Lady Kings of Texas
Austin, Texas | Film Feature
Comedy, Drama
Lady Kings of Texas is a 90-minute dark comedy feature film that explores the potential consequences of a post-Roe future. Laugh, cry, and fight back with us as we challenge those who believe women should not have control over decisions concerning their bodies.
Lady Kings of Texas
Austin, Texas | Film Feature
Comedy, Drama
1 Campaigns | Texas, United States
480 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$58,753
Goal: $60,000 for production
Lady Kings of Texas is a 90-minute dark comedy feature film that explores the potential consequences of a post-Roe future. Laugh, cry, and fight back with us as we challenge those who believe women should not have control over decisions concerning their bodies.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
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Remember when we thought this couldn't happen?:
Yeah, us too. It's crazy, right?
When we brainstormed ideas for our feature film, Roe v. Wade had already been overturned. Women’s rights everywhere were being attacked. Not to mention many of us, being from Texas, witness every day how strict abortion laws negatively impact regular women in a variety of ways. (Kate Cox, anyone?)
We imagined a story set in the near future where Texas finally fulfills its threat of seceding from the Union and forming its own rebel Government– while telling us how they really feel about childless cat ladies.
That story became Lady Kings of Texas, a 90-minute dark comedy feature film that asks, "What happens when politicians take their agendas to the extreme?"
As women past our 20's in the entertainment industry, we were having a hard time finding work where we're more than the "wife," "mother," or "girlfriend." Women make up 50% of the population and while some progress has been made, our stories are still underrepresented in the industry, meaning a lack of options in quality work and entertainment. Not to mention, if you're a woman over 35 and not already famous? Forget it.
We believe the film industry underserves us all, so we're making the kind of dark-comedy feature film we want to see onscreen– a satisfying story that allows us to be complex, messy, and human.
Are you a woman?
Are you friends with a woman?
Were you born of a woman?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then caring about what happens to the women in your life and whether or not they have autonomy over their own bodies should matter to you too.
Being a woman is SUPER NUANCED and our experiences and opinions are colored by our upbringings and variables like religion, ethnic culture, age, and socioeconomic background. Our team is 87.5% women (yes we did the math. Don't believe us, check out our team below!)--so basically, we cover a lot of bases. And we've come together and decided we want to do something about the state of things as we view it. But we also wanna laugh so we don't cry! And because we know you have a woman somewhere in your past, present, or future that you care about, we humbly ask that you join us. 
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KATHERINE DUDAS: Writer/Director
Katherine Dudas directed, co-wrote, and edited the feature film Juniper, which premiered at the prestigious Santa Barbara International Film Festival and received rave reviews and several offers for distribution. Juniper was acquired by STX Entertainment and sold to Showtime and Paramount+. Katherine's work has been featured on Whohaha, Funny or Die, Reductress, and Bustle. She's performed in comedy shows Off-Broadway and on a team at Upright Citizens Brigade. Her digital comedy show has over half a million views. Coming from an improv comedy background, she is dedicated to telling heartfelt and truthful stories through a comedic lens. Her screenplay for Lady Kings of Texas was lauded as being in the Top 20% of Austin Film Festival's 2024 scripts, and her second feature film is currently in post-production. 
CARLY CHRISTOPHER: Producer/Actor
Meet Carly, who splits her time between Austin, TX, and Jackson, WY. This talented artist wears many hats: professional actor, witty content creator, and wordsmith-extraordinaire. Her sidesplitting social media posts and TikTok (with over 2.7 million likes) have won the hearts of thousands of followers. She's also the go-to gal for commercials, having starred in over 70 ads for big names like Jeep, Home Depot, Nissan, and more. You can catch her shows like Duster by producer J.J Abrams (Max) and The Really Loud House (Nickelodeon). She gives back by being a board member of The Alchemy Theatre and Creative Action in Austin, and a member of the University of Texas Performing Arts Leadership Committee.
GIOVANNIE CRUZ: Producer/Actor
Meet Giovannie, the operatically-trained, multi-talented Puerto Rican artist who bounces between the bright lights of Los Angeles, California, and the big hats of Dallas, Texas. You might have spotted her shining in big-budget hits like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 (Marvel), The Suicide Squad (Warner Bros), and Reminiscence (Warner Bros.) across from Hugh Jackman, to name a few. She's also visible in silver screen projects like Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, helmed by Eddie Murphy & Jerry Bruckheimer and recently released on Netflix, and TV shows like Queen of the South (USA), NCIS: New Orleans (CBS), and Queen Sugar (OWN). Plus, she's flexed her vocal cords as an anime voice actor and rocked as music director for Sony's Crunchyroll Productions.
ELISABETH NESS: Producer/Actor
Elisabeth is an award-winning filmmaker and actor based in the Big Apple. The Yale alumna's work has been reviewed as "especially funny" (New York Times), "razor-sharp" (Washington Post), and "hilarious" (Times Herald-Record). Take the Lead named her one of its "50 Women Can Change the World in Media & Entertainment." Onscreen appearances include CBS's Bull & FBI, Amazon's Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Marvel's Daredevil, and Lady in the Lake (Apple TV+) with Natalie Portman. Among the 61 projects she's produced, Elisabeth created the hit digital comedy series Redheads Anonymous; featured in USA Today, Huffington Post, and Tubefilter, it garnered dozens of awards and nominations at festivals worldwide.
KENNEISHA THOMPSON: Co-Producer/Actor
Hailing from the land of Dallas, TX, Kenneisha boasts an impressive resume including stellar performances in Love & Death (HBO Max), Grey's Anatomy (ABC), Secrets of Sulphur Springs (Disney+) and Dallas (TNT). She's rubbed elbows with Hollywood bigwigs like David Oyelowo, William H. Macy, and Brittany Snow, and even snagged a gig as the voice of "Lady Aurelia Hammerlock" in the Borderlands series, much to the delight of gaming fans. Brace yourself for more of Kenneisha's talent as she appears in a recurring role in the Paramount+ series Lawman: Bass Reeves!
KRYSTAL RIGGS: Co-Producer
Krystal is an actor often seen elbows deep in an Arden edition of a Shakespeare play. In NYC she appeared on stage in Theatre for a New Audience's Off-Broadway public workshops of Henry IV with Jay O Sanders and Richard II with Christian Camargo, and worked as a casting assistant at TFANA for 4 seasons. She was a standby for Jennifer Ehle in a reading of Phèdre and just worked as a rehearsal cover on the Broadway transfer of Sam Mendes & Jez Butterworth's, The Hills of California. When she’s not treading the boards she’s likely acting in an indie film. That’s where the good stuff is, right? She is excited to join the Lady Kings of Texas team as a co-producer.
AMANDA LEE: Social Media Producer
Amanda is a three-time Emmy-nominated television producer from Washington, DC. In addition to producing the shows Get Out of Town and Signature Dish on WETA, the local PBS affiliate, she has amassed 1.8 million likes and over 12 million views on her personal TikTok. Amanda professionally specializes in social media strategy for both her shows and now for the Lady Kings of Texas. Known for her strong leadership and quick wit, Amanda easily rolls with the punches, whether on location or online.
Making a feature film is a big, expensive thing and our actual budget for this film is much higher than this campaign. But we've been working hard to privately fundraise and secure in-kind donations to help reduce our public ask. Lucky for us, we've connected with generous backers, one of which is donating us the use of their sprawling ranch, significantly reducing the cost of our shoot.
Still, we need your help because this $60k is the final key to helping us unlock this production.
Here's our ✨ eternal gratitude ✨
Ugh, want more? Alright, alright, got it. Good thing we put together some AH-MAZING incentives!
Check ‘em out to your right (or above on the INCENTIVES tab if you're on your tablet or phone)! You’re welcome.
Want more ways to support Lady Kings of Texas?
Find us on your social media platform of choice by searching and following @LadyKingsofTexas
and/or share this page with a friend!
Lady Kings of Texas, LLC- 202 Nueces St, Austin, Texas 78701
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Donate a RV, or Help us Rent One!
Costs $5,000
Help us keep our cast & crew safe and comfortable while we film on our remote Texas ranch! This cost covers an RV for 30 days!
Partial Remote Catering Costs
Costs $15,000
Help feed our crew! While we'll be 30 minutes from the grocery store, a dedicated remote catering service will ensure we get fed daily!
Grip Truck Package + Gas
Costs $13,000
At $720/ day this truck has all the lighting and electrical gear we may need at our remote location. It will save us time and stress!
Production Insurance
Costs $3,000
This insurance is maintained over the shoot and is required by rental houses and SAG-AFTRA to begin production.
Partial Crew Hire Costs
Costs $24,000
Help us pay for our crew! We intend to hire local Texas talent to cover our crew. With your help, we can hire the best!
Share this update!
About This Team
We’re a badass team of passionate, hard-working and multi-talented LEGENDS.
We're proudly:
✔️Mostly female
✔️Mostly Texan
(with a healthy dose of New England)
✔️Ethnically & Culturally Diverse
✔️Entirely AWESOME!
KATHERINE DUDAS
Writer/Director
Katherine Dudas directed, co-wrote, and edited the feature film Juniper, which premiered at the prestigious Santa Barbara International Film Festival and received rave reviews and several offers for distribution. Juniper was acquired by STX Entertainment and sold to Showtime and Paramount+. Katherine's work has been featured on Whohaha, Funny or Die, Reductress, and Bustle. She's performed in comedy shows Off-Broadway and on a team at Upright Citizens Brigade. Her digital comedy show has over half a million views. Coming from an improv comedy background, she is dedicated to telling heartfelt and truthful stories through a comedic lens. Her screenplay for Lady Kings of Texas was lauded as being in the Top 20% of Austin Film Festival's 2024 scripts, and her second feature film is currently in post-production.
CARLY CHRISTOPHER
Producer/Actor
Meet Carly, who splits her time between Austin, TX, and Jackson, WY. This talented artist wears many hats: professional actor, witty content creator, and wordsmith-extraordinaire. Her sidesplitting social media posts and TikTok (with over 2.7 million likes) have won the hearts of thousands of followers. She's also the go-to gal for commercials, having starred in over 70 ads for big names like Jeep, Home Depot, Nissan, and more. You can catch her shows like Duster by producer J.J Abrams (Max) and The Really Loud House (Nickelodeon). She gives back by being a board member of The Alchemy Theatre and Creative Action in Austin, and a member of the University of Texas Performing Arts Leadership Committee.
GIOVANNIE CRUZ
Producer/Actor
Meet Giovannie, the operatically-trained, multi-talented Puerto Rican artist who bounces between the bright lights of Los Angeles, California, and the big hats of Dallas, Texas. You might have spotted her shining in big-budget hits like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 (Marvel), The Suicide Squad (Warner Bros), and Reminiscence (Warner Bros.) across from Hugh Jackman, to name a few. She's also visible in silver screen projects like Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, helmed by Eddie Murphy & Jerry Bruckheimer and recently released on Netflix, and TV shows like Queen of the South (USA), NCIS: New Orleans (CBS), and Queen Sugar (OWN). Plus, she's flexed her vocal cords as an anime voice actor and rocked as music director for Sony's Crunchyroll Productions.
ELISABETH NESS
Producer/Actor
Elisabeth is an award-winning filmmaker and actor based in the Big Apple. The Yale alumna's work has been reviewed as "especially funny" (New York Times), "razor-sharp" (Washington Post), and "hilarious" (Times Herald-Record). Take the Lead named her one of its "50 Women Can Change the World in Media & Entertainment." Onscreen appearances include CBS's Bull & FBI, Amazon's Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Marvel's Daredevil, and Lady in the Lake (Apple TV+) with Natalie Portman. Among the 61 projects she's produced, Elisabeth created the hit digital comedy series Redheads Anonymous; featured in USA Today, Huffington Post, and Tubefilter, it garnered dozens of awards and nominations at festivals worldwide.
KENNEISHA THOMPSON
Co-Producer/Actor
Hailing from the land of Dallas, TX, Kenneisha boasts an impressive resume including stellar performances in Love & Death (HBO Max), Grey's Anatomy (ABC), Secrets of Sulphur Springs (Disney+) and Dallas (TNT). She's rubbed elbows with Hollywood bigwigs like David Oyelowo, William H. Macy, and Brittany Snow, and even snagged a gig as the voice of "Lady Aurelia Hammerlock" in the Borderlands series, much to the delight of gaming fans. Brace yourself for more of Kenneisha's talent as she appears in a reoccurring role in the Paramount+ series Lawman: Bass Reeves!
KRYSTAL RIGGS
Co-Producer
Krystal is an actor often seen with her nose in an Arden edition of a Shakespeare play. In NYC she appeared on stage in Theatre for a New Audience's Off Broadway public workshops of Henry IV with Jay O Sanders and Richard II with Christian Camargo, and worked as a casting assistant at TFANA for 4 seasons. She was a standby for Jennifer Ehle in a reading of Phèdre at Red Bull Theater and worked as a rehearsal cover on the Broadway transfer of Sam Mendes & Jez Butterworth's, The Hills of California. Krystal is also a company ensemble member of PopUP Theatrics. When she's not treading the boards she's likely acting in an indie film.That’s where the good stuff is, right? This year Hundreds debuted at the Oscar eligible HollyShorts Film Festival and The Other Christmas will debut later this year. She is excited to join the Lady Kings of Texas team as a co-producer.
AMANDA LEE
Social Media Producer
Amanda is a three-time Emmy-nominated television producer from Washington, DC. In addition to producing the shows Get Out of Town and Signature Dish on WETA, the local PBS affiliate, she has amassed 1.8 million likes and over 12 million views on her personal TikTok. Amanda professionally specializes in social media strategy for both her shows and now for the Lady Kings of Texas. Known for her strong leadership and quick wit, Amanda easily rolls with the punches, whether on location or online.
Emrys Erica Beauchamp: Emrys Beauchamp is an American stage, film, and television actress born in Jersey City, New Jersey to parents Irene Arcé and Raphael Arcé. She graduated with a degree in Fine Arts and an advanced certification in Yoga Studies from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston, MA, and the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, MA. She studied acting with Ruben Caballero, Kim Jackson Davis, Carol Hickey, and Paul Normandin in Austin, Texas.
Olivia Helaine: Olivia Helaine is a NYC-based actress and producer originally from Connecticut. Her work has been featured on CBS, Lifetime, and various short and feature films over the years. She recently launched a podcast, Beyond the Marks, which bridges the gap between actors and crew members, so we can all be better coworkers to each other. Check it out on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
Natalie Joy: Natalie Joy is an actor, filmmaker and musician based in Austin, Texas. She enjoys a budding on-camera career, appearing in Richard Linklater's Apollo 10 & 1/2 now streaming on Netflix as well as commercial campaigns for Micheal's, Anytime Fitness, Domino's and more. Natalie is an award winning full lyric soprano, described as a "superb soprano" by Broadway World for her latest theatrical performance in the Baker's Wife with the Alchemy Theatre. Her short film, Cause of Death, has been shown at several local screenings, where she served as writer, producer, and director. Natalie is excited to join the Lady Kings of Texas team as an Associate Producer on such a fun and timely project!
Julia Macneva: Julia Macneva is a Latvian-born Russian polyglot (English, French, Russian, Latvian, Turkish), entrepreneur, actor, writer, and producer. Her business, MoodBoard Concierge is a bespoke luxury lifestyle management firm that provides private shopping & event planning services, among others. Past experiences include being Director of Sales & Operations at Bernardaud (New York) and an in-demand personal shopper and stylist for VIPs & celebrities at Harrods (London). Fun Fact: it was in one of these roles that Jula selected the porcelain tableware for HBO's The Gilded Age! Her most recent film projects include production assistant on the award-winning indie short Prime Real Estate, stylist and set decorator on The Bird Watcher a short film currently in post-production, and voice actor on Aghast!, a feature debuting soon.
Trang Quỳnh Thị Vũ (she/her): Trang Quỳnh Thị Vũ is a Vietnamese spoken word artist and filmmaker based in Arlington, Texas. She has three published works: Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso (2021); Poetree of Life (2023); and thirty circles (2024). An apprentice of Pegasus Media Project, she has worked on several short films and corporate & commercial work.
James Redondo: James Redondo is an actor and photographer in Central Texas. Born and raised in Austin, he found his love for film, theater, and photography at a young age. He is excited to work with this team and help bring this film to life. He's studied under Carol Hickey and Kim Jackson Davis at Carol Hickey Acting Studio in Austin, Texas.
Molly Searcy: Molly is a multi-faceted artist and native Texan, who proudly calls the Tony Award-winning Dallas Theater Center her artistic home. In addition to being a member of DTC’s Brierley Resident Acting Company, Molly has graced the stages as a leading lady of many other renowned companies, like Alley Theatre, Houston Symphony, Arena Stage, and Stages Repertory Theatre. Never to be put in one box, Molly is also a prolific voice actress with AMC Networks/Sentai Filmworks, SONY’s Crunchyroll, and Microsoft. Her powerful work as the stoic and fearsome Akame in Akame ga Kill!, as well as other iconic characters like Hiyori in One Piece, Rory Mercury in GATE, and Mako Reizei in Girls und Panzer have earned her international acclaim and allow her to travel the globe as a guest of honor at major comic cons.
Thomas Shuman: Thomas Shuman is a New York-based actor and recent graduate of the Stella Adler Studio's 3-Year Conservatory program. While he's normally busy playing the absolute worst people in horror films, he's thrilled to join the Lady Kings of Texas team as an Associate Producer to help bring this amazing project to life. He (friends and family agree) would not last a day on a ranch.
Emma M. Terrazas: Based out of Chicago, Illinois, Emma M. Terrazas is a multi-hyphenate, Mexican-American actress, creator, and entrepreneur dedicated to shining light on unique narratives that challenge societal norms and landscapes. Emma's credits include NBC's Chicago Med, Rainbeau's End, Lana and Emmy (the web series & short film), and more. On stage, she portrayed Amy in 1800 vs 2020 written and directed by Richard Gallion at Chicago's APC Theatre. She is also the founder of EMpower Training, where she provides health and confidence coaching for business owners and creatives.
Special Thanks to:
Ed Nescot, Dan Melius, Jane Titus, Ben Bjork, Hal & Amy Zesch, Cindy Zemis-Morris, and Anna Near
for their donated efforts and continued support throughout this process!
Want more ways to support Lady Kings of Texas?
Find us on your social media platform of choice by searching and following @LadyKingsofTexas
and/or share this page with a friend!
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Remember when we thought this couldn't happen?:
Yeah, us too. It's crazy, right?
When we brainstormed ideas for our feature film, Roe v. Wade had already been overturned. Women’s rights everywhere were being attacked. Not to mention many of us, being from Texas, witness every day how strict abortion laws negatively impact regular women in a variety of ways. (Kate Cox, anyone?)
We imagined a story set in the near future where Texas finally fulfills its threat of seceding from the Union and forming its own rebel Government– while telling us how they really feel about childless cat ladies.
That story became Lady Kings of Texas, a 90-minute dark comedy feature film that asks, "What happens when politicians take their agendas to the extreme?"
As women past our 20's in the entertainment industry, we were having a hard time finding work where we're more than the "wife," "mother," or "girlfriend." Women make up 50% of the population and while some progress has been made, our stories are still underrepresented in the industry, meaning a lack of options in quality work and entertainment. Not to mention, if you're a woman over 35 and not already famous? Forget it.
We believe the film industry underserves us all, so we're making the kind of dark-comedy feature film we want to see onscreen– a satisfying story that allows us to be complex, messy, and human.
Are you a woman?
Are you friends with a woman?
Were you born of a woman?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then caring about what happens to the women in your life and whether or not they have autonomy over their own bodies should matter to you too.
Being a woman is SUPER NUANCED and our experiences and opinions are colored by our upbringings and variables like religion, ethnic culture, age, and socioeconomic background. Our team is 87.5% women (yes we did the math. Don't believe us, check out our team below!)--so basically, we cover a lot of bases. And we've come together and decided we want to do something about the state of things as we view it. But we also wanna laugh so we don't cry! And because we know you have a woman somewhere in your past, present, or future that you care about, we humbly ask that you join us.
KATHERINE DUDAS: Writer/Director
Katherine Dudas directed, co-wrote, and edited the feature film Juniper, which premiered at the prestigious Santa Barbara International Film Festival and received rave reviews and several offers for distribution. Juniper was acquired by STX Entertainment and sold to Showtime and Paramount+. Katherine's work has been featured on Whohaha, Funny or Die, Reductress, and Bustle. She's performed in comedy shows Off-Broadway and on a team at Upright Citizens Brigade. Her digital comedy show has over half a million views. Coming from an improv comedy background, she is dedicated to telling heartfelt and truthful stories through a comedic lens. Her screenplay for Lady Kings of Texas was lauded as being in the Top 20% of Austin Film Festival's 2024 scripts, and her second feature film is currently in post-production. CARLY CHRISTOPHER: Producer/Actor
Meet Carly, who splits her time between Austin, TX, and Jackson, WY. This talented artist wears many hats: professional actor, witty content creator, and wordsmith-extraordinaire. Her sidesplitting social media posts and TikTok (with over 2.7 million likes) have won the hearts of thousands of followers. She's also the go-to gal for commercials, having starred in over 70 ads for big names like Jeep, Home Depot, Nissan, and more. You can catch her shows like Duster by producer J.J Abrams (Max) and The Really Loud House (Nickelodeon). She gives back by being a board member of The Alchemy Theatre and Creative Action in Austin, and a member of the University of Texas Performing Arts Leadership Committee.
GIOVANNIE CRUZ: Producer/Actor
Meet Giovannie, the operatically-trained, multi-talented Puerto Rican artist who bounces between the bright lights of Los Angeles, California, and the big hats of Dallas, Texas. You might have spotted her shining in big-budget hits like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 (Marvel), The Suicide Squad (Warner Bros), and Reminiscence (Warner Bros.) across from Hugh Jackman, to name a few. She's also visible in silver screen projects like Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, helmed by Eddie Murphy & Jerry Bruckheimer and recently released on Netflix, and TV shows like Queen of the South (USA), NCIS: New Orleans (CBS), and Queen Sugar (OWN). Plus, she's flexed her vocal cords as an anime voice actor and rocked as music director for Sony's Crunchyroll Productions.
ELISABETH NESS: Producer/Actor
Elisabeth is an award-winning filmmaker and actor based in the Big Apple. The Yale alumna's work has been reviewed as "especially funny" (New York Times), "razor-sharp" (Washington Post), and "hilarious" (Times Herald-Record). Take the Lead named her one of its "50 Women Can Change the World in Media & Entertainment." Onscreen appearances include CBS's Bull & FBI, Amazon's Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Marvel's Daredevil, and Lady in the Lake (Apple TV+) with Natalie Portman. Among the 61 projects she's produced, Elisabeth created the hit digital comedy series Redheads Anonymous; featured in USA Today, Huffington Post, and Tubefilter, it garnered dozens of awards and nominations at festivals worldwide.
KENNEISHA THOMPSON: Co-Producer/Actor
Hailing from the land of Dallas, TX, Kenneisha boasts an impressive resume including stellar performances in Love & Death (HBO Max), Grey's Anatomy (ABC), Secrets of Sulphur Springs (Disney+) and Dallas (TNT). She's rubbed elbows with Hollywood bigwigs like David Oyelowo, William H. Macy, and Brittany Snow, and even snagged a gig as the voice of "Lady Aurelia Hammerlock" in the Borderlands series, much to the delight of gaming fans. Brace yourself for more of Kenneisha's talent as she appears in a recurring role in the Paramount+ series Lawman: Bass Reeves!
KRYSTAL RIGGS: Co-Producer
Krystal is an actor often seen elbows deep in an Arden edition of a Shakespeare play. In NYC she appeared on stage in Theatre for a New Audience's Off-Broadway public workshops of Henry IV with Jay O Sanders and Richard II with Christian Camargo, and worked as a casting assistant at TFANA for 4 seasons. She was a standby for Jennifer Ehle in a reading of Phèdre and just worked as a rehearsal cover on the Broadway transfer of Sam Mendes & Jez Butterworth's, The Hills of California. When she’s not treading the boards she’s likely acting in an indie film. That’s where the good stuff is, right? She is excited to join the Lady Kings of Texas team as a co-producer.
AMANDA LEE: Social Media Producer
Amanda is a three-time Emmy-nominated television producer from Washington, DC. In addition to producing the shows Get Out of Town and Signature Dish on WETA, the local PBS affiliate, she has amassed 1.8 million likes and over 12 million views on her personal TikTok. Amanda professionally specializes in social media strategy for both her shows and now for the Lady Kings of Texas. Known for her strong leadership and quick wit, Amanda easily rolls with the punches, whether on location or online.
Making a feature film is a big, expensive thing and our actual budget for this film is much higher than this campaign. But we've been working hard to privately fundraise and secure in-kind donations to help reduce our public ask. Lucky for us, we've connected with generous backers, one of which is donating us the use of their sprawling ranch, significantly reducing the cost of our shoot.
Still, we need your help because this $60k is the final key to helping us unlock this production.
Here's our ✨ eternal gratitude ✨
Ugh, want more? Alright, alright, got it. Good thing we put together some AH-MAZING incentives!
Check ‘em out to your right (or above on the INCENTIVES tab if you're on your tablet or phone)! You’re welcome.
Want more ways to support Lady Kings of Texas?
Find us on your social media platform of choice by searching and following @LadyKingsofTexas
and/or share this page with a friend!
Lady Kings of Texas, LLC- 202 Nueces St, Austin, Texas 78701
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Donate a RV, or Help us Rent One!
Costs $5,000
Help us keep our cast & crew safe and comfortable while we film on our remote Texas ranch! This cost covers an RV for 30 days!
Partial Remote Catering Costs
Costs $15,000
Help feed our crew! While we'll be 30 minutes from the grocery store, a dedicated remote catering service will ensure we get fed daily!
Grip Truck Package + Gas
Costs $13,000
At $720/ day this truck has all the lighting and electrical gear we may need at our remote location. It will save us time and stress!
Production Insurance
Costs $3,000
This insurance is maintained over the shoot and is required by rental houses and SAG-AFTRA to begin production.
Partial Crew Hire Costs
Costs $24,000
Help us pay for our crew! We intend to hire local Texas talent to cover our crew. With your help, we can hire the best!
Share this update!
About This Team
We’re a badass team of passionate, hard-working and multi-talented LEGENDS.
We're proudly:
✔️Mostly female
✔️Mostly Texan
(with a healthy dose of New England)
✔️Ethnically & Culturally Diverse
✔️Entirely AWESOME!
KATHERINE DUDAS
Writer/Director
Katherine Dudas directed, co-wrote, and edited the feature film Juniper, which premiered at the prestigious Santa Barbara International Film Festival and received rave reviews and several offers for distribution. Juniper was acquired by STX Entertainment and sold to Showtime and Paramount+. Katherine's work has been featured on Whohaha, Funny or Die, Reductress, and Bustle. She's performed in comedy shows Off-Broadway and on a team at Upright Citizens Brigade. Her digital comedy show has over half a million views. Coming from an improv comedy background, she is dedicated to telling heartfelt and truthful stories through a comedic lens. Her screenplay for Lady Kings of Texas was lauded as being in the Top 20% of Austin Film Festival's 2024 scripts, and her second feature film is currently in post-production.
CARLY CHRISTOPHER
Producer/Actor
Meet Carly, who splits her time between Austin, TX, and Jackson, WY. This talented artist wears many hats: professional actor, witty content creator, and wordsmith-extraordinaire. Her sidesplitting social media posts and TikTok (with over 2.7 million likes) have won the hearts of thousands of followers. She's also the go-to gal for commercials, having starred in over 70 ads for big names like Jeep, Home Depot, Nissan, and more. You can catch her shows like Duster by producer J.J Abrams (Max) and The Really Loud House (Nickelodeon). She gives back by being a board member of The Alchemy Theatre and Creative Action in Austin, and a member of the University of Texas Performing Arts Leadership Committee.
GIOVANNIE CRUZ
Producer/Actor
Meet Giovannie, the operatically-trained, multi-talented Puerto Rican artist who bounces between the bright lights of Los Angeles, California, and the big hats of Dallas, Texas. You might have spotted her shining in big-budget hits like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 (Marvel), The Suicide Squad (Warner Bros), and Reminiscence (Warner Bros.) across from Hugh Jackman, to name a few. She's also visible in silver screen projects like Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, helmed by Eddie Murphy & Jerry Bruckheimer and recently released on Netflix, and TV shows like Queen of the South (USA), NCIS: New Orleans (CBS), and Queen Sugar (OWN). Plus, she's flexed her vocal cords as an anime voice actor and rocked as music director for Sony's Crunchyroll Productions.
ELISABETH NESS
Producer/Actor
Elisabeth is an award-winning filmmaker and actor based in the Big Apple. The Yale alumna's work has been reviewed as "especially funny" (New York Times), "razor-sharp" (Washington Post), and "hilarious" (Times Herald-Record). Take the Lead named her one of its "50 Women Can Change the World in Media & Entertainment." Onscreen appearances include CBS's Bull & FBI, Amazon's Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Marvel's Daredevil, and Lady in the Lake (Apple TV+) with Natalie Portman. Among the 61 projects she's produced, Elisabeth created the hit digital comedy series Redheads Anonymous; featured in USA Today, Huffington Post, and Tubefilter, it garnered dozens of awards and nominations at festivals worldwide.
KENNEISHA THOMPSON
Co-Producer/Actor
Hailing from the land of Dallas, TX, Kenneisha boasts an impressive resume including stellar performances in Love & Death (HBO Max), Grey's Anatomy (ABC), Secrets of Sulphur Springs (Disney+) and Dallas (TNT). She's rubbed elbows with Hollywood bigwigs like David Oyelowo, William H. Macy, and Brittany Snow, and even snagged a gig as the voice of "Lady Aurelia Hammerlock" in the Borderlands series, much to the delight of gaming fans. Brace yourself for more of Kenneisha's talent as she appears in a reoccurring role in the Paramount+ series Lawman: Bass Reeves!
KRYSTAL RIGGS
Co-Producer
Krystal is an actor often seen with her nose in an Arden edition of a Shakespeare play. In NYC she appeared on stage in Theatre for a New Audience's Off Broadway public workshops of Henry IV with Jay O Sanders and Richard II with Christian Camargo, and worked as a casting assistant at TFANA for 4 seasons. She was a standby for Jennifer Ehle in a reading of Phèdre at Red Bull Theater and worked as a rehearsal cover on the Broadway transfer of Sam Mendes & Jez Butterworth's, The Hills of California. Krystal is also a company ensemble member of PopUP Theatrics. When she's not treading the boards she's likely acting in an indie film.That’s where the good stuff is, right? This year Hundreds debuted at the Oscar eligible HollyShorts Film Festival and The Other Christmas will debut later this year. She is excited to join the Lady Kings of Texas team as a co-producer.
AMANDA LEE
Social Media Producer
Amanda is a three-time Emmy-nominated television producer from Washington, DC. In addition to producing the shows Get Out of Town and Signature Dish on WETA, the local PBS affiliate, she has amassed 1.8 million likes and over 12 million views on her personal TikTok. Amanda professionally specializes in social media strategy for both her shows and now for the Lady Kings of Texas. Known for her strong leadership and quick wit, Amanda easily rolls with the punches, whether on location or online.
Emrys Erica Beauchamp: Emrys Beauchamp is an American stage, film, and television actress born in Jersey City, New Jersey to parents Irene Arcé and Raphael Arcé. She graduated with a degree in Fine Arts and an advanced certification in Yoga Studies from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston, MA, and the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, MA. She studied acting with Ruben Caballero, Kim Jackson Davis, Carol Hickey, and Paul Normandin in Austin, Texas.
Olivia Helaine: Olivia Helaine is a NYC-based actress and producer originally from Connecticut. Her work has been featured on CBS, Lifetime, and various short and feature films over the years. She recently launched a podcast, Beyond the Marks, which bridges the gap between actors and crew members, so we can all be better coworkers to each other. Check it out on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
Natalie Joy: Natalie Joy is an actor, filmmaker and musician based in Austin, Texas. She enjoys a budding on-camera career, appearing in Richard Linklater's Apollo 10 & 1/2 now streaming on Netflix as well as commercial campaigns for Micheal's, Anytime Fitness, Domino's and more. Natalie is an award winning full lyric soprano, described as a "superb soprano" by Broadway World for her latest theatrical performance in the Baker's Wife with the Alchemy Theatre. Her short film, Cause of Death, has been shown at several local screenings, where she served as writer, producer, and director. Natalie is excited to join the Lady Kings of Texas team as an Associate Producer on such a fun and timely project!
Julia Macneva: Julia Macneva is a Latvian-born Russian polyglot (English, French, Russian, Latvian, Turkish), entrepreneur, actor, writer, and producer. Her business, MoodBoard Concierge is a bespoke luxury lifestyle management firm that provides private shopping & event planning services, among others. Past experiences include being Director of Sales & Operations at Bernardaud (New York) and an in-demand personal shopper and stylist for VIPs & celebrities at Harrods (London). Fun Fact: it was in one of these roles that Jula selected the porcelain tableware for HBO's The Gilded Age! Her most recent film projects include production assistant on the award-winning indie short Prime Real Estate, stylist and set decorator on The Bird Watcher a short film currently in post-production, and voice actor on Aghast!, a feature debuting soon.
Trang Quỳnh Thị Vũ (she/her): Trang Quỳnh Thị Vũ is a Vietnamese spoken word artist and filmmaker based in Arlington, Texas. She has three published works: Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso (2021); Poetree of Life (2023); and thirty circles (2024). An apprentice of Pegasus Media Project, she has worked on several short films and corporate & commercial work.
James Redondo: James Redondo is an actor and photographer in Central Texas. Born and raised in Austin, he found his love for film, theater, and photography at a young age. He is excited to work with this team and help bring this film to life. He's studied under Carol Hickey and Kim Jackson Davis at Carol Hickey Acting Studio in Austin, Texas.
Molly Searcy: Molly is a multi-faceted artist and native Texan, who proudly calls the Tony Award-winning Dallas Theater Center her artistic home. In addition to being a member of DTC’s Brierley Resident Acting Company, Molly has graced the stages as a leading lady of many other renowned companies, like Alley Theatre, Houston Symphony, Arena Stage, and Stages Repertory Theatre. Never to be put in one box, Molly is also a prolific voice actress with AMC Networks/Sentai Filmworks, SONY’s Crunchyroll, and Microsoft. Her powerful work as the stoic and fearsome Akame in Akame ga Kill!, as well as other iconic characters like Hiyori in One Piece, Rory Mercury in GATE, and Mako Reizei in Girls und Panzer have earned her international acclaim and allow her to travel the globe as a guest of honor at major comic cons.
Thomas Shuman: Thomas Shuman is a New York-based actor and recent graduate of the Stella Adler Studio's 3-Year Conservatory program. While he's normally busy playing the absolute worst people in horror films, he's thrilled to join the Lady Kings of Texas team as an Associate Producer to help bring this amazing project to life. He (friends and family agree) would not last a day on a ranch.
Emma M. Terrazas: Based out of Chicago, Illinois, Emma M. Terrazas is a multi-hyphenate, Mexican-American actress, creator, and entrepreneur dedicated to shining light on unique narratives that challenge societal norms and landscapes. Emma's credits include NBC's Chicago Med, Rainbeau's End, Lana and Emmy (the web series & short film), and more. On stage, she portrayed Amy in 1800 vs 2020 written and directed by Richard Gallion at Chicago's APC Theatre. She is also the founder of EMpower Training, where she provides health and confidence coaching for business owners and creatives.
Special Thanks to:
Ed Nescot, Dan Melius, Jane Titus, Ben Bjork, Hal & Amy Zesch, Cindy Zemis-Morris, and Anna Near
for their donated efforts and continued support throughout this process!
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