HAGS
New York City, New York | Film Short
Romantic Comedy, LGBTQ
Two counselors fall in love at their Jewish summer camp, then re-meet seven years later in New York City. With HAGS, we’ll bring back the nostalgic form of the rom com while propelling it into the 21st century – HAGS is a Gen Z queer love story for everyone to enjoy (unless you hate gay people).
HAGS
New York City, New York | Film Short
Romantic Comedy, LGBTQ
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $24,000 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
92 supporters | followers
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Two counselors fall in love at their Jewish summer camp, then re-meet seven years later in New York City. With HAGS, we’ll bring back the nostalgic form of the rom com while propelling it into the 21st century – HAGS is a Gen Z queer love story for everyone to enjoy (unless you hate gay people).
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Story
School’s out. Love’s in. Unless you want to be just friends in which case that’s cool, too.
Our film follows Hannah and Audrey in a whirlwind romance at their Jewish summer camp. The classic coming-of-age love story is subverted when the women meet again, seven years later. HAGS asks the daring question: “What if you ran into your first love at a haphazardly organized Rosh Hashanah seder?”
The Inspiration
Drawing inspiration from the romantic dramedies of mid-to-late 20th century cinema, our film’s mise-en-scene carries in nostalgia not only from decades gone but through adolescence as a universal loss. Infused with the humor and queer excitement celebrated by Gen Z, the tone pedals between dry irony and earnest vulnerability.
Growing up watching iconic films such as The Parent Trap, When Harry Met Sally, and But I’m A Cheerleader, we learned movie magic is best sparked by intimate, heartfelt stories. In that vein, HAGS returns to the classic romcom form, but thrust into the 21st century.
Visual cues will be influenced by the works of Eric Rohmer, Sergei Parajanov, Agnes Varda, and Alice Rohrwacher.
Character Descriptions
Hannah: Our lead. At 18 she’s the gangly amalgamation of middle child confidence, suburban boredom, and a deep yearning to make meaning of the adult world she’s on the precipice of entering. Seven years later, Hannah is a magnified version of who we met at camp. She remains curious and interested in the world, but far less afraid. This is largely due to the summer she spent with Audrey.
Audrey: At 18, Audrey veers close to the trope of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl. At least, that's what she’s going for. Audrey is spiritual but not religious, loving but not committed, and excited but not hopeful. At 25, Audrey appears an almost entirely other person than she was at 18. Her relationship to religion significantly and unexpectedly shifts. Her path, however, feels extremely natural to her.
Beau: Playful and exuberant, Beau triumphs and exceeds the role of a stereotypical best friend. Although his optimism and whimsy buoy the film, Beau also anchors the women in reality. He is our external connection to their relationship.
Timeline
Development: February-June 2024
Pre-Production: June-August 2024
Production: Mid-September 2024
Post-Production: October 2024
Distribution: Festival circuit!
Budget/Stretch Goals
The cost of labor is about 50% of our total budget. Here is a breakdown of the rest of our budget:
Stretch Goals:
21,200 - This amount would give us enough to flush out production design further, and to make our world even more detailed!
22,500 - This amount would give us enough for top tier equipment to make the film as beautiful as possible.
23,800 - This amount would give us enough to pay for lodging for cast on our out-of-city shoot days.
25,000 - This amount would give us enough for post-production costs, including festival circuit, music licensing, and labor.
Thank you from team HAGS!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
One Day Rate: Labor
Costs $250
We want to pay our company fairly! Over half our budget is accounting for the labor of the entire shoot.
Production Design
Costs $500
You’ll literally set the scene by providing us with characters’ wedding rings, a walkman, and Shrinky Dinks!
Meals
Costs $1,500
This covers all meals for every crew member! You’ll fuel the story by covering these costs.
Costumes
Costs $400
Help our characters transform into camp counselors, cowboys, magicians, and more!
TOTAL LABOR!
Costs $11,000
This is the cost to pay our whole cast and crew for the ENTIRE shoot.
Covid PPE
Costs $1,000
We want to run a healthy set! We'll fund masks and testing for prep and the duration of the shoot.
Hair & Make Up
Costs $300
Our actors are already picture perfect - this cost helps us turn them into their characters!
Share this update!
About This Team
Chloë Gottlieb - Chloë is a writer-director from Los Angeles, CA. Well-versed in yearning, this short speaks to her love of intimacy, humor, and those lazy-hazy-crazy days of summer. She is very excited to tell a queer love story without queer trauma. Chloë’s play “Quiz Bowl” won Columbia University's undergrad award for best original play, and she most recently directed the music video for Starling with the artist Sarah Kinsley.
Duncan Mezz Miller - Duncan is a writer, director, and producer from Los Angeles, CA. Most of his formative years were spent at a Jewish summer camp, so this story has roots in his equal parts laughter-filled and heart-wrenching childhood memories. His previous work includes: co-producing the play “Oh Mary!” on Broadway, writing the play “What You Get” which premiered at the Soho Playhouse, and working on the production team at “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
Ibby O’Carroll - Ibby O’Carroll is an LA raised and Brooklyn based producer. She can’t wait to get started on HAGS — she’s been the world’s biggest summer camp fan since age eight, when she when she joined her camp’s pyro crew and got to set all the trash on fire. Recent producing credits include narrative short film At the End of Your Comfort Zone (2024), comedy play Climate Controlled Facility (2024), and music videos with her sister at @ThirdSisterEntertainment.
Auden Barbour - Auden Barbour is an emerging cinematographer based in Brooklyn. With a strong background in photojournalism and environmental portraiture, she’s developed a keen eye for human stories that make us feel seen. Although she’s never attended summer camp, Auden is from Maine and totally gets the idea.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Story
School’s out. Love’s in. Unless you want to be just friends in which case that’s cool, too.
Our film follows Hannah and Audrey in a whirlwind romance at their Jewish summer camp. The classic coming-of-age love story is subverted when the women meet again, seven years later. HAGS asks the daring question: “What if you ran into your first love at a haphazardly organized Rosh Hashanah seder?”
The Inspiration
Drawing inspiration from the romantic dramedies of mid-to-late 20th century cinema, our film’s mise-en-scene carries in nostalgia not only from decades gone but through adolescence as a universal loss. Infused with the humor and queer excitement celebrated by Gen Z, the tone pedals between dry irony and earnest vulnerability.
Growing up watching iconic films such as The Parent Trap, When Harry Met Sally, and But I’m A Cheerleader, we learned movie magic is best sparked by intimate, heartfelt stories. In that vein, HAGS returns to the classic romcom form, but thrust into the 21st century.
Visual cues will be influenced by the works of Eric Rohmer, Sergei Parajanov, Agnes Varda, and Alice Rohrwacher.
Character Descriptions
Hannah: Our lead. At 18 she’s the gangly amalgamation of middle child confidence, suburban boredom, and a deep yearning to make meaning of the adult world she’s on the precipice of entering. Seven years later, Hannah is a magnified version of who we met at camp. She remains curious and interested in the world, but far less afraid. This is largely due to the summer she spent with Audrey.
Audrey: At 18, Audrey veers close to the trope of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl. At least, that's what she’s going for. Audrey is spiritual but not religious, loving but not committed, and excited but not hopeful. At 25, Audrey appears an almost entirely other person than she was at 18. Her relationship to religion significantly and unexpectedly shifts. Her path, however, feels extremely natural to her.
Beau: Playful and exuberant, Beau triumphs and exceeds the role of a stereotypical best friend. Although his optimism and whimsy buoy the film, Beau also anchors the women in reality. He is our external connection to their relationship.
Timeline
Development: February-June 2024
Pre-Production: June-August 2024
Production: Mid-September 2024
Post-Production: October 2024
Distribution: Festival circuit!
Budget/Stretch Goals
The cost of labor is about 50% of our total budget. Here is a breakdown of the rest of our budget:
Stretch Goals:
21,200 - This amount would give us enough to flush out production design further, and to make our world even more detailed!
22,500 - This amount would give us enough for top tier equipment to make the film as beautiful as possible.
23,800 - This amount would give us enough to pay for lodging for cast on our out-of-city shoot days.
25,000 - This amount would give us enough for post-production costs, including festival circuit, music licensing, and labor.
Thank you from team HAGS!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
One Day Rate: Labor
Costs $250
We want to pay our company fairly! Over half our budget is accounting for the labor of the entire shoot.
Production Design
Costs $500
You’ll literally set the scene by providing us with characters’ wedding rings, a walkman, and Shrinky Dinks!
Meals
Costs $1,500
This covers all meals for every crew member! You’ll fuel the story by covering these costs.
Costumes
Costs $400
Help our characters transform into camp counselors, cowboys, magicians, and more!
TOTAL LABOR!
Costs $11,000
This is the cost to pay our whole cast and crew for the ENTIRE shoot.
Covid PPE
Costs $1,000
We want to run a healthy set! We'll fund masks and testing for prep and the duration of the shoot.
Hair & Make Up
Costs $300
Our actors are already picture perfect - this cost helps us turn them into their characters!
Share this update!
About This Team
Chloë Gottlieb - Chloë is a writer-director from Los Angeles, CA. Well-versed in yearning, this short speaks to her love of intimacy, humor, and those lazy-hazy-crazy days of summer. She is very excited to tell a queer love story without queer trauma. Chloë’s play “Quiz Bowl” won Columbia University's undergrad award for best original play, and she most recently directed the music video for Starling with the artist Sarah Kinsley.
Duncan Mezz Miller - Duncan is a writer, director, and producer from Los Angeles, CA. Most of his formative years were spent at a Jewish summer camp, so this story has roots in his equal parts laughter-filled and heart-wrenching childhood memories. His previous work includes: co-producing the play “Oh Mary!” on Broadway, writing the play “What You Get” which premiered at the Soho Playhouse, and working on the production team at “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
Ibby O’Carroll - Ibby O’Carroll is an LA raised and Brooklyn based producer. She can’t wait to get started on HAGS — she’s been the world’s biggest summer camp fan since age eight, when she when she joined her camp’s pyro crew and got to set all the trash on fire. Recent producing credits include narrative short film At the End of Your Comfort Zone (2024), comedy play Climate Controlled Facility (2024), and music videos with her sister at @ThirdSisterEntertainment.
Auden Barbour - Auden Barbour is an emerging cinematographer based in Brooklyn. With a strong background in photojournalism and environmental portraiture, she’s developed a keen eye for human stories that make us feel seen. Although she’s never attended summer camp, Auden is from Maine and totally gets the idea.