Jess has never been interested in settling down, and she’s completely over her stagnant job as a reporter at the crumbling local news station. It’s the perfect time for Jess to get out of this town...right? But everyone else in town seems to think it’s time for her to find her soul mate.
Jess has never been interested in settling down, and she’s completely over her stagnant job as a reporter at the crumbling local news station. It’s the perfect time for Jess to get out of this town...right? But everyone else in town seems to think it’s time for her to find her soul mate.
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Story
Mission Statement
Guided by a female writer/director, and produced by a woman of color, shot by a female cinematographer, alongside a 50%+ female crew, Love Happens follows three straight women and a diverse cast as they navigate cis-gender roles, romance, and workplace politics.About The Project
"LOVE HAPPENS"
written and directed by Liza Rafael
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT by Liza Rafael
Standing on a golf course in a bridesmaid dress wondering how at age 22 some people are ready to bond themselves to another person for the rest of their life might not seem like a moment of inspiration, but I had an epiphany that night. For the past 10 years I’ve been trying to distill that feeling into a counter-argument to all the romantic comedies and popular culture that have filled the heads of women and girls to make them think that they aren’t complete unless they find “the one” before their expiration date (which in Hollywood is about 25). All women are valid in the paths they choose and no one should tell them otherwise.
So in this film, I want to let the women (and men) watching know that every individual gets to decide how they approach life. No matter what outside forces might say or do, you shouldn’t feel pressured into huge decisions. Sometimes it takes time to make decisions about what you want to do and that is okay. And sometimes the decisions you make aren’t great, and that’s okay too. No one is perfect.
As someone who’s known she was going to make movies from age 13, I’ve felt let down by Hollywood in the representation of my point of view in this particular genre. When women don’t get nearly enough screen time to begin with, it hurts more when you can’t see yourself in it. I’m making this movie for all women to have the opportunity to see themselves in something richer than your basic boy meets girl story. I want you to see yourself on the screen.
This is a romantic comedy with a twist toward the sci-fi realm and a dash of thriller. Our leading lady doesn’t know what’s going on in her small town to make every man she encounters try to pursue her romantically after her best friend gets married, but she’s going to find out. We hope that you come along on this journey to find out what it means when you say love happens.GOAL
We need to raise $40,000 to complete production on the film.
How you can help:
1. FOLLOW our page. We must gather 500 followers to qualify for distribution.
2. WATCH our pitch video and trailer. Hopefully, it makes your day a little sunnier and you’ll want to back our project.
3. MAKE A PLEDGE. Our Wishlist outlines everything we need to make the film. Scroll down to make a pledge or loan an item, or select the green Contribute button up top.
4. SHARE our Seed & Spark page with your friends, colleagues, non-profit organizations, anyone who you think would dig the film!! Just by sharing our project with a few folks, you can make an unbelievable impact on our success as a team.5. Lastly, you can find us on social @lovehappensfilm.
Thank you for being a part of our community. We can wait to share this project with each and everyone one of you.
- Liza
Incentives
$5
Our little secret
- Advance access to video content produced on set, during production, that will be made available several days before it is unveiled to the public.
- Exclusive updates.
$10
BFFs
- Shout out on social media.
- Early access to exclusive Spotify playlists.
Includes above incentives.
$50
Digital Download
- Digital download.
- One question for director Q&A video.
Includes above incentives.
$100
Premiere Pass
- Ticket to premiere screening (that is geographically convenient).
- Your name thanked in the credits.
Includes above incentives.
Claimed: 22 of 100
$250
Mixtape of Love
- Oh, you bet you're getting your very own special mix. Curated by our producer.
Includes above incentives.
Claimed: 2 of 10
$500
You look so familiar
- Have your photo appear in a frame on screen during one scene.
Includes: Premiere Pass, Digital Download, BFFs, and Our Little Secret.
Claimed: 1 of 10
$500
Wait! I didn't get your name
- Name the brother character in the film.
Includes: Premiere Pass, Digital Download, BFFs, and Our Little Secret.
Sold Out!
$750
Would you want to hang out sometime?
- Join cast and crew wrap party on a yacht on Lake Michigan.
Includes: Premiere Pass, Digital Download, BFFs, and Our Little Secret.
Claimed: 0 of 20
$1,000
30 for 30
Help us reach 30% of our goal! And we'll return the favor.
- Associate Producer credit on Love Happens.
- Invite to table reads and rehearsals.
- VIP invite to cast & crew parties.
- On-set access for Love Happens.
- VIP invite to premiere (up to 1 guest) .
- Promotion at all events going forward, sponsor tag on film site, and in film credits.
- Official DH Collaborator.
Claimed: 1 of 50
$4,000
Producer
- Producer Credit on Love Happens.
- Invite to future table reads and rehearsals.
- VIP invite to cast & crew parties.
- On-set access for Love Happens.
- VIP invite to premiere (up to 5 guests).
- Promotion at all events going forward, sponsor tag on film site, and in film credits.
- Lifetime VIP invite to all DH events.
Claimed: 0 of 12
$10,000
Executive Producer
- Executive Producer Credit on Love Happens.
- Invite to future table reads and rehearsals.
- VIP invite to cast & crew parties.
- On-set access for Love Happens.
- VIP invite to premiere (up to 5 guests).
- Promotion at all events going forward, sponsor tag on film site, and in film credits.
- Lifetime VIP invite to all DH events.
Claimed: 0 of 5
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$5
Our little secret
- Advance access to video content produced on set, during production, that will be made available several days before it is unveiled to the public.
- Exclusive updates.
$10
BFFs
- Shout out on social media.
- Early access to exclusive Spotify playlists.
Includes above incentives.
$50
Digital Download
- Digital download.
- One question for director Q&A video.
Includes above incentives.
$100
Premiere Pass
- Ticket to premiere screening (that is geographically convenient).
- Your name thanked in the credits.
Includes above incentives.
Claimed: 22 of 100
$250
Mixtape of Love
- Oh, you bet you're getting your very own special mix. Curated by our producer.
Includes above incentives.
Claimed: 2 of 10
$500
You look so familiar
- Have your photo appear in a frame on screen during one scene.
Includes: Premiere Pass, Digital Download, BFFs, and Our Little Secret.
Claimed: 1 of 10
$500
Wait! I didn't get your name
- Name the brother character in the film.
Includes: Premiere Pass, Digital Download, BFFs, and Our Little Secret.
Sold Out!
$750
Would you want to hang out sometime?
- Join cast and crew wrap party on a yacht on Lake Michigan.
Includes: Premiere Pass, Digital Download, BFFs, and Our Little Secret.
Claimed: 0 of 20
$1,000
30 for 30
Help us reach 30% of our goal! And we'll return the favor.
- Associate Producer credit on Love Happens.
- Invite to table reads and rehearsals.
- VIP invite to cast & crew parties.
- On-set access for Love Happens.
- VIP invite to premiere (up to 1 guest) .
- Promotion at all events going forward, sponsor tag on film site, and in film credits.
- Official DH Collaborator.
Claimed: 1 of 50
$4,000
Producer
- Producer Credit on Love Happens.
- Invite to future table reads and rehearsals.
- VIP invite to cast & crew parties.
- On-set access for Love Happens.
- VIP invite to premiere (up to 5 guests).
- Promotion at all events going forward, sponsor tag on film site, and in film credits.
- Lifetime VIP invite to all DH events.
Claimed: 0 of 12
$10,000
Executive Producer
- Executive Producer Credit on Love Happens.
- Invite to future table reads and rehearsals.
- VIP invite to cast & crew parties.
- On-set access for Love Happens.
- VIP invite to premiere (up to 5 guests).
- Promotion at all events going forward, sponsor tag on film site, and in film credits.
- Lifetime VIP invite to all DH events.
Claimed: 0 of 5
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
Liza Rafael - Writer, Director
Liza is a filmmaker from Omaha, Nebraska. She’s one of producer’s on the R.E.M by MTV documentary and she created her feature doc Leave It On The Stage in 2010. Right now, you can catch Liza’s series Talk To Your Family streaming on YouTube. Love Happens is her first fiction feature.
Jaki Silver - Assistant Director
Jaki has spent several years in live theatre and film as the Director of Production and Development for Spark Productions (Hello Dolly, The Color Purple, Ragtime among others) and has experience producing off-Broadway (Women Are Crazy Because Men are A**holes), and off-off-Broadway. She recently Assistant Directed Daffodil for White Apron Productions, for whom she will begin directing this fall.
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