Ellen is $804 away from qualifying for health insurance next year. So are lots of other actors. This meta comedy short film - which is itself about an actor trying to qualify for healthcare - will help them get there.
Ellen is $804 away from qualifying for health insurance next year. So are lots of other actors. This meta comedy short film - which is itself about an actor trying to qualify for healthcare - will help them get there.
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Story
Mission Statement
Getting healthcare in America is hard, but in order to do it, we're doing what we do best: making something funny. Our goal for the short is to pay our actors what they need to qualify for union insurance, to pay our crew well, and have a little left over so we can buy everyone a good lunch.About The Project
What's this movie about?
"Ellen Needs Insurance" is a short comedy about an actress named Ellen who realizes she's $804 away from qualifying for SAG health insurance. So she sets out to do anything and everything she can to earn that $804. She calls her agent and begs for an audition. She begrudingly starts doing extra work. But finally she realizes...she might just have to make a short film.
That's funny! Why are you making it?
Because it's real life, baby! This is the very situation that I (real life Ellen) found myself in this fall. Knowing I was really close to hitting the insurance minimum, I started auditioning like a madwoman, and yes, doing as much background work as possible (I have so many stories, but that's another short film). I was working really hard, but I was afraid it wasn't going to be enough. And I really needed the insurance. So, Dru Johnston and I decided to make a short film.
Navigating health insurance in this country is stressful, expensive, and all sorts of other four-letter-words I shouldn't use because my Grammy will read this. But once we dove into writing and pre-production, much of that pressure went away. Not only because we knew I'd qualify, but also because we love making movies, with other talented and funny people.
We want to make a heartfelt, meta-comedy about the stuggles of surviving as a working artist. We crack jokes about not doing this project for our careers, but the truth is we will be proud to share this short film online and hopefully at some film festivals (that we will pay for personally!) when we're done.
Who else is on the team?
"Ellen Needs Insurance" is written by me, Ellen Haun, and Dru Johnston. Dru is also directing. Darren Miller is executive producing through his production company Big Mischief. Funny or Die Producer Savvas Yiannoulou is producing. Additional crew includes DP Cooper James, Production Designer Grace Haun, and COVID officer Irina Gorovaia. Our cast of 15 is incredibly talented -- you will definitely recognize them. You can read more about everyone on our team page!
How much are you trying to raise?
$30,000. It's a lot!
How are you gonna use the money?
1. Paying our actors whatever they need to reach their insurance minimum. This is the biggest part of our budget, as we are planning on casting 15 actors. Then, we will contribute 20% of their total salaries to the SAG Pension and Health Fund, so that this project qualifies them for insurance. We're operating under the SAG Short Project Agreement, if you're curious.
2. Paying our crew well. Everybody who has ever worked on a film set knows they're the hardest working people around, and it's important to us to pay our crew and producers more than what they'd make on an average short film.
3. Renting a low-cost studio in Burbank for 3 days, and renting some lighting equipment and some lenses. We also want this movie to look and sound good.
4. Snacks and lunch, because good snacks make everybody happy.
5. COVID supplies. Irina Gorovaia is our COVID safety officer, and we're following all union COVID safetry protocol. We'll be purchasing tests and masks, and wearing masks at all times.This is a really fun project. How can I support it?
Any amount you can pledge will make a huge difference: not only are you supporting a funny and sweet short film, you're also helping 15 different actors get health insurance.
Share this campaign on your social meeds! We'll make it easy; just copy and paste:
My friend Ellen Needs Insurance so she's making a short film about it -- which will qualify her and a bunch of other actors for insurance. Follow the film and get these people to the doctor here!Follow this page for updates, and follow @ellenhaun on instagram and @drujohnston on twitter for updates there, too!
We're making a movie and we're getting people to the doctor, baby!!!
we cannot gaurantee George Clooney will be your doctor, as he is not actually a real doctorMuch love,
Ellen, Dru, & the Whole Creative TeamIncentives
$15
Good Vibe Group
We'll send you an exclusive behind-the-scenes preview, and you'll be the first to know when "Ellen Needs Insurance" is released online.
$25
Thank You Crew
We'll send you a shareable, personalized thank you picture for helping Ellen Get Insurance (so she can finally get that halitosis under control!). You'll also get our behind-the-scenes preview.
$50
Seed&Spark Supporter
We'll add you to the film's credits as a Seed&Spark supporter. You'll also get a personalized, sharable thank you for helping Ellen Get Insurance (she really needs to get that foot fungus checked out) and our behind-the-scenes preview.
$75
Audition Coaching
If you're an actor and purchase this incentive, Ellen will offer you an hour of audition coaching and taping. She's happy to come to your house, or she's got an in-home setup and can host you. No expiration date!
$100
Pilot or sketch packet feedback
If you're a writer and would like feedback on a pilot or sketch packet, Dru will read your script(s) and meet with you for an hour for notes. Dru was a longtime sketch teacher at the UCB theatre in NYC, has written for The Chris Gethard Show, and was a writer on the Audible original "64th Man" starring John Cena.
$200
Feature script feedback
If you're a writer and would like feedback on a feature film script, Dru will read your script and meet with you for an hour. Dru's an award winning feature writer and an alum of the Almanack Screenwriters Program.
$1,000
Associate Producer Credit
This incentive will give you Associate Producer credit, as well as a private screening link and invitation to an in-person screening in Los Angeles.
$5,000
Executive Producer Credit
This generous pledge will give you an executive producer credit, as well as a private screening link and invitiation to an in-person screening in Los Angeles.
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$15
Good Vibe Group
We'll send you an exclusive behind-the-scenes preview, and you'll be the first to know when "Ellen Needs Insurance" is released online.
$25
Thank You Crew
We'll send you a shareable, personalized thank you picture for helping Ellen Get Insurance (so she can finally get that halitosis under control!). You'll also get our behind-the-scenes preview.
$50
Seed&Spark Supporter
We'll add you to the film's credits as a Seed&Spark supporter. You'll also get a personalized, sharable thank you for helping Ellen Get Insurance (she really needs to get that foot fungus checked out) and our behind-the-scenes preview.
$75
Audition Coaching
If you're an actor and purchase this incentive, Ellen will offer you an hour of audition coaching and taping. She's happy to come to your house, or she's got an in-home setup and can host you. No expiration date!
$100
Pilot or sketch packet feedback
If you're a writer and would like feedback on a pilot or sketch packet, Dru will read your script(s) and meet with you for an hour for notes. Dru was a longtime sketch teacher at the UCB theatre in NYC, has written for The Chris Gethard Show, and was a writer on the Audible original "64th Man" starring John Cena.
$200
Feature script feedback
If you're a writer and would like feedback on a feature film script, Dru will read your script and meet with you for an hour. Dru's an award winning feature writer and an alum of the Almanack Screenwriters Program.
$1,000
Associate Producer Credit
This incentive will give you Associate Producer credit, as well as a private screening link and invitation to an in-person screening in Los Angeles.
$5,000
Executive Producer Credit
This generous pledge will give you an executive producer credit, as well as a private screening link and invitiation to an in-person screening in Los Angeles.
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
Ellen Haun (writer, actor, producer) is the co-author of the humor book "Cinderella and the Glass Ceiling" and played hapless law student Ms. Chapin on "How to Get Away with Murder." 
Dru Johnston (director, writer and producer) was a writer/producer on "The Chris Gethard Show", an alum of the Almanack Screenwriter's Program, and his feature comedy "The GarbageMan" won the 2021 Screencraft Comedy Competition. He was a veteran sketch and improv teacher at the UCB Theatre in NY.
Darren Miller (executive producer) has been creating and producing comedy in the digital world for 15 years. He started Big Mischief in 2018 to help develop and produce innovative and exciting projects that fall outside the scope of his primary work leading the Digital team at Funny Or Die.
Savvas Yiannoulou (producer) couldn't spell his name in kindergarten, and since then he has gone on to create and produce a number of projects including most recently the award-winning, independent feature film, "Evergreen."
Grace Haun (production designer) worked on the production design for feature film "Hungry Dog Blues" and does commercial styling and production work in the St. Louis area. Her television credits include "Welcome Home Nikki Glaser" and the upcoming "Welcome to Crappie Lake." 
Irina Gorovaia (certified COVID officer) is a Russian Jewish artist from Brooklyn, NY. Cooper James (director of photography) has two cats.
OUR INCREDIBLE CAST:
Armi Arabe Abiera is a Filipino-American actress, voice actor, singer, coach, and mom. As a mom to 4 amazing girls and a self employed husband, she absolutely needs insurance! Armi has performed in Theatre, TV/Film, and 20 national commercials. Check out her credits on imdb.me/armiarabeabiera and follow her on instagram @armiof6
Marisa Baram is a UC Irvine Drama alumn with a background in improv, musical theater, and tacos. Most recently she played Marissa on all four seasons of NBC/Peacock’s “A.P. Bio” - other tv credits include “Henry Danger”(Nickelodeon), “How to Get Away with Murder”(ABC), “Real Husbands of Hollywood” (BET), & “Awkward”(MTV).
Kim Cooper is a Korean American actor, writer, and improviser with over 10 years of comedy experience via UCB, where she still performs monthly with her team Voltron. She can be seen on The G Word with Adam Conover, Black Monday, and in national commercials, and she can be heard co-hosting the podcasts Asians in Baseball and Korean Drama Podcast.
Phoebe Holston is an actor/voiceover artist/commercial model based in Los Angeles. Her most recent credits are Physical (Apple TV), Dead Power (HULU) and a slew of national commercials.
Carolina Hoyos writes, directs and acts for stage and film as well as releases records as singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist, A Girl I Know. Film/TV credits include Jimmy Kimmel, Magnum P.I., Too Old To Die Young, Austin Film Festival winner Blackwater and a Netflix *NDA* series releasing 2023.
Liz Jenkins was born and raised in Houston, TX, Liz has been focused on a career in acting since she can remember. She received her BFA from the University of Evansville and her MFA from UCSD. You may recognize her from guest roles on American Horror Story, Torchwood, or Seal Team. Most notably Liz played a co-star turned fan favorite recurring role on the critically-acclaimed, multi award-winning ABC hit comedy Black-ish.
Danny Jolles is an actor and stand up who played George on “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.” His most recent stand-up special is “You Choose: An Interactive Comedy Special.”
M.J. Kang is a playwright, actor, improviser and director. She has appeared on shows airing on Fox, NBC, CBS and many stations in Canada, where she was raised.
Valerie Rose Lohman (she/they) is an actor and VO Artist based in Los Angeles. Favorite credits include Wylde Flowers (Studio Drydock), What Remains of Edith Finch (BAFTA Nomination - best performance), Wolfenstein: Youngblood (Bethesda), and Tower of God (HBO Max).
Alise Morales is a comedian, actress, and writer based out of Brooklyn, New York. She is best known for her work writing the Betches Sup newsletter and as co-host of the Betches Sup Podcast. This year she was selected by CBS as one of twelve rising talents to be featured in their annual showcase and has appeared and voiced characters on popular shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Tooning Out the News, Our Cartoon President, Difficult People, and more.
Doug Olear has been an actor in theater, film and TV for over 25 years. He is best known for his role as FBI agent,Terry FitzHugh on the HBO series The Wire. He's also appeared in over a dozen national commercials.
Arianna Ratner is a theater trained actor with a BFA from NYU who has been working mainly in video game and promo voiceover for the past 14+ years. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she can be heard in games such as Fallout 76, Saint's Row, The Elder Scrolls Online, Lost Ark, The World of Warcraft Legion and Battle for Azeroth, Hearthstone, EA's Command and Conquer: Rivals, The Sims 4 and more.
Zoe Sansanowicz is an actor/writer based in Los Angeles, and an alumni of UCB LA and Second City Chicago/LA. She is a person like any other person, but not all people, just one person- her.
Stephen Sherman is from New York City, now based in LA. Upcoming film: Eddie Albert in 'Reagan' with Dennis Quaid and Mena Suvari. He was recently named Best Actor at the Istanbul Film Festival for the short film, 'Like A Powerpoint.'
Camden Singer's credits include the feature film “Annabelle,” “Criminal Minds,” “Desperate Housewives,” and “The Mentalist.”
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