Fate of the Femmes
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Action, LGBTQ
Gender expectation and gender expression are forced in a head-to-head when a 1950s housewife and drag queen enter a fight to the death for champion of femininity. This absurdist queer action film explores how patriarchal structures create false competition in what it means to be feminine.
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Gender expectation and gender expression are forced in a head-to-head when a 1950s housewife and drag queen enter a fight to the death for champion of femininity. This absurdist queer action film explores how patriarchal structures create false competition in what it means to be feminine.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Logline
A 1950s housewife and a drag queen compete in a cage match for the champion of femininity.
Synopsis
It's the day of the fight and two adversaries stand opposite each other in the ring. In one corner, we have Betty, a 1950s housewife with perfect curls and a clean apron. For her, gender is an expectation she must meet and one she expects others to exemplify. Her strict definition of womanhood gives her disdain for other expressions. In the other corner, we have Diva Cup, a drag queen born for the stage who uses gender as performance. She fights defensively rather than offensively, but when push comes to shove she is ready to do what is needed to win.
The unforgiving audience watches in delight as these two fight and the charismatic announcer delights in the bloodshed. "Who will win?" some might ask, but what does it truly mean to win in a world where the competition was never yours to begin with?
Basic information
Title: “Fate of the Femmes”
Length: 6-8 minutes
Genre: Queer/Action
Shooting Date: February 2024
Shooting Location: Los Angeles, CA
Estimated Budget: $10,000
Why this story?
Fate of the Femmes is a very personal story to me, I was a martial artist for many years and I’ve also been frustrated by the way society pits women against each other. Women are rarely viewed as competition for other men, but are frequently compared to each other. I see this especially when femininity is held as a virtue, even though its presence is so difficult to define.
To be feminine can be an expectation, like the caricature of the 1950s housewife: poised, dutiful, and always put together. Yet, it can also be a form of expression like in the case of the drag queen, an interpretation of femininity and performance of gender. Many women are caught between these two extremes of expectation and expression, which creates an internal battle often expressed in societal discourse.
These are the real-life battles that led to Fate of the Femmes, as women fight each other who benefits but the men who set the circumstances and the players for it to happen. At the end of the day, it’s a man’s world and women are treated as entertainment in the larger societal dynamic. I hope to reduce our world to a cage match in this absurd short film inspired by my love for organized fighting.
Why our team?
The Fate of the Femmes family brings together filmmakers, artists, and musicians from all around the world who each give a unique touch to the project. Much of the Bay Area crew has been working together since as early as middle school and for many LA-based creatives, this is one of many collaborations for this team. We don't just work together, we are there for each other. Here are the department heads and why they got started in film along with what they are looking forward to with this project.
Athena Cheris - Director/Writer
I was drawn to film because it's an accessible medium that can speak to many people and be shared almost anywhere in the world. I love directing because it gives you the opportunity to work with all the different departments and create a shared vision for everyone to collaborate on. Fate of the Femmes is particularly exciting for me because it will give me the opportunity to direct action for the first time since I was in high school. Through my experiences on more recent shoots with athletes and fighters I feel more equipped than ever to show the gravity of a fight while also highlighting the female experience.
Kelsey Sha - Producer/UPM
I’ve always loved writing and photography, so I figured I’d give film a try, and it just clicked from there. I love film, especially producing, because it’s never boring—you’re constantly working on unique, creative projects with amazing people, and though it can be exhausting, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I'm most looking forward to collaborating with everyone, helping Athena bring her vision to life, and, of course, the fight scenes?!
Kieran Armstrong - Director of Photography
I began my journey as a screenwriter after wanting to be a novelist for many years, and from there I fell in love with cinematography’s marriage of the artistic and technical. I love cinematography because it allows me to use my gifts to help someone tell their own story; there’s an innate selflessness to the craft that I really enjoy. With Fate of the Femmes I’m excited to explore gender expression and dynamics through Athena’s unique point of view as a queer woman from the Bay Area; I’m taking this complex narrative as a learning experience in both storytelling and intersectionality.
Kat Gaylord - Production Designer
I got into film because I was tired of never seeing people who looked, or loved, like me in mainstream media. I love that filmmaking keeps you on your toes, while also grounding you in a community with a shared vision. I cannot wait to be on-set with such a talented cast and crew to make Fate of the Femmes come to life!
How will donations be used for this project?
To make this film a reality, we'll need $10,000 to pay for locations, wardrobe, production design, gear, and specialty crew such as our stunt coordinator and make-up artist. Any leftover funds will help cover our film festival submissions and post-production. Thank you for taking the time to look at this project and we hope you'll consider donating!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production Design + Locations
Costs $1,900
Help us pay the lovely Forj Boxing Club and build the world for this film.
Cast & Crew
Costs $4,000
The movie would not be possible without them.
Costumes
Costs $800
A catsuit, a smart tuxedo, and wigs all help make our characters feel real in this surrealist story.
Crafty & Lunch
Costs $1,300
We need to make sure our cast and crew are well fed!
Gear Rentals
Costs $1,200
Lenses, camera accessories, and that equipment's transportation are needed to make a beautiful film.
DCP and Post-Production
Costs $800
Helps make a product to share with all of you!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Our Story
The Fate of the Femmes family brings together filmmakers, artists, and musicians from all around the world who each give a unique touch to the project. Much of the Bay Area crew has been working together since as early as middle school and for many LA-based creatives this is one of many collaborations for this team. We don't just work together, we are there for each other.
Director/Writer
Athena Cheris is a filmmaker from San Francisco, California, pursuing degrees in Film Production and Journalism at Loyola Marymount University. Athena has worked on over 60 sets, and films she’s worked on have screened at the San Francisco International Film Festival, Outfest, Another Hole in the Head, and more. She has collaborated with brands like Beats by Dre and Apple and publications like K. Magazine and Kitchen Work to create fun and unique content. She has also worked as a screener for multiple film festivals and served as a Festival Jury Manager at the Student World Impact Film Festival.
Producer/UPM
Kelsey Sha is a Film & TV Production student at Loyola Marymount University, LA. Born in New York City and having grown up in China, Hong Kong, and California, Kelsey comes from a culturally diverse background. With a foundation in STEM, she has strong organizational skills and is adept at creative problem-solving. She is a versatile writer, director and producer driven by a fervent commitment to bring vision-filled projects to life. Her works as a producer have received awards at numerous film festivals such as LA Shorts and Avignon International Film Festival.
Production Designer
Kat Gaylord is a junior at LMU, studying Film & TV Production and Women's and Gender Studies. Kat is inspired by the transformative work of diverse filmmakers and strives to represent marginalized voices. Beyond filmmaking, Kat is One Institute's Education Media Intern, an LMU LGBT Student Services Programming Assistant and Intercultural Facilitator, Delta Kappa Alpha's Recruitment Chair, Honors Advisory Council Secretary, and an active Delta Gamma sister. In her free time, Kat loves to cook, make music, and spend time with friends, family, and pets.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Logline
A 1950s housewife and a drag queen compete in a cage match for the champion of femininity.
Synopsis
It's the day of the fight and two adversaries stand opposite each other in the ring. In one corner, we have Betty, a 1950s housewife with perfect curls and a clean apron. For her, gender is an expectation she must meet and one she expects others to exemplify. Her strict definition of womanhood gives her disdain for other expressions. In the other corner, we have Diva Cup, a drag queen born for the stage who uses gender as performance. She fights defensively rather than offensively, but when push comes to shove she is ready to do what is needed to win.
The unforgiving audience watches in delight as these two fight and the charismatic announcer delights in the bloodshed. "Who will win?" some might ask, but what does it truly mean to win in a world where the competition was never yours to begin with?
Basic information
Title: “Fate of the Femmes”
Length: 6-8 minutes
Genre: Queer/Action
Shooting Date: February 2024
Shooting Location: Los Angeles, CA
Estimated Budget: $10,000
Why this story?
Fate of the Femmes is a very personal story to me, I was a martial artist for many years and I’ve also been frustrated by the way society pits women against each other. Women are rarely viewed as competition for other men, but are frequently compared to each other. I see this especially when femininity is held as a virtue, even though its presence is so difficult to define.
To be feminine can be an expectation, like the caricature of the 1950s housewife: poised, dutiful, and always put together. Yet, it can also be a form of expression like in the case of the drag queen, an interpretation of femininity and performance of gender. Many women are caught between these two extremes of expectation and expression, which creates an internal battle often expressed in societal discourse.
These are the real-life battles that led to Fate of the Femmes, as women fight each other who benefits but the men who set the circumstances and the players for it to happen. At the end of the day, it’s a man’s world and women are treated as entertainment in the larger societal dynamic. I hope to reduce our world to a cage match in this absurd short film inspired by my love for organized fighting.
Why our team?
The Fate of the Femmes family brings together filmmakers, artists, and musicians from all around the world who each give a unique touch to the project. Much of the Bay Area crew has been working together since as early as middle school and for many LA-based creatives, this is one of many collaborations for this team. We don't just work together, we are there for each other. Here are the department heads and why they got started in film along with what they are looking forward to with this project.
Athena Cheris - Director/Writer
I was drawn to film because it's an accessible medium that can speak to many people and be shared almost anywhere in the world. I love directing because it gives you the opportunity to work with all the different departments and create a shared vision for everyone to collaborate on. Fate of the Femmes is particularly exciting for me because it will give me the opportunity to direct action for the first time since I was in high school. Through my experiences on more recent shoots with athletes and fighters I feel more equipped than ever to show the gravity of a fight while also highlighting the female experience.
Kelsey Sha - Producer/UPM
I’ve always loved writing and photography, so I figured I’d give film a try, and it just clicked from there. I love film, especially producing, because it’s never boring—you’re constantly working on unique, creative projects with amazing people, and though it can be exhausting, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I'm most looking forward to collaborating with everyone, helping Athena bring her vision to life, and, of course, the fight scenes?!
Kieran Armstrong - Director of Photography
I began my journey as a screenwriter after wanting to be a novelist for many years, and from there I fell in love with cinematography’s marriage of the artistic and technical. I love cinematography because it allows me to use my gifts to help someone tell their own story; there’s an innate selflessness to the craft that I really enjoy. With Fate of the Femmes I’m excited to explore gender expression and dynamics through Athena’s unique point of view as a queer woman from the Bay Area; I’m taking this complex narrative as a learning experience in both storytelling and intersectionality.
Kat Gaylord - Production Designer
I got into film because I was tired of never seeing people who looked, or loved, like me in mainstream media. I love that filmmaking keeps you on your toes, while also grounding you in a community with a shared vision. I cannot wait to be on-set with such a talented cast and crew to make Fate of the Femmes come to life!
How will donations be used for this project?
To make this film a reality, we'll need $10,000 to pay for locations, wardrobe, production design, gear, and specialty crew such as our stunt coordinator and make-up artist. Any leftover funds will help cover our film festival submissions and post-production. Thank you for taking the time to look at this project and we hope you'll consider donating!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production Design + Locations
Costs $1,900
Help us pay the lovely Forj Boxing Club and build the world for this film.
Cast & Crew
Costs $4,000
The movie would not be possible without them.
Costumes
Costs $800
A catsuit, a smart tuxedo, and wigs all help make our characters feel real in this surrealist story.
Crafty & Lunch
Costs $1,300
We need to make sure our cast and crew are well fed!
Gear Rentals
Costs $1,200
Lenses, camera accessories, and that equipment's transportation are needed to make a beautiful film.
DCP and Post-Production
Costs $800
Helps make a product to share with all of you!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Our Story
The Fate of the Femmes family brings together filmmakers, artists, and musicians from all around the world who each give a unique touch to the project. Much of the Bay Area crew has been working together since as early as middle school and for many LA-based creatives this is one of many collaborations for this team. We don't just work together, we are there for each other.
Director/Writer
Athena Cheris is a filmmaker from San Francisco, California, pursuing degrees in Film Production and Journalism at Loyola Marymount University. Athena has worked on over 60 sets, and films she’s worked on have screened at the San Francisco International Film Festival, Outfest, Another Hole in the Head, and more. She has collaborated with brands like Beats by Dre and Apple and publications like K. Magazine and Kitchen Work to create fun and unique content. She has also worked as a screener for multiple film festivals and served as a Festival Jury Manager at the Student World Impact Film Festival.
Producer/UPM
Kelsey Sha is a Film & TV Production student at Loyola Marymount University, LA. Born in New York City and having grown up in China, Hong Kong, and California, Kelsey comes from a culturally diverse background. With a foundation in STEM, she has strong organizational skills and is adept at creative problem-solving. She is a versatile writer, director and producer driven by a fervent commitment to bring vision-filled projects to life. Her works as a producer have received awards at numerous film festivals such as LA Shorts and Avignon International Film Festival.
Production Designer
Kat Gaylord is a junior at LMU, studying Film & TV Production and Women's and Gender Studies. Kat is inspired by the transformative work of diverse filmmakers and strives to represent marginalized voices. Beyond filmmaking, Kat is One Institute's Education Media Intern, an LMU LGBT Student Services Programming Assistant and Intercultural Facilitator, Delta Kappa Alpha's Recruitment Chair, Honors Advisory Council Secretary, and an active Delta Gamma sister. In her free time, Kat loves to cook, make music, and spend time with friends, family, and pets.