Good Grief
Los Angeles, California | Series
Comedy, LGBTQ
A web series that follows a twin navigating the death of his famous brother. With humor, heart, and a healthy dose of Jewish guilt, Good Grief hopes to prove that grief is not a linear journey, and that healing is a communal process. A love letter to my own brother, Brett.
Good Grief
Los Angeles, California | Series
Comedy, LGBTQ
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $30,218 for pre-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
187 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
A web series that follows a twin navigating the death of his famous brother. With humor, heart, and a healthy dose of Jewish guilt, Good Grief hopes to prove that grief is not a linear journey, and that healing is a communal process. A love letter to my own brother, Brett.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
-min.jpg)
Josh and Jake are twins, with vastly different lives.
Jake is straight. Josh is not. Jake is a very famous actor. Josh is…definitely not.
After Jake unexpectedly passes away, Josh must confront his unresolved feelings - all while grieving with his eclectic family AND the rest of the world.
As Josh navigates through his brother’s shiva (the traditional Jewish mourning period) he juggles a slew of unexpected challenges. From a botched eulogy, to an unexpected pregnancy, a literal man-hunt, and a job opportunity that could change his life forever, Josh’s day is anything but ordinary.
Through it all, Good Grief is a dark comedy that explores themes of identity, family dynamics, and addiction. With humor and heart, we follow Josh’s journey of self-discovery and the impact of his brother’s death on his life.
-min.jpg)
We all have experienced loss to some degree. Whether it’s a family member, a job, a sense of identity - grief takes on many shapes. In 2018, I lost my own brother, Brett.
Growing up, my brother and I couldn’t have been more different. While he played sports, I played with Barbies. He listened to Blink 182, I preferred Britney Spears. He dated girl after girl after girl. I…tried that. It wasn’t until he passed away unexpectedly, that I realized how alike we actually were. Our twisted sense of humor. Our love for animals. Our outlook on family.
As the months went on, memories of him flooded my mind. I thought of our bus rides to school, his Bar Mitzvah, our trip to Israel, our college fraternity parties. As they kept coming, the desire to freeze these thoughts grew. So, in hopes of preserving his memory and how I felt, I wrote. I soon realized that the grief I was experiencing was much more complex than I anticipated. Some days I would burst out crying, hyperventilating in my closet. Other days, my eyes would swell shut from laughing. Most days I would look in the mirror, and no longer see myself - it was his eyes staring back at me. His mouth tightening into a smirk. Who was I, now that he was gone?
These feelings ultimately shaped Good Grief. Sure, some elements were pulled directly from my own family’s experience - but it’s a universal story, just as grief is. This project, while being deeply personal, resonates on a greater scale. In life, sometimes we lose so we can gain. And in some really strange ways, sometimes loss is more.
-min.jpg)
We are currently assembling an extremely talented cast and crew. In doing so, we will also be following all CDC guidelines in reference to the ongoing battle with COVID-19. These protocals will also be in effect during all stages of production. Please scroll below to see who is currently involved!
Josh Nadler (creator/star) is a creative hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada by way of Birmingham, Alabama. Equal parts sassy showgirl and aging southern belle, Josh has always had an affinity towards the arts. After earning his BA in Stage & Screen from UNLV, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film. He has appeared in many stage productions, including his much lauded performance in “The Compleat Female Stage Beauty” and the Los Angeles premiere of “Daddy Issues.” He is excited to partner once again with his friend and frequent collaborator, William Lott. Their recent projects “Bottom” and “Socialpath” highlight their desire to tell queer stories in unconventional ways. Josh worked with SundanceCollab on his award winning script, Good Grief. He hopes to continue creating projects, told through a queer lens, that combines the power of humor and heart. During his down time, he can be found practicing yoga, baking, hanging with his dog, and talking someone’s ear off about Eurovision.
William Lott (director) is a filmmaker based in Los Angeles with a dedicated passion for storytelling, specifically from a queer perspective. William got his start as a production assistant in television on Fox & Hulu’s American Horror Stories and 911: Lonestar. In 2021 he wrote and directed “Bottom”, a dark-humored horror short that has screened in over 10 film festivals around the globe in 2022, and will continue to screen throughout the summer of 2023. He is currently attached to multiple projects this summer, Good Grief being the most recent. William aims to continue to make film and television that brings queer voices to the forefront in a variety of genres, with a specific affinity for directing dark comedy and horror. With an unwavering commitment to his craft, William hopes to continue to bring audiences together through his filmmaking.
Alon Borten (producer) is a Los Angeles-based queer Jewish artist originally from Queens, New York. Their work on identity and representation has been produced and exhibited for the last decade through both photography and film exhibitions. After graduating from the School of Visual Arts (NYC, Photo & Video) in 2015, they moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a filmmaker. Alon directed his first short film, “A Prayer”, in 2017, which had its world premiere at Outfest (2018) followed by premieres at Newfest (2018), and the Moscow Jewish Film Festival (2019). Their forthcoming short film, “This Is For You” (2023), is under consideration for a premiere with domestic and international festivals in 2023. Alon continues to make work about underrepresented communities and is thrilled to be producing another project that deals with the intersection of queer and Jewish identity in “Good Grief”.
.jpg)
While I would love to shoot this on the camcorder I got for Hanukkah in high school, that sadly is just not possible. We want to make the highest quality project, with the biggest possible reach.
We worked really hard to crunch down numbers, and while we will do our best to cut costs where necessary, it is vital for us to pay every single person involved.
Your contribution deserves transparency, so we have broken down our budget below (and in the Wishlist tab.)
Once we reach our goal, the REAL work begins!
Our first step after the campaign ends, is to set up casting calls for the remaining roles. We then will begin crewing up as we gear closer to production, in July.
After our 6 shooting days, we then move to post-production. There we will begin editing, mixing, and composing.
Once Good Grief is complete, it will move to it's next phase - festival submissions.
The ultimate goal is to get distribution, and expand Good Grief into a full length series!
This is just the beginning, so we are so excited to have you on this journey with us!
-min.jpg)
While we will gladly accept ANY and all pledges, it doesn’t start or stop at a dollar amount!
Sharing is Caring!
Word of mouth is vital for crowd funding and we so deeply appreciate you checking out this page! If you want to help us spread the word, please share this campaign within your own network. Some options include: sharing on social media, emails, annoying your favorite barista, etc. etc.
Here are some copy-pasteable examples:
I just watched the most hilarious and heartwarming crowdfunding video! Check out Good Grief on https://seedandspark.com/fund/goodgrief
I'm so excited about this upcoming web series by creator @joshjewa. Support Good Grief on https://seedandspark.com/fund/goodgrief
Help support Good Grief, a new web series about loss told through a queer and Jewish lens. https://seedandspark.com/fund/goodgrief
I'm just DYING to pledge my support for Good Grief, a dark comedy that follows a twin navigating the death of his famous brother. https://seedandspark.com/fund/goodgrief
Follow Us To The End!
We would love for you to join us on this journey, and it costs nothing to track our progress. Go ahead, hit that little blue button! It truly benefits us - the bigger our audience, the bigger the reward!
& finally...
Thank YOU for taking the time to read & watch!
We’ll see you on the (big/small/WHATEVER) screen!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast & Crew
Costs $15,000
The crew needs to be paid for their time across our 6 shooting days!
Equipment
Costs $8,000
Camera, Lighting, Sound Equipment, etc... all necessary to make this look as good as possible!
Location & permits
Costs $2,000
We need to find a Jewish funeral home/synagogue and a home to shoot in.
Post-Production & Festivals
Costs $2,500
Editing, Color Correction, Sound mix, Music and to top it all off, festival submission fees.
Share this update!
About This Team
Creator/Star
Josh Nadler is a creative hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada by way of Birmingham, Alabama. Equal parts sassy showgirl and aging southern belle, Josh has always had an affinity towards the arts. After earning his BA in Stage & Screen from UNLV, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film.
He has appeared in many stage productions, including his much lauded performance in “The Compleat Female Stage Beauty” and the Los Angeles premiere of “Daddy Issues.”
He is excited to partner once again with his friend and frequent collaborator, William Lott. Their recent projects “Bottom” and “Socialpath” highlight their desire to tell queer stories in unconventional ways.
Josh worked with SundanceCollab on his award winning script, Good Grief. He hopes to continue creating projects, told through a queer lens, that combines the power of humor and heart.
During his down time, he can be found practicing yoga, baking, hanging with his dog, and talking someone’s ear off about Eurovision.
Director
Originally from a small town in Indiana, William Lott is a filmmaker based in Los Angeles with a dedicated passion for storytelling, specifically from a queer perspective. William got his start as a production assistant in television on Fox & Hulu’s American Horror Stories and 911: Lonestar.
In 2021 he wrote and directed “Bottom”, a dark-humored horror short that has screened in over 10 film festivals around the globe in 2022, and will continue to screen throughout the summer of 2023. He is currently attached to multiple projects this summer, Good Grief being the most recent.
William aims to continue to make film and television that brings queer voices to the forefront in a variety of genres, with a specific affinity for directing dark comedy and horror. With an unwavering commitment to his craft, William hopes to continue to bring audiences together through his filmmaking.
Producer
Alon Borten is a Los Angeles-based queer Jewish artist originally from Queens, New York. Their work on identity and representation has been produced and exhibited for the last decade through both photography and film exhibitions. After graduating from the School of Visual Arts (NYC, Photo & Video) in 2015, they moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a filmmaker.
Alon directed his first short film, “A Prayer”, in 2017, which had its world premiere at Outfest (2018) followed by premieres at Newfest (2018), and the Moscow Jewish Film Festival (2019). Their forthcoming short film, “This Is For You” (2023), is under consideration for a premiere with domestic and international festivals in 2023.
Alon continues to make work about underrepresented communities and is thrilled to be producing another project that deals with the intersection of queer and Jewish identity in “Good Grief”.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Josh and Jake are twins, with vastly different lives.
Jake is straight. Josh is not. Jake is a very famous actor. Josh is…definitely not.
After Jake unexpectedly passes away, Josh must confront his unresolved feelings - all while grieving with his eclectic family AND the rest of the world.
As Josh navigates through his brother’s shiva (the traditional Jewish mourning period) he juggles a slew of unexpected challenges. From a botched eulogy, to an unexpected pregnancy, a literal man-hunt, and a job opportunity that could change his life forever, Josh’s day is anything but ordinary.
Through it all, Good Grief is a dark comedy that explores themes of identity, family dynamics, and addiction. With humor and heart, we follow Josh’s journey of self-discovery and the impact of his brother’s death on his life.
We all have experienced loss to some degree. Whether it’s a family member, a job, a sense of identity - grief takes on many shapes. In 2018, I lost my own brother, Brett.
Growing up, my brother and I couldn’t have been more different. While he played sports, I played with Barbies. He listened to Blink 182, I preferred Britney Spears. He dated girl after girl after girl. I…tried that. It wasn’t until he passed away unexpectedly, that I realized how alike we actually were. Our twisted sense of humor. Our love for animals. Our outlook on family.
As the months went on, memories of him flooded my mind. I thought of our bus rides to school, his Bar Mitzvah, our trip to Israel, our college fraternity parties. As they kept coming, the desire to freeze these thoughts grew. So, in hopes of preserving his memory and how I felt, I wrote. I soon realized that the grief I was experiencing was much more complex than I anticipated. Some days I would burst out crying, hyperventilating in my closet. Other days, my eyes would swell shut from laughing. Most days I would look in the mirror, and no longer see myself - it was his eyes staring back at me. His mouth tightening into a smirk. Who was I, now that he was gone?
These feelings ultimately shaped Good Grief. Sure, some elements were pulled directly from my own family’s experience - but it’s a universal story, just as grief is. This project, while being deeply personal, resonates on a greater scale. In life, sometimes we lose so we can gain. And in some really strange ways, sometimes loss is more.
We are currently assembling an extremely talented cast and crew. In doing so, we will also be following all CDC guidelines in reference to the ongoing battle with COVID-19. These protocals will also be in effect during all stages of production. Please scroll below to see who is currently involved!
Josh Nadler (creator/star) is a creative hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada by way of Birmingham, Alabama. Equal parts sassy showgirl and aging southern belle, Josh has always had an affinity towards the arts. After earning his BA in Stage & Screen from UNLV, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film. He has appeared in many stage productions, including his much lauded performance in “The Compleat Female Stage Beauty” and the Los Angeles premiere of “Daddy Issues.” He is excited to partner once again with his friend and frequent collaborator, William Lott. Their recent projects “Bottom” and “Socialpath” highlight their desire to tell queer stories in unconventional ways. Josh worked with SundanceCollab on his award winning script, Good Grief. He hopes to continue creating projects, told through a queer lens, that combines the power of humor and heart. During his down time, he can be found practicing yoga, baking, hanging with his dog, and talking someone’s ear off about Eurovision.
William Lott (director) is a filmmaker based in Los Angeles with a dedicated passion for storytelling, specifically from a queer perspective. William got his start as a production assistant in television on Fox & Hulu’s American Horror Stories and 911: Lonestar. In 2021 he wrote and directed “Bottom”, a dark-humored horror short that has screened in over 10 film festivals around the globe in 2022, and will continue to screen throughout the summer of 2023. He is currently attached to multiple projects this summer, Good Grief being the most recent. William aims to continue to make film and television that brings queer voices to the forefront in a variety of genres, with a specific affinity for directing dark comedy and horror. With an unwavering commitment to his craft, William hopes to continue to bring audiences together through his filmmaking.
Alon Borten (producer) is a Los Angeles-based queer Jewish artist originally from Queens, New York. Their work on identity and representation has been produced and exhibited for the last decade through both photography and film exhibitions. After graduating from the School of Visual Arts (NYC, Photo & Video) in 2015, they moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a filmmaker. Alon directed his first short film, “A Prayer”, in 2017, which had its world premiere at Outfest (2018) followed by premieres at Newfest (2018), and the Moscow Jewish Film Festival (2019). Their forthcoming short film, “This Is For You” (2023), is under consideration for a premiere with domestic and international festivals in 2023. Alon continues to make work about underrepresented communities and is thrilled to be producing another project that deals with the intersection of queer and Jewish identity in “Good Grief”.
While I would love to shoot this on the camcorder I got for Hanukkah in high school, that sadly is just not possible. We want to make the highest quality project, with the biggest possible reach.
We worked really hard to crunch down numbers, and while we will do our best to cut costs where necessary, it is vital for us to pay every single person involved.
Your contribution deserves transparency, so we have broken down our budget below (and in the Wishlist tab.)
Once we reach our goal, the REAL work begins!
Our first step after the campaign ends, is to set up casting calls for the remaining roles. We then will begin crewing up as we gear closer to production, in July.
After our 6 shooting days, we then move to post-production. There we will begin editing, mixing, and composing.
Once Good Grief is complete, it will move to it's next phase - festival submissions.
The ultimate goal is to get distribution, and expand Good Grief into a full length series!
This is just the beginning, so we are so excited to have you on this journey with us!
While we will gladly accept ANY and all pledges, it doesn’t start or stop at a dollar amount!
Sharing is Caring!
Word of mouth is vital for crowd funding and we so deeply appreciate you checking out this page! If you want to help us spread the word, please share this campaign within your own network. Some options include: sharing on social media, emails, annoying your favorite barista, etc. etc.
Here are some copy-pasteable examples:
I just watched the most hilarious and heartwarming crowdfunding video! Check out Good Grief on https://seedandspark.com/fund/goodgrief
I'm so excited about this upcoming web series by creator @joshjewa. Support Good Grief on https://seedandspark.com/fund/goodgrief
Help support Good Grief, a new web series about loss told through a queer and Jewish lens. https://seedandspark.com/fund/goodgrief
I'm just DYING to pledge my support for Good Grief, a dark comedy that follows a twin navigating the death of his famous brother. https://seedandspark.com/fund/goodgrief
Follow Us To The End!
We would love for you to join us on this journey, and it costs nothing to track our progress. Go ahead, hit that little blue button! It truly benefits us - the bigger our audience, the bigger the reward!
& finally...
Thank YOU for taking the time to read & watch!
We’ll see you on the (big/small/WHATEVER) screen!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast & Crew
Costs $15,000
The crew needs to be paid for their time across our 6 shooting days!
Equipment
Costs $8,000
Camera, Lighting, Sound Equipment, etc... all necessary to make this look as good as possible!
Location & permits
Costs $2,000
We need to find a Jewish funeral home/synagogue and a home to shoot in.
Post-Production & Festivals
Costs $2,500
Editing, Color Correction, Sound mix, Music and to top it all off, festival submission fees.
Share this update!
About This Team
Creator/Star
Josh Nadler is a creative hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada by way of Birmingham, Alabama. Equal parts sassy showgirl and aging southern belle, Josh has always had an affinity towards the arts. After earning his BA in Stage & Screen from UNLV, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film.
He has appeared in many stage productions, including his much lauded performance in “The Compleat Female Stage Beauty” and the Los Angeles premiere of “Daddy Issues.”
He is excited to partner once again with his friend and frequent collaborator, William Lott. Their recent projects “Bottom” and “Socialpath” highlight their desire to tell queer stories in unconventional ways.
Josh worked with SundanceCollab on his award winning script, Good Grief. He hopes to continue creating projects, told through a queer lens, that combines the power of humor and heart.
During his down time, he can be found practicing yoga, baking, hanging with his dog, and talking someone’s ear off about Eurovision.
Director
Originally from a small town in Indiana, William Lott is a filmmaker based in Los Angeles with a dedicated passion for storytelling, specifically from a queer perspective. William got his start as a production assistant in television on Fox & Hulu’s American Horror Stories and 911: Lonestar.
In 2021 he wrote and directed “Bottom”, a dark-humored horror short that has screened in over 10 film festivals around the globe in 2022, and will continue to screen throughout the summer of 2023. He is currently attached to multiple projects this summer, Good Grief being the most recent.
William aims to continue to make film and television that brings queer voices to the forefront in a variety of genres, with a specific affinity for directing dark comedy and horror. With an unwavering commitment to his craft, William hopes to continue to bring audiences together through his filmmaking.
Producer
Alon Borten is a Los Angeles-based queer Jewish artist originally from Queens, New York. Their work on identity and representation has been produced and exhibited for the last decade through both photography and film exhibitions. After graduating from the School of Visual Arts (NYC, Photo & Video) in 2015, they moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a filmmaker.
Alon directed his first short film, “A Prayer”, in 2017, which had its world premiere at Outfest (2018) followed by premieres at Newfest (2018), and the Moscow Jewish Film Festival (2019). Their forthcoming short film, “This Is For You” (2023), is under consideration for a premiere with domestic and international festivals in 2023.
Alon continues to make work about underrepresented communities and is thrilled to be producing another project that deals with the intersection of queer and Jewish identity in “Good Grief”.