Holy Fans
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Comedy, Drama
After moving in with her estranged queer sister, a freshly-ex-communicated Gen Z nun attempts to solve the male loneliness epidemic, one Lonely Fan at a time.
Holy Fans
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Comedy, Drama
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $27,012 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
152 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
After moving in with her estranged queer sister, a freshly-ex-communicated Gen Z nun attempts to solve the male loneliness epidemic, one Lonely Fan at a time.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Inspo
If you’re even a little bit online these days, you’ve no doubt seen someone wringing their virtual hands about the Male Loneliness Epidemic. “Men have no friends!” “They don’t do empathy!” “They can’t express their feelings!” gets shouted at us in every mode, from pithy memes to long-winded think pieces to anthropological studies. There is a real temptation for those of us who aren’t straight men to roll our eyes, and say, “you made your own lonely beds, go cry in ‘em.” But that bumps up against the artist’s innate desire to build community and extend empathy to everyone, especially those who are suffering.
What’s a gal to do?
Synopsis + Themes
Well, one thing we can do when we feel internal conflict and tension around a pressing social issue is MAKE ART ABOUT IT – that’s where the idea for HOLY FANS was conceived.
That inner conflict has been externalized into two characters, Vex and Maris, who are sisters. The younger sister, Maris, is a nun – which mirrors my own family constellation (and is a sibling dynamic rarely seen in media). The older sister, Vex, makes her living on OnlyFans. When Maris is forced to leave her convent and move in with Vex and her partner Cameron, she has to reckon with her sister’s unorthodox job as well as their ten-year sibling estrangement. And after Maris catches wind of the epidemic of loneliness sweeping the manosphere, both sisters have to grapple with the ex-nun’s inability to mind her own business in the face of human suffering.
HOLY FANS is a short film about grace and redemption.
How we fall apart, how we fight it out, and how we ultimately all just want to find our way home.
It's is a present-day dramedy set in The Valley, filming in Burbank this summer.
If you like comedies about siblings, about communities-bordering-on-cults, about figuring out what comes after the nervy b, and the power of finding out we’re all more alike than we are different – this is the movie for you.
(all principal cast are confirmed! yay!)
VEX :: the older sister
Cusp of 30, savvy and brash, icy exterior but with a marshmallow center
played by Shannon Purser (she/her).
SISTER MARIS STELLA :: the younger sister
late 20s but looks younger, beatific, placid on the outside but unraveling inside
played by Julia Belanova (she/they).
CAMERON :: Vex’s partner
30s, if the boy next door were non-toxic and non-binary
played by Esco Jouléy (they/them).
ROWAN :: Maris’s first disciple
early 30s, LA-handsome, sliding into toxicity but not there yet
played by Rowan Vickers (he/him).
Our Team...
is women-lead, bi-coastal, knows how to stretch a dollar (but keep it kind), and values a spirit of collaboration and competence over everything! You can read much more about each of us on the Team page, but in short, what brought us together is our genuine respect for each other and our love of telling entertaining, moving, important stories. We've all collaborated in the past -- in the theatre, on film, or as friends -- and we trust each other completely with our time, energy, and talents. The vibes, as they say, are Immaculate (intentional holy double entendre).
HOLY FANS aims for the lush visual pleasure of Sofia Coppola at the speed of Chappell Roan. It hopes to exist where the hyper-specificity of Wes Anderson’s visuals meets the grounded reality of Greta Gerwig’s dialogue. It feels like hot girl summer and doesn’t apologize for being messy, extra, cute, or queer.
The tone is high-brow comedy with an “oh-that’s-some-real-shit” undercurrent.
If you...
- Love stories about complex people and relationships
- Think you gotta laugh about your problems or you'll scream about them
- Find yourself sharing a lot of birth order memes
- Want to believe people are really good at heart, and more alike than we are different
- Always wondered what it's like to live with a person who doesn't curse
- Feel the themes and tensions at the heart of this story in your bones
- Want to see funny stories featuring amazing actors in beautifully-shot and designed settings
Then HOLY FANS is for you!
Having worked inside the Hollywood studio system for several years, I truly believe what’s missing from the movie-making landscape right now is SPECIFICITY.
Everyone has become so obsessed with reverse-engineering a four-quadrant billion-dollar hit, that they forget the most counterintuitive (but true) rule of storytelling: the more specific a story is, the more universal it becomes. Because ALL MOVIES (and novels, paintings, plays, etc) ARE GIFTS.
And gift-giving is risky. Any time you give one, you take the chance that the recipient won’t like it, or won’t “get” it, or will be bored by it.
But if you try to make a gift that literally anyone on the planet would accept, you end up with the movie (or novels, painting, play, etc) equivalent of fuzzy socks, or a vanilla-scented candle. No one can object to it, but also – NO ONE REALLY WANTS IT.
Most movies that DO become billion-dollar smashes (BARBIE, INSIDE OUT 2, BLACK PANTHER) have a very specific POV. They take that risk. They know who their audience is, and they offer them a beautiful gift. And anyone else who wants to take that gift as well can also have it.
It’s:
- Specific
- Empathic
- Risky
- Vulnerable
- Engaging
Storytelling
That’s exactly what we want HOLY FANS to do.
We want it to SERVE the audience (in the cute way).
Goal = $27,000
(see the full breakdown below, and on our Wishlist page)
Stretch Goal = $30,000
(flights for our actors, better equipment, better post, more advertising, more festival fees)
We only have 45 days to get the word out and fund this heartfelt, funny, singular short film!
We know with your help we can reach our goals and make HOLY FANS a reality.
Our Production Calendar:
Crowdfunding: now through July 7th (Chelsea's birthday!)
Pre-Production: July-early August
Principal Photography: August 15-17
Post-Production: Sept - November, 2025
Begin Festival Submissions (and sending out links so you can view the film!): December, 2025
But we can only achieve our ambitious timeline with your support!
Please support/contribute/repost/tell your friends you heard about this amazingly cool, homegrown, shooting-in-LA project.
Nobody does anything worthwhile alone (that’s kind of one of our themes), and every person who comes aboard * INCLUDING YOU! * makes this film bigger, cooler, more inclusive, and further-reaching than it was the moment before.
Become a Holy Fan, and help us SERVE up some specific storytelling about nuns, queers, lonely boys, The Valley, sisters, and starting over – THIS SUMMER! In a time when everything feels like it's falling apart, help us make a comedy about the weird ways that unexpected communities come together.
And please: SPREAD THE LOVE by reposting our campaign video, forwarding our emails, sharing your Holy Fans postcards, and tagging @HolyFans_Film on Instagram! The word of mouth would be an answer to our prayers!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast
Costs $2,700
Our principal cast are all SAG actors, and we will be paying them the SAG rates. Acting is skilled labor!
Crew
Costs $10,800
This pays our crew of 10-13 sound, lighting, camera, hair/makeup, etc production professionals who will make the movie magic happen on-set.
Equipment
Costs $3,000
This will go toward renting camera, lights, microphones, hard drives, costumes, props, and more for our three-day shoot.
Food
Costs $2,700
There will be 20-35 people on set most days, for 10-12 hours/day. It takes a lot of food, water, and coffee to fuel this army!
Fees
Costs $2,700
We're doing this all above-board (hand to God)! That means insurance and permits.
Housing
Costs $400
Some of our actors are coming in from out of town. They're paying for their own flights (angels!) but we're housing and transporting them.
Post-Production
Costs $3,200
Once principal photography is complete, it's time to pay the editor, colorist, composer, post-audio mixer, etc, to put the pieces together.
Festivals
Costs $1,500
This is the price of distribution -- getting the film out to audiences! Festival fees, posters, a trailer, etc, all help us find our people.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
CHELSEA MARCANTEL (she/her)
Reared by Cajuns in southwest Louisiana, Chelsea has lived and worked among the people of the Midwest, Appalachia, the Mid-Atlantic, and now the West Coast. She completed an American Playwrights Fellowship at The Juilliard School, and is the recipient of the Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theatre, the Osborn New Play Award, The Roe Green Award, and a few other encouraging Awards and Honors, including a nomination for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
As a member of the Walt Disney Animation Story Trust, Chelsea collaborated on such films as STRANGE WORLD, WISH, and MOANA 2, in addition to titles that have not yet been announced. She has developed live action and feature animation with Warner Brothers, Under the Influence, the Weinstein Co, and other Hollywood storytelling outfits. Chelsea lives and writes in Los Angeles. She is represented by CAA and Heroes and Villains.
MOLLY BECKER (she/her)
Originally from the S.F. Bay Area, Molly moved to Los Angeles in 2008. She graduated from CSUN's Cinema and Television Arts program in 2012 with an emphasis in Cinematography.
Following college, Molly worked freelance in both Camera and Electrical departments, moving up into the role of Cinematographer. For three years, Molly was the in-house DP at a children's media studio, where she filmed 500+ episodes of shows in a wide variety of genres, including adventure, comedy, horror, mystery, sci-fi, and talk show. In 2022, she co-founded 2nd Sticks, a company which rents camera equipment and provides crew to productions. What Molly enjoys most about production work is creating, collaborating and problem-solving with like-minded individuals.
TINA CARBONE (she/her)
Tina is an award-winning independent producer known for championing bold, personal storytelling and creating inclusive, well-run sets. She has produced over 70 short films and 7 features, with work premiering at festivals like Tribeca, SXSW, and beyond. With a strong background in physical production, Tina helps bring grounded, immersive films to life while fostering a culture of kindness and collaboration on set. She’s also a passionate advocate for women in film and an active mentor within the indie filmmaking community.
SHANNON PURSER (she/her)
Shannon is an Emmy nominated actor best known for her work on Netflix’s STRANGER THINGS and the CW’s RIVERDALE. She was most recently a principal cast member in Sam Pinkleton’s LA CAGE AUX FOLLES at The Pasadena Playhouse. As a queer woman raised in the religious South alongside three sisters, she feels uniquely qualified for this project.
JULIA BELANOVA (she/they)
Julia is an actor.
Film/Television: Five Nights at Freddy’s, Mayans (Recurring, Season 4 & 5), Lisa Frankenstein, Sugar.
Theatre: TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, San Francisco Playhouse, American Repertory Theater, Diversionary Theatre, Marin Shakespeare Company.
Julia graduated magna cum laude from Harvard, where she created a musical about Shirley Temple.
Upcoming films: Amador (feature) and Bluebeard (short).
Proud member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA.
ESCO JOULEY (they/them)
Actor, singer, dancer, clown, movement artist, creator. Recent credits: Dying For Sex (FX), State of the Union (Sundance), Blindspotting (Starz), High Maintenance (HBO), Inventing Anna (Netflix), Monsterland (Hulu), movement coach on In a Man’s World (Bravo). Theatre credits: Trophy Boys, Merry Me, Twelfth Night, Wolf Play, As You Like It, Interstate, Runaways, Galatea, Magic Theatre Player in The Demise, Beowulf. Other: resident actor at the historic Barter Theatre for three and a half years, alum of the ABC Discovers Talent Showcase. Recipient of the 2023 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Ensemble. @escojouley
ROWAN VICKERS (he/him)
Rowan is a Bermudian actor based in NYC. A graduate of The Juilliard School, he has been part of productions and developing plays with Second Stage (Broadway), New York Theatre Workshop, The New Group, Roundabout, Atlantic, Transport Group, The Playwright's Realm, Primary Stages, The Denver Center, The California Shakespeare Theatre, The Stratford Festival (Canada), Paper Mill Playhouse, Studio Theatre (D.C.), Alliance Theatre, and Santa Cruz Shakespeare. TV/Film credits include: “Silo” (Apple TV), “Instinct” (CBS), “Law And Order: SVU” (NBC), “Mayday” (Discovery), “Labor, Lies And Murder” (Lifetime Feature), “Three Dates” (Short, G44).
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Inspo
If you’re even a little bit online these days, you’ve no doubt seen someone wringing their virtual hands about the Male Loneliness Epidemic. “Men have no friends!” “They don’t do empathy!” “They can’t express their feelings!” gets shouted at us in every mode, from pithy memes to long-winded think pieces to anthropological studies. There is a real temptation for those of us who aren’t straight men to roll our eyes, and say, “you made your own lonely beds, go cry in ‘em.” But that bumps up against the artist’s innate desire to build community and extend empathy to everyone, especially those who are suffering.
What’s a gal to do?
Synopsis + Themes
Well, one thing we can do when we feel internal conflict and tension around a pressing social issue is MAKE ART ABOUT IT – that’s where the idea for HOLY FANS was conceived.
That inner conflict has been externalized into two characters, Vex and Maris, who are sisters. The younger sister, Maris, is a nun – which mirrors my own family constellation (and is a sibling dynamic rarely seen in media). The older sister, Vex, makes her living on OnlyFans. When Maris is forced to leave her convent and move in with Vex and her partner Cameron, she has to reckon with her sister’s unorthodox job as well as their ten-year sibling estrangement. And after Maris catches wind of the epidemic of loneliness sweeping the manosphere, both sisters have to grapple with the ex-nun’s inability to mind her own business in the face of human suffering.
HOLY FANS is a short film about grace and redemption.
How we fall apart, how we fight it out, and how we ultimately all just want to find our way home.
It's is a present-day dramedy set in The Valley, filming in Burbank this summer.
If you like comedies about siblings, about communities-bordering-on-cults, about figuring out what comes after the nervy b, and the power of finding out we’re all more alike than we are different – this is the movie for you.
(all principal cast are confirmed! yay!)
VEX :: the older sister
Cusp of 30, savvy and brash, icy exterior but with a marshmallow center
played by Shannon Purser (she/her).
SISTER MARIS STELLA :: the younger sister
late 20s but looks younger, beatific, placid on the outside but unraveling inside
played by Julia Belanova (she/they).
CAMERON :: Vex’s partner
30s, if the boy next door were non-toxic and non-binary
played by Esco Jouléy (they/them).
ROWAN :: Maris’s first disciple
early 30s, LA-handsome, sliding into toxicity but not there yet
played by Rowan Vickers (he/him).
Our Team...
is women-lead, bi-coastal, knows how to stretch a dollar (but keep it kind), and values a spirit of collaboration and competence over everything! You can read much more about each of us on the Team page, but in short, what brought us together is our genuine respect for each other and our love of telling entertaining, moving, important stories. We've all collaborated in the past -- in the theatre, on film, or as friends -- and we trust each other completely with our time, energy, and talents. The vibes, as they say, are Immaculate (intentional holy double entendre).
HOLY FANS aims for the lush visual pleasure of Sofia Coppola at the speed of Chappell Roan. It hopes to exist where the hyper-specificity of Wes Anderson’s visuals meets the grounded reality of Greta Gerwig’s dialogue. It feels like hot girl summer and doesn’t apologize for being messy, extra, cute, or queer.
The tone is high-brow comedy with an “oh-that’s-some-real-shit” undercurrent.
If you...
- Love stories about complex people and relationships
- Think you gotta laugh about your problems or you'll scream about them
- Find yourself sharing a lot of birth order memes
- Want to believe people are really good at heart, and more alike than we are different
- Always wondered what it's like to live with a person who doesn't curse
- Feel the themes and tensions at the heart of this story in your bones
- Want to see funny stories featuring amazing actors in beautifully-shot and designed settings
Then HOLY FANS is for you!
Having worked inside the Hollywood studio system for several years, I truly believe what’s missing from the movie-making landscape right now is SPECIFICITY.
Everyone has become so obsessed with reverse-engineering a four-quadrant billion-dollar hit, that they forget the most counterintuitive (but true) rule of storytelling: the more specific a story is, the more universal it becomes. Because ALL MOVIES (and novels, paintings, plays, etc) ARE GIFTS.
And gift-giving is risky. Any time you give one, you take the chance that the recipient won’t like it, or won’t “get” it, or will be bored by it.
But if you try to make a gift that literally anyone on the planet would accept, you end up with the movie (or novels, painting, play, etc) equivalent of fuzzy socks, or a vanilla-scented candle. No one can object to it, but also – NO ONE REALLY WANTS IT.
Most movies that DO become billion-dollar smashes (BARBIE, INSIDE OUT 2, BLACK PANTHER) have a very specific POV. They take that risk. They know who their audience is, and they offer them a beautiful gift. And anyone else who wants to take that gift as well can also have it.
It’s:
- Specific
- Empathic
- Risky
- Vulnerable
- Engaging
Storytelling
That’s exactly what we want HOLY FANS to do.
We want it to SERVE the audience (in the cute way).
Goal = $27,000
(see the full breakdown below, and on our Wishlist page)
Stretch Goal = $30,000
(flights for our actors, better equipment, better post, more advertising, more festival fees)
We only have 45 days to get the word out and fund this heartfelt, funny, singular short film!
We know with your help we can reach our goals and make HOLY FANS a reality.
Our Production Calendar:
Crowdfunding: now through July 7th (Chelsea's birthday!)
Pre-Production: July-early August
Principal Photography: August 15-17
Post-Production: Sept - November, 2025
Begin Festival Submissions (and sending out links so you can view the film!): December, 2025
But we can only achieve our ambitious timeline with your support!
Please support/contribute/repost/tell your friends you heard about this amazingly cool, homegrown, shooting-in-LA project.
Nobody does anything worthwhile alone (that’s kind of one of our themes), and every person who comes aboard * INCLUDING YOU! * makes this film bigger, cooler, more inclusive, and further-reaching than it was the moment before.
Become a Holy Fan, and help us SERVE up some specific storytelling about nuns, queers, lonely boys, The Valley, sisters, and starting over – THIS SUMMER! In a time when everything feels like it's falling apart, help us make a comedy about the weird ways that unexpected communities come together.
And please: SPREAD THE LOVE by reposting our campaign video, forwarding our emails, sharing your Holy Fans postcards, and tagging @HolyFans_Film on Instagram! The word of mouth would be an answer to our prayers!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast
Costs $2,700
Our principal cast are all SAG actors, and we will be paying them the SAG rates. Acting is skilled labor!
Crew
Costs $10,800
This pays our crew of 10-13 sound, lighting, camera, hair/makeup, etc production professionals who will make the movie magic happen on-set.
Equipment
Costs $3,000
This will go toward renting camera, lights, microphones, hard drives, costumes, props, and more for our three-day shoot.
Food
Costs $2,700
There will be 20-35 people on set most days, for 10-12 hours/day. It takes a lot of food, water, and coffee to fuel this army!
Fees
Costs $2,700
We're doing this all above-board (hand to God)! That means insurance and permits.
Housing
Costs $400
Some of our actors are coming in from out of town. They're paying for their own flights (angels!) but we're housing and transporting them.
Post-Production
Costs $3,200
Once principal photography is complete, it's time to pay the editor, colorist, composer, post-audio mixer, etc, to put the pieces together.
Festivals
Costs $1,500
This is the price of distribution -- getting the film out to audiences! Festival fees, posters, a trailer, etc, all help us find our people.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
CHELSEA MARCANTEL (she/her)
Reared by Cajuns in southwest Louisiana, Chelsea has lived and worked among the people of the Midwest, Appalachia, the Mid-Atlantic, and now the West Coast. She completed an American Playwrights Fellowship at The Juilliard School, and is the recipient of the Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theatre, the Osborn New Play Award, The Roe Green Award, and a few other encouraging Awards and Honors, including a nomination for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
As a member of the Walt Disney Animation Story Trust, Chelsea collaborated on such films as STRANGE WORLD, WISH, and MOANA 2, in addition to titles that have not yet been announced. She has developed live action and feature animation with Warner Brothers, Under the Influence, the Weinstein Co, and other Hollywood storytelling outfits. Chelsea lives and writes in Los Angeles. She is represented by CAA and Heroes and Villains.
MOLLY BECKER (she/her)
Originally from the S.F. Bay Area, Molly moved to Los Angeles in 2008. She graduated from CSUN's Cinema and Television Arts program in 2012 with an emphasis in Cinematography.
Following college, Molly worked freelance in both Camera and Electrical departments, moving up into the role of Cinematographer. For three years, Molly was the in-house DP at a children's media studio, where she filmed 500+ episodes of shows in a wide variety of genres, including adventure, comedy, horror, mystery, sci-fi, and talk show. In 2022, she co-founded 2nd Sticks, a company which rents camera equipment and provides crew to productions. What Molly enjoys most about production work is creating, collaborating and problem-solving with like-minded individuals.
TINA CARBONE (she/her)
Tina is an award-winning independent producer known for championing bold, personal storytelling and creating inclusive, well-run sets. She has produced over 70 short films and 7 features, with work premiering at festivals like Tribeca, SXSW, and beyond. With a strong background in physical production, Tina helps bring grounded, immersive films to life while fostering a culture of kindness and collaboration on set. She’s also a passionate advocate for women in film and an active mentor within the indie filmmaking community.
SHANNON PURSER (she/her)
Shannon is an Emmy nominated actor best known for her work on Netflix’s STRANGER THINGS and the CW’s RIVERDALE. She was most recently a principal cast member in Sam Pinkleton’s LA CAGE AUX FOLLES at The Pasadena Playhouse. As a queer woman raised in the religious South alongside three sisters, she feels uniquely qualified for this project.
JULIA BELANOVA (she/they)
Julia is an actor.
Film/Television: Five Nights at Freddy’s, Mayans (Recurring, Season 4 & 5), Lisa Frankenstein, Sugar.
Theatre: TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, San Francisco Playhouse, American Repertory Theater, Diversionary Theatre, Marin Shakespeare Company.
Julia graduated magna cum laude from Harvard, where she created a musical about Shirley Temple.
Upcoming films: Amador (feature) and Bluebeard (short).
Proud member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA.
ESCO JOULEY (they/them)
Actor, singer, dancer, clown, movement artist, creator. Recent credits: Dying For Sex (FX), State of the Union (Sundance), Blindspotting (Starz), High Maintenance (HBO), Inventing Anna (Netflix), Monsterland (Hulu), movement coach on In a Man’s World (Bravo). Theatre credits: Trophy Boys, Merry Me, Twelfth Night, Wolf Play, As You Like It, Interstate, Runaways, Galatea, Magic Theatre Player in The Demise, Beowulf. Other: resident actor at the historic Barter Theatre for three and a half years, alum of the ABC Discovers Talent Showcase. Recipient of the 2023 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Ensemble. @escojouley
ROWAN VICKERS (he/him)
Rowan is a Bermudian actor based in NYC. A graduate of The Juilliard School, he has been part of productions and developing plays with Second Stage (Broadway), New York Theatre Workshop, The New Group, Roundabout, Atlantic, Transport Group, The Playwright's Realm, Primary Stages, The Denver Center, The California Shakespeare Theatre, The Stratford Festival (Canada), Paper Mill Playhouse, Studio Theatre (D.C.), Alliance Theatre, and Santa Cruz Shakespeare. TV/Film credits include: “Silo” (Apple TV), “Instinct” (CBS), “Law And Order: SVU” (NBC), “Mayday” (Discovery), “Labor, Lies And Murder” (Lifetime Feature), “Three Dates” (Short, G44).