughout their journey) creates a unique visual language that brings Frank’s memories and imagination vividly to life, making the story immersive and deeply personal. Incorporates real creative processes (like puppet manipulation) onscreen, blurring lines between filmmaker, character, and story in a meta, nearly spiritual way.
- Childhood Nostalgia as a Narrative Driver: Discomfort, Texas delivers a compelling narrative arc rooted in the drama that is any young person's life (lust, uncontrolled emotions, pettiness) mixed with the sudden grief of their current predicament, ensuring an action packed and deeply interesting 85 minute cinematic experience. However, the biggest narrative driver within the emotional world is the connection of our main cast to the childhood they desperately cling to, endowing deep power in the visual language through simple reminders of what we all lose as we grow - innocence and blissful ignorance.
Current Status:
We have roughly $117K in soft & hard commitments to start and successfully complete physical production. Thus, we need to raise $67K in contributions to begin principal photography in November 2025.
That being said, the production team is already deep in pre-production preparing. We already have...
- A locked script (85 pages), a fully fleshed out shooting schedule (14 days), arranged all location and gear acquisitions, and a fleshed out budget (117k total needed for production and post, 50k already acquired) among every other stepping stone to physical production.
- Secured early investments to cover nearly 50% of the production budget!
- Assembled committed cast and crew full of industry professionals with incredible accolades already under their belts.
- And physical art production has already begun to create the overhead projector sequences (hand painted by Mallory Higgins at Paper Queen Studios).
Your contribution will directly allow us to:
- Finalize SAG-AFTRA talent negotiations, including offers to high-profile performers for pivotal roles.
- Maintain a green, eco-friendly and perhaps even carbon negative set!
- Pay decent and fair wages to our crew of around 15 full time employees and 3-5 independent contractors.
- Secure and execute a 14-day principal shoot across low-cost Los Angeles locations and Kern County locations.
Festival & Distribution Strategy:
Our festival plan includes Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, and Austin Film Festival, all with strong historical ROI for youth-focused emotional dramas. The unique visual style and urgent themes (LGBTQ+ youth, chosen family, mental health, grief) position us well for acquisition by streaming platforms, particularly in the A24 and NEON adjacent market following a successful 2026-2027 festival run.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/welcometodiscomfort
Email: [email protected]
From each and every one of us (and from the original Jane, Nora Rose-Hines), we couldn't be more grateful for your support!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast Payroll (Approx. 10 Principle Characters)
Costs $17,330
Covers payroll for high quality union talent, as well as SAG fringes, taxes, insurance & union benefits to ensure a safe, comfortable set.
Below the Line Crew Payroll (Approx. 14 People)
Costs $50,261
This ensures that top-tier crew, like our DP with two features sold at Cannes, are compensated fairly for their work. Director is unpaid.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
The creative force behind DISCOMFORT, TX is cadre of filmmakers with deep industry experience and a shared commitment to bold, personal storytelling.
Director, Writer and Producer: William Mellon
William Mellon grew up with his twin sister, Nora, in a historic theater in North Hollywood surrounded by artistry and has spent over a decade working in different creative capacities across commercial and narrative projects for clients like Disney and T-Mobile, as well as producing short films such as UNACHIEVABLE SOUND OF SILENCE (2022) and the upcoming feature film MIRROR IMAGE (2026) in the independent space. This marks his feature directorial debut—a deeply personal film rooted in lived experience.
Fun Fact: In 2022, William logged on to 23andMe and found out he had three other sisters he never knew existed. One of them is working on this film.
Cinematographer: Cooper Lichacz
Cooper Lichacz is a commercial and narrative cinematographer born and raised in Los Angeles. DISCOMFORT, TEXAS marks his third feature film, following two previous independent films that both received international distribution. Inspired by the imagery of the American Southwest, Lichacz is excited to bring a keen eye for visual storytelling and collaborative creative process to the project, combining atmospheric imagery with an instinct for human emotion and place.
Producer: David Zalasin
David Zalasin began his producing career at the tender age of 9 years old when he made JOE THE JAILBIRD JETS TO JUPITER, a short film, hailed by his family as “pretty good”. These days David is making films at a slightly higher level. At 3 Arts Entertainment, he has worked with Oscar nominated and Emmy winning writers, helping them sell projects all over town. This is his second collaboration with both William and Cooper.
Producer/Unit Production Manager/Publicity: Ellie Johnston
Fun fact: Ellie happens to be William’s long-lost sister.
Ellie Johnston brings a strong background in event production, with experience at Junket Productions and the Cannes Film Festival. A lifelong film enthusiast, she discovered her passion for producing while studying at Colgate University where she recently graduated. Currently, she serves as a Marketing Coordinator at Viva Pictures, supporting international campaigns for animated films.
Together, they form a team grounded in trust, vision, and a relentless drive to bring authentic, high-quality independent cinema to life.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A feature film about lost magic and the impossible lengths we go to for the ones we love...
Following a tragic car accident in 2018, my twin sister, Nora Rose-Hines, was placed in the CCU and declared legally brain dead, but we hadn't lost her yet.
For five long days, trapped inside a run-down hospital, our two sets of queer parents and I, alongside her two best friends in the world, hoped, waited, cried and prayed...to anything that would listen. Then, when there was finally nothing left to try, we let go.
DISCOMFORT, TX is a fictionalized version of the hope we found, the love we shared and the lessons we learned in those five days.
This is not a story that seeks to focus on or glorify the pain we felt, nor linger on the trauma that we endured in those five days, but of what can be found in even those darkest corners of grief - undeniable love.
This is a love story at its core.
Los Angeles: FRANK is unmoored; no plan for the future or even the present when a tragic car crash in Discomfort, Texas puts his twin sister, JANE, driving to her first year of college with her best friend ADA, in a permanent coma.
Frank, once defined by his intense connection with Jane, now finds himself traveling to rural Texas to be there for his family, but when he arrives, he finds they've already given up hope.
Overcome with guilt, grief, and helplessness, he makes a desperate, impulsive decision: he’s going to save her — not with medicine, but with a miracle. Along with Ada and his ex-girlfriend/Jane's ex best-friend, SUZANNE, Frank sets out on a road trip to find COCO, Jane’s childhood stuffed panda and good luck charm, left behind at a motel somewhere along the drive.
In his heart, he believes that the sound of the music box inside the stuffed animal will help guide Jane back from her coma.
If they can find it first.
Think the visual language and emotional freedom of CAPTAIN FANTASTIC meets the baked-in nostalgia of REALITY BITES with the familial complications of THE SQUID AND THE WHALE.
Other Comparable Titles & Their Box Office/Revenue Performance:
- Thunder Road (2018): On a budget of $190K this film made $450K worldwide, SXSW Grand Jury Winner (PROFIT OF 260K)
- The Fits (2015): With a budget of around $100K, this film was acquired by Oscilloscope; Cannes + TIFF premiere, made back its investment with interest. (PROFIT OF 60K)
- Short Term 12 (2013): On a budget of $400K this film grossed over $1M gross + multiple breakout careers (including Brie Larson) (PROFIT OF 1.1 MILLION)
- Shithouse (2020): Budget ~$15K → SXSW Grand Jury Winner → IFC distribution (PROFIT OF OVER 185K)
Like these stats and looking to make a bigger contribution to the film?
Got an idea or want to get involved in a bigger way? Reach out to [email protected]. We’re totally open to chatting about custom perks, cameos, brand placement, credit/logo features, or even sharing your work with our mailing list. We’re also always grateful for in-kind support too. Let’s figure out something that works for both of us.
DISCOMFORT, TEXAS is blessed to be working with a professional cast of both highly accomplished Non-Union and SAG performers, including...
FRANK HINES - Actor/Comedian JACK SHAW
(50k followers) (second from right)
- Jack Shaw is a comedian and actor who, since winning a Golden Ticket on Kill Tony, has been touring the country performing stand-up comedy at the Comedy Mothership, the Comedy Store, the Hollywood Improv, and many more. He’s appeared in national commercials for Spectrum, Subway, and Sling TV, and has acted in Hulu’s "Good American Family" and Tubi’s "Game Bros". He's also lifelong friends with both William and Nora Rose-Hines.
JANE HINES - Actor/Artist MALLORY HIGGINS
(Founder and Principle Artist of design group Paper Queen Co.) (far right)
- Mallory Higgins is a British-American actress and multidisciplinary artist based in Los Angeles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Studio Arts from Loyola Marymount University, where her passion for storytelling through both performance and visual expression was deeply nurtured. In addition to acting, Mallory is an accomplished visual artist and musician. She is especially excited to bring her artistry behind the scenes as part of the art department for Discomfort, where she’ll be hand-painting several key scenes (animated). Portraying the beautifully layered character of Jane is such an honor for Mallory, and she’s grateful to collaborate with such a gifted cast and crew. After appearing in numerous short films, Discomfort marks her feature film debut.
SUZANNE - Actor/Influencer CLAIRE YOUNG
(12.5K followers) (second from left)
- Claire Young, a Texas native, is a SAG actor with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting and a concentration in Screenwriting. She is thrilled to dive into the role of Suzanne in Discomfort Texas. Claire's appeared in many national commercials and performs regularly with her sketch comedy team in Los Angeles, where she also writes original comedic material. Outside of performing, Claire enjoys bouldering, roller skating, yoga, and expressing her love of fashion—she recently worked in the costume department on an upcoming Marvel TV show. She’s incredibly excited to be a part of such a meaningful story, alongside a talented cast and crew.
ADA - Actor MAYA BOYCE
(500K followers) (far left)
- Maya Boyce is an actor and writer hailing from Los Angeles, California. In 2024, she graduated from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee with a BFA in Contemporary Theatre, appearing in plays such as "Do You Feel Anger?", “Everybody", and her original one-act play “Housefly." Since graduating she has performed in a number of projects, including sitcom “Road to Healing” and horror short “Mimic,” both currently in post-production. She is deeply honored to be a part of this stellar cast.
BIG COCO - Sheen Faulconer (center)
- Trained in both physical theater and traditional cinema (himself an accomplished writer/director), Sheen Faulconer brings a rare mix of hyper-body control and emotional intelligence to the role of Big CoCo, the anthropomorphic panda bear that accompanies our main characters. With a background in movement work, puppeteering, and mask performance, Faulconer approaches Big CoCo with remarkable commitment and heart.
In addition to such wonderful talent as Lauren Lane (CeCe Babcock from THE NANNY series) and a soundtrack graciously provided by musical powerhouse Goodnight, Texas (click the link to hear their music) and more!
- The Representation of Queer Family Units: Growing up as the son of four gay parents, I never knew any other kids who's families looked like mine. Discomfort, Texas remedies the isolation of this experience by authentically reflecting the complexities and love within queer families today. Drawing from my lived experience, the film portrays family not just as biology but as chosen bonds, layered histories, and resilient support. It honors queer kinship with honesty, warmth, and nuance—showing how family shapes identity, heals wounds, and holds us through loss. The power and effect of queer love is on full display in Discomfort, Texas.
- Puppetry and Overhead Projectors as Storytelling Tools: Integrating puppets and overhead projector animations in the film diegetically (Jane is a visual artist and uses these tools to communicate with Frank, Ada and Suzanne throughout their journey) creates a unique visual language that brings Frank’s memories and imagination vividly to life, making the story immersive and deeply personal. Incorporates real creative processes (like puppet manipulation) onscreen, blurring lines between filmmaker, character, and story in a meta, nearly spiritual way.
- Childhood Nostalgia as a Narrative Driver: Discomfort, Texas delivers a compelling narrative arc rooted in the drama that is any young person's life (lust, uncontrolled emotions, pettiness) mixed with the sudden grief of their current predicament, ensuring an action packed and deeply interesting 85 minute cinematic experience. However, the biggest narrative driver within the emotional world is the connection of our main cast to the childhood they desperately cling to, endowing deep power in the visual language through simple reminders of what we all lose as we grow - innocence and blissful ignorance.
Current Status:
We have roughly $117K in soft & hard commitments to start and successfully complete physical production. Thus, we need to raise $67K in contributions to begin principal photography in November 2025.
That being said, the production team is already deep in pre-production preparing. We already have...
- A locked script (85 pages), a fully fleshed out shooting schedule (14 days), arranged all location and gear acquisitions, and a fleshed out budget (117k total needed for production and post, 50k already acquired) among every other stepping stone to physical production.
- Secured early investments to cover nearly 50% of the production budget!
- Assembled committed cast and crew full of industry professionals with incredible accolades already under their belts.
- And physical art production has already begun to create the overhead projector sequences (hand painted by Mallory Higgins at Paper Queen Studios).
Your contribution will directly allow us to:
- Finalize SAG-AFTRA talent negotiations, including offers to high-profile performers for pivotal roles.
- Maintain a green, eco-friendly and perhaps even carbon negative set!
- Pay decent and fair wages to our crew of around 15 full time employees and 3-5 independent contractors.
- Secure and execute a 14-day principal shoot across low-cost Los Angeles locations and Kern County locations.
Festival & Distribution Strategy:
Our festival plan includes Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, and Austin Film Festival, all with strong historical ROI for youth-focused emotional dramas. The unique visual style and urgent themes (LGBTQ+ youth, chosen family, mental health, grief) position us well for acquisition by streaming platforms, particularly in the A24 and NEON adjacent market following a successful 2026-2027 festival run.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/welcometodiscomfort
Email: [email protected]
From each and every one of us (and from the original Jane, Nora Rose-Hines), we couldn't be more grateful for your support!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast Payroll (Approx. 10 Principle Characters)
Costs $17,330
Covers payroll for high quality union talent, as well as SAG fringes, taxes, insurance & union benefits to ensure a safe, comfortable set.
Below the Line Crew Payroll (Approx. 14 People)
Costs $50,261
This ensures that top-tier crew, like our DP with two features sold at Cannes, are compensated fairly for their work. Director is unpaid.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
The creative force behind DISCOMFORT, TX is cadre of filmmakers with deep industry experience and a shared commitment to bold, personal storytelling.
Director, Writer and Producer: William Mellon
William Mellon grew up with his twin sister, Nora, in a historic theater in North Hollywood surrounded by artistry and has spent over a decade working in different creative capacities across commercial and narrative projects for clients like Disney and T-Mobile, as well as producing short films such as UNACHIEVABLE SOUND OF SILENCE (2022) and the upcoming feature film MIRROR IMAGE (2026) in the independent space. This marks his feature directorial debut—a deeply personal film rooted in lived experience.
Fun Fact: In 2022, William logged on to 23andMe and found out he had three other sisters he never knew existed. One of them is working on this film.
Cinematographer: Cooper Lichacz
Cooper Lichacz is a commercial and narrative cinematographer born and raised in Los Angeles. DISCOMFORT, TEXAS marks his third feature film, following two previous independent films that both received international distribution. Inspired by the imagery of the American Southwest, Lichacz is excited to bring a keen eye for visual storytelling and collaborative creative process to the project, combining atmospheric imagery with an instinct for human emotion and place.
Producer: David Zalasin
David Zalasin began his producing career at the tender age of 9 years old when he made JOE THE JAILBIRD JETS TO JUPITER, a short film, hailed by his family as “pretty good”. These days David is making films at a slightly higher level. At 3 Arts Entertainment, he has worked with Oscar nominated and Emmy winning writers, helping them sell projects all over town. This is his second collaboration with both William and Cooper.
Producer/Unit Production Manager/Publicity: Ellie Johnston
Fun fact: Ellie happens to be William’s long-lost sister.
Ellie Johnston brings a strong background in event production, with experience at Junket Productions and the Cannes Film Festival. A lifelong film enthusiast, she discovered her passion for producing while studying at Colgate University where she recently graduated. Currently, she serves as a Marketing Coordinator at Viva Pictures, supporting international campaigns for animated films.