Roe v. Wade is overturned. Women, as young as 17, being imprisoned for having a miscarriage. The high percentage of death rates during birth among women of color. Only three examples, and yet it's enough to make your blood boil. Women's rights are human rights. The time for this film is now.

At only 8.5 pages, LABOR + JUSTICE deep dives into a powerful expose quickly and methodically. At the open, the audience does not know what is about to hit them as the judges begin to file into the courtroom cracking lude jokes and hurling insults. One may wonder why these judges have the qualifications to be there at all. Before you know it they are devouring chicken wings and beer as if this is a bachelor weekend, when suddenly, they grow quiet. The doors at the back of the auditorium fling open and a woman in labor is rushed into the room. The judges watch with hungry eyes, sauce dripping from their mouths and fingers, as a desperate scene unfolds before them.

 

There is more, but you'll have to wait till it's made. 

LABOR + JUSTICE, originally written in 2019, was not something that was born out of malice. Though Trump still held the presidency, the hope for a new president and justice on the horizon was something many women like me clung onto.

Then 2020 happened. Like all of my writing, I put this script aside and turned my focus toward my family.

Then came 2021. Like half of America, I wept with joy as a new president was named and even the first female vice president.

We are now in 2022. The pain of persecution in western Europe seeps its effects onto the rest of the World.  Roe v. Wade has been overturned, infuriating the public as women fear for their rights as human beings. And just recently, I read of a 21-year-old, Native American woman who was arrested for having a miscarriage. What will be next?

Returning to this script is not a coincidence. It’s an urgent display of the need for a woman’s right to choose. There is no time to lose.

A government that falls is not something that happens overnight.

The idea that art doesn't bring change is a lie. It is my hope that this film will bring awareness, change minds, and provoke change.

CHARACTERS

JUDGES

DOCTOR

WOMAN IN LABOR #1

WOMAN IN LABOR #2

NURSES

GUARDS

 

 

The film will shoot over two days. 

75% of the Campaign Goal we raise will be going directly towards paying the CAST & CREW. The rest of the funds, 25%, will go directly to location fees.

Sam and I have saved up enough to make it possible to acquire the necessities it takes to make this short film:

• gear rentals for camera/lighting/sound
• costumes
• set and art pieces
• props
• crafty and meals
• insurance
• fuel for out of town talent
• sound design
• music licensing

That being said the most vital key to production are the PEOPLE. While we are still operating on an indie film scale, we have increased the original rates we had budgeted to allow for pay that covers more than just gas. Indie rates from 2019 just aren't feasible in 2022. By crowdfunding the rest of the funds needed, we are giving ourselves the ability to fulfill the artistic direction of this film while paying our cast and crew a realistic amount. 

Also, it’s important to us that you know that Sam and I will NOT be taking a paycheck. All funds acquired will be given directly to our cast and crew and towards location fees.

Labor+Justice Table Read in June 2022

If we raise funds beyond the original target goal of $15,000, there are multiple key places those extra funds will go.

Hiring a composer that will create original music rather than buying off music sites.
Hiring a professional sound mixer and colorist. (Hey, even Sam has his limits).
Festival Submissions can cost $50-$80 on average, per festival. As you can imagine, that can quickly get expensive out of pocket. We want this powerful story to reach as many audiences as possible.
Hiring a graphic designer for Marketing Tools. We all know there is power in advertising. 

 

What YOU Get
There are many perks of contributing to this campaign! From a personal shoutout, keychain, button, or one of my very own original and quirky oil paintings, it's up to you! 

But it's not just that. Many of you have known me for a very long time. You've seen me hustle the film and acting scene for over a decade. By contributing to this project, you are not only helping getting it made, you are helping this powerful message reach an audience. I just want you to know how much that means to me.

 

If you find that you are passionate about helping the project, but not financially able to contribute at this time, help get the word out by promoting this campaign on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. Seed & Spark has tools right below the campaign's title at the top right of the page, that can help you share directly to your platforms!

 

Don't forget to click on THE TEAM tab below the video to read more about some of the talented people already attached to our project!