FREE BIRD Post Production
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Family, Drama
FREE BIRD is a dramedy about a millennial woman questioning her life choices. We finished principal photography in November 2024 and need your help finishing this project!
FREE BIRD Post Production
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Family, Drama
2 Campaigns | California, United States
18 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$1,190
Goal: $6,500 for post-production
FREE BIRD is a dramedy about a millennial woman questioning her life choices. We finished principal photography in November 2024 and need your help finishing this project!
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
To see more of how we brought this creative vision to life, check out our LOOKBOOK
Life is full of choices. The ones you make, the ones you avoid.
FREE BIRD follows a millennial woman as she approaches her 30s and experiences a second coming-of-age, navigating the changing expectations she has for herself.
People are getting married? Having babies? Buying houses? If you’re not doing any of that….can you still love your life?
And if you want some of those things....can you make the right choices? Can anyone have it all?
Inspired by the malaise of life in your late 20s and the angst of not being good enough, this story is an expression and contemplation of the heartache caused by desire and how hard it is to feel proud of the life you’ve chosen.
THE WHY
This story feels relevant as it explores the millennial angst of wanting a traditional life with the excitement of paving your own path. Kate loves her home, her partner, her dog, and the life they've built together. She loves her friends and going out to dinner, and the business she started with her best friend. But nothing stays the same, and she begins to feel paralyzed as she learns her friends and family are moving on. One by one, she realizes that the people around her are taking steps forward- moving cities, getting married, having babies. And she remains happy with her life as it is. She feels pulled to make her own path and follow the expectations set for her.
THE NEED
We finished principal photography in November 2024, and now we need your help to finish this project!
The expense of making a film doesn't stop after filming, and the funds we hope to raise are essential to make this project live up to its potential. Everything raised through this campaign will go towards paying our editor, sound designer, composer, colorist, outstanding balances from our production, and finally festival submissions so the world can see this piece of art.
We are committed to making an excellent product, and as such intend to pay our incredible artists appropriately for their craft.
One free and incredibly helpful way you can support us RIGHT NOW is by posting on social media and sharing with your friends!
You can copy this blurb to make it easier!
"Help us complete the film FREE BIRD on SEED & SPARK! This film is timely, important, and a beautiful reflection of the millennial experience. Your contribution helps us complete this movie, and supports more independent film!
https://seedandspark.com/fund/free-bird-post-production "
MAKING THE MOVIE
We filmed this movie in Philadelphia PA and Bucks County PA. We were lucky to film in a beautiful, classic Bucks County house and capture the nature of the suburbs. In Philadelphia, we captured a quintessential Fishtown neighborhood street in the fall, and filmed in an iconic style Philly townhome (they even let us on the roof!)
The most exciting part of this process was driving around the city with a car mount, capturing both the city skyline at night and the way the lights wash over the car. This stunt required a caravan of cars with the Cinematographer watching a monitor while lying in the backseat of the car, radioing to the assistant in the follow car to pull focus. It called for immense coordination, safe driving, and concentration to tell the story through all the elements. In the end, we captured something beautiful, and we were even complimented by a Concrete Cowboy (look it up- it's a whole thing) who offered his horse for our next movie.
Our actors were cast long distance, and we were so happy to work with several mainstays of the Philadelphia theatre and film scene, such as Amanda Schoonover (Candy Cane Lane, Perry Mason, Dispatches from Elsewhere), Hanna Gaffney (Knock on the Cabin Door, Holly and the Hot Chocolate, Quintessence Theatre), Donovan Lockett (Philadelphia Artists Collective, InterAct, Walnut Street Theatre), and more. We were so excited for the actors that traveled to set from New York City, Virginia Beach, and Los Angeles to be a part of this project (and are equally grateful to those who helped put them up in the area!).
We assembled an incredible crew from Los Angeles, Philly, New York City, and Houston to bring in the best people for the job, and found this process to be a whirlwind of problem solving, encouragement, and discovering beautiful moments in the story. For every road bump, we found creative solutions and were able to film everything we needed on time- a miracle!
We are so excited to share this incredible piece of art that was a labor of love for so many creatives. In a world where telling vulnerable stories is pushed to the side, every member of our team sacrificed to make this possible. We are so proud to share FREE BIRD with you!
THE CAST
THE TEAM
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Outstanding Production Costs
Costs $3,500
There's a few loose ends, like deferred payments to actors and other additional expenses that we need to finalize.
Festival Submissions
Costs $1,000
It costs money to submit to festivals, but the world needs to see this film. Help us share Free Bird!
Post Production
Costs $1,500
Help us cover the costs of finishing this film! Post Production covers everything after we finish filming to piece the movie together.
Business Costs
Costs $500
Expenses add up for our permits, transportation, and license for this specific film. Help us offset that cost!
Share this update!
About This Team
Meet The Team Behind Free Bird
Pretty Penny Media became an LLC in 2024. This is our first venture as a fully formed company, although we have been working as a creative team for many years. Jeff was in the first play Kristen directed in 2015! Zach and Kristen wrote their first play together in 2016. Since our college days, we've inspired each other, pushed each other, and made great art together. Since we all landed in Los Angeles in 2019, we've collaborated on films (We'll Find A Way- Nominee Best Actress and Woman Filmmaker of the Year, The Grievance, The Roommate, Teacher's Lounge), and produced other creative ventures. Our original play US AND YOU premiered at the 2022 Hollywood Fringe Festival directed by Zach and starring Jeff & Kristen, and the Phaneufs currently host a podcast about the Oscars called Thank The Academy.
As a company, we consider ourselves an artists collective focused on making relatable work exploring life's highest highs and lowest lows. We are passionate about stories that investigate our personal experience, foster empathy, and feed our creative hunger.
You can learn more about our work and projects here: https://www.prettypennymedia.com/
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
To see more of how we brought this creative vision to life, check out our LOOKBOOK
Life is full of choices. The ones you make, the ones you avoid.
FREE BIRD follows a millennial woman as she approaches her 30s and experiences a second coming-of-age, navigating the changing expectations she has for herself.
People are getting married? Having babies? Buying houses? If you’re not doing any of that….can you still love your life?
And if you want some of those things....can you make the right choices? Can anyone have it all?
Inspired by the malaise of life in your late 20s and the angst of not being good enough, this story is an expression and contemplation of the heartache caused by desire and how hard it is to feel proud of the life you’ve chosen.
THE WHY
This story feels relevant as it explores the millennial angst of wanting a traditional life with the excitement of paving your own path. Kate loves her home, her partner, her dog, and the life they've built together. She loves her friends and going out to dinner, and the business she started with her best friend. But nothing stays the same, and she begins to feel paralyzed as she learns her friends and family are moving on. One by one, she realizes that the people around her are taking steps forward- moving cities, getting married, having babies. And she remains happy with her life as it is. She feels pulled to make her own path and follow the expectations set for her.
THE NEED
We finished principal photography in November 2024, and now we need your help to finish this project!
The expense of making a film doesn't stop after filming, and the funds we hope to raise are essential to make this project live up to its potential. Everything raised through this campaign will go towards paying our editor, sound designer, composer, colorist, outstanding balances from our production, and finally festival submissions so the world can see this piece of art.
We are committed to making an excellent product, and as such intend to pay our incredible artists appropriately for their craft.
One free and incredibly helpful way you can support us RIGHT NOW is by posting on social media and sharing with your friends!
You can copy this blurb to make it easier!
"Help us complete the film FREE BIRD on SEED & SPARK! This film is timely, important, and a beautiful reflection of the millennial experience. Your contribution helps us complete this movie, and supports more independent film!
https://seedandspark.com/fund/free-bird-post-production "
MAKING THE MOVIE
We filmed this movie in Philadelphia PA and Bucks County PA. We were lucky to film in a beautiful, classic Bucks County house and capture the nature of the suburbs. In Philadelphia, we captured a quintessential Fishtown neighborhood street in the fall, and filmed in an iconic style Philly townhome (they even let us on the roof!)
The most exciting part of this process was driving around the city with a car mount, capturing both the city skyline at night and the way the lights wash over the car. This stunt required a caravan of cars with the Cinematographer watching a monitor while lying in the backseat of the car, radioing to the assistant in the follow car to pull focus. It called for immense coordination, safe driving, and concentration to tell the story through all the elements. In the end, we captured something beautiful, and we were even complimented by a Concrete Cowboy (look it up- it's a whole thing) who offered his horse for our next movie.
Our actors were cast long distance, and we were so happy to work with several mainstays of the Philadelphia theatre and film scene, such as Amanda Schoonover (Candy Cane Lane, Perry Mason, Dispatches from Elsewhere), Hanna Gaffney (Knock on the Cabin Door, Holly and the Hot Chocolate, Quintessence Theatre), Donovan Lockett (Philadelphia Artists Collective, InterAct, Walnut Street Theatre), and more. We were so excited for the actors that traveled to set from New York City, Virginia Beach, and Los Angeles to be a part of this project (and are equally grateful to those who helped put them up in the area!).
We assembled an incredible crew from Los Angeles, Philly, New York City, and Houston to bring in the best people for the job, and found this process to be a whirlwind of problem solving, encouragement, and discovering beautiful moments in the story. For every road bump, we found creative solutions and were able to film everything we needed on time- a miracle!
We are so excited to share this incredible piece of art that was a labor of love for so many creatives. In a world where telling vulnerable stories is pushed to the side, every member of our team sacrificed to make this possible. We are so proud to share FREE BIRD with you!
THE CAST
THE TEAM
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Outstanding Production Costs
Costs $3,500
There's a few loose ends, like deferred payments to actors and other additional expenses that we need to finalize.
Festival Submissions
Costs $1,000
It costs money to submit to festivals, but the world needs to see this film. Help us share Free Bird!
Post Production
Costs $1,500
Help us cover the costs of finishing this film! Post Production covers everything after we finish filming to piece the movie together.
Business Costs
Costs $500
Expenses add up for our permits, transportation, and license for this specific film. Help us offset that cost!
Share this update!
About This Team
Meet The Team Behind Free Bird
Pretty Penny Media became an LLC in 2024. This is our first venture as a fully formed company, although we have been working as a creative team for many years. Jeff was in the first play Kristen directed in 2015! Zach and Kristen wrote their first play together in 2016. Since our college days, we've inspired each other, pushed each other, and made great art together. Since we all landed in Los Angeles in 2019, we've collaborated on films (We'll Find A Way- Nominee Best Actress and Woman Filmmaker of the Year, The Grievance, The Roommate, Teacher's Lounge), and produced other creative ventures. Our original play US AND YOU premiered at the 2022 Hollywood Fringe Festival directed by Zach and starring Jeff & Kristen, and the Phaneufs currently host a podcast about the Oscars called Thank The Academy.
As a company, we consider ourselves an artists collective focused on making relatable work exploring life's highest highs and lowest lows. We are passionate about stories that investigate our personal experience, foster empathy, and feed our creative hunger.
You can learn more about our work and projects here: https://www.prettypennymedia.com/