Happy
Toronto, Canada | Film Short
Horror, Thriller
Happy is a horror/thriller film about mental health, social conformity and authenticity. I want to give you a glimpse of what severe depression looks like through Jason, who is black and gay. This short film needs your help to enter into production so that we can film this movie in its entirety.
Green Light
This campaign raised C$10,005 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
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Happy is a horror/thriller film about mental health, social conformity and authenticity. I want to give you a glimpse of what severe depression looks like through Jason, who is black and gay. This short film needs your help to enter into production so that we can film this movie in its entirety.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Happy is an allegory about the pains of depression and the fear of coming out. Highlighting the challenges that the lead character, Jason, faces when dealing with extreme depression and the pressures that correspond in a heteronormative culture.
He lives the classic white-picket-fence lifestyle with his wife Sarah, while at the same time attempting to live his true self as a gay man with his boyfriend Anthony. The more he clings to conventional happiness, the more his real happiness begins to slip.
The title is an ironic twist on the themes of depression and attempted suicide. Inspired from personal events, at a time when that dark void was present in my life. As we catharticly explore mental illness within the gay community to bring about awareness, we delve into the depths of psychosis triggered by severe depression.
The voices in Jason’s head are seen as the spitting image of his wife - his evil conscience. This technique is to lure you the audience, into Jason’s mind so that you can grasp his perceived reality while showing the complexity of depression, the fact that it doesn't strip a person of their selfhood and personality, or even of their dreams.
Blackness is highlighted as you experience the story through Jason, we explore what it’s like to be black and gay, which is still a marginalized part of the film community. The consequences of coming-out while being black can be frightening, this element of fear is brought to the forefront for you to absorb.
Depression is so common, especially in the 2SLGBTQ+ community, in where we feel ashamed of our sexuality and so alone. Throughout the movie you will gain an in-depth understanding of what severe depression looks like for Jason. Awareness about the severity of depression is the goal behind this film so that we can start talking about it.
Given the darker themes of the piece, this will allow for a robust filmic language that is varied in tone and virtuosic in storytelling. Using chromatic and muted colours will enable the audience to understand this story's point of view visually and help illuminate the inner life of these complex characters. The usage of long unedited takes will also be used to help sustain, suspend and hold dramatic tension.
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With your help we can create this powerful film with a message that will reverberate through the world as more and more people see this movie. We need at least $10,000 to get this film off the page and into production, and we need you to get there. See how funds are allocated below!
We hope to exceed this goal with your contributions but will be happy (no pun intended!) to simply reach the goal and make this film. With your contribution, we’ll be able to afford some film equipment, locations, pay our cast & crew, and making this an all around more polished film. Anything you can do to help is greatly appreciated!
We are currently in pre-production as we run this campaign and apply for grants. This campaign is to fund part of the production phase which will occur Sept. 21 - Sept. 24th, 2023. After that we head into post-production with a completed film by Jan 1st 2024.
Our stretch goal for this campaign after we reach our crowdfunding goal is $20K. Not only will this help us rent higher-quality equipment, but your pledge will help us afford to pay our cast and crew for an additional day on set, as well as rentals and location. One of the scenes is an underwater scene, in order to film this scene to its maximum potential (we’ll need to rent a pool, and rent additional gear to film underwater). Currently we plan to fake it with a fish bowl, but how cool would it be to film this underwater!?
Check out our plans for distribution below!
COVID-19 Safeguards
Performers will have to abide by all COVID safety requirements and sign declaration as part of their contract.
Vaccination Policy: Talent/Performer/Lender is recommended to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccination includes any subsequent dose, booster or boosters that may be required/recommended by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Guidance, policies and protocols will be posted throughout the workplace and will be referred to or attached to call sheets. Protocols will be clearly communicated to everyone who needs to follow them.
If there is a positive case, protocols will be in place with a plan for contact tracing to ensure the entire project does not shut down.
Policies/Protocols include: screening measures, covid testing, use of PPE, workplace parties and visitors who do not pass the screening or become symptomatic during the workday, how physical distance will be maintained, disinfection of the workplace(s), limiting the requirement for workers to physically attend at the production office.
SPREAD THE WORD
Even if you aren't able to plege, here's how you can still help:
Please repost/follow/comment!
When you click to FOLLOW this campaign, you help us to potentially unlock huge rewards from this platform which will help us with perks like free admission into film festivals and gear to actually shoot the film. Please find this button located below the video up top (when using a phone), or to the right hand side of the video (when using a computer).
We’ve built some simple social media post for you to copy/paste to your socials to get the word out below:
I just contributed to this film called “Happy”. Spooky yet also a good cause - nailed it! Join them here: https://bit.ly/happyshortfilm #HappyNeedsYou #HappyShortFilm
Help Happy Short Film by supporting BIPOC and queer filmmakers in this riveting horror/thriller film. Join them here: https://bit.ly/happyshortfilm #HappyNeedsYou #HappyShortFilm
Thanks for reading this and more importantly, thank you for your interest and support! This film has been in development for the past two years and it’s people like you who make this work worthwhile, who connect to the material and enable us as filmmakers to create stories that make a real change in the world.
Keep scrolling for more fun incentives.
THANK YOU!!!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Props, Wardrobe, Set Purchases
Costs C$1,640
Help us build the aesthetic of the film, from our sets to our actors wardrobes and props!
Artist Fees
Costs C$3,860
Your contribution will be going towards paying our independent cast & crew of local Toronto artists!
Festivals
Costs C$1,000
Help spread the word and see this powerful film at international film festivals around the globe!
Travel & Transport
Costs C$1,500
Helps us bring our team together with car rentals and gas money, and transport our film gear!
Catering & Craft Services
Costs C$2,000
Covers our coffee, snacks on set, and catering to feed our army of cast and crew during production!
Share this update!
About This Team
Happy began as an idea when I questioned my happiness during the early days of the pandemic. The feeling of depression was so prominent in our society at the time that I decide to hone into that. This film has a more profound resonance and personal connection to me as I have tried to take my life a long time ago, which you see depicted in the film's first scene. The fact that I even made an attempt and am still here today stood out as something to further interrogate. My initial thought about these subjects was: What if I was older and had more access? This idea sparked the inception of this work. Depression is a deadly and frightening illness, but it doesn't all feel like the wildest thing in the world when you've been through it. It feels like any other human experience: complicated.
This team was brought together as we all believe in the message behind this film and the social impact it will have on our society. It was my goal to find creatives who are passionate about the themes expressed in this piece. I met the Cinematographer Raymond while working on a teaser for a comedic series, and when I saw the work he was able to capture on-set, we connected instantly. Renjie our producer and I met while shooting a short film, his drive and passion for “making it happen” were qualities I admired in getting this done. With my vision, the Director’s eye, the Cinematographer’s lens, and the Producer’s savviness, we’re on track to create something bold.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Happy is an allegory about the pains of depression and the fear of coming out. Highlighting the challenges that the lead character, Jason, faces when dealing with extreme depression and the pressures that correspond in a heteronormative culture.
He lives the classic white-picket-fence lifestyle with his wife Sarah, while at the same time attempting to live his true self as a gay man with his boyfriend Anthony. The more he clings to conventional happiness, the more his real happiness begins to slip.
The title is an ironic twist on the themes of depression and attempted suicide. Inspired from personal events, at a time when that dark void was present in my life. As we catharticly explore mental illness within the gay community to bring about awareness, we delve into the depths of psychosis triggered by severe depression.
The voices in Jason’s head are seen as the spitting image of his wife - his evil conscience. This technique is to lure you the audience, into Jason’s mind so that you can grasp his perceived reality while showing the complexity of depression, the fact that it doesn't strip a person of their selfhood and personality, or even of their dreams.
Blackness is highlighted as you experience the story through Jason, we explore what it’s like to be black and gay, which is still a marginalized part of the film community. The consequences of coming-out while being black can be frightening, this element of fear is brought to the forefront for you to absorb.
Depression is so common, especially in the 2SLGBTQ+ community, in where we feel ashamed of our sexuality and so alone. Throughout the movie you will gain an in-depth understanding of what severe depression looks like for Jason. Awareness about the severity of depression is the goal behind this film so that we can start talking about it.
Given the darker themes of the piece, this will allow for a robust filmic language that is varied in tone and virtuosic in storytelling. Using chromatic and muted colours will enable the audience to understand this story's point of view visually and help illuminate the inner life of these complex characters. The usage of long unedited takes will also be used to help sustain, suspend and hold dramatic tension.
With your help we can create this powerful film with a message that will reverberate through the world as more and more people see this movie. We need at least $10,000 to get this film off the page and into production, and we need you to get there. See how funds are allocated below!
We hope to exceed this goal with your contributions but will be happy (no pun intended!) to simply reach the goal and make this film. With your contribution, we’ll be able to afford some film equipment, locations, pay our cast & crew, and making this an all around more polished film. Anything you can do to help is greatly appreciated!
We are currently in pre-production as we run this campaign and apply for grants. This campaign is to fund part of the production phase which will occur Sept. 21 - Sept. 24th, 2023. After that we head into post-production with a completed film by Jan 1st 2024.
Our stretch goal for this campaign after we reach our crowdfunding goal is $20K. Not only will this help us rent higher-quality equipment, but your pledge will help us afford to pay our cast and crew for an additional day on set, as well as rentals and location. One of the scenes is an underwater scene, in order to film this scene to its maximum potential (we’ll need to rent a pool, and rent additional gear to film underwater). Currently we plan to fake it with a fish bowl, but how cool would it be to film this underwater!?
Check out our plans for distribution below!
COVID-19 Safeguards
Performers will have to abide by all COVID safety requirements and sign declaration as part of their contract.
Vaccination Policy: Talent/Performer/Lender is recommended to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccination includes any subsequent dose, booster or boosters that may be required/recommended by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Guidance, policies and protocols will be posted throughout the workplace and will be referred to or attached to call sheets. Protocols will be clearly communicated to everyone who needs to follow them.
If there is a positive case, protocols will be in place with a plan for contact tracing to ensure the entire project does not shut down.
Policies/Protocols include: screening measures, covid testing, use of PPE, workplace parties and visitors who do not pass the screening or become symptomatic during the workday, how physical distance will be maintained, disinfection of the workplace(s), limiting the requirement for workers to physically attend at the production office.
SPREAD THE WORD
Even if you aren't able to plege, here's how you can still help:
Please repost/follow/comment!
When you click to FOLLOW this campaign, you help us to potentially unlock huge rewards from this platform which will help us with perks like free admission into film festivals and gear to actually shoot the film. Please find this button located below the video up top (when using a phone), or to the right hand side of the video (when using a computer).
We’ve built some simple social media post for you to copy/paste to your socials to get the word out below:
I just contributed to this film called “Happy”. Spooky yet also a good cause - nailed it! Join them here: https://bit.ly/happyshortfilm #HappyNeedsYou #HappyShortFilm
Help Happy Short Film by supporting BIPOC and queer filmmakers in this riveting horror/thriller film. Join them here: https://bit.ly/happyshortfilm #HappyNeedsYou #HappyShortFilm
Thanks for reading this and more importantly, thank you for your interest and support! This film has been in development for the past two years and it’s people like you who make this work worthwhile, who connect to the material and enable us as filmmakers to create stories that make a real change in the world.
Keep scrolling for more fun incentives.
THANK YOU!!!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Props, Wardrobe, Set Purchases
Costs C$1,640
Help us build the aesthetic of the film, from our sets to our actors wardrobes and props!
Artist Fees
Costs C$3,860
Your contribution will be going towards paying our independent cast & crew of local Toronto artists!
Festivals
Costs C$1,000
Help spread the word and see this powerful film at international film festivals around the globe!
Travel & Transport
Costs C$1,500
Helps us bring our team together with car rentals and gas money, and transport our film gear!
Catering & Craft Services
Costs C$2,000
Covers our coffee, snacks on set, and catering to feed our army of cast and crew during production!
Share this update!
About This Team
Happy began as an idea when I questioned my happiness during the early days of the pandemic. The feeling of depression was so prominent in our society at the time that I decide to hone into that. This film has a more profound resonance and personal connection to me as I have tried to take my life a long time ago, which you see depicted in the film's first scene. The fact that I even made an attempt and am still here today stood out as something to further interrogate. My initial thought about these subjects was: What if I was older and had more access? This idea sparked the inception of this work. Depression is a deadly and frightening illness, but it doesn't all feel like the wildest thing in the world when you've been through it. It feels like any other human experience: complicated.
This team was brought together as we all believe in the message behind this film and the social impact it will have on our society. It was my goal to find creatives who are passionate about the themes expressed in this piece. I met the Cinematographer Raymond while working on a teaser for a comedic series, and when I saw the work he was able to capture on-set, we connected instantly. Renjie our producer and I met while shooting a short film, his drive and passion for “making it happen” were qualities I admired in getting this done. With my vision, the Director’s eye, the Cinematographer’s lens, and the Producer’s savviness, we’re on track to create something bold.