First Time for Everything
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Comedy, Drama
The everywoman story of a girl’s first time putting in a tampon as she struggles to face her own body. Based on hundreds of true stories.
First Time for Everything
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Comedy, Drama
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $3,650 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
72 supporters | followers
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The everywoman story of a girl’s first time putting in a tampon as she struggles to face her own body. Based on hundreds of true stories.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Natalie is a 20-year-old girl who has never used a tampon. Yes, it's true.
When she gets her period before a family trip to the beach, she is determined to finally make it happen for the first time. She enlists help from her mom and younger sister, but her mom isn't the most prepared for the occasion...
...and her sister, George, is no help.
Determined, Natalie attempts to tackle the task on her own, resorting to YouTube videos and indecipherable instructions. But she struggles with discomfort, fear, and a general lack of knowledge about her body, leaving her exasperated.
Will Natalie be able to meet her goal? And why is she so determined to do it right now? Will her mom and sister be any help, or will she be forced to face herself all alone?
This story is something anyone who gets a period will be able to relate to. Not only does the film bring light to a subject that is often invisible in the media, but it also touches on the all-so-important, and sometimes complicated, mother-daughter relationship, and the relationship we have with ourselves and our own bodies.
The Characters
Natalie is the “perfect” older sister - she has always put a lot of pressure on herself to be perfect and set a good example for her younger sister. She has a close relationship with her mother, but over the course of the film, tension grows as her mom has trouble accepting that Natalie is growing up. The story revolves around her discomfort and fear around putting in a tampon for the first time, although she is determined to complete the task.
Wendy is a cheery, loving, single mom. She desperately wants to be the perfect mother, but everything she tries with her daughters seems to fail.
George has a hard shell and some teenage angst, along with a younger sister chip on her shoulder. She's blunt and keeps it real, but what is she hiding behind her sarcasm and eye rolls?
Here's the Plan...
- We raise $3,000 to help us pay for production expenses, costumes, trasnsportation, food, and more. (For more info on how your contributions will be used, checkout the "Wishlist" section.)
- On Mar. 18th, 2022, our team, led by and primarily consisting of amazingly talented women, comes together and films the project over the course of three days. (For more info on our leaders check out the "Team" section.)
- Once post-production is complete, we submit "First Time for Everything" to festivals, focusing on feminist and women-centered organizations.
- After our festival run, we make the film available to the public so you can see how your contributions have paid off! - And don't forget our virtual premiere that you're invited to if you contribute $100 or more!
When you contribute to our campaign, you are supporting a film that:
- Values the EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN, in front of and behind the camera. Almost every member of our crew is a woman, specifically in positions that are often filled by men - like director of photography, gaffer, and more.
- Encourages EDUCATION and DESTIGMATIZATION. As Rylee mentions in her Director's Statement below, the taboo and stigma around periods can be extremely harmful, and we're determined to fight that stigma with this film.
- Tells a RELATABLE STORY. The story of girl vs. tampon is something that almost every woman will experience first-hand in her lifetime, so why is it rarely depicted in media? We hope sharing this story can bring comfort, laughter, and reassurance to many girls and women who may have otherwise feared they were alone.
Director's Statement
There is a lack of media out there about periods, tampons, and the overall vagina experience. I’m inspired to tell a story that I think many girls and women will be able to connect with. One thing I love about this project is that every time I share the premise of it with a woman in my life, I get a response back that usually includes them sharing what their experience was the first time they put a tampon in. It makes me excited to know that so many people will be able to relate to the story I’m telling, and that I can be a part of normalizing the conversation around women’s bodies.
My vision for this film is to pull audiences into the protagonist’s perspective so that even people who have never experienced a period can feel the stress and discomfort she is experiencing as she struggles with putting in a tampon for the first time.
Although we’ve come a long way in terms of conversation and comfortability around talking about periods and vaginas, there is still a lingering feeling of taboo or shame many women experience, and this feeling can be damaging for a number of reasons. Until we can talk openly about menstruation and women’s bodies, girls all over the world will continue to face the discomfort of menstrual stigma, and this is something that I believe needs to change in the world. And while it fills me with both nerves and excitement as I wonder what its reception will be, my hope with this film is to be a part of a greater movement to bring periods out of the dark and help girls feel more comfortable in their bodies.
-Rylee Rosenquist, Writer/Director/Co-Producer
PLEDGE - FOLLOW - SHARE!
Please consider sharing our campaign on social media or through word-of-mouth using the following link: www.seedandspark.com/fund/first-time-for-everything-film.
Follow us on Instagram @firsttimeforeverythingfilm.
Share our campaign video.
Thank you for your contribution and support! We can't wait to bring this story to life and couldn't do it without you.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Location
Costs $200
We have the opportunity to film at a lovely home in Los Angeles, near LMU's campus.
Transportation
Costs $300
We will be renting a van to transport our equipment from campus to our location!
Catering + Craft Services
Costs $800
Keep our crew well-fed and ready to make a great film!
Costumes
Costs $250
Make sure our actors look and feel their best as they tackle their roles!
Miscellaneous Production Costs
Costs $430
Batteries, promotional materials, and anything else that happens to come up along the way.
Share this update!
About This Team
Rylee Rosenquist
Director/Writer/Co-Producer
Rylee fell in love with storytelling at a young age. She was one of those kids that would have friends over for a play date and then force them to be in a movie or play she’d thought up. She is now pursuing a degree in Film & Television Production at Loyola Marymount University, planning to graduate in the spring. She has a passion for telling stories that inspire empathy, understanding, and (hopefully!) laughter.
AnaMichele Morejon
Co-Producer
AnaMichele is a current senior at Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television. She brings her background as a producer on various creative projects. Most recently, she produced and directed THE FORBIDDEN CALL (2022), a documentary short about a woman’s journey to push boundaries and redefine ministry. With her passion for character-driven narratives and stories with social impact, AnaMichele is thrilled to join the “First Time for Everything” team.
Milena Mooradian
Director of Photography
Milena is currently an undergraduate at Loyola Marymount University, studying film production. Growing up with both parents in the arts industry, she has always been close to a camera and a lens, which greatly increased her awareness and passion for filmmaking. She loves traveling and it makes her more knowledgeable about the intricacy of humans and all the stories yet to be discovered.
Maddie Cindrich
Assistant Director
Maddie is a senior Film, TV, and Media Studies major and Economics minor at Loyola Marymount University. She loves working on stories about the beauty and comedy in everyday life. She’s so excited to work on “First Time for Everything!”
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Natalie is a 20-year-old girl who has never used a tampon. Yes, it's true.
When she gets her period before a family trip to the beach, she is determined to finally make it happen for the first time. She enlists help from her mom and younger sister, but her mom isn't the most prepared for the occasion...
...and her sister, George, is no help.
Determined, Natalie attempts to tackle the task on her own, resorting to YouTube videos and indecipherable instructions. But she struggles with discomfort, fear, and a general lack of knowledge about her body, leaving her exasperated.
Will Natalie be able to meet her goal? And why is she so determined to do it right now? Will her mom and sister be any help, or will she be forced to face herself all alone?
This story is something anyone who gets a period will be able to relate to. Not only does the film bring light to a subject that is often invisible in the media, but it also touches on the all-so-important, and sometimes complicated, mother-daughter relationship, and the relationship we have with ourselves and our own bodies.
The Characters
Natalie is the “perfect” older sister - she has always put a lot of pressure on herself to be perfect and set a good example for her younger sister. She has a close relationship with her mother, but over the course of the film, tension grows as her mom has trouble accepting that Natalie is growing up. The story revolves around her discomfort and fear around putting in a tampon for the first time, although she is determined to complete the task.
Wendy is a cheery, loving, single mom. She desperately wants to be the perfect mother, but everything she tries with her daughters seems to fail.
George has a hard shell and some teenage angst, along with a younger sister chip on her shoulder. She's blunt and keeps it real, but what is she hiding behind her sarcasm and eye rolls?
Here's the Plan...
- We raise $3,000 to help us pay for production expenses, costumes, trasnsportation, food, and more. (For more info on how your contributions will be used, checkout the "Wishlist" section.)
- On Mar. 18th, 2022, our team, led by and primarily consisting of amazingly talented women, comes together and films the project over the course of three days. (For more info on our leaders check out the "Team" section.)
- Once post-production is complete, we submit "First Time for Everything" to festivals, focusing on feminist and women-centered organizations.
- After our festival run, we make the film available to the public so you can see how your contributions have paid off! - And don't forget our virtual premiere that you're invited to if you contribute $100 or more!
When you contribute to our campaign, you are supporting a film that:
- Values the EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN, in front of and behind the camera. Almost every member of our crew is a woman, specifically in positions that are often filled by men - like director of photography, gaffer, and more.
- Encourages EDUCATION and DESTIGMATIZATION. As Rylee mentions in her Director's Statement below, the taboo and stigma around periods can be extremely harmful, and we're determined to fight that stigma with this film.
- Tells a RELATABLE STORY. The story of girl vs. tampon is something that almost every woman will experience first-hand in her lifetime, so why is it rarely depicted in media? We hope sharing this story can bring comfort, laughter, and reassurance to many girls and women who may have otherwise feared they were alone.
Director's Statement
There is a lack of media out there about periods, tampons, and the overall vagina experience. I’m inspired to tell a story that I think many girls and women will be able to connect with. One thing I love about this project is that every time I share the premise of it with a woman in my life, I get a response back that usually includes them sharing what their experience was the first time they put a tampon in. It makes me excited to know that so many people will be able to relate to the story I’m telling, and that I can be a part of normalizing the conversation around women’s bodies.
My vision for this film is to pull audiences into the protagonist’s perspective so that even people who have never experienced a period can feel the stress and discomfort she is experiencing as she struggles with putting in a tampon for the first time.
Although we’ve come a long way in terms of conversation and comfortability around talking about periods and vaginas, there is still a lingering feeling of taboo or shame many women experience, and this feeling can be damaging for a number of reasons. Until we can talk openly about menstruation and women’s bodies, girls all over the world will continue to face the discomfort of menstrual stigma, and this is something that I believe needs to change in the world. And while it fills me with both nerves and excitement as I wonder what its reception will be, my hope with this film is to be a part of a greater movement to bring periods out of the dark and help girls feel more comfortable in their bodies.
-Rylee Rosenquist, Writer/Director/Co-Producer
PLEDGE - FOLLOW - SHARE!
Please consider sharing our campaign on social media or through word-of-mouth using the following link: www.seedandspark.com/fund/first-time-for-everything-film.
Follow us on Instagram @firsttimeforeverythingfilm.
Share our campaign video.
Thank you for your contribution and support! We can't wait to bring this story to life and couldn't do it without you.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Location
Costs $200
We have the opportunity to film at a lovely home in Los Angeles, near LMU's campus.
Transportation
Costs $300
We will be renting a van to transport our equipment from campus to our location!
Catering + Craft Services
Costs $800
Keep our crew well-fed and ready to make a great film!
Costumes
Costs $250
Make sure our actors look and feel their best as they tackle their roles!
Miscellaneous Production Costs
Costs $430
Batteries, promotional materials, and anything else that happens to come up along the way.
Share this update!
About This Team
Rylee Rosenquist
Director/Writer/Co-Producer
Rylee fell in love with storytelling at a young age. She was one of those kids that would have friends over for a play date and then force them to be in a movie or play she’d thought up. She is now pursuing a degree in Film & Television Production at Loyola Marymount University, planning to graduate in the spring. She has a passion for telling stories that inspire empathy, understanding, and (hopefully!) laughter.
AnaMichele Morejon
Co-Producer
AnaMichele is a current senior at Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television. She brings her background as a producer on various creative projects. Most recently, she produced and directed THE FORBIDDEN CALL (2022), a documentary short about a woman’s journey to push boundaries and redefine ministry. With her passion for character-driven narratives and stories with social impact, AnaMichele is thrilled to join the “First Time for Everything” team.
Milena Mooradian
Director of Photography
Milena is currently an undergraduate at Loyola Marymount University, studying film production. Growing up with both parents in the arts industry, she has always been close to a camera and a lens, which greatly increased her awareness and passion for filmmaking. She loves traveling and it makes her more knowledgeable about the intricacy of humans and all the stories yet to be discovered.
Maddie Cindrich
Assistant Director
Maddie is a senior Film, TV, and Media Studies major and Economics minor at Loyola Marymount University. She loves working on stories about the beauty and comedy in everyday life. She’s so excited to work on “First Time for Everything!”