Interested In, Season 2
New York City, New York | Series
Comedy, Drama
Interested In is a coming of age original series about recently out college student, Parker. We follow his journey through gay sexcapades, in Philadelphia, as he begins to find himself after "the closet."
Interested In, Season 2
New York City, New York | Series
Comedy, Drama
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $15,000 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
179 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Interested In is a coming of age original series about recently out college student, Parker. We follow his journey through gay sexcapades, in Philadelphia, as he begins to find himself after "the closet."
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A NOTE FROM CREATOR, MICHAEL WITKES, on
NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY
As a queer child in the suburbs of Philadelphia, I naturally felt like an outcast. I stood out from the other boys, and “fag” was a word I grew accustomed to. I think, people that meet me now, take my confidence for granted. But it was a huge internal battle to accept that I was gay.
When I finally came out, I still had so much shame about my sexual identity. Taking on the label “gay” seemed hard enough. But now, I needed to figure out if I was a “twink” or “bear,” a “top” or “bottom.” So many binaries and so many boxes.
I was incredibly lost and had nowhere to turn. There were few role models or stories like mine. All the narratives about young gay men ended with the main character coming out or committing suicide. I was so sick of watching queer characters die. And I wanted to know what happened to the ones that lived through their shame.
Queer representation has taken amazing strides in the past few years. But I have yet to see an emphasis on realistic life directly after the closet. Queer media in the past has often had to create fantasy worlds for us to live in. I am passionate about depicting LGBT characters front and center in their everyday lives. So many films pan away as soon as things are about to get steamy in the bedroom. Interested In is unapologetic in depicting queer sex and sexuality. And all the messiness and awkwardness that comes with it.
On this National Coming Out Day, let’s celebrate queer identity. It is fragile, ever-changing, and oh so fun. Instead of quickly throwing labels on our recently out fam, let’s support them, and let them figure it out for themselves. If you believe in this message, then let’s #GetInterested, and make Season 2 a reality!
Season 1 was an official selection at 9 festivals, our trailer hit over 100K views on YouTube, and we were featured in Huffington Post and Queerty, among others. We’ve also taken home some awards and have been streaming worldwide on Amazon Prime through Dekkoo.com.
If we did all of this on a tiny budget, can you imagine what we could achieve with a legitimate amount of money?
We are SO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL to everyone who donated to make Season 1 possible. There isn’t a lot of funding for LGBT content from traditional sources – especially short form series. It’s only through the continued support of people like YOU that allow these stories to be told!
1. Make a pledge! Make a tax-deductible pledge (thanks to our fiscal sponsorship with From The Heart Productions) to our campaign today!
2. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Seed&Spark! If we reach 250 followers on our Seed&Spark page, we get some amaze perks. A follow goes a long way honey!
3. Share it! Like what you see, share it with your friends, right now!
What happens if all the money isn’t raised in time?
We need to reach 80% of our goal to hit the “green light” and receive the funds. If we don’t do this before the deadline, there will be no Season 2! So, it’s crucial that we have your support.
THANK YOU!!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Crew
Costs $5,000
To pay our capable crew and creative team what they deserve! Many returning from Season 1!
Cast
Costs $3,000
We want to hire a diverse, talented LGBTQ+ cast! Let's pay queer talent honey
Production Design/Wardrobe
Costs $1,000
Our set/wardrobe needs that queer sensibility. Help us serve the perfect queer aesthetic!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Equipment Rentals
Costs $2,000
Camera, lights, sound, and cinema equipment doesn't come cheap. Help us out gurl!
Craft Services
Costs $1,500
'Cause everybody gotta eat!
Supplies & Transportation
Costs $2,000
To transport ourselves, our crew, and our equipment from NYC to Philly for filming!
Production Insurance
Costs $500
Insurance isn't the cutest wishlist item, but it's essential for a safe work environment!
Share this update!
About This Team
MICHAEL WITKES (PRODUCER/WRITER/PARKER)
Michael is an NYC-based actor, writer, and director. He strives to create work that inspires social change, promotes acceptance, and explores sexual identity and shame. His series, Interested In, was an official selection at 8 film festivals, including Frameline. He won best actor, for his role of Parker, at FirstGlance Film Festival. Off Broadway: Camp Morning Wood. SDCF Observer to Joe Calarco. BA in Theatre, Muhlenberg College. Hangar Theater Lab Director 2015. Queen Mary, University of London 2013.
BLAYZE TEICHER (DIRECTOR)
Blayze Teicher (Director) is an award-winning director who develops Queer, magical, and political stories for theatre and film. She served as the Resident Director of the Off-Broadway's TRAINSPOTTING and as Artistic Associate/Resident Director of The Parsnip Ship, a podcast series of new plays paired with live music. She's developed new work at venues such as The Signature Theatre, Primary Stages, The Vineyard, BAM Attic, Wild Project, The Flea Theater, HERE Arts Center, and has assisted Broadway producers and directors. As a filmmaker, her work has screened across the country and has been featured on Huffington Post, Broadway World TV, Funny or Die, and Amazon Prime. SDC Associate Member.
BRENDAN SWIFT (DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
Brendan Swift is a veteran of the camera department working as a freelancer in New York City and across the country. Brendan has directed the photography recently on shorts Searching for the None, Gravidity, and Class starring David Krumholtz along with numerous independent short films, series, and music videos. As a member of ICG Local 600 he’s works as a Camera Operator with credits including Showtime’s The Desus and Mero Show and BET’s The Rundown with Robin Thede. Brendan is so proud to be a part of the Interested In team and looks forward to exploring the visual language to relate these universal moments in anybody's quest for romance. To check out his work and contact him directly please head to www.brendan-swift.com.
PHILLIP NGUYEN (PRODUCER)
The second son of Vietnamese immigrants living in Miami, Phillip Nguyen has been a resident of New York City since 2008. He was UPM for the upcoming feature film “Kingfish,” starring Molly Ringwald. He was also part of the production team that filmed “Last Fair Deal,” a short that is currently being adapted into a feature film shot in Mississippi that centers around Blues great Robert Johnson. Happy to be a part of the NYC Film community, he has gone on to produce videos for CBS, TIME Inc., BET, and NBC Universal, and is currently a Post Producer at Droga5.
DAVID SICILIANO
David is an award-winning video editor based out of NYC. Projects have ranged from primetime commercials to indie shorts and everything in between, including content for brands like NBC, Budweiser, Gatorade, and more.
THOMAS COUNTZ (DANNY)
Thomas Countz (Danny, u/s Beyonce) is stoked to continue to work with The Michael Witkes, et al. on Interested In! Thomas is a graduate of Syracuse University's School of Drama and an acting alum of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, London. Oh, Danny Boi is back!
ALEX BEECHKO (JESS)
Trained at Strasberg Institute, Atlantic Acting, Upright Citizen’s Brigade, and received a BFA from The Hartt Conservatory. Limited theatre credits include “A Christmas Carol,” the stage debut of “Snow Falling on Cedars” (Hartford Stage Co.),“Gynx” award winning play at NY Summerfest (received best actress nomination), “Personhood” (HERE Arts Center), the Valkyries (The Tank). Limited film credits include “Myth,” “The City is Like a Character in the Film,” “Samena," and “Hell House LLC II.” She completed her first short film “3-2-1,” a suspense film, screening internationally/domestically in the film festival circuit 2019-2020. Grateful to be telling raw, rich, inventive stories with familiar faces. Follow @thealexbeechko
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A NOTE FROM CREATOR, MICHAEL WITKES, on
NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY
As a queer child in the suburbs of Philadelphia, I naturally felt like an outcast. I stood out from the other boys, and “fag” was a word I grew accustomed to. I think, people that meet me now, take my confidence for granted. But it was a huge internal battle to accept that I was gay.
When I finally came out, I still had so much shame about my sexual identity. Taking on the label “gay” seemed hard enough. But now, I needed to figure out if I was a “twink” or “bear,” a “top” or “bottom.” So many binaries and so many boxes.
I was incredibly lost and had nowhere to turn. There were few role models or stories like mine. All the narratives about young gay men ended with the main character coming out or committing suicide. I was so sick of watching queer characters die. And I wanted to know what happened to the ones that lived through their shame.
Queer representation has taken amazing strides in the past few years. But I have yet to see an emphasis on realistic life directly after the closet. Queer media in the past has often had to create fantasy worlds for us to live in. I am passionate about depicting LGBT characters front and center in their everyday lives. So many films pan away as soon as things are about to get steamy in the bedroom. Interested In is unapologetic in depicting queer sex and sexuality. And all the messiness and awkwardness that comes with it.
On this National Coming Out Day, let’s celebrate queer identity. It is fragile, ever-changing, and oh so fun. Instead of quickly throwing labels on our recently out fam, let’s support them, and let them figure it out for themselves. If you believe in this message, then let’s #GetInterested, and make Season 2 a reality!
Season 1 was an official selection at 9 festivals, our trailer hit over 100K views on YouTube, and we were featured in Huffington Post and Queerty, among others. We’ve also taken home some awards and have been streaming worldwide on Amazon Prime through Dekkoo.com.
If we did all of this on a tiny budget, can you imagine what we could achieve with a legitimate amount of money?
We are SO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL to everyone who donated to make Season 1 possible. There isn’t a lot of funding for LGBT content from traditional sources – especially short form series. It’s only through the continued support of people like YOU that allow these stories to be told!
1. Make a pledge! Make a tax-deductible pledge (thanks to our fiscal sponsorship with From The Heart Productions) to our campaign today!
2. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Seed&Spark! If we reach 250 followers on our Seed&Spark page, we get some amaze perks. A follow goes a long way honey!
3. Share it! Like what you see, share it with your friends, right now!
What happens if all the money isn’t raised in time?
We need to reach 80% of our goal to hit the “green light” and receive the funds. If we don’t do this before the deadline, there will be no Season 2! So, it’s crucial that we have your support.
THANK YOU!!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Crew
Costs $5,000
To pay our capable crew and creative team what they deserve! Many returning from Season 1!
Cast
Costs $3,000
We want to hire a diverse, talented LGBTQ+ cast! Let's pay queer talent honey
Production Design/Wardrobe
Costs $1,000
Our set/wardrobe needs that queer sensibility. Help us serve the perfect queer aesthetic!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Equipment Rentals
Costs $2,000
Camera, lights, sound, and cinema equipment doesn't come cheap. Help us out gurl!
Craft Services
Costs $1,500
'Cause everybody gotta eat!
Supplies & Transportation
Costs $2,000
To transport ourselves, our crew, and our equipment from NYC to Philly for filming!
Production Insurance
Costs $500
Insurance isn't the cutest wishlist item, but it's essential for a safe work environment!
Share this update!
About This Team
MICHAEL WITKES (PRODUCER/WRITER/PARKER)
Michael is an NYC-based actor, writer, and director. He strives to create work that inspires social change, promotes acceptance, and explores sexual identity and shame. His series, Interested In, was an official selection at 8 film festivals, including Frameline. He won best actor, for his role of Parker, at FirstGlance Film Festival. Off Broadway: Camp Morning Wood. SDCF Observer to Joe Calarco. BA in Theatre, Muhlenberg College. Hangar Theater Lab Director 2015. Queen Mary, University of London 2013.
BLAYZE TEICHER (DIRECTOR)
Blayze Teicher (Director) is an award-winning director who develops Queer, magical, and political stories for theatre and film. She served as the Resident Director of the Off-Broadway's TRAINSPOTTING and as Artistic Associate/Resident Director of The Parsnip Ship, a podcast series of new plays paired with live music. She's developed new work at venues such as The Signature Theatre, Primary Stages, The Vineyard, BAM Attic, Wild Project, The Flea Theater, HERE Arts Center, and has assisted Broadway producers and directors. As a filmmaker, her work has screened across the country and has been featured on Huffington Post, Broadway World TV, Funny or Die, and Amazon Prime. SDC Associate Member.
BRENDAN SWIFT (DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
Brendan Swift is a veteran of the camera department working as a freelancer in New York City and across the country. Brendan has directed the photography recently on shorts Searching for the None, Gravidity, and Class starring David Krumholtz along with numerous independent short films, series, and music videos. As a member of ICG Local 600 he’s works as a Camera Operator with credits including Showtime’s The Desus and Mero Show and BET’s The Rundown with Robin Thede. Brendan is so proud to be a part of the Interested In team and looks forward to exploring the visual language to relate these universal moments in anybody's quest for romance. To check out his work and contact him directly please head to www.brendan-swift.com.
PHILLIP NGUYEN (PRODUCER)
The second son of Vietnamese immigrants living in Miami, Phillip Nguyen has been a resident of New York City since 2008. He was UPM for the upcoming feature film “Kingfish,” starring Molly Ringwald. He was also part of the production team that filmed “Last Fair Deal,” a short that is currently being adapted into a feature film shot in Mississippi that centers around Blues great Robert Johnson. Happy to be a part of the NYC Film community, he has gone on to produce videos for CBS, TIME Inc., BET, and NBC Universal, and is currently a Post Producer at Droga5.
DAVID SICILIANO
David is an award-winning video editor based out of NYC. Projects have ranged from primetime commercials to indie shorts and everything in between, including content for brands like NBC, Budweiser, Gatorade, and more.
THOMAS COUNTZ (DANNY)
Thomas Countz (Danny, u/s Beyonce) is stoked to continue to work with The Michael Witkes, et al. on Interested In! Thomas is a graduate of Syracuse University's School of Drama and an acting alum of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, London. Oh, Danny Boi is back!
ALEX BEECHKO (JESS)
Trained at Strasberg Institute, Atlantic Acting, Upright Citizen’s Brigade, and received a BFA from The Hartt Conservatory. Limited theatre credits include “A Christmas Carol,” the stage debut of “Snow Falling on Cedars” (Hartford Stage Co.),“Gynx” award winning play at NY Summerfest (received best actress nomination), “Personhood” (HERE Arts Center), the Valkyries (The Tank). Limited film credits include “Myth,” “The City is Like a Character in the Film,” “Samena," and “Hell House LLC II.” She completed her first short film “3-2-1,” a suspense film, screening internationally/domestically in the film festival circuit 2019-2020. Grateful to be telling raw, rich, inventive stories with familiar faces. Follow @thealexbeechko