Give & Take
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Romance, LGBTQ
A young trans couple returns home from a night out. After a futile attempt at physical intimacy unlocks a deeper conversation about their relationship, they are faced with a choice: explode their life together or become even closer than they ever imagined.
Give & Take
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Romance, LGBTQ
2 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $14,495 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
135 supporters | followers
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A young trans couple returns home from a night out. After a futile attempt at physical intimacy unlocks a deeper conversation about their relationship, they are faced with a choice: explode their life together or become even closer than they ever imagined.
In Partnership With
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
GIVE & TAKE
NUTS & BOLTS
Alissa and Jordan are a t4t couple returning from a night out. An awkward attempt at physical intimacy prompts a conversation about their identities and their relationship as informed by heteronormative conventions. Which molds do they want to keep and which must they carve for themselves? The film ends the following morning with a glimpse into a future together built on compromise and trust.
FROM THE DIRECTOR
As a filmmaker I have always been eager to explore the messy and embarrassing parts of the human experience. The most earnest thing in the world is to want something. So often trans performers are cast as magical, wise, morally clean characters to guide along their cis cohorts. They embody confidence making them into a trope that is two dimensional. What excites me most about this script is seeing trans people as extremely human- sloppy, chaotic, yearning, and careless with their words. That is embarrassing. When developing this script, we made a point to fully develop and showcase the trans characters in a way that everyone can relate to- whether cis or trans. It’s so rare to read something that is somehow for trans people, by trans people and yet deals with such universal themes as love, desire, intimacy. I am a huge fan of the sexy screwball comedies of the 50's and 60's-SEVEN YEAR ITCH, PILLOW TALK, SEX AND THE SINGLE GIRL- a bit of glamour coupled with the sharp dialogue that cracks the veneer of the characters we think we know. I aim to capture the smaller feelings and moments within a partnership. (Moments that seem small to outsiders but can become the chips and cracks in a relationship). Moments that if unchecked can become the undoing of closeness. At the end of the day it’s the story of a man and woman trying to understand each other as they unpack their own baggage. This short will feel like a slice out of a classic romantic comedy, the ultimate “will they or won’t they” moment. For so long I’ve craved a film where a T4T couple gets to have a moment like this. I haven’t found a filmmaker interested in making that, so I will just have to make it myself.
COMPS
FUNDRAISING GOAL
We are raising $15k for production and post production for a 2 day shoot. The script is complete and the location will be provided so the funds will go directly to hiring the most talented crew that want to promote stories like these -- a director of photography, camera operator, assistant director and sound operator plus an editor and sound mixer to finish the film.
WHY NOW?
We live in a time when trans people's existence is treated like a debate topic. They are demonized and othered simply because they dare to exist. All while their rights are stripped away day by day. With a short film like GIVE & TAKE, we are giving our audience the opportunity to see trans people not just as romantic leads but as messy, wonderful people with their own unique way of living in this world. Most Americans have not met a trans person, but when they meet Jordan and Alissa, they will receive the type of education they cannot grasp from a headline.
CHARACTERS
ALISSA (20s-30s)
Trans. Alissa is an actress on the tail end of her ingenue years. She's happy in this relationship but has become bored of the routine that goes along with it. Having had bottom surgery several years previously, she has grown weary of performing heterosexuality and is eager to indulge in more kinky and queer love making. She feels closest to Jordan when her needs are considered.
JORDAN (30s)
Trans. Our strapping leading man. Jordan is a good-natured "cinebro" who works as a producer for a production company. He enjoys having Alissa at work events because she's much better with people than he is. Jordan is affirmed by the act of fucking Alissa and feels close to her when he does.
PHILLIAN (20s-30s)
Cis. Phillian is a chic man who takes "meetings" with producers at trendy bars and restaurants. No one is really sure what he does for a living, but he's a hit at dinner parties. He is perhaps too self-involved to realize when he's stumbled upon a smoking gun.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast
Costs $2,000
This is the total sum for cast, based on SAG rates and including monies for their health and pension.
Post Production
Costs $4,000
Editing, composing, color correcting and sound mixing to finish the film and prep it for exhibition.
Food!
Costs $700
Meals, snacks, coffee and water to keep everyone fueled up for two long shoot days.
Festival Submissions and Exhibition
Costs $800
The cost of applying for festivals and formatting the film to match the specs of each fest! What is a film without an audience??
Production Supplies
Costs $200
Supplies like binders, markers and schedule printouts to keep the team organized.
Production Crew
Costs $4,100
Our team following us into battle on set -- including the cinematographer, grip, HMU and assistants to keep the machine running!
Insurance
Costs $300
Standard production insurance to protect our cast and crew in the workplace.
Grip Package
Costs $500
This is the lighting equipment needed to complement the natural lighting in the house.
Camera Rental
Costs $1,500
Camera equipment including extra lenses to enhance the look and intimacy of the film
Sound Crew + Kit
Costs $300
This is the boom and lavs (mics) we will use to guarantee clear audio for the film.
Share this update!
About This Team
DIRECTOR/"ALISSA:" Eve Lindley
As and actress, Eve has received critical acclaim for her starring role in DISPATCHES FROM ELSEWHERE (AMC) opposite Jason Segel, Sally Field, Andre Benjamin, and Richard Grant. She won a Gracie Award for her performance, and was selected as one of“Hollywood Reporter’s 30 Supporting”. Eve has been honored atPeople Magazine’s “One to Watch” and Variety’s “SceneStealer”, as well as AV Club’s “Best Performances of 2020”.Other credits include BROS (Universal), HIGH MAINTENANCE(HBO), MR. ROBOT (USA), and TALES OF THE CITY (Netflix).Most Recently, Eve appeared as ‘Sky’ in the buzzy, queer rodeo film NATIONAL ANTHEM. NATIONAL ANTHEM debuted atSXSW and premiered internationally at TIFF.
"JORDAN:" River Butcher
River Butcher is an actor and stand up comedian known as a ladies’ man, man’s man, and man about town. He is known for writing and starring in the comedy series Take My Wife which received critical acclaim in outlets like Vanity Fair, The New York Times, Vulture, and IndieWire. He appeared in Freeform’s Good Trouble and TruTV’s Adam Ruins Everything as well as the Netflix documentary Outstanding: A Queer Comedy Revolution. River’s first comedy album BUTCHER debuted at #1 on iTunes which he followed up with Pull Yourself Up By Your Bootleg (2021) and Someone’s Boyfriend (2023). His half hour Comedy Central Special “A Different Kind of Dude” has currently amassed over 185 thousand views on YouTube. His Pomeranian-Bichon-Chihuahua, Murph, is very proud of him. River is is repped by Artists First and Gersh.
WRITER: Alexander Hacker
Alexander is a writer based in New York City who spent his childhood hanging out at CBGB and has been reckoning with tinnitus ever since. After graduating from Bard College in 2016, Alex worked in development at Steve Buscemi and Stanley Tucci's Olive Productions before eventually working with showrunner and director Derek Cianfrance on the HBO limited series I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE. Alex has written and produced a number of short films, most recently the animated short SHIFT as well as CHOW starring Ben Platt. Alex is represented by LBI Entertainment.
PRODUCER: Carolyn Levine
Carolyn Levine is an independent producer who spent the last few years as an Executive at LBI Entertainment.She recently worked on the Sundance doc BEYOND UTOPIA, the wrestling series HEELS for Starz and the film ABSENCE OF EDEN starring Zoe Saldaña. Before making the leap to LA, Carolyn cut her teeth in the NewYork independent world at iDeal Partners Film Fund.There she produced the Tribeca opening documentary HOUSE OF Z on designer Zac Posen, in addition to her work on the TIFF hit STRANGE WEATHER with HollyHunter and Carrie Coon. Before iDeal, she worked atCircle of Confusion and Technicolor Postworks.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
GIVE & TAKE
NUTS & BOLTS
Alissa and Jordan are a t4t couple returning from a night out. An awkward attempt at physical intimacy prompts a conversation about their identities and their relationship as informed by heteronormative conventions. Which molds do they want to keep and which must they carve for themselves? The film ends the following morning with a glimpse into a future together built on compromise and trust.
FROM THE DIRECTOR
As a filmmaker I have always been eager to explore the messy and embarrassing parts of the human experience. The most earnest thing in the world is to want something. So often trans performers are cast as magical, wise, morally clean characters to guide along their cis cohorts. They embody confidence making them into a trope that is two dimensional. What excites me most about this script is seeing trans people as extremely human- sloppy, chaotic, yearning, and careless with their words. That is embarrassing. When developing this script, we made a point to fully develop and showcase the trans characters in a way that everyone can relate to- whether cis or trans. It’s so rare to read something that is somehow for trans people, by trans people and yet deals with such universal themes as love, desire, intimacy. I am a huge fan of the sexy screwball comedies of the 50's and 60's-SEVEN YEAR ITCH, PILLOW TALK, SEX AND THE SINGLE GIRL- a bit of glamour coupled with the sharp dialogue that cracks the veneer of the characters we think we know. I aim to capture the smaller feelings and moments within a partnership. (Moments that seem small to outsiders but can become the chips and cracks in a relationship). Moments that if unchecked can become the undoing of closeness. At the end of the day it’s the story of a man and woman trying to understand each other as they unpack their own baggage. This short will feel like a slice out of a classic romantic comedy, the ultimate “will they or won’t they” moment. For so long I’ve craved a film where a T4T couple gets to have a moment like this. I haven’t found a filmmaker interested in making that, so I will just have to make it myself.
COMPS
FUNDRAISING GOAL
We are raising $15k for production and post production for a 2 day shoot. The script is complete and the location will be provided so the funds will go directly to hiring the most talented crew that want to promote stories like these -- a director of photography, camera operator, assistant director and sound operator plus an editor and sound mixer to finish the film.
WHY NOW?
We live in a time when trans people's existence is treated like a debate topic. They are demonized and othered simply because they dare to exist. All while their rights are stripped away day by day. With a short film like GIVE & TAKE, we are giving our audience the opportunity to see trans people not just as romantic leads but as messy, wonderful people with their own unique way of living in this world. Most Americans have not met a trans person, but when they meet Jordan and Alissa, they will receive the type of education they cannot grasp from a headline.
CHARACTERS
ALISSA (20s-30s)
Trans. Alissa is an actress on the tail end of her ingenue years. She's happy in this relationship but has become bored of the routine that goes along with it. Having had bottom surgery several years previously, she has grown weary of performing heterosexuality and is eager to indulge in more kinky and queer love making. She feels closest to Jordan when her needs are considered.
JORDAN (30s)
Trans. Our strapping leading man. Jordan is a good-natured "cinebro" who works as a producer for a production company. He enjoys having Alissa at work events because she's much better with people than he is. Jordan is affirmed by the act of fucking Alissa and feels close to her when he does.
PHILLIAN (20s-30s)
Cis. Phillian is a chic man who takes "meetings" with producers at trendy bars and restaurants. No one is really sure what he does for a living, but he's a hit at dinner parties. He is perhaps too self-involved to realize when he's stumbled upon a smoking gun.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast
Costs $2,000
This is the total sum for cast, based on SAG rates and including monies for their health and pension.
Post Production
Costs $4,000
Editing, composing, color correcting and sound mixing to finish the film and prep it for exhibition.
Food!
Costs $700
Meals, snacks, coffee and water to keep everyone fueled up for two long shoot days.
Festival Submissions and Exhibition
Costs $800
The cost of applying for festivals and formatting the film to match the specs of each fest! What is a film without an audience??
Production Supplies
Costs $200
Supplies like binders, markers and schedule printouts to keep the team organized.
Production Crew
Costs $4,100
Our team following us into battle on set -- including the cinematographer, grip, HMU and assistants to keep the machine running!
Insurance
Costs $300
Standard production insurance to protect our cast and crew in the workplace.
Grip Package
Costs $500
This is the lighting equipment needed to complement the natural lighting in the house.
Camera Rental
Costs $1,500
Camera equipment including extra lenses to enhance the look and intimacy of the film
Sound Crew + Kit
Costs $300
This is the boom and lavs (mics) we will use to guarantee clear audio for the film.
Share this update!
About This Team
DIRECTOR/"ALISSA:" Eve Lindley
As and actress, Eve has received critical acclaim for her starring role in DISPATCHES FROM ELSEWHERE (AMC) opposite Jason Segel, Sally Field, Andre Benjamin, and Richard Grant. She won a Gracie Award for her performance, and was selected as one of“Hollywood Reporter’s 30 Supporting”. Eve has been honored atPeople Magazine’s “One to Watch” and Variety’s “SceneStealer”, as well as AV Club’s “Best Performances of 2020”.Other credits include BROS (Universal), HIGH MAINTENANCE(HBO), MR. ROBOT (USA), and TALES OF THE CITY (Netflix).Most Recently, Eve appeared as ‘Sky’ in the buzzy, queer rodeo film NATIONAL ANTHEM. NATIONAL ANTHEM debuted atSXSW and premiered internationally at TIFF.
"JORDAN:" River Butcher
River Butcher is an actor and stand up comedian known as a ladies’ man, man’s man, and man about town. He is known for writing and starring in the comedy series Take My Wife which received critical acclaim in outlets like Vanity Fair, The New York Times, Vulture, and IndieWire. He appeared in Freeform’s Good Trouble and TruTV’s Adam Ruins Everything as well as the Netflix documentary Outstanding: A Queer Comedy Revolution. River’s first comedy album BUTCHER debuted at #1 on iTunes which he followed up with Pull Yourself Up By Your Bootleg (2021) and Someone’s Boyfriend (2023). His half hour Comedy Central Special “A Different Kind of Dude” has currently amassed over 185 thousand views on YouTube. His Pomeranian-Bichon-Chihuahua, Murph, is very proud of him. River is is repped by Artists First and Gersh.
WRITER: Alexander Hacker
Alexander is a writer based in New York City who spent his childhood hanging out at CBGB and has been reckoning with tinnitus ever since. After graduating from Bard College in 2016, Alex worked in development at Steve Buscemi and Stanley Tucci's Olive Productions before eventually working with showrunner and director Derek Cianfrance on the HBO limited series I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE. Alex has written and produced a number of short films, most recently the animated short SHIFT as well as CHOW starring Ben Platt. Alex is represented by LBI Entertainment.
PRODUCER: Carolyn Levine
Carolyn Levine is an independent producer who spent the last few years as an Executive at LBI Entertainment.She recently worked on the Sundance doc BEYOND UTOPIA, the wrestling series HEELS for Starz and the film ABSENCE OF EDEN starring Zoe Saldaña. Before making the leap to LA, Carolyn cut her teeth in the NewYork independent world at iDeal Partners Film Fund.There she produced the Tribeca opening documentary HOUSE OF Z on designer Zac Posen, in addition to her work on the TIFF hit STRANGE WEATHER with HollyHunter and Carrie Coon. Before iDeal, she worked atCircle of Confusion and Technicolor Postworks.