GLO
Chicago, Illinois | Film Short
LGBTQ, Romance
Recovering from the loss of her mother, Jade must navigate her first romance on her own. One way Jade discovers a connection with her late mother is through their shared love for skating. It just so happens that Jade's crush, Glo, is a talented skater themself.
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This campaign raised $8,741 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
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Recovering from the loss of her mother, Jade must navigate her first romance on her own. One way Jade discovers a connection with her late mother is through their shared love for skating. It just so happens that Jade's crush, Glo, is a talented skater themself.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Recovering from the loss of her mother, Jade must navigate her first romance on her own. Through a newfound love of roller skating, Jade discovers a way to connect with her late mother and lift herself up out of grief, while attempting to impress her long-term crush, who is a talented skater themself.
Once a girl only confident enough to speak up in her dreams, Jade searches for creative ways to make a move with Glo while learning more about her mother…if only she can balance long enough to make a good impression.
In the story, Jade fantasizes a world set in an early 80s roller disco where she has the confidence to win over Glo. To distinguish the Dream Sequence from Real Time, we'll utilize free flowing camera movement, as well as a distorted reality through the use of ultra wide angle lenses and stylized lighting.
As a way to create contrast between the two worlds, Real Time will be shot on digital while the Dream Sequence will be shot on DV Tape. The Aspect Ratio will be 1.85 and 1.33 respectively.
WHY US?
Most queer Black movies center traumatic outings, shunning from families, and relationships in the shadows where the villain or obstacle to overcome is their sexuality. Queer Black youth lack a playbook for healthy relationships living outside of shame.
WHY NOW?
GLO provides a look into what they can look like, focusing on the lighter aspects of falling in love and pursuing a crush for the first time. This film focuses on an average young queer Black woman, seeking joy amidst her grief, with storytelling focusing more on the nuance of Jade’s journey with Glo, than hyper-focusing on their identity labels.
BUDGET
We are currently fundraising for production. Our total project budget is $28K, we are hoping to raise $8K via crowdfunding. The $8K will cover costs for the majority of meals, equipment rentals, and crew pay. For the remaining $20K, we have successfully applied for grants including the OTV Fellowship and DCASE grant to cover the remaining post-production needs and outstanding production costs. We are also accepting in-kind donations (i.e. space, equipment) or meal donations as well.
TIMELINE
We are aiming to do a 4-day production this summer. Once post-production is completed, we plan to submit to local and national film festivals like OUTFEST, American Black Film Festival & Midwest Film Fest.
JOIN US!
I wrote GLO to honor my younger self, and present a story that centers Black queer joy to counter the majority of media that fixates on “coming out” and the most traumatic parts of our experiences.
GLO is about joy and the fullness of our queer identity.
If this story speaks to you, please join us and support this project! We appreciate your time and consideration!
Other ways to support if you can't donate: please help us get closer to our goal, by sending the video to at least five of your friends and sharing it to social media platforms to help spread the word!
Please reach out at [email protected] if you’re interested in being more directly involved!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Locations
Costs $4,000
Every location in GLO is a character that is essential in telling our story.
Gear
Costs $2,500
Help us provide all the equipment and gear our crew needs.
Catering
Costs $1,500
Keeping our cast and crew well-fed keeps them happy and healthy!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Adhana Reid - (Writer, Co-Director, Actor) is an emerging filmmaker, but a lifelong storyteller. She has been an actor since her middle school years, and always had the desire to delve more into film but experienced a handful of gatekeepers along the way that made her feel like it wasn’t something she would be capable of. She has since explored new avenues of her artistry in storytelling as a screenwriter. The focus of her writing centers Black lesbian and queer folks. She writes about Black queer folks as a form of healing through joy with the stories she creates. She uses her writing to create what she wishes existed for a younger baby gay Adhana, and she can’t wait to continue creating more stories for audiences to see themselves reflected in.
Jewells Santos (Co-Director) is a writer, director and producer based in Chicago. Jewells graduated from Depaul with a degree in playwriting in 2017. She is currently working toward her MFA in directing. Last year she wrote and produced her first feature film, “Waiting for the Light to Change” which is set to premiere at the 2022 Heartland International Film Festival. She has directed over 15 music videos, most recently, “Girls” by Lexy Panterra. Her narrative work explores themes of womanhood, body image, intimacy and mental health, She is a founding member of Fatfish Films.
Luciana Salinas (Director of Photography) was born and raised in the south of Peru. She is a freelance Director of Photography based in Chicago. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago, Luciana immersed herself in the film industry by working on a variety of projects including narratives, fashion films, live events and music videos. She has captured stories in both digital and analog format (16mm and 35mm). Luciana seeks to collaborate with artists who are focused on challenging the status quo by subverting societal norms and stigmas.
Julia Relova (Producer) is a Filipina American who is passionate about people and storytelling. Julia received her Master's from Northwestern University for Leadership in Creative Enterprises and her Bachelor's in Psychology from Davidson College. She is a creative producer and program manager working in film, events, and podcasting. In many of her projects, she works hard to take on content that is both thoughtful and femme-forward.
Regina Emiliano (Associate Producer) is a freelance filmmaker passionate about lifting up BIPOC and womxn stories. She graduated from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Communication. She has served as a Grant Writer for several upcoming documentaries such as Traces of Home, Searching for Onoda, Love is a Stranger, BAPSI and more. Currently serving as the Director of Community for Mezcla, she focuses on bringing filmmaking resources to our community of over 700 womxn and non-binary filmmakers of color through meaningful partnerships. She is also working on the Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project as their Impact Coordinator and as Full Spectrum Features’ Community Development Specialist. Recent productions she is credited with include Santa Camp as their PA streaming on HBO Max and The Year Between as their Prop Assistant streaming on Apple TV & Amazon. Her DP debut was for a puppet satire called Beverly Hills and is currently in post-production.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Recovering from the loss of her mother, Jade must navigate her first romance on her own. Through a newfound love of roller skating, Jade discovers a way to connect with her late mother and lift herself up out of grief, while attempting to impress her long-term crush, who is a talented skater themself.
Once a girl only confident enough to speak up in her dreams, Jade searches for creative ways to make a move with Glo while learning more about her mother…if only she can balance long enough to make a good impression.
In the story, Jade fantasizes a world set in an early 80s roller disco where she has the confidence to win over Glo. To distinguish the Dream Sequence from Real Time, we'll utilize free flowing camera movement, as well as a distorted reality through the use of ultra wide angle lenses and stylized lighting.
As a way to create contrast between the two worlds, Real Time will be shot on digital while the Dream Sequence will be shot on DV Tape. The Aspect Ratio will be 1.85 and 1.33 respectively.
WHY US?
Most queer Black movies center traumatic outings, shunning from families, and relationships in the shadows where the villain or obstacle to overcome is their sexuality. Queer Black youth lack a playbook for healthy relationships living outside of shame.
WHY NOW?
GLO provides a look into what they can look like, focusing on the lighter aspects of falling in love and pursuing a crush for the first time. This film focuses on an average young queer Black woman, seeking joy amidst her grief, with storytelling focusing more on the nuance of Jade’s journey with Glo, than hyper-focusing on their identity labels.
BUDGET
We are currently fundraising for production. Our total project budget is $28K, we are hoping to raise $8K via crowdfunding. The $8K will cover costs for the majority of meals, equipment rentals, and crew pay. For the remaining $20K, we have successfully applied for grants including the OTV Fellowship and DCASE grant to cover the remaining post-production needs and outstanding production costs. We are also accepting in-kind donations (i.e. space, equipment) or meal donations as well.
TIMELINE
We are aiming to do a 4-day production this summer. Once post-production is completed, we plan to submit to local and national film festivals like OUTFEST, American Black Film Festival & Midwest Film Fest.
JOIN US!
I wrote GLO to honor my younger self, and present a story that centers Black queer joy to counter the majority of media that fixates on “coming out” and the most traumatic parts of our experiences.
GLO is about joy and the fullness of our queer identity.
If this story speaks to you, please join us and support this project! We appreciate your time and consideration!
Other ways to support if you can't donate: please help us get closer to our goal, by sending the video to at least five of your friends and sharing it to social media platforms to help spread the word!
Please reach out at [email protected] if you’re interested in being more directly involved!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Locations
Costs $4,000
Every location in GLO is a character that is essential in telling our story.
Gear
Costs $2,500
Help us provide all the equipment and gear our crew needs.
Catering
Costs $1,500
Keeping our cast and crew well-fed keeps them happy and healthy!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Adhana Reid - (Writer, Co-Director, Actor) is an emerging filmmaker, but a lifelong storyteller. She has been an actor since her middle school years, and always had the desire to delve more into film but experienced a handful of gatekeepers along the way that made her feel like it wasn’t something she would be capable of. She has since explored new avenues of her artistry in storytelling as a screenwriter. The focus of her writing centers Black lesbian and queer folks. She writes about Black queer folks as a form of healing through joy with the stories she creates. She uses her writing to create what she wishes existed for a younger baby gay Adhana, and she can’t wait to continue creating more stories for audiences to see themselves reflected in.
Jewells Santos (Co-Director) is a writer, director and producer based in Chicago. Jewells graduated from Depaul with a degree in playwriting in 2017. She is currently working toward her MFA in directing. Last year she wrote and produced her first feature film, “Waiting for the Light to Change” which is set to premiere at the 2022 Heartland International Film Festival. She has directed over 15 music videos, most recently, “Girls” by Lexy Panterra. Her narrative work explores themes of womanhood, body image, intimacy and mental health, She is a founding member of Fatfish Films.
Luciana Salinas (Director of Photography) was born and raised in the south of Peru. She is a freelance Director of Photography based in Chicago. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago, Luciana immersed herself in the film industry by working on a variety of projects including narratives, fashion films, live events and music videos. She has captured stories in both digital and analog format (16mm and 35mm). Luciana seeks to collaborate with artists who are focused on challenging the status quo by subverting societal norms and stigmas.
Julia Relova (Producer) is a Filipina American who is passionate about people and storytelling. Julia received her Master's from Northwestern University for Leadership in Creative Enterprises and her Bachelor's in Psychology from Davidson College. She is a creative producer and program manager working in film, events, and podcasting. In many of her projects, she works hard to take on content that is both thoughtful and femme-forward.
Regina Emiliano (Associate Producer) is a freelance filmmaker passionate about lifting up BIPOC and womxn stories. She graduated from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Communication. She has served as a Grant Writer for several upcoming documentaries such as Traces of Home, Searching for Onoda, Love is a Stranger, BAPSI and more. Currently serving as the Director of Community for Mezcla, she focuses on bringing filmmaking resources to our community of over 700 womxn and non-binary filmmakers of color through meaningful partnerships. She is also working on the Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project as their Impact Coordinator and as Full Spectrum Features’ Community Development Specialist. Recent productions she is credited with include Santa Camp as their PA streaming on HBO Max and The Year Between as their Prop Assistant streaming on Apple TV & Amazon. Her DP debut was for a puppet satire called Beverly Hills and is currently in post-production.