WE HIT 100% OF OUR PRELIMINARY GOAL WITHIN JUST 7 DAYS. THIS TELLS US THIS KIND OF CONTENT IS WANTED AND NECESSARY

WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP. CAN YOU HELP US MEET OUR STRETCH GOALS?

“If there had been a wider array of stories like mine depicted on screens when I was growing up and beginning to recognize my pain, I may have spent less time in shame soaked bathrooms trying to force tampon after tampon inside of me, and more time disclosing my pain to confidants, loved ones, and professionals who could’ve told me I’m not broken and directed me towards a cleaner, more supported path of healing.”

- Madge, creator of MASHED

WHAT IS VAGINISMUS? 
A condition involving a muscle spasm in the pelvic floor muscles that can make it painful, difficult, or impossible to have sexual intercourse, to undergo a gynecological exam, and to insert a tampon.

WHAT IS MASHED?
With 6 bite-sized episodes, MASHED is an edu-tainment vessel that confronts us with questions like: How does your trauma manifest itself in your body and your life? What makes you feel safe, and what takes that away? And most specifically, why might sex be painful for you?

Our protagonist Mashie is living with vaginismus the best way she knows how: by ignoring it, by trying to force it, and by not loosening her grip. 
An anticlimactic coming out.
Arousal in tragedy.
A threesome that’s a little too familiar.

A grey area.
A f*ck buddy by the same name.
A tampon that won’t go in.

A commitment to EMDR,
And a therapist that defines safe.

MASHED is the story of a woman processing in order to lessen the emotional potency of an undisclosed past. Or at least beginning to.

Women's sexual health issues are underrepresented in film and underresearched in the medical community.

UP TO 1 IN 4 PEOPLE WITH VAGINAS ARE AFFECTED BY CHRONIC PELVIC AND VULVOVAGINAL PAIN AND ONLY 50% OF PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM THESE CONDITIONS SEEK CARE. 

Believe us, you have a friend with pelvic pain. We want MASHED to appear the next time they are alone and Googling: "sex is painful", "my vagina is broken", "tampons feel like hitting a brick wall".

Representation matters. Learning about our bodies matters. Better sex education and representation of our pain and shame is demanded.

BEYOND THE SERIES

When you support MASHED, you’re supporting a larger pelvic pain awareness network.

Creator Madge says: 

"I dream that the MASHED series will become a pilot for an anthology exploring all kinds of pelvic conditions and pain including endometriosis, miscarriage, urinary incontinence, vulvodynia, and beyond. MASHED is also the project that is launching my pelvic pain awareness platform: projectMASHED. Through projectMASHED I have plans for a children’s book about vulvas, a podcast, a documentary, mixed media art exhibitions, workshops, and collaborations with other sex positive and queer content creators, medical/mental health professionals, artists, activists, movers and shakers - all surrounding pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction."

We are currently in pre-production and will be starting principal photography Fall of 2021!

Madge [She/Her] - Creator/Actor/Producer 

Madge is an Australian actor, writer, and creative artist currently based in New York City. She is ignited by stories that explore shame, healing, transgenerational trauma, the LGBTQ+ experience, relief, and the complexity of the mind/body connection. She is most present when in a body of water, with kids, on a bike in the city, or on a horse in the country. She is an incredibly tactile and touch driven creature. She has vaginismus. 

“The journey of healing from vaginismus not only includes therapy, EMDR, pelvic floor PT, dilators, and breathwork, but also making my own art about vaginismus, talking about it with those in my life, advocating for comprehensive sex education, healing the shame that binds me, and learning to give myself a damn break.”

Stacey Maltin [She/Her] - Director

Stacey Maltin is an award-winning filmmaker and performer. A graduate from NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a minor in journalism, Maltin has a unique perspective in storytelling, that is both authentic and entertaining. Through Maltin’s lens, she creates stories that explore everything from queer parenthood and homelessness to psychosexual horror and holiday comedic romance. Maltin’s feature directorial debut TRIPLE THREAT recently had its world premiere at Oscar-qualifying Cinequest film festival.

"Mashed is the type of series that is artistic and gritty while also serving an educational purpose. If more women had access to this type of art we might be better able to communicate things that society deems “embarrassing” to talk about." 

The Companies

Besties Make Movies is a queer, women & non-binary run, eco-friendly production company. We write, direct, produce and collaborate with other filmmakers to tell immodest, unfiltered, provocative, and subversive stories that center underrepresented people and topics. Our films flip social scripts and represent the reality we want to live in.

Little y LLC is a not-for-profit multi-award winning film and theatre company committed to exploring the power and complexity of marginalized women by starting with a little question. We are committed to telling stories with casts, filmmakers and theatre makers who reflect the diverse nature of our world.

ONLY WITH YOUR HELP!

Pledge/contribute financially!
Check out our incentives to see all the ways we can make your financial contribution worth your while!

Help us expand our network!
Do you directly know anyone with a vested interest in women’s issues and sex education who may want to collaborate or help us fund the project? Send them our way!

Do you or someone you know run a blog, podcast, or large social media platform? We want to interview with you!

Lend us equipment/skills!
Aren't able to financially contribute at this point in time? No problem! We know you've got another skillset you're dying to flex with the MASHED team. Hit us up!

Share & follow on social media!
Find us on Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok: @projectmashed and use the hashtag #getmashed

Not sure what to say? No worries! Just copy, paste and share the below ;)

"Help @projectmashed and a team of female and non-binary filmmakers in creating a series that explores female pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction. Check out their campaign here: seedandspark.com/fund/mashed #getmashed"

"I really believe we heal in community. Will you join ours?"

- Madge, creator of MASHED

With tender, raunchy, and queer love,

The MASHED Team