Divorce Party Short Film
Chicago, Illinois | Film Short
Comedy
In our film, Jane’s divorce party becomes a social battleground where she must navigate awkward jokes, classic clichés, and confront the gap between how people think she should feel and how she actually feels—ultimately reclaiming her own agency, rejecting expectations, and honoring love's journey.
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This campaign raised $12,202 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
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In our film, Jane’s divorce party becomes a social battleground where she must navigate awkward jokes, classic clichés, and confront the gap between how people think she should feel and how she actually feels—ultimately reclaiming her own agency, rejecting expectations, and honoring love's journey.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Why this story and why now?
When marriages end, people say things like "I'm sorry" or "Congrats," but divorce isn’t always a defeat or a victory—it’s more nuanced than that. Through both absurdity and tenderness, our film challenges societal expectations of performative healing and aims to help women reclaim their agency. Having recently gone through my own divorce, I want to share my own nuanced perspective with all of you.
What is the film about? Our film follows Jane, who has a divorce party thrown for her just hours after her divorce is final. The party quickly becomes a social battleground where she must navigate awkward jokes, classic clichés, and confront the gap between how people think she should feel and how she actually feels—ultimately reclaiming her own agency, rejecting society's expectations, and honoring love's journey.
About the Creators: We met in acting school in 2024 and quickly became friends, inspired by each other’s unique voices and creative spirit. Laura's experience navigating her own divorce has informed our film's premise. This story grew from two collaborators who like to roll up their sleeves to make work that matters and have fun while doing it. We’re excited to share our work! (and yes, in case you were wondering, the dog makes an appearance in the film).
Meet the Crew: We are building a team of collaborators and are excited to share the core team we've built thus far to help make this film a reality:
Writer/Creator, Actor, Executive Producer: Samantha Lindsey
Samantha (she/her) is a Chicago-born artist. She received her bachelor’s in theatre from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI and is a recent graduate of The ACADEMY at Black Box Acting. Recent credits include What to Send Up When it goes Down (Congo Square Theatre); The Emerald Camino Project (Theatre Y). She is ready to make her debut as a Chicago filmmaker.
Writer/Creator, Actor, Executive Producer: Laura Bingham
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As a graduate of The Second City Conservatory, Laura spent 10+ years in the improv and sketch community. She is pursuing theater, film and tv in Chicago after graduating from the ACADEMY at Black Box Acting. Her credits include The Onion News Network principal role, two lead roles in short films, and she wrote and starred her original solo show "Hiding in Plain Sight" at The Den Theatre in 2025. She is excited to make her debut as a Chicago filmmaker.
Director & Producer: Arti Ishak
Originally from Detroit, Arti (they/them) is a Chicago-based actor, director and filmmaker. Most known as Mara McHenry on Dark Matter (Apple TV), you might also recognize them as Monet from Brujos (OTV) or Iman from Born and Raised (OTV). They are also known for their work as a director on short films Shukran Bas (Means of Production), ba la (HF Productions), and HALF (Zaxie Films). Arti is an instructor at Black Box Acting and an adjunct professor at The Theatre School at DePaul University.
Director of Photography: Moll Jean
Moll brings over 15 years of experience in video and photo production, with a background spanning apprenticeship training, eight years in union work, and five years leading an in-house production team in the tech. Now working as a Director of Photography, and media strategist, they collaborate across narrative, documenta and commercial projects. As a queer storyteller, they bring a distinct perspective—capturing people and their experiences with empathy, respect, and a deep curiosity about what makes each story unique.
Producer: Whitney Chitwood
Former horsegirl and current grownup gay lady, Whitney Chitwood (she/they) is a Chicago based writer/director who was raised by two theatre owner/director parents in small-town Illinois. She was selected by the Emmy-nominated OTV for their Atlas Ambassador program (2025) alongside her short film Sam Wants Her Sweater Back, which begins its festival run with MdFF and MSPIFF. A co-production with Full Spectrum Features (Desire Lines, Signature Move) SWHSB’s screenplay received Seed & Spark’s Mark Duplass Spotlight and finished Top 10 in Cinequest’s Screenwriting Competition. As an artist, Whit’s work always passes the hell out of the Bechdel Test and strives to center LGBTQIA+ characters without queerness being the central conflict, ideals integral to her production company Witch It Productions, LLC.
Meet some of the cast: We have secured some amazing, talented actors who are pictured below to play various roles in our film. We can't wait to work with them!
Production and post-production timelines
Pre-Production: February 2025 - June 2026
Production: July 25th-26th 2026
Post-Production: August - October 2026
Our Goals: We have a story/script we are proud of, and a core crew who are on the journey. Our goal is to create a film that we can be proud of and we fully intend to submit to film festivals upon completion. For helping us on our journey to success, we have several incentives for you to check out as a contributor to this project, and we will invite all of you to view the virtual screening once our film is ready to make its debut!
How You Can Support: We have a thoughtful budget and allocation plan for every dollar to go toward what it will take to make this a festival-ready film that everyone on set can be proud of.
Hiring & rewarding a cast/crew of diverse, talented artists: Director, Assistant Director, Director of Photography, Production Designer, Gaffer, Grip, Intimacy Coordinator, Costume Designer, Sound Mixer, Boom Op, BTS Photographer, and cast of 9 actors
- $6,000
High quality equipment: Camera rentals, G&E rentals
- $2,000
Set Dressing & Props:
- $1,500
Feeding our cast & crew (breakfast and lunch for 2-day shoot)
- $1,500
Post production editing team:
- $2,000
Contingency + Festival Fees:
- $2,000
Thank you for believing in this story and helping us bring it to life.
Samantha & Laura
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera & Lighting Equipment
Costs $2,000
Quality equipment is paramount to making a great film, so we appreciate any support in this space
Cast & Crew rates
Costs $6,000
Paying our cast & crew for their work is important to us- we want to ensure everyone is recognized for their unique skills and perspectives
Set dressing and props
Costs $1,500
Dressing the set and getting the right props will really heighten the experience of the world we're trying to build on set!
Food for cast and crew
Costs $1,500
Everyone's happier when they are fed :)
Editing
Costs $2,000
The edit is where the film REALLY gets made - we want to invest in high quality editing department to bring the film to life
Contingency
Costs $2,000
Contingency because as we all know, there are always unexpected expenses in creative projects
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
As mentioned in our story, Samantha and I are the creators/writers and executive producers of this film. Oh, and, actors! We are ambitious ladies. We are leading the campaign efforts as executive producers on this film, and we appreciate you engaging with our project!
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Why this story and why now?
When marriages end, people say things like "I'm sorry" or "Congrats," but divorce isn’t always a defeat or a victory—it’s more nuanced than that. Through both absurdity and tenderness, our film challenges societal expectations of performative healing and aims to help women reclaim their agency. Having recently gone through my own divorce, I want to share my own nuanced perspective with all of you.
What is the film about? Our film follows Jane, who has a divorce party thrown for her just hours after her divorce is final. The party quickly becomes a social battleground where she must navigate awkward jokes, classic clichés, and confront the gap between how people think she should feel and how she actually feels—ultimately reclaiming her own agency, rejecting society's expectations, and honoring love's journey.
About the Creators: We met in acting school in 2024 and quickly became friends, inspired by each other’s unique voices and creative spirit. Laura's experience navigating her own divorce has informed our film's premise. This story grew from two collaborators who like to roll up their sleeves to make work that matters and have fun while doing it. We’re excited to share our work! (and yes, in case you were wondering, the dog makes an appearance in the film).
Meet the Crew: We are building a team of collaborators and are excited to share the core team we've built thus far to help make this film a reality:
Writer/Creator, Actor, Executive Producer: Samantha Lindsey
Samantha (she/her) is a Chicago-born artist. She received her bachelor’s in theatre from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI and is a recent graduate of The ACADEMY at Black Box Acting. Recent credits include What to Send Up When it goes Down (Congo Square Theatre); The Emerald Camino Project (Theatre Y). She is ready to make her debut as a Chicago filmmaker.
Writer/Creator, Actor, Executive Producer: Laura Bingham
As a graduate of The Second City Conservatory, Laura spent 10+ years in the improv and sketch community. She is pursuing theater, film and tv in Chicago after graduating from the ACADEMY at Black Box Acting. Her credits include The Onion News Network principal role, two lead roles in short films, and she wrote and starred her original solo show "Hiding in Plain Sight" at The Den Theatre in 2025. She is excited to make her debut as a Chicago filmmaker.
Director & Producer: Arti Ishak
Originally from Detroit, Arti (they/them) is a Chicago-based actor, director and filmmaker. Most known as Mara McHenry on Dark Matter (Apple TV), you might also recognize them as Monet from Brujos (OTV) or Iman from Born and Raised (OTV). They are also known for their work as a director on short films Shukran Bas (Means of Production), ba la (HF Productions), and HALF (Zaxie Films). Arti is an instructor at Black Box Acting and an adjunct professor at The Theatre School at DePaul University.
Director of Photography: Moll Jean
Moll brings over 15 years of experience in video and photo production, with a background spanning apprenticeship training, eight years in union work, and five years leading an in-house production team in the tech. Now working as a Director of Photography, and media strategist, they collaborate across narrative, documenta and commercial projects. As a queer storyteller, they bring a distinct perspective—capturing people and their experiences with empathy, respect, and a deep curiosity about what makes each story unique.
Producer: Whitney Chitwood
Former horsegirl and current grownup gay lady, Whitney Chitwood (she/they) is a Chicago based writer/director who was raised by two theatre owner/director parents in small-town Illinois. She was selected by the Emmy-nominated OTV for their Atlas Ambassador program (2025) alongside her short film Sam Wants Her Sweater Back, which begins its festival run with MdFF and MSPIFF. A co-production with Full Spectrum Features (Desire Lines, Signature Move) SWHSB’s screenplay received Seed & Spark’s Mark Duplass Spotlight and finished Top 10 in Cinequest’s Screenwriting Competition. As an artist, Whit’s work always passes the hell out of the Bechdel Test and strives to center LGBTQIA+ characters without queerness being the central conflict, ideals integral to her production company Witch It Productions, LLC.
Meet some of the cast: We have secured some amazing, talented actors who are pictured below to play various roles in our film. We can't wait to work with them!
Production and post-production timelines
Pre-Production: February 2025 - June 2026
Production: July 25th-26th 2026
Post-Production: August - October 2026
Our Goals: We have a story/script we are proud of, and a core crew who are on the journey. Our goal is to create a film that we can be proud of and we fully intend to submit to film festivals upon completion. For helping us on our journey to success, we have several incentives for you to check out as a contributor to this project, and we will invite all of you to view the virtual screening once our film is ready to make its debut!
How You Can Support: We have a thoughtful budget and allocation plan for every dollar to go toward what it will take to make this a festival-ready film that everyone on set can be proud of.
Hiring & rewarding a cast/crew of diverse, talented artists: Director, Assistant Director, Director of Photography, Production Designer, Gaffer, Grip, Intimacy Coordinator, Costume Designer, Sound Mixer, Boom Op, BTS Photographer, and cast of 9 actors
- $6,000
High quality equipment: Camera rentals, G&E rentals
- $2,000
Set Dressing & Props:
- $1,500
Feeding our cast & crew (breakfast and lunch for 2-day shoot)
- $1,500
Post production editing team:
- $2,000
Contingency + Festival Fees:
- $2,000
Thank you for believing in this story and helping us bring it to life.
Samantha & Laura
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera & Lighting Equipment
Costs $2,000
Quality equipment is paramount to making a great film, so we appreciate any support in this space
Cast & Crew rates
Costs $6,000
Paying our cast & crew for their work is important to us- we want to ensure everyone is recognized for their unique skills and perspectives
Set dressing and props
Costs $1,500
Dressing the set and getting the right props will really heighten the experience of the world we're trying to build on set!
Food for cast and crew
Costs $1,500
Everyone's happier when they are fed :)
Editing
Costs $2,000
The edit is where the film REALLY gets made - we want to invest in high quality editing department to bring the film to life
Contingency
Costs $2,000
Contingency because as we all know, there are always unexpected expenses in creative projects
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
As mentioned in our story, Samantha and I are the creators/writers and executive producers of this film. Oh, and, actors! We are ambitious ladies. We are leading the campaign efforts as executive producers on this film, and we appreciate you engaging with our project!