Further Review
West New York, New Jersey | Film Short
Comedy, Action
Julie is overthinking; Julie is over-qualified; Julie is over it. Can Julie overthink her way into the life she wants? In this action-driven dramedy short, we follow one woman's journey (both real and imagined) on her way to finding her strength and owning her worth.
Green Light
This campaign raised $35,185 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
195 supporters | followers
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Julie is overthinking; Julie is over-qualified; Julie is over it. Can Julie overthink her way into the life she wants? In this action-driven dramedy short, we follow one woman's journey (both real and imagined) on her way to finding her strength and owning her worth.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Further Review, narratively speaking, is a story of a woman who's ready to stop asking for permission and do the dang thing. We explore the themes below as our hero, Julie, (through experiences both real and imagined... and the encouragement from an unexpected ally) goes from under-appreciated, over-qualified, and wayyy over-thinking, to... confident, independent badass? Maybe? Help us fund our story so you can watch and find out!
In this punchy, fast-paced, action-driven film, we jump back and forth between fantasy and reality (regularly) to work out our problems, like a misogynistic boss at an unfulfilling job, in real (and not so real) time. It might keep you a little off-balance... but in a fun way.
THEMES
- Rumination
- Abuse of power
- Female friendships
- General ass-kickery
- Discovery of self-worth
- L'esprit de l'escalier
.png)
L'esprit de l'escalier.
This is a French phrase that means "the spirit of the stairs" or, philosophically, "staircase wit." Once upon a time, the philosopher Denis Diderot found himself speechless after a comment during a dinner party at the home of statesman Jacques Necker. He didn't come up with the right response until he was back downstairs (leaving the party). Denis later explains, "a sensitive man, such as myself, overwhelmed by the argument leveled against him, becomes confused and doesn't come to himself again until at the bottom of the stairs."
We've all been there, Denis. In fact, there's a phrase for this in most languages. We see someone taken advantage of, and we know it's wrong, but we're just not sure how to step in in the moment. We're verbally (or physically) accosted, but we don't hold our ground, even though we're sure we're a strong person. We're taken aback in the moment, and so badly wish we could have a redo later, when we've finally got the perfect response. Oh man, what if I'd just...
Some of us take that to extremes. Seeing the moment replay in our dreams, rewriting the moment dozens of times... sometimes YEARS later. Does this habit help? Can we learn from it? Does the "perfect" version of us in our imagination ever reach us in real time?
WHY US? WHY NOW?
Our writer, Logan, has a list a mile long of stories she's almost written... so why this one?
.png)
Well, for one... this is probably the most Logan thing ever. She has been fascinated by the concept of l'esprit de l'escalier and our propensity for rumination for literally as long as she can remember (I mean, way before she knew there was a fancy French phrase for it... oh man, that was a lot of eff sounds — alliteration swoon).
And two... this one actually didn't give her a choice. Early this spring, Logan did what she always does... she rapid-fire tapped out the central premise of a story (a perfectly executed, strongly worded monologue to a semi-fantastical and oppressive overlord) into the Notes app on her phone and expected to then also do what she always does... leave it sitting there to be rediscovered in a couple years, accompanied by the thought "Huh, that was a good idea... I should've followed through on that."
But it wouldn't rest.
Minutes later, she was at her computer, flying through back story and contextual parallels and examples from her past of when she'd wished more than anything for a redo, and then hypothetical scenarios she thought other people might encounter... it was growing ever more specific and ever more universal — she couldn't stop.
In a couple days, she had a full outline, and the words wouldn't stop flying out of her until a first draft was completed a few weeks later.
MOOD BOARD
.png)
WHY NOW?
That's two-fold:
1) In a moment when self-reflection and accountability seem increasingly rare, this film insists they’re essential — pushing back against complacency and reminding us that our choices matter.
2) It's funny... when you're an actor, people are always telling you to create your own work, and usually the response is something like, "Oh, I'm not a writer! I bring other people's words to life." Meanwhile, we're always saying dumb things like "I work in TV & Film... when they let me."
As Logan started working with the highly empathic, curious, and smart director, Kate Forsatz, not only did the story become refined in a really enriching way, it became increasingly clear that the character of Julie had given the actor Logan permission... to stop asking permission... and do the dang thing.
PROJECTED TIMELINE
September 2025: (Currently) wrapping up casting, locking script
October 2025: Solidifying our crew and locations
November 2025: Nailing down permits and insurance
Late November-Early December 2025: Full shoot to take place over 4-5 days in NJ/NY
Late December 2025: Post-Production
January 2026: Starting festival submissions!
2026 & 2027: Festivals and (then) Distribution
*Note: Many festivals have policies against sharing a film publicly before screening at the festival. To ensure that we aren't unintentionally blocking ourselves from participating in festivals, all distribution will be after the festival run (likely 2027). We have a number of incentive levels that will include a private, password-protected, and time-restricted link to the film at a point earlier than general public distribution, but in accordance with the festival policies. Thank you for understanding.
CROWDFUNDING
Even if our project weren't governed by SAG-AFTRA minimums, we are governed by a moral code that doesn't believe in asking people to do their work for free. Funding for this film will allow us to pay our cast and crew a reasonable daily rate (and it's still not what we'd prefer to pay), secure locations, permits, insurance, supplement costumes (most of this will come from our closets, some things can't), make our locations look like actual places (with set dressing and props), hire an editor, sound mixer, and (hopefully!) composer, pay our director, feed people, take this film to festivals so that people all over can see our story... and honestly so much more.
Here's a basic breakdown of our goal, but you can see more on the Wishlist page :)
.png)
$43,250 The Pipe Dream — This amount allows us to pay our cast and crew a reasonable daily rate, cover post-production, festivals, and distribution.
$37,600 Dream Fulfilled — This amount allows us to pay our cast and crew a reasonable daily rate and cover post production.
$30,080 Doing the Dang Thing — This is the absolute minimum we need to raise for Seed & Spark to greenlight our project & release your pledges to us (80% of our "Dream Fulfilled" goal).
Aside from our personal "why" for making the film, we also just want to shout out how important indie films are. Indie films bring fresh perspectives, take creative risks, and tell stories that don't necessarily fit into mainstream formulas. Let's be real, we're sure there are some major benefits to having a studio produce your film, but not having that means we get to make the film we want to make (and we think you'll wanna see).
This project is also (proudly!) women-led. The number of films with female writers and directors is definitely trending upward, but we're still far from equally represented. Supporting women behind the camera means supporting more diverse stories, authentic characters, and representation that reflects the real world. Your support not only brings this film to life, but also contributes to a stronger, more inclusive future for storytelling.
Where does your money go?
.png)
Funding for this film will allow us to pay our cast and crew a reasonable daily rate (not what we want to pay, but somethin'), secure locations, permits, insurance, supplement costumes (most of this will come from our closets, some things can't), make our locations look like actual places (with set dressing and props), hire an editor, sound mixer, and (hopefully!) composer, pay our director, feed people, take this film to festivals so that people all over can see our story... and honestly so much more.
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
Cast: 19.9%
Crew: 36.6%
Physical Production: 18.1%
Contingency: 4.2%
Post-Production: 8.1%
Festivals & Distribution: 13.1%
HOW TO SUPPORT
The most immediately effective way of supporting our film is through financial support. Any pledge is immensely appreciated. Once we reach 80% of our goal, Seed & Spark will release funding to us and we can get to work!
- Pick any incentive on the right of this page (these are exact preset dollar amounts)!
- You can also Pledge ANY amount at the top right of this page, and we'll thank you at the commensurate incentive level.
- Follow our journey. You can follow the campaign on this site, and we also hope you'll come hang out with us on instagram @furtherreviewfilm and/or Facebook.
- We know that monetary gifts are not an available option for everyone. If you still want to support, we ask that you please share with your community! Tell folks why you think this film is important or special, and send them to this page: https://seedandspark.com/fund/further-review
- If there's an item on our Wishlist you're in a position to LEND us, rather than sending money, please use the LOAN button associated with that item. It's a huge help, and we can assign a monetary value to that gift that will be contributed to our overall goal.
THANK YOU FOR ANY AND ALL SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO YOU!!!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Hiring an Amazing Crew!
Costs $15,350
This covers soooo much: - Director - DP - 1st AC - Graffer/Grip - PA(s) - Sound Mixer - Production Designer - Hair & Makeup (and more)
Paying our Actors!
Costs $8,400
As a SAG-AFTRA film, we have certain minimums we have to pay each actor, including background... and paying into health & pension!
Equipment
Costs $1,000
This should cover renting any camera, lighting, and sound equipment our crew doesn't own!
Logistical Stuff!
Costs $5,100
- Renting an office space and restaurant (for scenes) - Permits - Insurance
Production Design!
Costs $2,500
Wardrobe, props, set dressing, miscellaneous supplies (like tape and batteries). Oh, and the "oh shit!" fund for contingencies.
Feeding our cast & crew!
Costs $750
We're not doing any fancy dining over here, but people gotta eat, y'know?
Post-Production!
Costs $3,400
Editing, Sound Design/Mixing, Color Correction, Music licensing (or preferably original music!)
Fees!
Costs $1,100
Credit card and processing fees are a real thing, and we'd hate for them to eat into the filmmaking!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Logan Rose Nelms
Writer • Producer • Actor (Julie)
This is Logan's first screenplay. She has been grinding it out in NYC for the past 14 years, working in TV, Film, and (somewhere in the distant past) Theater. She graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in Musical Theatre, but decided pretty quickly not to put the musical part of it to work.
You can see Logan’s work in Orange is the New Black, Bull, Manhattan Love Story, a couple episode of Law & Order: SVU, and a few indie films, including the feature film she co-led, How To Say Goodbye. She’s done mocap in video games, like Red Dead Redemption II & GTA V, and she spent about four years on an indie improv team, called Batteries Not Included.
When she’s not acting, writing, auditioning, or taking classes, you can probably find Logan on the golf course with her fellow-actor husband, in the gym, snuggling her cat… or starting a wildly intensive business, like the ethical clothing subscription box company she co-owned and operated for the past three years. This story may or may not be semi-autobiographical.
Kate Forsatz
Director
Kate Forsatz is an actor, filmmaker, writer, and educator whose career spans film, television, theater, and beyond. She has appeared in acclaimed shows like The Sopranos and long-running daytime dramas (All My Children, Guiding Light, As the World Turns), as well as feature films including The Good Shepherd, My Super Ex-Girlfriend, and Last Kung Fu Monk. In her award-winning independent film Threebound, Forsatz took on the rare feat of not only starring as Sarah Barnes but also writing, directing, producing, and executive producing—establishing herself as a dynamic force both in front of and behind the camera. On stage, she has tackled everything from Tennessee Williams classics to contemporary works, bringing depth, humor, and emotional honesty to each role.
Beyond her acting work, Forsatz is the co-founder of Exit 74 Productions. She is also the co-creator and host of One Oh! One, a podcast and streaming series featuring candid conversations with Emmy-nominated and award-winning creatives across film and television—offering insight, humor, and inspiration for the next generation of storytellers. A member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA, Forsatz is as comfortable coaching actors in a rehearsal room as she is on set or behind the camera. With a career that defies easy labels, she embodies the modern multi-hyphenate: storyteller, mentor, and creative powerhouse.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Further Review, narratively speaking, is a story of a woman who's ready to stop asking for permission and do the dang thing. We explore the themes below as our hero, Julie, (through experiences both real and imagined... and the encouragement from an unexpected ally) goes from under-appreciated, over-qualified, and wayyy over-thinking, to... confident, independent badass? Maybe? Help us fund our story so you can watch and find out!
In this punchy, fast-paced, action-driven film, we jump back and forth between fantasy and reality (regularly) to work out our problems, like a misogynistic boss at an unfulfilling job, in real (and not so real) time. It might keep you a little off-balance... but in a fun way.
THEMES
- Rumination
- Abuse of power
- Female friendships
- General ass-kickery
- Discovery of self-worth
- L'esprit de l'escalier
L'esprit de l'escalier.
This is a French phrase that means "the spirit of the stairs" or, philosophically, "staircase wit." Once upon a time, the philosopher Denis Diderot found himself speechless after a comment during a dinner party at the home of statesman Jacques Necker. He didn't come up with the right response until he was back downstairs (leaving the party). Denis later explains, "a sensitive man, such as myself, overwhelmed by the argument leveled against him, becomes confused and doesn't come to himself again until at the bottom of the stairs."
We've all been there, Denis. In fact, there's a phrase for this in most languages. We see someone taken advantage of, and we know it's wrong, but we're just not sure how to step in in the moment. We're verbally (or physically) accosted, but we don't hold our ground, even though we're sure we're a strong person. We're taken aback in the moment, and so badly wish we could have a redo later, when we've finally got the perfect response. Oh man, what if I'd just...
Some of us take that to extremes. Seeing the moment replay in our dreams, rewriting the moment dozens of times... sometimes YEARS later. Does this habit help? Can we learn from it? Does the "perfect" version of us in our imagination ever reach us in real time?
WHY US? WHY NOW?
Our writer, Logan, has a list a mile long of stories she's almost written... so why this one?
Well, for one... this is probably the most Logan thing ever. She has been fascinated by the concept of l'esprit de l'escalier and our propensity for rumination for literally as long as she can remember (I mean, way before she knew there was a fancy French phrase for it... oh man, that was a lot of eff sounds — alliteration swoon).
And two... this one actually didn't give her a choice. Early this spring, Logan did what she always does... she rapid-fire tapped out the central premise of a story (a perfectly executed, strongly worded monologue to a semi-fantastical and oppressive overlord) into the Notes app on her phone and expected to then also do what she always does... leave it sitting there to be rediscovered in a couple years, accompanied by the thought "Huh, that was a good idea... I should've followed through on that."
But it wouldn't rest.
Minutes later, she was at her computer, flying through back story and contextual parallels and examples from her past of when she'd wished more than anything for a redo, and then hypothetical scenarios she thought other people might encounter... it was growing ever more specific and ever more universal — she couldn't stop.
In a couple days, she had a full outline, and the words wouldn't stop flying out of her until a first draft was completed a few weeks later.
MOOD BOARD
WHY NOW?
That's two-fold:
1) In a moment when self-reflection and accountability seem increasingly rare, this film insists they’re essential — pushing back against complacency and reminding us that our choices matter.
2) It's funny... when you're an actor, people are always telling you to create your own work, and usually the response is something like, "Oh, I'm not a writer! I bring other people's words to life." Meanwhile, we're always saying dumb things like "I work in TV & Film... when they let me."
As Logan started working with the highly empathic, curious, and smart director, Kate Forsatz, not only did the story become refined in a really enriching way, it became increasingly clear that the character of Julie had given the actor Logan permission... to stop asking permission... and do the dang thing.
PROJECTED TIMELINE
September 2025: (Currently) wrapping up casting, locking script
October 2025: Solidifying our crew and locations
November 2025: Nailing down permits and insurance
Late November-Early December 2025: Full shoot to take place over 4-5 days in NJ/NY
Late December 2025: Post-Production
January 2026: Starting festival submissions!
2026 & 2027: Festivals and (then) Distribution
*Note: Many festivals have policies against sharing a film publicly before screening at the festival. To ensure that we aren't unintentionally blocking ourselves from participating in festivals, all distribution will be after the festival run (likely 2027). We have a number of incentive levels that will include a private, password-protected, and time-restricted link to the film at a point earlier than general public distribution, but in accordance with the festival policies. Thank you for understanding.
CROWDFUNDING
Even if our project weren't governed by SAG-AFTRA minimums, we are governed by a moral code that doesn't believe in asking people to do their work for free. Funding for this film will allow us to pay our cast and crew a reasonable daily rate (and it's still not what we'd prefer to pay), secure locations, permits, insurance, supplement costumes (most of this will come from our closets, some things can't), make our locations look like actual places (with set dressing and props), hire an editor, sound mixer, and (hopefully!) composer, pay our director, feed people, take this film to festivals so that people all over can see our story... and honestly so much more.
Here's a basic breakdown of our goal, but you can see more on the Wishlist page :)
$43,250 The Pipe Dream — This amount allows us to pay our cast and crew a reasonable daily rate, cover post-production, festivals, and distribution.
$37,600 Dream Fulfilled — This amount allows us to pay our cast and crew a reasonable daily rate and cover post production.
$30,080 Doing the Dang Thing — This is the absolute minimum we need to raise for Seed & Spark to greenlight our project & release your pledges to us (80% of our "Dream Fulfilled" goal).
Aside from our personal "why" for making the film, we also just want to shout out how important indie films are. Indie films bring fresh perspectives, take creative risks, and tell stories that don't necessarily fit into mainstream formulas. Let's be real, we're sure there are some major benefits to having a studio produce your film, but not having that means we get to make the film we want to make (and we think you'll wanna see).
This project is also (proudly!) women-led. The number of films with female writers and directors is definitely trending upward, but we're still far from equally represented. Supporting women behind the camera means supporting more diverse stories, authentic characters, and representation that reflects the real world. Your support not only brings this film to life, but also contributes to a stronger, more inclusive future for storytelling.
Where does your money go?
Funding for this film will allow us to pay our cast and crew a reasonable daily rate (not what we want to pay, but somethin'), secure locations, permits, insurance, supplement costumes (most of this will come from our closets, some things can't), make our locations look like actual places (with set dressing and props), hire an editor, sound mixer, and (hopefully!) composer, pay our director, feed people, take this film to festivals so that people all over can see our story... and honestly so much more.
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
Cast: 19.9%
Crew: 36.6%
Physical Production: 18.1%
Contingency: 4.2%
Post-Production: 8.1%
Festivals & Distribution: 13.1%
HOW TO SUPPORT
The most immediately effective way of supporting our film is through financial support. Any pledge is immensely appreciated. Once we reach 80% of our goal, Seed & Spark will release funding to us and we can get to work!
- Pick any incentive on the right of this page (these are exact preset dollar amounts)!
- You can also Pledge ANY amount at the top right of this page, and we'll thank you at the commensurate incentive level.
- Follow our journey. You can follow the campaign on this site, and we also hope you'll come hang out with us on instagram @furtherreviewfilm and/or Facebook.
- We know that monetary gifts are not an available option for everyone. If you still want to support, we ask that you please share with your community! Tell folks why you think this film is important or special, and send them to this page: https://seedandspark.com/fund/further-review
- If there's an item on our Wishlist you're in a position to LEND us, rather than sending money, please use the LOAN button associated with that item. It's a huge help, and we can assign a monetary value to that gift that will be contributed to our overall goal.
THANK YOU FOR ANY AND ALL SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO YOU!!!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Hiring an Amazing Crew!
Costs $15,350
This covers soooo much: - Director - DP - 1st AC - Graffer/Grip - PA(s) - Sound Mixer - Production Designer - Hair & Makeup (and more)
Paying our Actors!
Costs $8,400
As a SAG-AFTRA film, we have certain minimums we have to pay each actor, including background... and paying into health & pension!
Equipment
Costs $1,000
This should cover renting any camera, lighting, and sound equipment our crew doesn't own!
Logistical Stuff!
Costs $5,100
- Renting an office space and restaurant (for scenes) - Permits - Insurance
Production Design!
Costs $2,500
Wardrobe, props, set dressing, miscellaneous supplies (like tape and batteries). Oh, and the "oh shit!" fund for contingencies.
Feeding our cast & crew!
Costs $750
We're not doing any fancy dining over here, but people gotta eat, y'know?
Post-Production!
Costs $3,400
Editing, Sound Design/Mixing, Color Correction, Music licensing (or preferably original music!)
Fees!
Costs $1,100
Credit card and processing fees are a real thing, and we'd hate for them to eat into the filmmaking!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Logan Rose Nelms
Writer • Producer • Actor (Julie)
This is Logan's first screenplay. She has been grinding it out in NYC for the past 14 years, working in TV, Film, and (somewhere in the distant past) Theater. She graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in Musical Theatre, but decided pretty quickly not to put the musical part of it to work.
You can see Logan’s work in Orange is the New Black, Bull, Manhattan Love Story, a couple episode of Law & Order: SVU, and a few indie films, including the feature film she co-led, How To Say Goodbye. She’s done mocap in video games, like Red Dead Redemption II & GTA V, and she spent about four years on an indie improv team, called Batteries Not Included.
When she’s not acting, writing, auditioning, or taking classes, you can probably find Logan on the golf course with her fellow-actor husband, in the gym, snuggling her cat… or starting a wildly intensive business, like the ethical clothing subscription box company she co-owned and operated for the past three years. This story may or may not be semi-autobiographical.
Kate Forsatz
Director
Kate Forsatz is an actor, filmmaker, writer, and educator whose career spans film, television, theater, and beyond. She has appeared in acclaimed shows like The Sopranos and long-running daytime dramas (All My Children, Guiding Light, As the World Turns), as well as feature films including The Good Shepherd, My Super Ex-Girlfriend, and Last Kung Fu Monk. In her award-winning independent film Threebound, Forsatz took on the rare feat of not only starring as Sarah Barnes but also writing, directing, producing, and executive producing—establishing herself as a dynamic force both in front of and behind the camera. On stage, she has tackled everything from Tennessee Williams classics to contemporary works, bringing depth, humor, and emotional honesty to each role.
Beyond her acting work, Forsatz is the co-founder of Exit 74 Productions. She is also the co-creator and host of One Oh! One, a podcast and streaming series featuring candid conversations with Emmy-nominated and award-winning creatives across film and television—offering insight, humor, and inspiration for the next generation of storytellers. A member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA, Forsatz is as comfortable coaching actors in a rehearsal room as she is on set or behind the camera. With a career that defies easy labels, she embodies the modern multi-hyphenate: storyteller, mentor, and creative powerhouse.