Tracey’s story:

When I was young, I was physically and mentally abused. I was molested by those that I trusted to protect me and attempted suicide to stop the pain.  At the age of 25, I was in a horrendous fire that burned 75% of my body and was in the hospital and rehab for over 18 months. I had to learn how to do everything all over again including walking, talking and feeding myself. I was ashamed to look at myself in the mirror.  I experienced years of self-hatred and self worthlessness.  During this time, I was still trying to deal and survive the years of abuse.  I was lost and numb and allowing myself to feel would have been the end of me. 

I started writing as a means to heal and to communicate my feelings. Writing has become my passion and lifeline. I was able to re-center myself and figure out what I can do with all this life knowledge, regardless of how overwhelming or depressing or horrific it is.  It is called Life Changes Series.

Crystal’s story:

My 1st memory of being molested was by my mother’s best friends’ husband.  I was just around 5 years old.  I remember being a little older and being in the pool, in a yard, during a cook-out and he was fondling me in the pool with about 100 people around.  That was the 1st time I knew I was invisible and insignificant.

I was around 10 when I can recall my 1st memory of attempting suicide. I had seen my uncle get killed in front of me and had been being molested for about 5 years.  I was in excruciating pain and just wanted it to go away. Depression, suicide and self-destruction was my only friend. I had no one else that understood me well. 

I started writing as a means to heal and to communicate my feelings.  Writing has become my passion and lifeline. I was able to re-center myself and figure out what I can do with all this life knowledge, regardless of how overwhelming or depressing or horrific it is. It is called Life Changes Series.

Our story:

We both have experience and survived unimaginable pain, abuse and trauma.  We both have made bad life decisions because of our pain and not healing.  Healing is a necessity to grow and living your best life.  The lack of healing can literally take you out and kill you. We decided to share and pass on what we have experienced and learned about hurt and pain and how to heal and grow from it.  We decided to write about a community that we are a part of.

Through Life Changes Series, we will give you an inside glimpse of the LGBTQ community and what they go through.  The lives of these characters will experience depression, suicide, battery, abusive relationship and many other real life experiences.

Why now:

There is so much hatred and pain in the world today. Suicide is rising at an alarming rate and the victims are all ages.  People are finding it more difficult to survive, to love themselves and become undamaged.

We are in a major pandemic.  We are not speaking of physical health; we are speaking about the mental.  Mental health is being hit extremely hard right now. People need face to face socializing.  Yes, we have the internet but that does not substitute for face to face interactions.  When you do not have face to face interactions, it makes it easy for the pain of the past comes knocking.  When we are alone we tend to think and reminisce about the good but mostly the bad.  We think about the mistake and regret.  The hurt/pain we have inflicted and what hurts/pains that have been inflicted upon us.

The hurt/pain of the past is anything that you have decided not to deal with. That hurt from 15 years ago when someone betrayed you comes to mind.  That family secret that has been buried for 50 years because you did not tell anyone that Uncle whomever has been touching you will start to eat you alive.  When you have nothing but yourself to keep you company, it is usually the time when you are forced to deal with the unimaginable pain and the unforgettable hurt.  The hurt that has not allowed you to grow, be successful or make healthy choices. All of this makes your realize how stuck you are in the past and then depression comes to stay and suicide or self-destruction, is not far behind.  We want to help change that.

We are group of survivors that have survived the unimaginable!  As co-writers of this ongoing series, our biggest goal is to bring healing to the young and old, by working through real life hurts and pains. We deal with depression, suicide, battery, domestic spouse/friend abuse, loving yourself and most importantly finding the courage to go forward even when all odds seems to be against you!

RISKS AND CHALLENGES: 

We understand that unexpected situations arise for each production. Films can get delayed in shooting, either due to recasting or weather conditions. And in very rare circumstances, productions can be shut down, never to resume. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought additional challenges to filmmakers, with current restrictions limiting the number of people on set, testing for the virus, and providing everyone involved with the proper training and protective gear.

However, all of the filmmakers working on Life Changes Series have succeeded in seeing projects through to the end, so with your contributions, you will see this project completed, no matter what challenges may arise. We are also working to follow the Covid-19 guidelines as laid out by the Screen Actors' Guild (SAG-AFTRA), to make sure our cast and crew remain safe and healthy while on set.

We hope you will consider taking this journey with us, to help create a film that will be the most dramatic, and historically accurate.  With your help, we can bring a worthy film series to life, and inspire others to dive deeper into what makes Life Changes Series so needed. 

Congrats! You've reached the bottom of our fundraising page. Seeing as you made it this far, we really hope that you will consider supporting our production. Here are three ways you can help make Life Changes become a reality:

Contribute to our campaign and get some sweet perks! Any amount, big or small, is greatly appreciated. Check out the side bar for a list of rewards.

Follow us on social media and share our campaign! Can't contribute? Maybe one of your internet friends can!

Follow our film on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook to help get the word out.

Give physical assets to the production! Do you have a house or business in Charlotte NC that we can use as a shooting location? Or maybe you have meals that you can provide to our hungry cast and crew? Whatever it may be, send an email to [email protected] and let us know!

Thank you so much for your support. With your help, we can see this series across the world to bring others hope and understanding to the many issues will portray !