Mr. Harris
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
LGBTQ, Drama
What if you could have the one conversation you’ve always imagined? Mr. Harris is a short film about what happens when a young man confronts his former teacher about the past, revealing the dark truth about what really happened between them. It’s about power, memory, and confronting your past.
Mr. Harris
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
LGBTQ, Drama
Green Light
This campaign raised $15,575 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
132 supporters | followers
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What if you could have the one conversation you’ve always imagined? Mr. Harris is a short film about what happens when a young man confronts his former teacher about the past, revealing the dark truth about what really happened between them. It’s about power, memory, and confronting your past.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Mr. Harris is a film about two men -- now both adults -- reflecting on a time when one of them was a child and the other was an adult, and how that time has impacted both of their lives. When Owen, the younger of the two men, goes to his former teacher Tim's house, Tim has no idea why Owen is coming to talk to him. As Owen's reason for coming reveals itself, the tension between the two of them rises, and we become aware of the darker truth of what happened between them.
Owen is the protagonist of the film. He shows up at his former teacher Tim's house with the hopes of having a difficult conversation. While he is hopeful that he will have the bravery to say what he needs to say, he is also very afraid that he will lose his nerve -- Tim played a big role in Owen's development, and in some ways is still a very important figure in his life.
Tim is Owen's former teacher. Though he puts up a front of being chilled out and like he doesn't know what's going on when Owen arrives, we quickly see that there's a great deal of complexity underneath that, and that he lives with a lot of guilt and shame over his past.
I grew up in a pre-Me Too era and often wonder how certain experiences may have been different if I (and those around me) had grown up with different awarenesses. While I will never know the answers to some of the questions I have, it is this type of thinking and these layers of memory that led me to write Mr. Harris in 2021 while I was in grad school. I was in the process of reflecting on some of my own past experiences, imagining how I could translate some of those feelings to the screen. I wanted to create something I felt seen in, and also that could hopefully allow others to feel seen. I think of the films that have made feel seen in big and small ways throughout my life, and I would love to bring something into the world that could have that impact on another person.
As a gay and trans creator, I carry a unique perspective and awareness that I feel is missing from the conversation when it comes to films that focus on this subject matter. I am eager to bring forth my reflection, my perspective, and my voice to the conversation, and I believe that now is the perfect time to do that.
I love movies, and I have a deep passion and reverence for independent film. Adding my voice to the world I've watched from the outside for so long is something I am extremely eager for the opportunity for. For a long time, I told myself I didn't have what it takes to direct, but after receiving my graduate degree in screenwriting, working on my craft, and participating in the projects of my peers, I'm taking the leap and following my dream to make this film happen. I have come to realize that not only do I want to write the stories I've been dreaming of, but I also want to be at the helm of making them come to life. I couldn't be more excited to have the opportunity to do that with Mr. Harris.
While this is not an exact experience I have had, there are elements of my life in this film. The main character, Owen, is very much like me -- shy and reserved until he is finally able to find his voice and stand up for himself. The man he is confronting, Tim, comes from the authority figures I have struggled to confront throughout my own life. I'm hoping that those who watch this film will see parts of themselves in Owen and think of the Tims they have encountered in their own lives.
One of our locations!
We film in the beginning of June in Los Angeles. We have our locations booked, and we have an amazing cast and crew secured. What we need to make this film happen is the money to pay our cast and crew what they deserve and to make our movie look and sound its best. We are hoping that you join us in making that a possibility by contributing to this campaign and spreading the word.
I'm blessed to have the most incredible team of people around me making this film happen. Like me, many of the people who are working on this movie are trans, and I am very fortunate to have so many talented people teamed up to bring this story to life. We can't wait to bring this movie to audiences and submit it to festivals once it's finished. Our goal is to take this film as far as we can and to spread it to as wide of an audience as possible.
If you join our team, your contribution will be in support of a film that champions complex stories, trans talent in front of and behind the camera, and an all-around thought-provoking story that you will carry with you long after you watch.
We appreciate any contribution you are able to make -- check out our incentives that we have lined up for different levels of pledges to this project! If you aren't able to contribute, it would be immensely helpful if you spread the word by sharing our campaign on any of your socials (our film's Instagram is @mrharrisfilm and Max's Instagram is @max.luque). Sharing our campaign on your socials and sending it to your loved ones is as helpful as a donation!
Thank you so much for being part of this with us, it means the world! We are so excited to share this film with you!
Images in title sections from the film Mysterious Skin.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Food and Drink
Costs $1,000
We want to make sure our cast and crew have plenty to eat and drink during long days of filming.
Locations
Costs $2,300
We need a house and a classroom to film our movie in!
Cast
Costs $1,000
We have two amazing actors and need to compensate them for their work!
Crew and Other Production Needs
Costs $5,700
We have an incredible crew to bring this story to life!
Post-Production Needs
Costs $5,000
We want our film to look as amazing as possible so it's ready for festivals -- and for you to see it!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Max Luque (he/him) - Writer/Director
Max Luque is a writer and director from Sonoma, CA who now lives with his husband and his partner in Los Angeles. He received his BA in English from Sonoma State University and his MFA in Screenwriting from New York Film Academy. Max's work centers gay transmasculine narratives, specifically those that explore complicated relationship dynamics with psychosexual elements.
Felix Mack (he/him) - Producer
Felix Mack is a writer/producer originally from Scotland. He has worked on a number of short films with fellow trans creatives and is passionate about telling honest stories about queer and trans joy.
Brook Lee Karner (he/they) - Director of Photography
Brook Lee Karner is a transmasculine Director of Photography who strives to enhance story through meaningful collaboration and set intentions. He studied Political Science and Philosophy in his undergraduate study, which influence his lensing work to this day. Following up on his BA, he pursued his dreams of becoming a filmmaker and took a chance at studying Cinematography at Florida State University. Karner has recently been recognized by International Cinematographers Guild as an Emerging Cinematographer for his artistic achievement in Cinematography for his work on his capstone project, The Coop. You can find more of Brook’s work at
https://brookleekarner.myportfolio.com
Kacy Boccumini (he/him) - Assistant Director
Kacy Boccumini is an award-winning writer, producer, and director from Los Angeles. He runs My Best Guy productions, an independent production studio focused on genre pictures. He’s also co-owner of A Very Special Production Company, in association with Hat Boy Media Group.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Mr. Harris is a film about two men -- now both adults -- reflecting on a time when one of them was a child and the other was an adult, and how that time has impacted both of their lives. When Owen, the younger of the two men, goes to his former teacher Tim's house, Tim has no idea why Owen is coming to talk to him. As Owen's reason for coming reveals itself, the tension between the two of them rises, and we become aware of the darker truth of what happened between them.
Owen is the protagonist of the film. He shows up at his former teacher Tim's house with the hopes of having a difficult conversation. While he is hopeful that he will have the bravery to say what he needs to say, he is also very afraid that he will lose his nerve -- Tim played a big role in Owen's development, and in some ways is still a very important figure in his life.
Tim is Owen's former teacher. Though he puts up a front of being chilled out and like he doesn't know what's going on when Owen arrives, we quickly see that there's a great deal of complexity underneath that, and that he lives with a lot of guilt and shame over his past.
I grew up in a pre-Me Too era and often wonder how certain experiences may have been different if I (and those around me) had grown up with different awarenesses. While I will never know the answers to some of the questions I have, it is this type of thinking and these layers of memory that led me to write Mr. Harris in 2021 while I was in grad school. I was in the process of reflecting on some of my own past experiences, imagining how I could translate some of those feelings to the screen. I wanted to create something I felt seen in, and also that could hopefully allow others to feel seen. I think of the films that have made feel seen in big and small ways throughout my life, and I would love to bring something into the world that could have that impact on another person.
As a gay and trans creator, I carry a unique perspective and awareness that I feel is missing from the conversation when it comes to films that focus on this subject matter. I am eager to bring forth my reflection, my perspective, and my voice to the conversation, and I believe that now is the perfect time to do that.
I love movies, and I have a deep passion and reverence for independent film. Adding my voice to the world I've watched from the outside for so long is something I am extremely eager for the opportunity for. For a long time, I told myself I didn't have what it takes to direct, but after receiving my graduate degree in screenwriting, working on my craft, and participating in the projects of my peers, I'm taking the leap and following my dream to make this film happen. I have come to realize that not only do I want to write the stories I've been dreaming of, but I also want to be at the helm of making them come to life. I couldn't be more excited to have the opportunity to do that with Mr. Harris.
While this is not an exact experience I have had, there are elements of my life in this film. The main character, Owen, is very much like me -- shy and reserved until he is finally able to find his voice and stand up for himself. The man he is confronting, Tim, comes from the authority figures I have struggled to confront throughout my own life. I'm hoping that those who watch this film will see parts of themselves in Owen and think of the Tims they have encountered in their own lives.
One of our locations!
We film in the beginning of June in Los Angeles. We have our locations booked, and we have an amazing cast and crew secured. What we need to make this film happen is the money to pay our cast and crew what they deserve and to make our movie look and sound its best. We are hoping that you join us in making that a possibility by contributing to this campaign and spreading the word.
I'm blessed to have the most incredible team of people around me making this film happen. Like me, many of the people who are working on this movie are trans, and I am very fortunate to have so many talented people teamed up to bring this story to life. We can't wait to bring this movie to audiences and submit it to festivals once it's finished. Our goal is to take this film as far as we can and to spread it to as wide of an audience as possible.
If you join our team, your contribution will be in support of a film that champions complex stories, trans talent in front of and behind the camera, and an all-around thought-provoking story that you will carry with you long after you watch.
We appreciate any contribution you are able to make -- check out our incentives that we have lined up for different levels of pledges to this project! If you aren't able to contribute, it would be immensely helpful if you spread the word by sharing our campaign on any of your socials (our film's Instagram is @mrharrisfilm and Max's Instagram is @max.luque). Sharing our campaign on your socials and sending it to your loved ones is as helpful as a donation!
Thank you so much for being part of this with us, it means the world! We are so excited to share this film with you!
Images in title sections from the film Mysterious Skin.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Food and Drink
Costs $1,000
We want to make sure our cast and crew have plenty to eat and drink during long days of filming.
Locations
Costs $2,300
We need a house and a classroom to film our movie in!
Cast
Costs $1,000
We have two amazing actors and need to compensate them for their work!
Crew and Other Production Needs
Costs $5,700
We have an incredible crew to bring this story to life!
Post-Production Needs
Costs $5,000
We want our film to look as amazing as possible so it's ready for festivals -- and for you to see it!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Max Luque (he/him) - Writer/Director
Max Luque is a writer and director from Sonoma, CA who now lives with his husband and his partner in Los Angeles. He received his BA in English from Sonoma State University and his MFA in Screenwriting from New York Film Academy. Max's work centers gay transmasculine narratives, specifically those that explore complicated relationship dynamics with psychosexual elements.
Felix Mack (he/him) - Producer
Felix Mack is a writer/producer originally from Scotland. He has worked on a number of short films with fellow trans creatives and is passionate about telling honest stories about queer and trans joy.
Brook Lee Karner (he/they) - Director of Photography
Brook Lee Karner is a transmasculine Director of Photography who strives to enhance story through meaningful collaboration and set intentions. He studied Political Science and Philosophy in his undergraduate study, which influence his lensing work to this day. Following up on his BA, he pursued his dreams of becoming a filmmaker and took a chance at studying Cinematography at Florida State University. Karner has recently been recognized by International Cinematographers Guild as an Emerging Cinematographer for his artistic achievement in Cinematography for his work on his capstone project, The Coop. You can find more of Brook’s work at
https://brookleekarner.myportfolio.com
Kacy Boccumini (he/him) - Assistant Director
Kacy Boccumini is an award-winning writer, producer, and director from Los Angeles. He runs My Best Guy productions, an independent production studio focused on genre pictures. He’s also co-owner of A Very Special Production Company, in association with Hat Boy Media Group.