Jellyfish
Los Angeles, California | Series
Comedy, Drama
She did coke off the dashboard. Now she's your public defender. Somehow, she's exactly right for the job.
Jellyfish
Los Angeles, California | Series
Comedy, Drama
1 Campaigns | California, United States
48 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$2,975
Goal: $8,000 for production
She did coke off the dashboard. Now she's your public defender. Somehow, she's exactly right for the job.
Participating In
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Becky is working-class, in recovery, and yet she's exactly the right person for the job. Her clients come from every walk of life. Her family is in chaos. Her personal life is unraveling in ways that are equal parts heartbreaking and hilarious. And somewhere in the middle of all of it, she finds her purpose.
She is surrounded by an ensemble of characters: a hopeless ex-boyfriend, her own chaotic family, a bizarre bunch of criminals, and an elderly woman with an important secret. They all make Becky's world feel like it's constantly about to collapse.
TONE/GENRE
Think the ensemble chaos of The Bear, the deeply human and bizarre humor of The Chair Company, the dark comedy and raw personal unraveling of Fleabag, the criminal underworld tension of Better Call Saul, and the wild, unpredictable energy of Anora or The Chair Company — all centered on one remarkable, messy, unforgettable heroine.
WHY THIS PROJECT?
It feels like audiences today are hungry for something that feels genuinely human — stories that are funny and heartbreaking in the same breath, with characters who are deeply flawed but impossible to look away from.
There's also something specifically urgent about a show centered on a public defender. These are the lawyers defending people with no money, no connections, and no real chance. But Becky moves through it with such chaotic energy and strange grace that it never feels like a lecture. It feels like life.
WE'VE ALREADY STARTED
As you have seen, we didn't wait. We filmed a test scene, and what came back from that shoot made us excited that this could be something special. The feedback has been consistent: people want to know what happens next. They're invested after just a few minutes.
THE PLAN
Ideally, we'd have the budget to shoot the full 49-minute pilot — complete with a "next week on Jellyfish" teaser. That's the partial dream: To exceed our budget target and make more of the pilot.
For now, we feel that $8000 is a realistic sweet spot. It could get us:
- A 30-minute piece that captures the full spirit and scope of the show — the characters, the tone, the world.
- A 15-minute self-contained version cut for the festival circuit, so we can build buzz, get the word out, and start the conversation to build an even bigger team.
- A first season series bible, developed in parallel, so we're ready when the right door opens.
The other part of the dream is to find a pathway to shooting an entire season, ourselves. But there are also many other possibilities, and simply getting our full story out into the world is, even by itself, an accomplishment we would be proud of. Sometimes, the best stories start at a humble place like this.
THE PRODUCERS
Marc Daniel's years in low-budget production made him wear all kinds of hats, from actor, to production assistant, to writer/director/producer to frequent makeshift plumber (bathrooms on locations never seem to work properly). He also learned the elaborate post-production process, which saves a lot in post costs. And producer Rami Al-Ubaidi runs a film equipment rental site while also working as a cinematographer, editor, and colorist. This is how we are able to stretch the value of our budget and bring a great project like Jellyfish to light.
WHY CROWDFUND?
Because this is exactly the kind of project crowdfunding was built for. Jellyfish doesn't fit neatly into a development checklist. It's too specific, too weird, too real. Crowdfunding lets us go directly to the people who get it: the ones who've laughed and cried with Fleabag, who stayed up finishing Better Call Saul, who love a story that doesn't condescend to them. Every dollar raised goes directly to the production. No overhead, no middlemen. Just the work.
THANK YOU!
Even if all you can do is 'heart' the campaign and become a follower, that is a huge part of the campaign and we truly appreciate it. This is a giant undertaking that needs a whole team and community behind it. Thank you for being a part of Jellyfish!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
LOCATIONS
Costs $1,700
We will get as much help as we can to keep costs down: Exteriors, Courthouse, Elderly apartment, Becky's aparment, Therapist Office...
CREW
Costs $3,000
These hard-working highly-skilled are helping us out with steep discounts, and we are very grateful!
CRAFTY/MEALS
Costs $800
Sustenance and water throughout the day, and meals to keep the creative juices flowing and great footage in the can!
Wardrobe/Props
Costs $500
Alas, we will do what we can with everyone's help to use clothes and things we can get from people helping :)
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
MARC DANIEL
Writer/Director/Producer
Marc has been working in the industry since the 90s and has worn many hats over the years. From playing a space pilot on a Saturday morning show, to unclogging toilets on low-budget location shoots, to premiering his first short film at the San Francisco Independent Film Festival, to being the main video engineer on HBO's Veep, and then returning to Montreal for family and learn a whole new version of the industry in a differnt city. In a way, it's been decades of prep for Jellyfish!
RAMI AL-UBAIDI
Director of Photography/Producer
Rami is the founder of Second Take Collective, a Montreal-based award winning cinematographer and photographer whose work blends emotion, atmosphere, and cinematic storytelling across film and photography.
https://secondtakecollective.squarespace.com/
JESSI BATTISTA
'Becky'
Watch Jessi in one of her break-out lead roles.
THOMAS MERCIER
'Jimmy'
DAVID FORNARI
'Reginald'
NY AVO ADRIANARISON
'Emilie Rasata'
SUZANNA LENIR
'Vicky'
KERWIN JACKSON
'Joseph'
JEAN NICHOLAI
'Liza'
LILY VANCE
'Cara'
DOREEN TANG
'Samantha Chen, Esq.'
MARCOS PAZ-BRICENO
'Lester'
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Becky is working-class, in recovery, and yet she's exactly the right person for the job. Her clients come from every walk of life. Her family is in chaos. Her personal life is unraveling in ways that are equal parts heartbreaking and hilarious. And somewhere in the middle of all of it, she finds her purpose.
She is surrounded by an ensemble of characters: a hopeless ex-boyfriend, her own chaotic family, a bizarre bunch of criminals, and an elderly woman with an important secret. They all make Becky's world feel like it's constantly about to collapse.
TONE/GENRE
Think the ensemble chaos of The Bear, the deeply human and bizarre humor of The Chair Company, the dark comedy and raw personal unraveling of Fleabag, the criminal underworld tension of Better Call Saul, and the wild, unpredictable energy of Anora or The Chair Company — all centered on one remarkable, messy, unforgettable heroine.
WHY THIS PROJECT?
It feels like audiences today are hungry for something that feels genuinely human — stories that are funny and heartbreaking in the same breath, with characters who are deeply flawed but impossible to look away from.
There's also something specifically urgent about a show centered on a public defender. These are the lawyers defending people with no money, no connections, and no real chance. But Becky moves through it with such chaotic energy and strange grace that it never feels like a lecture. It feels like life.
WE'VE ALREADY STARTED
As you have seen, we didn't wait. We filmed a test scene, and what came back from that shoot made us excited that this could be something special. The feedback has been consistent: people want to know what happens next. They're invested after just a few minutes.
THE PLAN
Ideally, we'd have the budget to shoot the full 49-minute pilot — complete with a "next week on Jellyfish" teaser. That's the partial dream: To exceed our budget target and make more of the pilot.
For now, we feel that $8000 is a realistic sweet spot. It could get us:
- A 30-minute piece that captures the full spirit and scope of the show — the characters, the tone, the world.
- A 15-minute self-contained version cut for the festival circuit, so we can build buzz, get the word out, and start the conversation to build an even bigger team.
- A first season series bible, developed in parallel, so we're ready when the right door opens.
The other part of the dream is to find a pathway to shooting an entire season, ourselves. But there are also many other possibilities, and simply getting our full story out into the world is, even by itself, an accomplishment we would be proud of. Sometimes, the best stories start at a humble place like this.
THE PRODUCERS
Marc Daniel's years in low-budget production made him wear all kinds of hats, from actor, to production assistant, to writer/director/producer to frequent makeshift plumber (bathrooms on locations never seem to work properly). He also learned the elaborate post-production process, which saves a lot in post costs. And producer Rami Al-Ubaidi runs a film equipment rental site while also working as a cinematographer, editor, and colorist. This is how we are able to stretch the value of our budget and bring a great project like Jellyfish to light.
WHY CROWDFUND?
Because this is exactly the kind of project crowdfunding was built for. Jellyfish doesn't fit neatly into a development checklist. It's too specific, too weird, too real. Crowdfunding lets us go directly to the people who get it: the ones who've laughed and cried with Fleabag, who stayed up finishing Better Call Saul, who love a story that doesn't condescend to them. Every dollar raised goes directly to the production. No overhead, no middlemen. Just the work.
THANK YOU!
Even if all you can do is 'heart' the campaign and become a follower, that is a huge part of the campaign and we truly appreciate it. This is a giant undertaking that needs a whole team and community behind it. Thank you for being a part of Jellyfish!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
LOCATIONS
Costs $1,700
We will get as much help as we can to keep costs down: Exteriors, Courthouse, Elderly apartment, Becky's aparment, Therapist Office...
CREW
Costs $3,000
These hard-working highly-skilled are helping us out with steep discounts, and we are very grateful!
CRAFTY/MEALS
Costs $800
Sustenance and water throughout the day, and meals to keep the creative juices flowing and great footage in the can!
Wardrobe/Props
Costs $500
Alas, we will do what we can with everyone's help to use clothes and things we can get from people helping :)
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
MARC DANIEL
Writer/Director/Producer
Marc has been working in the industry since the 90s and has worn many hats over the years. From playing a space pilot on a Saturday morning show, to unclogging toilets on low-budget location shoots, to premiering his first short film at the San Francisco Independent Film Festival, to being the main video engineer on HBO's Veep, and then returning to Montreal for family and learn a whole new version of the industry in a differnt city. In a way, it's been decades of prep for Jellyfish!
RAMI AL-UBAIDI
Director of Photography/Producer
Rami is the founder of Second Take Collective, a Montreal-based award winning cinematographer and photographer whose work blends emotion, atmosphere, and cinematic storytelling across film and photography.
https://secondtakecollective.squarespace.com/
JESSI BATTISTA
'Becky'
Watch Jessi in one of her break-out lead roles.
THOMAS MERCIER
'Jimmy'
DAVID FORNARI
'Reginald'
NY AVO ADRIANARISON
'Emilie Rasata'
SUZANNA LENIR
'Vicky'
KERWIN JACKSON
'Joseph'
JEAN NICHOLAI
'Liza'
LILY VANCE
'Cara'
DOREEN TANG
'Samantha Chen, Esq.'
MARCOS PAZ-BRICENO
'Lester'