G-Store
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Comedy, Other
An image-conscious co-op manager tries to host the perfect event, but when issues arise she must swallow her pride or risk losing the store. G-Store filters familiar coming-of-age dynamics through the unique lens of a non-hierarchical environment.
G-Store
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Comedy, Other
2 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $7,545 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
84 supporters | followers
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An image-conscious co-op manager tries to host the perfect event, but when issues arise she must swallow her pride or risk losing the store. G-Store filters familiar coming-of-age dynamics through the unique lens of a non-hierarchical environment.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
G-Store is a punchy and immersive portrayal of a student-run co-op's high-stakes Open Mic Night.
Our tonal influences keep sardonic humor with melodramtic consequences at the center of their stories. G-Store layers a snarky tone with a magically realistic lens and vivid visuals that'll look as if they were ripped from a comic book.
The short takes place over one increasingly hectic night where Nissi struggles to hide a fresh breakup from her uptight boyfriend who promised to help the store. A perfectionist, Nissi is joined by her sarcastic work bestie, a hopeless romantic with a lethal resting bitch face, a chaotically charismatic opportunist and a calm and observant backseat leader who keeps the group together.
In college, I managed a non-hierarchical co-cop that opened in the 1980s and, since its inception, has been completely student run. It was known best for its music based events and the 3 hour-long staff meetings where we used hand signals to increase efficiency in our discussions about the important things. Like building a loft in the store office or giving people with dogs discounts.
As a director, I am committed to creating spaces where people of color can see themselves reflected in diverse and complex ways. G-Store is a project that aims to reclaim and reimagine representation, showing that stories about people of color can be humorous, absurd, and deeply human, without prioritizing pain. Directing this short film allows me to bring a unique visual and auditory perspective to each character and set the stage for a potential web series.
G-Store is a story that will give audiences the chance to laugh and then think about how honesty can lead to belonging. It stars two dark skinned black girls in roles we don’t often get to see them in, subverting their own archetypes.
Our short film will serve as a proof of concept for a full series and accompanying webcomic. The first season follows Nissi, a charming yet blunt college junior, and the rest of the G-store staff as they fight the impending closure of their store by the Student Council. Juggling the hurdles of college life with the unyielding chaos of operating the store, the staff often find themselves in strange positions like selling their crushes their first vibrators or helping the neighboring socialist student bookstore rebuild after arson. The first step to exploring these characters and their stories is to produce this proof of concept short.
We are currently in the pre-production stage. Our major goal is secure funding by the end of summer and start principal photography early in the fall of 2025. We have thankfully secured a location for our three day shoot.
With your support, we will be able to pay our cast and crew, rent equipment, and provide meals for all three days of filming once we reach our target goal of $7,000.
Our stretch goal of $10,000 will be used to further compensate our crew and widen our festival run once the project is complete.
FOLLOW US EVERYWHERE: Follow us here on Seed&Spark but also on Instagram @GStoreFilm. We post more updates about the short and exclusive videos of the comic creation process!
SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT #GStoreShort
Tell everyone you know about G-Store. Share our posts, campaign page, and our backer updates!
STAY TAPPED IN TO OUR CAMPAIGN!
Check in with our Seed&Spark page to stay up to date AND increase our chances of being featured on the site!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast Day Rates
Costs $2,500
We want to pay our lead cast members an equal rate across all three days of filming.
Lenses, Grip & Electric Rental
Costs $1,500
We'll need to supplement the equipment we do have with some rentals.
Lunch & Crafty
Costs $1,500
The most important element of every production: what you eat everyday
Crew Day Rates
Costs $1,500
The hard hands and minds at work! We want to compensate our crew for their skills and time.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Ivy Penn is a director and writer from St. Petersburg, Florida. She has directed numerous projects including music videos, short film webisodes, and an animated short. Ivy has worked at Nickelodeon, helping run their Artist & Writing Programs and now works at NBCU helping run their TV Writers, TV Directors, Talent & Casting, and Unscripted Programs.
Melanie Ojwang is a writer from Maryland. Her writing explores the lives of black sheep characters in a dark comedic tone. She is a VONA/Voices alum, Loren Arbus Fellow and recent graduate of Loyola Marymount University’s Writing and Producing for TV MFA program.
Loren Maxine is a Producer and Writer from Queens,NY. After graduating college in May 2020, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her career and create her own opportunity. She founded the Non-Profit Generation Networks to build a community for young creatives who collaborate on projects and gain career support. She currently produces content under her production company A Loren Maxine Production. Her projects consist of Spec Commercials, Short Films and her debut digital series, Homegirls.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
G-Store is a punchy and immersive portrayal of a student-run co-op's high-stakes Open Mic Night.
Our tonal influences keep sardonic humor with melodramtic consequences at the center of their stories. G-Store layers a snarky tone with a magically realistic lens and vivid visuals that'll look as if they were ripped from a comic book.
The short takes place over one increasingly hectic night where Nissi struggles to hide a fresh breakup from her uptight boyfriend who promised to help the store. A perfectionist, Nissi is joined by her sarcastic work bestie, a hopeless romantic with a lethal resting bitch face, a chaotically charismatic opportunist and a calm and observant backseat leader who keeps the group together.
In college, I managed a non-hierarchical co-cop that opened in the 1980s and, since its inception, has been completely student run. It was known best for its music based events and the 3 hour-long staff meetings where we used hand signals to increase efficiency in our discussions about the important things. Like building a loft in the store office or giving people with dogs discounts.
As a director, I am committed to creating spaces where people of color can see themselves reflected in diverse and complex ways. G-Store is a project that aims to reclaim and reimagine representation, showing that stories about people of color can be humorous, absurd, and deeply human, without prioritizing pain. Directing this short film allows me to bring a unique visual and auditory perspective to each character and set the stage for a potential web series.
G-Store is a story that will give audiences the chance to laugh and then think about how honesty can lead to belonging. It stars two dark skinned black girls in roles we don’t often get to see them in, subverting their own archetypes.
Our short film will serve as a proof of concept for a full series and accompanying webcomic. The first season follows Nissi, a charming yet blunt college junior, and the rest of the G-store staff as they fight the impending closure of their store by the Student Council. Juggling the hurdles of college life with the unyielding chaos of operating the store, the staff often find themselves in strange positions like selling their crushes their first vibrators or helping the neighboring socialist student bookstore rebuild after arson. The first step to exploring these characters and their stories is to produce this proof of concept short.
We are currently in the pre-production stage. Our major goal is secure funding by the end of summer and start principal photography early in the fall of 2025. We have thankfully secured a location for our three day shoot.
With your support, we will be able to pay our cast and crew, rent equipment, and provide meals for all three days of filming once we reach our target goal of $7,000.
Our stretch goal of $10,000 will be used to further compensate our crew and widen our festival run once the project is complete.
FOLLOW US EVERYWHERE: Follow us here on Seed&Spark but also on Instagram @GStoreFilm. We post more updates about the short and exclusive videos of the comic creation process!
SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT #GStoreShort
Tell everyone you know about G-Store. Share our posts, campaign page, and our backer updates!
STAY TAPPED IN TO OUR CAMPAIGN!
Check in with our Seed&Spark page to stay up to date AND increase our chances of being featured on the site!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast Day Rates
Costs $2,500
We want to pay our lead cast members an equal rate across all three days of filming.
Lenses, Grip & Electric Rental
Costs $1,500
We'll need to supplement the equipment we do have with some rentals.
Lunch & Crafty
Costs $1,500
The most important element of every production: what you eat everyday
Crew Day Rates
Costs $1,500
The hard hands and minds at work! We want to compensate our crew for their skills and time.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Ivy Penn is a director and writer from St. Petersburg, Florida. She has directed numerous projects including music videos, short film webisodes, and an animated short. Ivy has worked at Nickelodeon, helping run their Artist & Writing Programs and now works at NBCU helping run their TV Writers, TV Directors, Talent & Casting, and Unscripted Programs.
Melanie Ojwang is a writer from Maryland. Her writing explores the lives of black sheep characters in a dark comedic tone. She is a VONA/Voices alum, Loren Arbus Fellow and recent graduate of Loyola Marymount University’s Writing and Producing for TV MFA program.
Loren Maxine is a Producer and Writer from Queens,NY. After graduating college in May 2020, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her career and create her own opportunity. She founded the Non-Profit Generation Networks to build a community for young creatives who collaborate on projects and gain career support. She currently produces content under her production company A Loren Maxine Production. Her projects consist of Spec Commercials, Short Films and her debut digital series, Homegirls.