Estranged Behaviour
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, Fantasy
This unhinged dive into the world of a former cirque star struggling to find the magic as a New Orleans bartender is as raw as it gets. When the lines between reality and fantasy begin to blur, an enigmatic man claims he could make all her dreams come true... If she agrees to sign the contract.
Estranged Behaviour
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, Fantasy
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $36,525 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
101 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
This unhinged dive into the world of a former cirque star struggling to find the magic as a New Orleans bartender is as raw as it gets. When the lines between reality and fantasy begin to blur, an enigmatic man claims he could make all her dreams come true... If she agrees to sign the contract.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
The Story
When I was 22 years old, I fell in love for the first time.
One day, I stumbled upon a circus school in downtown Tacoma, and decided to give it a shot.
I became obsessed with Aerial Silks immediately. Dangling thirty feet in the air and swinging down to my potential death gave me an adrenaline rush that always left me yearning for more.
It challenged me, it changed me, it saved me.
My path became crystal clear for the first time. Everything was full of magic.
At age 24, I developed a physical condition that left me unable to do Aerial Silks any longer. To say that I was heartbroken would be a gross understatement. I had gotten a taste of what I believed my true purpose was, only to have it taken away...and I scorned my body for giving up on me.
I moved back to southern California and took a job as a bartender/cocktail server.
I felt totally lost, but my inner performer was dying not to be abandoned.
I began to see a hidden world of magic. The bar became a theater. Every night was filled with unexpected, electrifying scenarios, with opportunities to play a character, an alter ego. Bartending taught me how to control the emotions of a room. It tested my wit, and made me brave.
I published a book about my experiences and made comedy videos which generated millions of views on social media and landed me licensing deals with “Comedy Juice” and “Funny or Die”. Through these endeavors, I met thousands of incredible people with mesmerizing stories. I heard tales of supernatural occurrences and magic that challenged my beliefs about what I thought I understood about the world and my place within it.
- Tanita Ross-Cady
This 8 minute Short Film is based on the book "Estranged Behaviour: The Underbelly of Society"...
One night, I had a vivid dream that an enigmatic man told me he would give me everything I wanted, if I agreed to sign a contract.
This premise became the focus of the story.
It's about being forced to abandon your passion, disappointment, painstaking transformations, and the lengths a person will go to to get what they want.
It's a tale about a hidden world right in front of our eyes, and the people behind the scenes that wait for the right moment to grab us.
What if someone told you they could make all your dreams come true, but at a cost--
Would you go for it?
Estranged Behaviour is a modern mixture of cult classic films - you will see a melting pot of fantasy/dreamscape sequences like in What Dreams May Come, while our main character is thrown into the chaotic world of bartending similar to Coyote Ugly. She does all of this while summoning her inner performer as a defense mechanism to survive like in Moulin Rouge.
Visually, the film will have a bold, theatrical inspired color palette. We will bring the theater to the bar, make the ordinary world surrealistic, dreamy, and extremely stylized. Like the main character, you will start to wonder where the line between fantasy and reality begin and end...
In this new era of female empowerment, the time for women in film to tell our tales is now.
This production will build a cast/crew of talented, racially and gender diverse industry professionals.
We are tired of seeing the same stories repeated, and instead, offer you a taste of a future to come...
A future in which brilliant female filmmakers create something that the world has never seen before.
This short film will function as a "Proof of Concept" that demonstrates the visual experience, design, and tone of what a full length series would be like.
Upon completion, we will take Estranged Behaviour to the festival circuit and to the desks of executives to get funding for the series - but to do that, we will need you to join us!
This is a breakdown of how the BUDGET will be allocated.
Our goal for this fundraising campaign is $37,000...
If we exceed that goal, this is what will happen:
- $60,000 = We will be able to afford higher quality locations, production design, and camera equipment that will elevate the aesthetic. We could hire and cast an actor of notoriety. We could to submit to many more film festivals, increasing our chances of series funding.
- $200,000 = We will be able make a full length 30 minute pilot.
We understand that not everyone is in a position to help us financially, and that’s okay!
Help us spread the word by copy/pasting this message onto your social media pages:
"I just contributed to the Estranged Behaviour Seed & Spark campaign! It's a story about a female bartender with circus dreams! Check out their fundraiser at seedandspark.com/fund/estrangedtv
Be sure to follow them on IG: @estranged.tv and on FB: facebook.com/estranged.lady"
There are plenty of other ways you can support this project...
- Follow us on Instagram: @estranged.tv
- Follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/estranged.lady
- Use the hashtag #estrangedtv
- Join our email list: [email protected]
- Share our Seed&Spark page with your followers
- Repost our stories, photos, and event updates!
We are planning to film in January 2022, and are closely monitoring the Covid-19 situation. Our entire cast and crew is either vaccinated or will be tested prior to shooting, and we will take precautions to ensure everyone is safe.
This story, and the dream of creating this film, is really special to all of us, and we can't wait to share this movie magic with the world!
Without you, none of this would be possible.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Gear!
Costs $6,000
The BlackMagic Pocket 6k, lens kit, q light kit, grip van, and sound eq!
Travel / Lodging / Locations
Costs $6,000
Travel, housing, shooting locations!
Crew!
Costs $13,000
Pay our crew! We will also be hiring an arborist, stunt man, and medic
Art
Costs $3,000
Wardrobe, set design, paint, silks, and bar decor
Food!
Costs $2,000
Help us feed our cast and crew!
Production / Insurance
Costs $3,000
Other production costs and filming insurance
Live On-Camera Band
Costs $1,000
The band that plays at the New Orleans bar plays a huge part in giving the film that jazzy vibe.
Cast
Costs $3,000
Our cast is so important to making the film incredible! Help us pay them correctly for their talent!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Tanita Ross-Cady is a Pacific North West born screenwriter and creative producer. Her online comedy videos have generated millions of views and landed her licensing deals with “Comedy Juice” and “Funny or Die”. She currently works for an animation company called Wonder Media in script writing and story development.
Darielle Williams, a native of Trinidad and Tobago, is an aerialist, actor and stuntwoman with an extensive background in circus arts, dance, swimming and gymnastics. She was the aerialist in Beyonce's Formation Tour 2016 after performing for two years in Las Vegas' Le Reve - the Dream. You can find her featured on The Little Mermaid Live on Disney Plus. Darielle has also performed at various award shows, most notably for Missy Elliot, Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull. She has been featured in the LA Opera, several symphonies, television shows, commercials and short films. Darielle has studied acting with Saxon Trainor, Lesly Kahn & Co, Michelle Danner and the Groundlings. She currently trains and performs in Los Angeles while busying herself with several projects.
Originally from Germany, Markus is a producer, production manager and assistant director based in Los Angeles. As a graduate of the University of Alabama, he moved to LA a decade ago to pursue a career in film and television. As production manager, Markus’ credits include Wahl Street, T-Pain’s School of Business and Intervention. Most recently, Markus has been producing the young adult educational series Super Science Showcase in Alabama. Their first festure film, Camp Analog, won "Best Family Film" at the Sidewalk 2021 Film Festival.
Alexander Taylor is a music composer living and working in Los Angeles best known for his works in the horror genre. His soundtrack for the SHUDDER exclusive documentary Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street has been received very warmly by the horror community. Some of his recent work can be heard in the Lionsgate film Arkansas, starring Liam Hemsworth, John Malcovitch, Vince Vaughn, and Vivica A. Fox. Having scored countless horror projects, as well as several series for Jason Blum and Eli Roth’s CRYPT TV, Taylor is becoming a go-to composer for horror.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
The Story
When I was 22 years old, I fell in love for the first time.
One day, I stumbled upon a circus school in downtown Tacoma, and decided to give it a shot.
I became obsessed with Aerial Silks immediately. Dangling thirty feet in the air and swinging down to my potential death gave me an adrenaline rush that always left me yearning for more.
It challenged me, it changed me, it saved me.
My path became crystal clear for the first time. Everything was full of magic.
At age 24, I developed a physical condition that left me unable to do Aerial Silks any longer. To say that I was heartbroken would be a gross understatement. I had gotten a taste of what I believed my true purpose was, only to have it taken away...and I scorned my body for giving up on me.
I moved back to southern California and took a job as a bartender/cocktail server.
I felt totally lost, but my inner performer was dying not to be abandoned.
I began to see a hidden world of magic. The bar became a theater. Every night was filled with unexpected, electrifying scenarios, with opportunities to play a character, an alter ego. Bartending taught me how to control the emotions of a room. It tested my wit, and made me brave.
I published a book about my experiences and made comedy videos which generated millions of views on social media and landed me licensing deals with “Comedy Juice” and “Funny or Die”. Through these endeavors, I met thousands of incredible people with mesmerizing stories. I heard tales of supernatural occurrences and magic that challenged my beliefs about what I thought I understood about the world and my place within it.
- Tanita Ross-Cady
This 8 minute Short Film is based on the book "Estranged Behaviour: The Underbelly of Society"...
One night, I had a vivid dream that an enigmatic man told me he would give me everything I wanted, if I agreed to sign a contract.
This premise became the focus of the story.
It's about being forced to abandon your passion, disappointment, painstaking transformations, and the lengths a person will go to to get what they want.
It's a tale about a hidden world right in front of our eyes, and the people behind the scenes that wait for the right moment to grab us.
What if someone told you they could make all your dreams come true, but at a cost--
Would you go for it?
Estranged Behaviour is a modern mixture of cult classic films - you will see a melting pot of fantasy/dreamscape sequences like in What Dreams May Come, while our main character is thrown into the chaotic world of bartending similar to Coyote Ugly. She does all of this while summoning her inner performer as a defense mechanism to survive like in Moulin Rouge.
Visually, the film will have a bold, theatrical inspired color palette. We will bring the theater to the bar, make the ordinary world surrealistic, dreamy, and extremely stylized. Like the main character, you will start to wonder where the line between fantasy and reality begin and end...
In this new era of female empowerment, the time for women in film to tell our tales is now.
This production will build a cast/crew of talented, racially and gender diverse industry professionals.
We are tired of seeing the same stories repeated, and instead, offer you a taste of a future to come...
A future in which brilliant female filmmakers create something that the world has never seen before.
This short film will function as a "Proof of Concept" that demonstrates the visual experience, design, and tone of what a full length series would be like.
Upon completion, we will take Estranged Behaviour to the festival circuit and to the desks of executives to get funding for the series - but to do that, we will need you to join us!
This is a breakdown of how the BUDGET will be allocated.
Our goal for this fundraising campaign is $37,000...
If we exceed that goal, this is what will happen:
- $60,000 = We will be able to afford higher quality locations, production design, and camera equipment that will elevate the aesthetic. We could hire and cast an actor of notoriety. We could to submit to many more film festivals, increasing our chances of series funding.
- $200,000 = We will be able make a full length 30 minute pilot.
We understand that not everyone is in a position to help us financially, and that’s okay!
Help us spread the word by copy/pasting this message onto your social media pages:
"I just contributed to the Estranged Behaviour Seed & Spark campaign! It's a story about a female bartender with circus dreams! Check out their fundraiser at seedandspark.com/fund/estrangedtv
Be sure to follow them on IG: @estranged.tv and on FB: facebook.com/estranged.lady"
There are plenty of other ways you can support this project...
- Follow us on Instagram: @estranged.tv
- Follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/estranged.lady
- Use the hashtag #estrangedtv
- Join our email list: [email protected]
- Share our Seed&Spark page with your followers
- Repost our stories, photos, and event updates!
We are planning to film in January 2022, and are closely monitoring the Covid-19 situation. Our entire cast and crew is either vaccinated or will be tested prior to shooting, and we will take precautions to ensure everyone is safe.
This story, and the dream of creating this film, is really special to all of us, and we can't wait to share this movie magic with the world!
Without you, none of this would be possible.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Gear!
Costs $6,000
The BlackMagic Pocket 6k, lens kit, q light kit, grip van, and sound eq!
Travel / Lodging / Locations
Costs $6,000
Travel, housing, shooting locations!
Crew!
Costs $13,000
Pay our crew! We will also be hiring an arborist, stunt man, and medic
Art
Costs $3,000
Wardrobe, set design, paint, silks, and bar decor
Food!
Costs $2,000
Help us feed our cast and crew!
Production / Insurance
Costs $3,000
Other production costs and filming insurance
Live On-Camera Band
Costs $1,000
The band that plays at the New Orleans bar plays a huge part in giving the film that jazzy vibe.
Cast
Costs $3,000
Our cast is so important to making the film incredible! Help us pay them correctly for their talent!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Tanita Ross-Cady is a Pacific North West born screenwriter and creative producer. Her online comedy videos have generated millions of views and landed her licensing deals with “Comedy Juice” and “Funny or Die”. She currently works for an animation company called Wonder Media in script writing and story development.
Darielle Williams, a native of Trinidad and Tobago, is an aerialist, actor and stuntwoman with an extensive background in circus arts, dance, swimming and gymnastics. She was the aerialist in Beyonce's Formation Tour 2016 after performing for two years in Las Vegas' Le Reve - the Dream. You can find her featured on The Little Mermaid Live on Disney Plus. Darielle has also performed at various award shows, most notably for Missy Elliot, Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull. She has been featured in the LA Opera, several symphonies, television shows, commercials and short films. Darielle has studied acting with Saxon Trainor, Lesly Kahn & Co, Michelle Danner and the Groundlings. She currently trains and performs in Los Angeles while busying herself with several projects.
Originally from Germany, Markus is a producer, production manager and assistant director based in Los Angeles. As a graduate of the University of Alabama, he moved to LA a decade ago to pursue a career in film and television. As production manager, Markus’ credits include Wahl Street, T-Pain’s School of Business and Intervention. Most recently, Markus has been producing the young adult educational series Super Science Showcase in Alabama. Their first festure film, Camp Analog, won "Best Family Film" at the Sidewalk 2021 Film Festival.
Alexander Taylor is a music composer living and working in Los Angeles best known for his works in the horror genre. His soundtrack for the SHUDDER exclusive documentary Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street has been received very warmly by the horror community. Some of his recent work can be heard in the Lionsgate film Arkansas, starring Liam Hemsworth, John Malcovitch, Vince Vaughn, and Vivica A. Fox. Having scored countless horror projects, as well as several series for Jason Blum and Eli Roth’s CRYPT TV, Taylor is becoming a go-to composer for horror.