Grocery Grab!
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Comedy, Romantic Comedy
Two lifelong best friends enter a chaotic grocery game show, where the only thing more intense than the competition is the friendship they’re about to ruin.
Grocery Grab!
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Comedy, Romantic Comedy
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $33,000 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
141 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Two lifelong best friends enter a chaotic grocery game show, where the only thing more intense than the competition is the friendship they’re about to ruin.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
THANKS TO OUR FISCAL SPONSOR ALL DONATIONS ARE 100% TAX-DEDUCTIBLE
Set in 1992, Grocery Grab follows Dale and Trina, two codependent best friends on the verge of an emotional breakup. One’s seven months pregnant, the other’s stuck in the past. When they enter the generic capitalist hellscape supermarket game show to prove they’ve “made it,” unresolved tensions erupt, so they start throwing punches (and produce) instead. To make things worse, they are competing against their high school rivals. As the cameras roll, Dale and Trina are forced to confront how identity, loyalty, and fear shape the people we become and what it takes to stay connected when everything is changing.
Director's Statement:
I wrote this when my best friend and I were at a crossroads in our mid-20s. When we got in a fight, she smugly told me to "journal my feelings", so instead I wrote a script. Don't worry, we're good now. I’m interested in the mess of codependency: when someone’s been in your life so long they’re part of your identity, and you realize you might be growing up at different speeds. I want to make a film that’s rooted in truth and specific about female friendship and interracial friendship. Grocery Grab is a film about the weird ways we show up for each other, It’s also about emotional avoidance and what it costs. I hope it reminds people that deep, complicated friendships deserve just as much space and drama as romantic ones.
- Dani Adaliz, Director/Writer of Grocery Grab
Love Letter to the Late ’80s & ’90s!
Imagine if Romy and Michele threw a house party inside a supermarket, and McLovin was the co-host.
Our visual style draws inspiration from the vibrant, campy, and delightfully heinous aesthetic of late 80s and early 90's pop culture.
Vibes- The playful absurdity of game shows, VHS-era comedy, and womanhood.
We’re channeling:
- The camp of Supermarket Sweep
- The candy-colored world of Saved by the Bell
- The mallcore-meets-metaphysical energy of Superbad and Showgirls (no nudity though, you will have to pay us more for that.)
- The tacky brilliance of The Banger Sisters
We’re leaning into nostalgic textures, fuzzy TVs, and over-the-top set designs to make this feel like a time capsule cracked open and reassembled into something nostalgic, original, and weird.
Dale and Trina are the main characters of the film, our co-dependent protagonists.
Tiffany and Amber, our quintessential HOTT bitchy rivals. They put the "ate" in "hater".
We're still CASTING for these roles! Could this be you?! Shoot us an email and we will shoot you some sides.
Meet the Team!
We're just a group of accomplished besties trying to bring original, heartfelt stories to life. Thanks to this team, we were able to make this 2014 cathartic script about how "mean" my best friend is into a reality!
(You guys have our long-winded bios on the other page, so we will spare you the reading and give you the visuals instead.)
DANI ADALIZ - Director/Actress/Writer/Creator
KELLY SARRI- Creative and Executive Producer/2nd AD
ALEJANDRO ETCHEAGARAY - Producer
IZZI COUGAN - Line Producer
KIM P CALLAWAY - Associate Producer
KARLA ESPINO - 1st AD / Creative Producer/ Editor
ERNIE PRIETO - Cinematographer/Colorist
AURI JACKSON - Actress/ Co-writer/Associate Producer
ANNA ALICIA BASS - Production Designer/Graphic Designer
ANDREA CARMEN BASHE - Wardrobe/Poster Design/ Art Assistant
Every dollar goes directly into production costs. We’re maximizing resources to create a high-quality film that captures the quirky spirit of the 1980s and 90s. We want it to feel like you fell back in time, you know, when Clinton was president.
"WAIT?! I GET A TAX DEDUCTION!? AND PERKS?! SIGN ME TF UP!!!" - You
Grocery Grab is fiscally sponsored by the Alliance of Women Directors (AWD), a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
That means every donation is 100% tax-deductible.
Your support doesn’t just help us—it helps you, too!
• You get a tax write-off
• You get exclusive perks (from our sponsors - Joolies Dates, Sanzo, and Z&Z)
• You get to say you helped some starving artists who wish they had gone to med school instead, because that would be a lot easier and ----
Pictured - Dani (left), Gus "the mean dog"(center left), Alejandro (center right), and Auri (Right). 2023
We've obviously been working on this for a while, so you know it's going to be fire!
Why Invest in Independent Film?
When you support Grocery Grab, you’re not just backing a single project—you’re investing in a community of bold, original storytellers who are shaking up the industry. Your contribution helps us create new opportunities for underrepresented voices, champion creative risk, and bring more joy, diversity, and nostalgia to the screen.
Market Research + Education
Movies centered on female friendship and co-dependency hold significance as they offer representation, challenge stereotypes, and empower women by validating their experiences and showcasing the complexity of female relationships. These films provide social commentary, encouraging viewers to question gender roles and societal expectations while delving into emotional complexities and promoting emotional intelligence. They break the stigmas of toxic female tropes, offering inspiration for healthier relationships and self-discovery. By addressing common experiences, they become highly relatable, comforting, and encouraging women to prioritize friendships, self-care, and personal growth.
Final Word from Dani (and the team) -
Being an artist and filmmaker is exhilarating and terrifying. One minute you believe in yourself and your dreams, and the next minute the economy is on fire, and the world doesn't care about your art or your story because it's not a commercial to buy a new car, or get something on Amazon. That’s another reason why I chose this specific world of a game show that focused on excess abundance and marketing. I wanted that to take a back seat to the realness of dealing with each other as people and confronting what really matters.
Asking for money and hustling is scary, and exhausting. We have done our best to make your donation feel like an investment. Thank you to The Alliance of Women Directors for giving us this 501 C3 Fiscal Sponsorship. With that, we are able to give massive tax write-offs to donors and get funding from businesses like Joolies Date (@jooliesdates), Z&Z Manoushe (@zandzdc), and Sanzo (@drink Sanzo). I know our community will pull through, even if it's just $10, it really goes a long way.
By donating to this film, you will give us the opportunity to make more films you want to see, more art, more relatable fun, more diversity (that doesn’t feel forced but genuine)
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! LET’S GET THIS MOVIE MADE!!!
- The Grocery Grab Team
Be part of something fresh, funny, and fiercely independent. Join us—invest in independent film!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Post Production
Costs $1,400
Editing takes a lot of time and work to pull the picture together!
Crew
Costs $4,000
Our talented group of creatives are hardworking individuals who deserve compensation!
Cast
Costs $3,000
Our talented group of creatives are hardworking individuals who deserve compensation!
Equipment
Costs $4,000
We'll need to rent equipment to provide the best viewing quality for this film!
Locations/Permits
Costs $4,000
We'll be renting out the coolest locations to establish that 80s Game Show vibe!
Set Design
Costs $3,000
The set design is a huge part of the worldbuilding in this project!
Wardrobe
Costs $2,000
We have to dress up our cast to bring their characters to life!
Sound
Costs $1,200
QUIET ON SET! Sound is the first item we check before rolling and additional twitches during post production!
Music
Costs $1,200
Without a score we wouldn't be able to dance!
Festivals
Costs $1,200
We'd like to share this project with others and showcase at festivals!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
This is a team of powerhouse artists and incredible friends.
Dani Adaliz is an award-winning director, actress, comedian, writer, and Moth Story Slam winner. Her work explores identity, memory, and cringe behavior (The human condition), influenced by her multicultural background. Dani has collaborated with Broadway Video, Buzzfeed, Mitu, and created music videos for artists like Mick Jenkins and Relaye. She is a series regular in the “Jenny Lorenzo universe” and has performed live at The Groundlings, UCB, and Second City. Her directorial debut, Chuchi and Adaliz, premiered at SXSW 2023, won Best Web Series at the International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival, and screened at LALIFF 2023 and Stareable Fest NY 2023. She was a fellow at the NALIP 2022 Incubator Program and is a member of The Alliance of Women Directors and Film Fatales. Dani is currently in pre-production for her next project, Grocery Grab, set to shoot in 2025.
Auri Jackson is a writer- director, actor, and Producer. She is a graduate of NYU with a B.F.A. in Film & TV. In 2020, her narrative short, The Return premiered at the San Diego Latino Film Festival and screened at the Bozeman International Film Festival. In 2022, a TV pilot she co- directed with writer-creator Stevie Wain, Day Jobs, premiered at the Austin Film Festival in the digital shorts category and won the audience award, And has since won another Audience awards at Holly Shorts (2023) and Outfest (2023). During her seven years at BuzzFeed, she pioneered viral environmental content, as the only dedicated sustainability video producer there, created multiple successful unscripted series, and gained a deep knowledge of what makes millions of eyes pay attention.
Alejandro Etcheagaray is an award-winning filmmaker based in Los Angeles, California. He began his career at a young age in Mexico by producing and directing short films in collaboration with friends from the local film club. Alejandro moved to the United States at the age of 19, he graduated from Cal State University of Los Angeles with a Bachelor’s Degree in Film, Media and Television Studies. In 2019, he won several awards for producing the western film Mojave Shadows, and gained critical acclaim for starring in the comedy film !Quieto! which he also wrote and directed.
Alejandro has since produced two independent feature films Midnight Run and Cuddly Toys, currently working on his feature directorial debut set to begin production in the fall.
Kelly Sarri an award-winning LA-based filmmaker from Greece, is renowned for her exceptional storytelling. Best known for her web series Gynarchy, a Webby Honoree and Bronze Telly Winner in 2023, she made history with the first fictional series on TikTok and Instagram. Kelly's work captures the complexity and diversity of society, challenging gender norms, promoting climate advocacy, and exploring cultural intersections. Her directing style, marked by empathy, prioritizes humanity and the well-being of collaborators. With nearly a decade of industry experience, she strives to foster an inclusive environment for women and underrepresented individuals.
Karla Espino is a Puerto Rican writer, director, and comedian with additional experience as a 1st assistant director, producer, video editor, and photographer. She has worked on projects with industry giants such as Disney+, BuzzFeed, Spotify, alongside Keke Palmer and Amy Aniobi, and most recently on Season 10 of Um, Actually for DropoutTV. Karla co-developed Season 2 of the Latina-centric talk show Girl, Let Me Tell You for Mitú and is part of the Dale Tú Meta Creator network. She has been recognized by Women in Film LA and the 48-Hour Film Project as Woman Filmmaker of the Year, and has placed as a finalist in festivals such as the Toronto International Women Film Festival and Austin Comedy Film Festival. Her feature-length script Keeping It Together has placed as a Semifinalist in the LA International Screenplay Awards and Quarterfinalist in the LA International Screen Play Awards – Diversity Initiative. As a comedian, she produces and performs her own monthly variety show, FU Variety Show, at The Glendale Room, highlighting diverse talent throughout Los Angeles and just completed her own sketch comedy pilot, The Funkee Sketch Show!
Kim "Kimmie P" Callaway is an LA-based writer/producer/director who has been creating content for major networks and brands for nearly 2 decades. Her work as a director has garnered 4 Telly Awards and she is a proud member of AWD (the Alliance of Women Directors.) Kimmie founded Pillowfight!! Productions in 2017, a boutique production company dedicated to socially conscious humor with heart.
Ernesto Prieto has shot projects ranging from digital, reality, and documentary, to narrative, music videos, and commercial. One of his greatest joys is the lighting process, whether it's lighting a soft, intimate moment between two characters or a gritty night scene in Los Angeles. He also has a huge soft spot for handheld operating. His work has been viewed millions of times on various platforms, with one of his recent projects being screened at SXSW 2023. His branded clients include Mountain Dew, Redbull, Youtube, Microsoft, GQ, Mitu and Fuse.
Art Department:
- Anna Alicia Bass
- Andrea Bashe
Wardrobe & Makeup
- Costume Designer: Andrea Bashe
- Wardrobe Supervisor: Jocelli Paniagua
- Hair & Makeup Designer: Macy Rodriguez
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
THANKS TO OUR FISCAL SPONSOR ALL DONATIONS ARE 100% TAX-DEDUCTIBLE
Set in 1992, Grocery Grab follows Dale and Trina, two codependent best friends on the verge of an emotional breakup. One’s seven months pregnant, the other’s stuck in the past. When they enter the generic capitalist hellscape supermarket game show to prove they’ve “made it,” unresolved tensions erupt, so they start throwing punches (and produce) instead. To make things worse, they are competing against their high school rivals. As the cameras roll, Dale and Trina are forced to confront how identity, loyalty, and fear shape the people we become and what it takes to stay connected when everything is changing.
Director's Statement:
I wrote this when my best friend and I were at a crossroads in our mid-20s. When we got in a fight, she smugly told me to "journal my feelings", so instead I wrote a script. Don't worry, we're good now. I’m interested in the mess of codependency: when someone’s been in your life so long they’re part of your identity, and you realize you might be growing up at different speeds. I want to make a film that’s rooted in truth and specific about female friendship and interracial friendship. Grocery Grab is a film about the weird ways we show up for each other, It’s also about emotional avoidance and what it costs. I hope it reminds people that deep, complicated friendships deserve just as much space and drama as romantic ones.
- Dani Adaliz, Director/Writer of Grocery Grab
Love Letter to the Late ’80s & ’90s!
Imagine if Romy and Michele threw a house party inside a supermarket, and McLovin was the co-host.
Our visual style draws inspiration from the vibrant, campy, and delightfully heinous aesthetic of late 80s and early 90's pop culture.
Vibes- The playful absurdity of game shows, VHS-era comedy, and womanhood.
We’re channeling:
- The camp of Supermarket Sweep
- The candy-colored world of Saved by the Bell
- The mallcore-meets-metaphysical energy of Superbad and Showgirls (no nudity though, you will have to pay us more for that.)
- The tacky brilliance of The Banger Sisters
We’re leaning into nostalgic textures, fuzzy TVs, and over-the-top set designs to make this feel like a time capsule cracked open and reassembled into something nostalgic, original, and weird.
Dale and Trina are the main characters of the film, our co-dependent protagonists.
Tiffany and Amber, our quintessential HOTT bitchy rivals. They put the "ate" in "hater".
We're still CASTING for these roles! Could this be you?! Shoot us an email and we will shoot you some sides.
Meet the Team!
We're just a group of accomplished besties trying to bring original, heartfelt stories to life. Thanks to this team, we were able to make this 2014 cathartic script about how "mean" my best friend is into a reality!
(You guys have our long-winded bios on the other page, so we will spare you the reading and give you the visuals instead.)
DANI ADALIZ - Director/Actress/Writer/Creator
KELLY SARRI- Creative and Executive Producer/2nd AD
ALEJANDRO ETCHEAGARAY - Producer
IZZI COUGAN - Line Producer
KIM P CALLAWAY - Associate Producer
KARLA ESPINO - 1st AD / Creative Producer/ Editor
ERNIE PRIETO - Cinematographer/Colorist
AURI JACKSON - Actress/ Co-writer/Associate Producer
ANNA ALICIA BASS - Production Designer/Graphic Designer
ANDREA CARMEN BASHE - Wardrobe/Poster Design/ Art Assistant
Every dollar goes directly into production costs. We’re maximizing resources to create a high-quality film that captures the quirky spirit of the 1980s and 90s. We want it to feel like you fell back in time, you know, when Clinton was president.
"WAIT?! I GET A TAX DEDUCTION!? AND PERKS?! SIGN ME TF UP!!!" - You
Grocery Grab is fiscally sponsored by the Alliance of Women Directors (AWD), a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
That means every donation is 100% tax-deductible.
Your support doesn’t just help us—it helps you, too!
• You get a tax write-off
• You get exclusive perks (from our sponsors - Joolies Dates, Sanzo, and Z&Z)
• You get to say you helped some starving artists who wish they had gone to med school instead, because that would be a lot easier and ----
Pictured - Dani (left), Gus "the mean dog"(center left), Alejandro (center right), and Auri (Right). 2023
We've obviously been working on this for a while, so you know it's going to be fire!
Why Invest in Independent Film?
When you support Grocery Grab, you’re not just backing a single project—you’re investing in a community of bold, original storytellers who are shaking up the industry. Your contribution helps us create new opportunities for underrepresented voices, champion creative risk, and bring more joy, diversity, and nostalgia to the screen.
Market Research + Education
Movies centered on female friendship and co-dependency hold significance as they offer representation, challenge stereotypes, and empower women by validating their experiences and showcasing the complexity of female relationships. These films provide social commentary, encouraging viewers to question gender roles and societal expectations while delving into emotional complexities and promoting emotional intelligence. They break the stigmas of toxic female tropes, offering inspiration for healthier relationships and self-discovery. By addressing common experiences, they become highly relatable, comforting, and encouraging women to prioritize friendships, self-care, and personal growth.
Final Word from Dani (and the team) -
Being an artist and filmmaker is exhilarating and terrifying. One minute you believe in yourself and your dreams, and the next minute the economy is on fire, and the world doesn't care about your art or your story because it's not a commercial to buy a new car, or get something on Amazon. That’s another reason why I chose this specific world of a game show that focused on excess abundance and marketing. I wanted that to take a back seat to the realness of dealing with each other as people and confronting what really matters.
Asking for money and hustling is scary, and exhausting. We have done our best to make your donation feel like an investment. Thank you to The Alliance of Women Directors for giving us this 501 C3 Fiscal Sponsorship. With that, we are able to give massive tax write-offs to donors and get funding from businesses like Joolies Date (@jooliesdates), Z&Z Manoushe (@zandzdc), and Sanzo (@drink Sanzo). I know our community will pull through, even if it's just $10, it really goes a long way.
By donating to this film, you will give us the opportunity to make more films you want to see, more art, more relatable fun, more diversity (that doesn’t feel forced but genuine)
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! LET’S GET THIS MOVIE MADE!!!
- The Grocery Grab Team
Be part of something fresh, funny, and fiercely independent. Join us—invest in independent film!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Post Production
Costs $1,400
Editing takes a lot of time and work to pull the picture together!
Crew
Costs $4,000
Our talented group of creatives are hardworking individuals who deserve compensation!
Cast
Costs $3,000
Our talented group of creatives are hardworking individuals who deserve compensation!
Equipment
Costs $4,000
We'll need to rent equipment to provide the best viewing quality for this film!
Locations/Permits
Costs $4,000
We'll be renting out the coolest locations to establish that 80s Game Show vibe!
Set Design
Costs $3,000
The set design is a huge part of the worldbuilding in this project!
Wardrobe
Costs $2,000
We have to dress up our cast to bring their characters to life!
Sound
Costs $1,200
QUIET ON SET! Sound is the first item we check before rolling and additional twitches during post production!
Music
Costs $1,200
Without a score we wouldn't be able to dance!
Festivals
Costs $1,200
We'd like to share this project with others and showcase at festivals!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
This is a team of powerhouse artists and incredible friends.
Dani Adaliz is an award-winning director, actress, comedian, writer, and Moth Story Slam winner. Her work explores identity, memory, and cringe behavior (The human condition), influenced by her multicultural background. Dani has collaborated with Broadway Video, Buzzfeed, Mitu, and created music videos for artists like Mick Jenkins and Relaye. She is a series regular in the “Jenny Lorenzo universe” and has performed live at The Groundlings, UCB, and Second City. Her directorial debut, Chuchi and Adaliz, premiered at SXSW 2023, won Best Web Series at the International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival, and screened at LALIFF 2023 and Stareable Fest NY 2023. She was a fellow at the NALIP 2022 Incubator Program and is a member of The Alliance of Women Directors and Film Fatales. Dani is currently in pre-production for her next project, Grocery Grab, set to shoot in 2025.
Auri Jackson is a writer- director, actor, and Producer. She is a graduate of NYU with a B.F.A. in Film & TV. In 2020, her narrative short, The Return premiered at the San Diego Latino Film Festival and screened at the Bozeman International Film Festival. In 2022, a TV pilot she co- directed with writer-creator Stevie Wain, Day Jobs, premiered at the Austin Film Festival in the digital shorts category and won the audience award, And has since won another Audience awards at Holly Shorts (2023) and Outfest (2023). During her seven years at BuzzFeed, she pioneered viral environmental content, as the only dedicated sustainability video producer there, created multiple successful unscripted series, and gained a deep knowledge of what makes millions of eyes pay attention.
Alejandro Etcheagaray is an award-winning filmmaker based in Los Angeles, California. He began his career at a young age in Mexico by producing and directing short films in collaboration with friends from the local film club. Alejandro moved to the United States at the age of 19, he graduated from Cal State University of Los Angeles with a Bachelor’s Degree in Film, Media and Television Studies. In 2019, he won several awards for producing the western film Mojave Shadows, and gained critical acclaim for starring in the comedy film !Quieto! which he also wrote and directed.
Alejandro has since produced two independent feature films Midnight Run and Cuddly Toys, currently working on his feature directorial debut set to begin production in the fall.
Kelly Sarri an award-winning LA-based filmmaker from Greece, is renowned for her exceptional storytelling. Best known for her web series Gynarchy, a Webby Honoree and Bronze Telly Winner in 2023, she made history with the first fictional series on TikTok and Instagram. Kelly's work captures the complexity and diversity of society, challenging gender norms, promoting climate advocacy, and exploring cultural intersections. Her directing style, marked by empathy, prioritizes humanity and the well-being of collaborators. With nearly a decade of industry experience, she strives to foster an inclusive environment for women and underrepresented individuals.
Karla Espino is a Puerto Rican writer, director, and comedian with additional experience as a 1st assistant director, producer, video editor, and photographer. She has worked on projects with industry giants such as Disney+, BuzzFeed, Spotify, alongside Keke Palmer and Amy Aniobi, and most recently on Season 10 of Um, Actually for DropoutTV. Karla co-developed Season 2 of the Latina-centric talk show Girl, Let Me Tell You for Mitú and is part of the Dale Tú Meta Creator network. She has been recognized by Women in Film LA and the 48-Hour Film Project as Woman Filmmaker of the Year, and has placed as a finalist in festivals such as the Toronto International Women Film Festival and Austin Comedy Film Festival. Her feature-length script Keeping It Together has placed as a Semifinalist in the LA International Screenplay Awards and Quarterfinalist in the LA International Screen Play Awards – Diversity Initiative. As a comedian, she produces and performs her own monthly variety show, FU Variety Show, at The Glendale Room, highlighting diverse talent throughout Los Angeles and just completed her own sketch comedy pilot, The Funkee Sketch Show!
Kim "Kimmie P" Callaway is an LA-based writer/producer/director who has been creating content for major networks and brands for nearly 2 decades. Her work as a director has garnered 4 Telly Awards and she is a proud member of AWD (the Alliance of Women Directors.) Kimmie founded Pillowfight!! Productions in 2017, a boutique production company dedicated to socially conscious humor with heart.
Ernesto Prieto has shot projects ranging from digital, reality, and documentary, to narrative, music videos, and commercial. One of his greatest joys is the lighting process, whether it's lighting a soft, intimate moment between two characters or a gritty night scene in Los Angeles. He also has a huge soft spot for handheld operating. His work has been viewed millions of times on various platforms, with one of his recent projects being screened at SXSW 2023. His branded clients include Mountain Dew, Redbull, Youtube, Microsoft, GQ, Mitu and Fuse.
Art Department:
- Anna Alicia Bass
- Andrea Bashe
Wardrobe & Makeup
- Costume Designer: Andrea Bashe
- Wardrobe Supervisor: Jocelli Paniagua
- Hair & Makeup Designer: Macy Rodriguez