Beyond the recycled tropes of "coming out," Honey & Milk depicts the ephemeral essence of non-cis, non-performative Nature, catching the raw moments of gender’s transit. This is a Queer story told by Queer folks; H&M asks us to reclaim unconditional love and define our embodied experience of gender.
Beyond the recycled tropes of "coming out," Honey & Milk depicts the ephemeral essence of non-cis, non-performative Nature, catching the raw moments of gender’s transit. This is a Queer story told by Queer folks; H&M asks us to reclaim unconditional love and define our embodied experience of gender.
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Story
Mission Statement
H&M was birthed from women & gender fluid folks who haven't seen their story: the fluidity of raw Queer love & femme power. We believe in uplifting an all-femme/GNC crew, in honoring the craft of transformative acting, and daring to create from our own vulnerable truths. It's ours to reclaim.About The Project
“Have you ever pulled a vegetable straight out of the ground and taken a bite? This is queer love.”
- Jennifer Parkhill
On the night Grayson leaves, Alice & Grayson experiment with ways of dismantling Grayson’s socialized masculinity while reconciling the end of their romantic partnership. After Alice tries making love to Grayson with a strap-on, they painfully find solace in one another: Grayson grappling with the unknown of gender's transit, Alice mourning her crumbling expectations of family life.
In pent-up fits of rage and sorrow, Alice yearns to do this together, regardless of Grayson's gender identity. Grayson urges Alice to let them be free, so they can discover themselves in their own sovereignty.
Image courtesy of Kimberly Millard
As the Sun rises on a new day, the two cook breakfast in quiet amends. The casualties of acceptance sink in. Amongst the swaying sunflowers, they share a final, heated embrace. Shirts open, skin on skin. Grayson drives away leaving Alice to mourn and, in the stillness, find immense pride for the person Grayson is becoming.
Honey & Milk will leave the audience contemplating how some of the most unconditional expressions of love often come at a personal cost. Love holds the sweet grief of impermanence.
Honey & Milk is an event: heart-forward art, unapologetic activism, & intersectional community collaboration. The team will hire an all-femme/genderqueer crew, pioneering a safe space for collaboration, creativity and equality. Amidst the pandemic, violence against trans folks, & infamous crew mistreatment, H&M exemplifies a newer and safer future for filmmaking.
To honor the craft of acting, Dame and JP will live as the characters for several days before production begins to backlog the relationship, and innately transform.
We are currently in the Development Stage: finalizing the script, location scouting, and engaging with nonprofits & local businesses to build community relationships.
The film will feel like an imminent memory. To accomplish savoring every moment, we will apply the following cinematic elements:
1) Strong color stories with in-camera and/or grain filters.
2) Shots that feel like a painting.
3) Shoot in 4:3 aspect ratio to emphasize the emotional processes of our main characters & give it a nostalgic ‘film strip’ feel.
4) Shoot tight and abstract during the intimate scenes. Key shots will look like two genderless humans in the frame.
5) It will be executed with a combination of handheld and tripod shots to show the psychological evolution of each character.
We're heavily inspired by the chemistry between the actors in Blue Valentine; the rich colors & poetic tone of Carol; the creative camera framing & method acting in Marriage Story; and the musical intimacy of Call Me By Your Name.
While I was on the leadership board for the Denver Chapter of the Human Rights Campaign from '06-11, each year we’d march on Capitol Hill and educate Representatives on the myriad of rights denied to the LGBTQ+ community. We influenced massive change for lesbians, gays, and bisexuals - but the trans community was always left behind. One trip, we invited a group of politicians to a film screening called, Trans. The crowd was so moved by it that the majority gathered afterwards, discussing gender identity until 3AM. It was at that moment that I realized I wanted to be a new kind of activist for trans rights: a filmmaker.
My sexual orientation and gender identity have always fallen somewhere among the gray areas of the queer spectrum: pansexual & genderqueer/nonbinary. I was drawn to Honey & Milk for so many reasons, but mostly because it’s a story of gender identity that I've yet to see. Most studio-backed productions use queer folks to portray archaic stereotypes or to fulfill a diversity quota.
This project is fresh and comes from a place of lived experience. In a time when we are more open to explore our gender identities, it’s important to examine the interpersonal dynamics affected by personal transformation. How does a romantic relationship survive? And if it doesn’t, how can we show an accurate and loving way to say goodbye?
-Lisa Donato (they/she)
After two years of drafts and pre-production meetings, we now know we are ready. We need your help to see this hard work through to the end!
Making movies is expensive and your donations go a long way. We need support to cover costs such as: equipment rental & kit fees, locations, payroll, etc. Our team is determined to pay all of our crew so no one is working for free or “doing a favor.” Collaborative equality & safety is our number one priority. With your help, we can move the needle on toxic set culture, protecting trans, NB & femme folx.
Please help us make this film a reality so we can share it with you & the rest of the world!
How else can I help?
Help us by liking the Honey & Milk Facebook Page, following Honey & Milk on Instagram, sharing our campaign on social media, and telling your fam & friends!
Feel free to copy & paste either of these blurbs to share on social media, thank you so much!
I just watched the pitch video for HONEY & MILK directed by filmmaker @directordonato and WOW, you've got to support this Queer & Trans short film! Join them on @honeyandmilkfilm and @seedandspark: https://bit.ly/honeyseedspark
Want to support Queer and Trans filmmakers? Pledge to @honeyandmilkfilm on @seedandspark! Pushing beyond the recycled tropes of “coming out,” HONEY & MILK expands through a portrayal of authentic femmes navigating their ever-changing hearts. Only with your help can we bring this incredible film to life! Support them on @honeyandmilklfilm @seedandspark: https://bit.ly/honeyseedspark
Incentives
$10
In Sincere Gratitude!
Let's us show our gratitude with a sincere THANK YOU on our social media!
**Please let us know your social media handles so we can tag you.
$25
Become a Vegetable and *Special* Thanks!
If you were a vegetable, what would you be? Don't know? Our team will figure it out for you and create a personalized Instagram image & tag you on our IG Story! PLUS a *special* thanks in the credits of the film.
**Please let us know your social media handles so we can tag you!
$50
Insider Scoop!
Exclusive access to our BTS photo library, Poster Designs, Inspo libraries, curated Spotify Playlist of Trans & Non-Binary Artists & list of films, poetry & visual art that inspired Honey & Milk.
+ "In Sincere Gratitude!" & "Special Thanks" in the credits
$75
Honey, Surprise!
A jar of Honey from a local farm - Two Hives Honey - handpicked and harvested just for YOU!
+ "Insider Scoop!","Special Thanks" in the credits & "In Sincere Gratitude!"
Claimed: 11 of 30
$100
Personalized Poem!
JP, an award winning poet and our Co-Writer/'Alice', will create a personalized poem for you that you can share on your social media pages!
**Please let us know your social media handles so we can tag you!
+ "Insider Scoop!", "Special Thanks" in the credits & "In Sincere Gratitude!"
$150
Up Your Screenplay!
Donato, our Director, will help breathe more life into your script by offering script doctoring and/or script feedback services for your short or feature!
+ "Insider Scoop!", "Special Thanks" in the credits & "In Sincere Gratitude!"
$200
Honey and Milk Yoga Sesh!
Join the Honey & Milk team for an exclusive, all levels, one-hour Zoom Yoga Class taught by our Co-Writer & 'Grayson', Damian!
Damian is 200hr Yoga Alliance Certified, and has over 3 years of yoga teaching experience, working online through the entire pandemic.
+ "Insider Scoop!","Special Thanks" in the credits & "In Sincere Gratitude!"
$250
Tarot Reading!
Damian will provide a past - present - future tarot read over Zoom!
Decks to choose from:- Wild Unknown Traditional Tarot
- Goddess Oracle
- Avatar: The Last Airbender Afro Deck!!
+ "Yoga Sesh!", "Insider Scoop!", "Special Thanks" in the credits & "In Sincere Gratitude!"
$500
Become a Homebrewer!
Tani, our Producer, will spend one hour with you over Zoom to teach you the basics of brewing your own IPA in the comfort of your own home!
+ "Yoga Sesh!", "Insider Scoop!", "Special Thanks" in the credits & "In Sincere Gratitude!"
$750
Honey and Milk Outdoor Screening!
A special invitation to our Community Screening in Austin, Texas once the film is completed. Let's celebrate a (future) job well done! Please note: we will not cover travel & lodging for this event.
+ "Yoga Sesh!", choice of "Become a Homebrewer!" or "Tarot Reading!", "Insider Scoop!", "Special Thanks" in the credits & "In Sincere Gratitude!"
$5,000
Executive Producer!
Look at YOU! Killin' it, you get the grand prize: An Executive Producer credit on the film and on IMDb if you choose.
+ "Outdoor Screening!"; "Yoga Sesh!"; choice of "Become a Homebrewer!" or "Tarot Reading!"; "Insider Scoop!"; & "In Sincere Gratitude!"
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
In Sincere Gratitude!
Let's us show our gratitude with a sincere THANK YOU on our social media!
**Please let us know your social media handles so we can tag you.
$25
Become a Vegetable and *Special* Thanks!
If you were a vegetable, what would you be? Don't know? Our team will figure it out for you and create a personalized Instagram image & tag you on our IG Story! PLUS a *special* thanks in the credits of the film.
**Please let us know your social media handles so we can tag you!
$50
Insider Scoop!
Exclusive access to our BTS photo library, Poster Designs, Inspo libraries, curated Spotify Playlist of Trans & Non-Binary Artists & list of films, poetry & visual art that inspired Honey & Milk.
+ "In Sincere Gratitude!" & "Special Thanks" in the credits
$75
Honey, Surprise!
A jar of Honey from a local farm - Two Hives Honey - handpicked and harvested just for YOU!
+ "Insider Scoop!","Special Thanks" in the credits & "In Sincere Gratitude!"
Claimed: 11 of 30
$100
Personalized Poem!
JP, an award winning poet and our Co-Writer/'Alice', will create a personalized poem for you that you can share on your social media pages!
**Please let us know your social media handles so we can tag you!
+ "Insider Scoop!", "Special Thanks" in the credits & "In Sincere Gratitude!"
$150
Up Your Screenplay!
Donato, our Director, will help breathe more life into your script by offering script doctoring and/or script feedback services for your short or feature!
+ "Insider Scoop!", "Special Thanks" in the credits & "In Sincere Gratitude!"
$200
Honey and Milk Yoga Sesh!
Join the Honey & Milk team for an exclusive, all levels, one-hour Zoom Yoga Class taught by our Co-Writer & 'Grayson', Damian!
Damian is 200hr Yoga Alliance Certified, and has over 3 years of yoga teaching experience, working online through the entire pandemic.
+ "Insider Scoop!","Special Thanks" in the credits & "In Sincere Gratitude!"
$250
Tarot Reading!
Damian will provide a past - present - future tarot read over Zoom!
Decks to choose from:- Wild Unknown Traditional Tarot
- Goddess Oracle
- Avatar: The Last Airbender Afro Deck!!
+ "Yoga Sesh!", "Insider Scoop!", "Special Thanks" in the credits & "In Sincere Gratitude!"
$500
Become a Homebrewer!
Tani, our Producer, will spend one hour with you over Zoom to teach you the basics of brewing your own IPA in the comfort of your own home!
+ "Yoga Sesh!", "Insider Scoop!", "Special Thanks" in the credits & "In Sincere Gratitude!"
$750
Honey and Milk Outdoor Screening!
A special invitation to our Community Screening in Austin, Texas once the film is completed. Let's celebrate a (future) job well done! Please note: we will not cover travel & lodging for this event.
+ "Yoga Sesh!", choice of "Become a Homebrewer!" or "Tarot Reading!", "Insider Scoop!", "Special Thanks" in the credits & "In Sincere Gratitude!"
$5,000
Executive Producer!
Look at YOU! Killin' it, you get the grand prize: An Executive Producer credit on the film and on IMDb if you choose.
+ "Outdoor Screening!"; "Yoga Sesh!"; choice of "Become a Homebrewer!" or "Tarot Reading!"; "Insider Scoop!"; & "In Sincere Gratitude!"
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
Lisa Donato (she/they) | Director
Donato is an award-winning filmmaker based in Austin where her work is dedicated to marginalized and underserved communities. In 2019, she was the recipient of the “Breakthrough Artist Award” which was given by aGLIFF (All Genders, Lifestyles & Identities Festival) and honored at SXSW. Her feature directorial debut, Gossamer Folds, has won over 20 grand jury and audience awards on the festival circuit and is set to release in Winter 2022. She co-wrote the feature film, Signature Move, which world- premiered at SXSW (2017), screened at 200+ festivals worldwide, and can now be found on Amazon Prime (certified 100%, Rotten Tomatoes). She recently wrote the feature screenplay, Gracefully Grayson, based on the young adult novel by Ami Polansky. It’s a coming-of-age, fantastical story about 12-year-old Grayson coming to terms with her gender identity.
Jennifer 'JP' Parkhill (she/they) | Co-Writer & 'Alice'
JP is an actor, director, writer, proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community & graduate of the Tisch School of the Arts, NYU where she received the award in excellence from the Atlantic Acting School. Jen vacillates between working behind and in front of the camera, often integrating her work as a spoken word artist into her film projects. Most recently, her poem “Yellow,” also used in the film Far Rock, winner of the Russel Hexter Film Production Grant, was awarded by Moleskine & Vocal for Pride Month’s True Colors Challenge.
Damian 'Dame' Joseph Quinn (she/they/he) | Co-Writer & 'Grayson'
Dame is an actress whose recent credits include Roy Cohn in Oscar-nominated US v. Billie Holiday, Brian in AppleTVs upcoming series Roar and the lead Alex in the Queer- horror Road Head (out on Amazon Prime). Damian graduated from NYU Tisch with an Honors BFA in ‘17 as the most outstanding actor & scholar of their class. Since then, Dame has spent years writing, directing & producing their own content, including devised Ritual Theater in Hawaii & improvisational sketch comedy. She’s a vegan, a healer and a yogi teacher.
Ivy Chiu (she/her) | Director of Photography
Ivy is an Austin-based cinematographer whose approach is intentional, authentic, story-driven, and always flexible for an adventure. She's contributed photography to documentaries like Oscar-nominated Boys State and camera operated on films such as Richard Linklater’s Apollo 10 1/2. Her latest work on Inbetween Girl premiered at SXSW '21 and won the Visions Audience Award.
Tani Paige Shukla (she/her) | Producer
Tani is an LA-based producer since 2017 after graduating from UT-Austin’s film program. She began producing in 2016 with the short “Sunshine and Rain,” which was supported by AFS & a Sundance Ignite Finalist. Her short film “Perdóname” was also awarded an AFS grant (2017), has screened at festivals internationally & premiered online on Film Shortage. Tani works at 20th Digital Studio as a Production Coordinator, provides script feedback for Roadmap Writers, and is a volunteer screener for the New Orleans FF & SXSW.
Xan Churchwell (they/them) | Associate Producer & Social Strategist
Xan is an actor, writer & creator, passionate about telling groundbreaking, thought-provoking stories by and for queer folks. As a nonbinary creator, their goal in life is to create art that represents gender non-conforming and trans folks. A lover of humans, they believe Honey & Milk is not only a healing story but a human story that all can relate to.
Rebecca Dreiling (she/her) | Line Producer
Rebecca is an Austin-Based Production Supervisor / Line Producer / Writer / Activist who strongly believes in inclusive film sets and leading with empathy, compassion, transparency, and non-violent communication. She believes everyone should have a seat at the table and will champion for anyone who may have been left out.
A NOTE ON COVID HEALTH & SAFETY
The health & safety of entire cast & crew is of the utmost importance to Honey & Milk. We will be providing ample PPE (KN95 & other masks, face shields, gloves for serving food & crafty, hand sanitizer, etc.), hiring a CCO on set, following standard testing guidelines & full vaccinations.
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