HELP YOURSELF centers around a young woman trapped in a day dream of what her life could look like. When she’s transported to an alternate reality where all of her dreams come true, she’s surprised to discover that nothing is quite as it seems.
HELP YOURSELF centers around a young woman trapped in a day dream of what her life could look like. When she’s transported to an alternate reality where all of her dreams come true, she’s surprised to discover that nothing is quite as it seems.
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Story
Mission Statement
As a Latinx filmmaker, representation is more important than ever. Our project aims to tell a coming-of-age story that is relatable to anyone struggling with their mental health. In the making of HELP YOURSELF, we plan on showcasing diverse talent in front AND behind the camera.About The Project
Anna Clara!
Our protagonist is, well, how do I say this? She's frumpy, definitely not the life of the party, and she's struggling to get her mental health back to where it once was. By this point in her life, Anna was hoping to have it all figured out. Clearly, things did not go according to plan. Anna is a fighter, but she needs a little bit of help coming out of her shell. Anna embarks on a journey of self-discovery when the doll she grew up with comes to life and helps her gain some confidence back.
Jenny!
She's a 21-year-old doll who used to be Anna's best friend. Jenny is beautiful, self-righteous, and isn't afraid to hurt people's feelings. She acts like Anna’s fairy godmother - if godmothers were brutally honest and only looking out for themselves. But behind her tough exterior, Jenny ultimately does care about Anna Clara and wants to see her succeed.
Who We Are! From a young age, HELEN always knew she wanted to be a writer. Then, while studying at UT Austin, she fell in love with storytelling. She spent two years working in comedy development as an assistant at Kapital Entertainment. After that, she worked on live-action and animated shows for Netflix. On the side, Helen has been cultivating her next slate of short films. She is currently living in Los Angeles.
SHANDREA EVANS is an LA-based writer-filmmaker-actor originally from Augusta, GA. She intentionally uses her work to explore the nuances, heart and humor of marginalized folk—particularly women of color. Shandrea has collaborated with innovative storytelling brands like Issa Rae Productions and Google. She is a proud 2020 Women in Film INSIGHT Fellow and a mentee in the 2021 #Startwith8Hollywood program. She’s beyond thrilled to get back on set and make magic with the Help Yourself team.
From a young age, MARIA CORSO was inspired by her large, Italian immigrant family, who were vivid storytellers. After eight years of training in the theater, Maria's love of performing arts developed into an obsession with on-screen cinema. Maria graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts in Film. Armed with an extensive knowledge of film, including both foreign cinema and documentary, she is passionate about telling stories that have an authenticity and realism - films that have something to say about the human experience.
Growing up, NICOLE CAMPBELL always knew she wanted to work in the world of film and entertainment. She studied theater and dance for over 10 years and has extensive knowledge and experience in coordinating various aspects of production. Nicole has worked on major film sets, red carpets, studio lots, and award shows, including the Toronto International Film Festival, the Tribeca Film Festival, the EMMYs, and more. In her career, she has produced various short films, advertisements, and music videos for all types of genres. Most recently, she produced the short film, “Polly Pocket,” which has been deemed an official selection by 17 festivals worldwide.
ALAN LUNA is a Casting Director for TV, film and animation. He has cast and consulted on a number of projects for Netflix, HBOMax, Disney Channel, Marvel Studios, Nickelodeon, Amazon and countless others. As a first generation Mexican-American, Alan believes supporting emerging artists in their filmmaking process can create a positive impact in our industry. On any project, Alan offers an established industry perspective, as well as a deep understanding and respect for emerging actors on their path, and filmmakers manifesting their vision.
ANDRE FERNANDEZ is a Mexican-American cinematographer from Texas. Andre is based in New York City. He graduated from UT Austin in 2020 and is currently working full time at Hand Held Films Inc.
How You're Helping Us!
- Your contributions will help us in reaching our goal in order to pay our cast and crew for their commitment, especially during a pandemic. We will be going above and beyond to make sure we're following COVID protocols and making sure that everyone on set feels safe.
What We're Doing
- Aside from getting our friends and family to pledge a donation, we'll be sharing our story through social media in hopes of getting others excited about this project.
- If you're not able to make a contribution, be a part of our team by sharing this page on your social media. Find us on Instagram and Twitter! And share this Seed and Spark campaign!
- On top of crowdfunding, our team is actively seeking funds through scholarships and grants.
Action and Commitment
- Shooting is scheduled for the end of May. We're looking forward to releasing HELP YOURSELF on Vimeo and YouTube, and then putting it through the film festival circuit.
- If we're able to meet our stretch goal of 24k dollars, we'll be able to start planning the shoot of episodes three and four.
What this project means to me...
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As a Latina in Hollywood, these past few years have been extremely inspiring. We're slowly seeing more representation in front and behind the camera.
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However, we have a long way to go. For me, the days of fitting us into a box, are long gone.
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We want to keep creating content that is inclusive and reflective of our world. Your support will make this possible!
Incentives
$10
Thank You Shout Out
- A special THANK YOU! shout out on Socials (Twitter and Instagram) from our writer/director.
$25
Watch Episodes One and Two
- A private link to watch episodes ONE and TWO of HELP YOURSELF.
$50
A private link to watch both episodes PLUS a special behind-the-scenes look at the making of our web series!
- A private link to watch episodes ONE and TWO
- PLUS bonus behind-the-scenes footage of the crew and cast on set!
- A personalized polaroid from set
$100
A One-hour Session with a Financial Specialist
- Wanna start investing, but you're not sure how? You'll get a one-hour session with a financial specialist who can answer any questions you may have about stocks, trading, and your 401(k).
$200
An Exclusive NFT and Special Thanks in the Credits
- An exclusive non-fungible token of episode one.
- Special thanks in the credits!
$500
VIP Invite to Virtual Table Read + Signed Script
- An invitation to our virtual script reading with talent + signed scripts of the first two episodes.
- Previous incentives.
$1,000
Associate Producer Credit
- Associate Producer Credit
- Invitation to Wrap Party & Web Series Premiere
- Previous Incentives
$5,000
Exclusive Executive Producer Credit + Option to name one of our Characters
- Exclusive Executive Producer Credit, IMDB Credit, Option to name one of the characters in our series
- Prominent Title Card in Closing Credits + Full Digital Behind the Scenes Experience
- Previous Incentives
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
Thank You Shout Out
- A special THANK YOU! shout out on Socials (Twitter and Instagram) from our writer/director.
$25
Watch Episodes One and Two
- A private link to watch episodes ONE and TWO of HELP YOURSELF.
$50
A private link to watch both episodes PLUS a special behind-the-scenes look at the making of our web series!
- A private link to watch episodes ONE and TWO
- PLUS bonus behind-the-scenes footage of the crew and cast on set!
- A personalized polaroid from set
$100
A One-hour Session with a Financial Specialist
- Wanna start investing, but you're not sure how? You'll get a one-hour session with a financial specialist who can answer any questions you may have about stocks, trading, and your 401(k).
$200
An Exclusive NFT and Special Thanks in the Credits
- An exclusive non-fungible token of episode one.
- Special thanks in the credits!
$500
VIP Invite to Virtual Table Read + Signed Script
- An invitation to our virtual script reading with talent + signed scripts of the first two episodes.
- Previous incentives.
$1,000
Associate Producer Credit
- Associate Producer Credit
- Invitation to Wrap Party & Web Series Premiere
- Previous Incentives
$5,000
Exclusive Executive Producer Credit + Option to name one of our Characters
- Exclusive Executive Producer Credit, IMDB Credit, Option to name one of the characters in our series
- Prominent Title Card in Closing Credits + Full Digital Behind the Scenes Experience
- Previous Incentives
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
HELP YOURSELF is written and directed by Helen Fernandez. Helen attended The University of Texas at Austin, where she received a BA in Journalism and Film. As a first-generation American woman, she often feels trapped between two cultures: her Mexican culture and her American side. Today, she embraces her identity crisis and channels it into her writing. Helen is also an active member of the Latinx Tracking Board, which hosts reunions once a month and showcases industry leaders who can speak to the Latinx experience.
Last year, Helen was selected to be a part of Women In Film’s mentorship program for emerging talent. This program has been an invaluable resource to Helen, as it pushes her to ask better questions and to open up about her own journey as a young, Latinx writer.
Helen is currently working on NBC's AMERICAN AUTO. Prior to this, she spent two years working in comedy development at Kapital Entertainment, where she worked on shows like The Neighborhood (CBS), A Million Little Things (ABC), and Merry Happy Whatever (Netflix).
The amazing team behind HELP YOURSELF is made up of Nicole Campbell and Maria Corso. They're the producers behind FIVE FOOT TWO PRODUCTIONS, a production company specializing in creating captivating stories and bringing them to life. Nicole and Maria have been friends since college, but have recently joined forces since establishing their own production company last year.
Alan Luna is a Mexican-American Casting Department professional, witer, and producer for TV and film. His introduction in the entertainment industry came in 2011 while working in casting and development for non-scripted and documentary-style projects for US markets.
Andre Fernandez is a recent UT grad and a cinematographer from Texas. Andre has extensive knowledge in film and digital mediums. He's passionate about telling cinematic stories with passionate creatives.
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