NEXT IN LINE
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Horror, LGBTQ
NEXT IN LINE is a queer dance horror film set in the cutthroat world of Los Angeles choreographers. When our identities and self worth are tied up in our work, and our work seems to be disappearing, who do we become when our livelihood is threatened?
NEXT IN LINE
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Horror, LGBTQ
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $55,000 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
238 supporters | followers
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NEXT IN LINE is a queer dance horror film set in the cutthroat world of Los Angeles choreographers. When our identities and self worth are tied up in our work, and our work seems to be disappearing, who do we become when our livelihood is threatened?
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!
We’ve SURPASSED our target
and are blown away by the community we are building around this project!
Join us on this adventure and know that your contributions will now go to some stretch goals we have in mind:
-higher wages for all involved!
-an upgrade in camera/lighting equipment!
-one or two more crew members to ease the load of our already streamlined team!
-music clearances (unless Chappell Roan wants to do us a favor!)
The truth is, every additional dollar allows us to more fully realize the vision of this project.
Dig into the story below...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After losing out on the job of a lifetime, one choreographer's attempts at self-care are hijacked by an unhinged and malicious rival.
Reeling from the loss of an international Adidas campaign, the job he thought would be his big (and well-deserved) break, jaded choreographer Travis drives to a friend's desert retreat for a therapeutic getaway to forget how the world still hasn't recognized his magnificent potential.
Travis is surprised to find one of his contemporaries at the house when he arrives - the washed-up, faux-spiritual Willow - but tries to make the most of this unwanted company. When an unexpected phone call from his agent with some good news suddenly spins the unhinged Willow even more off balance, Travis' safety and sanity are thrown into jeopardy.
CHARACTERS:
TRAVIS is a brat. A privileged, skillful, ambitious brat. Desperate to make a name for himself as a choreographer, Travis has an entire reel of 'for friend and for free' projects that just can't seem to get him anywhere. As he impatiently waits to be chosen, he watches his younger friend Christina book job after job. He knows he is destined for greatness, though, and tries to mask his defeat with eagerness and support. And he truly does want his friends to succeed, as long as he is succeeding with them.
A tangle of manic energy, WILLOW's once graceful choreography now carries an air of severity. Her erratic behavior and unconventional methods have alienated many in the industry, but those who have worked with her over the past 25 years know that beneath the madness lies a rare genius, and despite her unsettling demeanor, Willow's newfound 'spirituality' gives her strength to fight the turmoil within. Her choreography is a visceral expression of her inner mayhem, capturing the raw and tumultuous essence of the human experience.
MEESHA is a seasoned pro in the industry - a consummate professional who has seen it all and not only survived - she's thrived. She's audacious, honest, and a champion of Travis and his talent - but her tolerance for his 'when is it gonna be my turn?' attitude can only go so far. When she also gets passed up for a job, the thought of being pushed out, or even worse - forgotten - threatens to get the best of her - a test of grit she wasn't expecting.
Some would call FELIX an asshole, others would say he's a maverick. He's your agent, not your friend. Every interaction is transactional. When you're working, he loves you, when you're not, it's like you don't even exist. He took a liking to Travis and sees his potential, but mostly was using him for a good fuck. And even in the moment when he needs Travis the most, there's no humility. He's a take it or leave it kind of guy, and he makes it nearly impossible to leave it.
Nepo-baby CHRISTINA is the star of the moment. Her 'elevated basics' approach to choreography, though not moving the needle forward, has put her at the top of the game - having famous parents doesn't hurt either. Christina is kind at heart, generous and supportive. And why shouldn't she be - she literally has everything, including a target on her back.
NEXT IN LINE is an unhinged cautionary tale that dances with absurdity, psychedelics and violent folklore. In an industry where you're only as good as your last job, and nepotism and youth upstage hard work and experience...what chance does anyone have to advance and make a name for themselves?
So often, our self worth gets tied up in our work (yay Capitalism!) - what job we just did, what celebrity we just worked with, how much money we make or what our next opportunity will be...we allow that to define us, to dictate how we feel about ourselves and this film is a direct reaction to those feelings. Through the use of dark humor and horror, those feelings get taken to an extreme as the jobs have all but vanished and the stakes keep getting higher.
This story is a direct response to the drought that's happening inside of our industry, and the outside forces not willing to water the foundational soil that makes this business so fertile.
The proof-of-concept footage woven into our pitch video captures the tone and the world we are aiming to create.
A strong inspiration for our story is Black Swan - the characters' fragility and vicious rivalry, and how artistic obsession can lead to madness. Other significant references include the delusional, shifting identities of Robert Altman's 3 Women, all set in a surreal desert landscape, and the cracking of facades and comic maliciousness of Ingrid Goes West.
We are raising $50,000 to produce and complete our film.
We will be running an equitable set - every position will be paid the same fair wage (44% of our budget!).
We will be running an ethnically and culturally diverse and inclusive set, mostly female (70%) and strongly queer.
This will be a 3-day shoot on location in 29 Palms, CA. We aim to roll cameras in early February 2025, with a final cut completed and ready to go by the end of Spring!
This is YOUR chance to join this INCREDIBLE team in telling this wild and provocative story.
ANY contribution (monetary or otherwise) is greatly appreciated!
TATIANA MASLANY - WILLOW
Tatiana proved her ability to effortlessly play multiple characters for five seasons on the BBC America series, Orphan Black, garnering one Golden Globe and three Emmy nominations, leading to an Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. The role also earned her two Critics’ Choice Awards and a SAG Award nomination, among other accolades. Recently, she starred opposite Matthew Rhys in HBO’s Perry Mason and in the animated series The Harper House for Paramount+. She recently starred as the titular role in Marvel’s She-Hulk series for Disney+ opposite Mark Ruffalo.
In 2018, Maslany made her Broadway debut in Ivo van Hove’s Network opposite Bryan Cranston and Tony Goldwyn. Other theatre credits include, Grey House (Broadway) opposite Laurie Metcalfe, Mary Page Marlowe written by Tracy Letts and Pre-Existing Condition written by Marin Ireland.
In film, Maslany will appear in The Monkey and Keeper, both directed by Longlegs writer/director Osgood Perkins. She also appeared in Destroyer alongside Nicole Kidman, starred in Stronger opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, Two Lovers and a Bear, The Other Half and The Woman in Gold. For her role in Grown Up Movie Star, she earned the Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize for Breakout Star.
DANNY DOLAN - WRITER/DIRECTOR - TRAVIS
Danny is an actor, dancer, choreographer, teacher, writer and film maker based in Los Angeles. He has worked with Emmy winners Ryan Heffington and Nina McNeely, Holly Rothschild, Axiom Dance Theater, LACDC and multi-disciplinary artists Lita Albuquerque and Jarrod Beck.
He has choreographed videos for Beth Ditto, Chromeo, American Apparel, MTV, Hi-Fashion, Folsom Street Fair, Bloomingdales, and Active Child, while also appearing in music videos for Hercules and Love Affair, Katy Perry, Carly Rae Jepsen, P!nk, Dua Lipa, Beck, Passion Pit, Depeche Mode and Florence and the Machine.
Some highlights from the last few years include playing Hobie Ashman in the upcoming feature Off the Record, dancing in Hulu’s Welcome to Chippendales and in the Apple+ series Palm Royale, choreographing Young Caesar for the LA Opera at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, staging a runway show for Amazon's Making The Cut winner Jonny Cota, and co-choreographing/directing Surprise! - an immersive dance theater extravaganza.
RESHMA GAJJAR - MEESHA
Reshma is an actor, dancer and embodied storyteller. The only one in her family to pursue the arts, she moved to Los Angeles on a scholarship to the Edge Performing Arts Center and went on to tour the world with Madonna and Ricky Martin. She has also shared stages with Selena Gomez, Dua Lipa and Hozier and is featured in music videos for Charli XCX and Adele.
Her on-screen acting credits include working with directors Spike Jonze, Kathryn Bigelow and Damien Chazelle - recognizable for opening Oscar-winning film La La Land as the “ingenue in the yellow dress” stuck in traffic.
Currently she is in New York performing as an original cast member and co-choreographer in Life & Trust, the new immersive theater production by the producers of Sleep No More.
Her heart beats for collaboration - from acting in independent films to working on artistic photoshoots - balancing one foot in the entertainment industry and the other in movement arts. Navigating these spaces with compassion and grace, she lets her humanity lead.
BRICK PATRICK - FELIX
Actor, comedian, writer and director, Brick was born and raised in the small mining community of Butte, Montana and received his Bachelors in Acting from the Univerity of Montana. He went on to receive his MFA in Acting from UC Irvine and has lived in Los Angeles now for the past 19 years.
Making a habit of engaging with projects that challenge and inspire him, his film credits include Now You See Me 2, The Triangle, Love Like Gold and his directorial debut Guttermuckers, which he just wrapped and stars in with Leslie Jones, Lil Rey Howery and Jim Belushi. His stage credits include Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (National Tour), Bill in Sure Thing, Les in West (Electric Lodge) and Andrew in As Sure As You Live (World Premier).
LEONORA PITTS - PRODUCER
Leonora is an award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter, actress, dancer, and teacher. She received her BFA in Acting from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied with the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School, serving on their faculty for several years upon graduation. As an actress, Leonora has guest starred on shows The Rookie, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and The Grinder, appeared in Charlie Day’s directorial debut, Fool’s Paradise, and was a recurring character on the Apple+ series For All Mankind.
A frequent collaborator with the prolific Duplass Brothers, she’s appeared in their films The Freebie and Magic Hour (both directed by Katie Aselton) and Manson Family Vacation (directed by J. Davis) as well as guest-starring in their two acclaimed HBO series Togetherness and Room 104.
Presently an MFA in Screenwriting candidate at the David Lynch School of Cinematic Arts, her screenplay Mad Bad Dangerous to Know (written with Emily Robinson) won Best Unproduced Screenplay at the Raindance Film Festival and was a semi-finalist in the Academy’s Nicholl Fellowship in 2024. Her four award-winning short films have screened at Aspen Shortsfest, Hollyshorts, Outfest, Raindance, Bentonville, Dam Short, Mill Valley, and Indie Memphis.
She recently produced her first feature film, I Hate Myself and Want to Die, which will premiere at the Austin Film Festival in October 2024.
GABE RODRIGUEZ - PRODUCER
Gabe is a Los Angeles based producer (Quiver’s Off the Record, out early 2025). He has come up in the industry as a man of many hats (literally…this cutie has stacks of hats). Starting as a writer in his 20s before joining IATSE in Portland, OR, his crew life continued with crafty and costumes before moving to LA and onto the AD staff of many major network TV shows (NBC’s Grimm and Good Girls, HBO’s Euphoria) and several films (Focus Features' The High Note and The Boys in the Band on Netflix). Doing so many different jobs on set has instilled a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of how things work, from the micro level to the big picture. His learn-by-doing approach and solution based demeanor keeps every set he works on flowing, creative and supported.
TAMARA SANTOS - DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Tamara Santos is a cinematographer from Brazil, based in Los Angeles. A UCLA Alumnae, her passion to translate storytelling into cinematic visuals led Tamara to collaborate with artists such as Mark Ronson, Ana de Armas, Gisele Bündchen, and Steve Aoki among others. She has been the eye of campaigns for large corporations (Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf) as well as short films and music videos (singer Margot Price), with a keen sensibility for capturing the fluidity of movement. A recent highlight was working on the Second Unit crew of Academy Award-winning film Nomadland directed by Chloé Zhao.
SPECIAL THANKS to:
Ryan Heffington, Melissa Schade, Aron Kantor, Rick Gradone,
Paul Waxman, Charissa Kroeger, and Roman Udalov
for their donated efforts and continued support throughout this process!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
CAMERA EQUIPMENT
Costs $4,000
We need an incredible camera to visually realize our incredible story. Don't let the name fool you, the Alexa Mini packs an enormous punch.
CATERING/CRAFTY
Costs $2,500
We gotta eat. Most of this money will be going back into the community as we are tapping some local restaurants for our catering needs.
LODGING FOR CAST AND CREW
Costs $6,000
Our hardworking crew deserves a place to rest their heads on this three day shoot, all while supporting a locally owned/operated hotel.
PROPS AND WARDROBE
Costs $2,000
We need clothes and severed limbs and pool toys, oh my! Intrigued? Show some support so you can see how it all plays out.
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Costs $3,000
We have to create a nepo baby's dream house out in the desert. Her taste is 'elevated basics', and it's all very expensive. And beige.
BLOOD
Costs $500
This is a horror film and there will be blood. Turns out, fake blood is more expensive than real blood. Maybe we should...
POST PRODUCTION
Costs $7,500
Editing, score, color correction, special effects. And when all is locked in, there will be festival submissions.
INSURANCE
Costs $2,500
SAFETY THIRD! Jk, Jk...our crew, our location, and our equipment need to be protected while we tell this wild story. Plus, it's the law.
CAST AND CREW
Costs $22,000
Without these folks, it would just be words on a page. This will be an equitable set - every person involved gets paid the same fair wage.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
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About This Team
DANNY DOLAN - WRITER/DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER
Danny is an actor, dancer, choreographer, teacher, writer and director based in Los Angeles. He has worked with Emmy winners Ryan Heffington and Nina McNeely, Holly Rothschild, Axiom Dance Theater, LACDC and multi-disciplinary artists Lita Albuquerque and Jarrod Beck. He has also staged runway shows for clothing designers SKINGRAFT and R.Swaider and online content for Lulu's and NYDJ. You might have seen him in television shows Euphoria, Palm Royale and Welcome to Chippendales or caught him dancing in movies Yes Day and Transparent: Musicale Finale, or even in commercials for McDonald's, Tiffany & Co., Doritos, Taco Bell, Bonobos and most fittingly, Gas-X.
His choreography has been seen in clubs all over Los Angeles as well as The Art of Elysium, BENT, the LACE Gallery, and The Ace Hotel Los Angeles. He has choreographed videos for Beth Ditto, Chromeo, American Apparel, MTV, Hi-Fashion, Folsom Street Fair, Bloomingdales, Active Child, and Gold Zebra while also appearing in music videos for Hercules and Love Affair, Katy Perry, Carly Rae Jensen, P!nk, Due Lipa, Beck, Passion Pit, Depeche Mode and Florence and the Machine.
Some recent highlights include playing Hobie Ashman in the upcoming feature Off The Record, choreographing Young Caesar for the LA Opera at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, staging a runway show for Amazon's Making The Cut winner Jonny Cota, collaborating with artist Jarrod beck for his immersive show MOON at Smack Mellon Gallery in Brooklyn, NY, and co-choreographing/directing Surprise! - an immersive dance theater extravaganza.
GABE RODRIGUEZ - PRODUCER
Gabe is a Los Angeles based producer (Quiver’s Off the Record, out early 2025). He has come up in the industry as a man of many hats (literally…this cutie has stacks of hats). Starting as a writer in his 20s before joining IATSE in Portland, OR, his crew life continued with crafty and costumes before moving to LA and onto the AD staff of many major network TV shows (NBC’s Grimm and Good Girls, HBO’s Euphoria) and several films (Focus Feature’s The High Note and The Boys in the Band on Netflix). Doing so many different jobs on set has instilled a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of how things work, from the micro level to the big picture. His learn-by-doing approach and solution based demeanor keeps every set he works on flowing, creative and supported.
LEONORA PITTS - PRODUCER
Leonora is an award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter, actress, dancer, and teacher. She received her BFA in Acting from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied with the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School, serving on their faculty for several years upon graduation.
As an actress, Leonora has guest starred on shows The Rookie, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and The Grinder, appeared in Charlie Day’s directorial debut, Fool’s Paradise, and was a recurring character on the Apple+ series For All Mankind.
A frequent collaborator with the prolific Duplass Brothers, she’s appeared in their films The Freebie and Magic Hour (both directed by Katie Aselton) and Manson Family Vacation (directed by J. Davis) as well as guest-starring in their two acclaimed HBO series Togetherness and Room 104.
Presently an MFA in Screenwriting candidate at the David Lynch School of Cinematic Arts, her screenplay Mad Bad Dangerous to Know (written with Emily Robinson) won Best Unproduced Screenplay at the Raindance Film Festival and was a semi-finalist in the Academy’s Nicholl Fellowship in 2024. Her four award-winning short films have screened at Aspen Shortsfest, Hollyshorts, Outfest, Raindance, Bentonville, Dam Short, Mill Valley, and Indie Memphis.
She recently produced her first feature film, reuniting with her Manson Family Vacation director. The film, titled I Hate Myself and Want to Die, will premiere at the Austin Film Festival in October 2024.
TAMARA SANTOS - CINEMATOGRAPHER
Tamara Santos is a cinematographer from Brazil, based in Los Angeles. A UCLA Alumnae, her passion to translate storytelling into cinematic visuals led Tamara to collaborate with artists such as Mark Ronson, Ana de Armas, Gisele Bündchen, and Steve Aoki among others. She has been the eye of campaigns for large corporations (Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf) as well as short films and music videos (Grammy-Nominated Margot Price), with a keen sensibility for capturing the fluidity of movement. Most recently she worked on the Second Unit crew of Academy Award winning film Nomadland directed by Chloé Zhao.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!
We’ve SURPASSED our target
and are blown away by the community we are building around this project!
Join us on this adventure and know that your contributions will now go to some stretch goals we have in mind:
-higher wages for all involved!
-an upgrade in camera/lighting equipment!
-one or two more crew members to ease the load of our already streamlined team!
-music clearances (unless Chappell Roan wants to do us a favor!)
The truth is, every additional dollar allows us to more fully realize the vision of this project.
Dig into the story below...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After losing out on the job of a lifetime, one choreographer's attempts at self-care are hijacked by an unhinged and malicious rival.
Reeling from the loss of an international Adidas campaign, the job he thought would be his big (and well-deserved) break, jaded choreographer Travis drives to a friend's desert retreat for a therapeutic getaway to forget how the world still hasn't recognized his magnificent potential.
Travis is surprised to find one of his contemporaries at the house when he arrives - the washed-up, faux-spiritual Willow - but tries to make the most of this unwanted company. When an unexpected phone call from his agent with some good news suddenly spins the unhinged Willow even more off balance, Travis' safety and sanity are thrown into jeopardy.
CHARACTERS:
TRAVIS is a brat. A privileged, skillful, ambitious brat. Desperate to make a name for himself as a choreographer, Travis has an entire reel of 'for friend and for free' projects that just can't seem to get him anywhere. As he impatiently waits to be chosen, he watches his younger friend Christina book job after job. He knows he is destined for greatness, though, and tries to mask his defeat with eagerness and support. And he truly does want his friends to succeed, as long as he is succeeding with them.
A tangle of manic energy, WILLOW's once graceful choreography now carries an air of severity. Her erratic behavior and unconventional methods have alienated many in the industry, but those who have worked with her over the past 25 years know that beneath the madness lies a rare genius, and despite her unsettling demeanor, Willow's newfound 'spirituality' gives her strength to fight the turmoil within. Her choreography is a visceral expression of her inner mayhem, capturing the raw and tumultuous essence of the human experience.
MEESHA is a seasoned pro in the industry - a consummate professional who has seen it all and not only survived - she's thrived. She's audacious, honest, and a champion of Travis and his talent - but her tolerance for his 'when is it gonna be my turn?' attitude can only go so far. When she also gets passed up for a job, the thought of being pushed out, or even worse - forgotten - threatens to get the best of her - a test of grit she wasn't expecting.
Some would call FELIX an asshole, others would say he's a maverick. He's your agent, not your friend. Every interaction is transactional. When you're working, he loves you, when you're not, it's like you don't even exist. He took a liking to Travis and sees his potential, but mostly was using him for a good fuck. And even in the moment when he needs Travis the most, there's no humility. He's a take it or leave it kind of guy, and he makes it nearly impossible to leave it.
Nepo-baby CHRISTINA is the star of the moment. Her 'elevated basics' approach to choreography, though not moving the needle forward, has put her at the top of the game - having famous parents doesn't hurt either. Christina is kind at heart, generous and supportive. And why shouldn't she be - she literally has everything, including a target on her back.
NEXT IN LINE is an unhinged cautionary tale that dances with absurdity, psychedelics and violent folklore. In an industry where you're only as good as your last job, and nepotism and youth upstage hard work and experience...what chance does anyone have to advance and make a name for themselves?
So often, our self worth gets tied up in our work (yay Capitalism!) - what job we just did, what celebrity we just worked with, how much money we make or what our next opportunity will be...we allow that to define us, to dictate how we feel about ourselves and this film is a direct reaction to those feelings. Through the use of dark humor and horror, those feelings get taken to an extreme as the jobs have all but vanished and the stakes keep getting higher.
This story is a direct response to the drought that's happening inside of our industry, and the outside forces not willing to water the foundational soil that makes this business so fertile.
The proof-of-concept footage woven into our pitch video captures the tone and the world we are aiming to create.
A strong inspiration for our story is Black Swan - the characters' fragility and vicious rivalry, and how artistic obsession can lead to madness. Other significant references include the delusional, shifting identities of Robert Altman's 3 Women, all set in a surreal desert landscape, and the cracking of facades and comic maliciousness of Ingrid Goes West.
We are raising $50,000 to produce and complete our film.
We will be running an equitable set - every position will be paid the same fair wage (44% of our budget!).
We will be running an ethnically and culturally diverse and inclusive set, mostly female (70%) and strongly queer.
This will be a 3-day shoot on location in 29 Palms, CA. We aim to roll cameras in early February 2025, with a final cut completed and ready to go by the end of Spring!
This is YOUR chance to join this INCREDIBLE team in telling this wild and provocative story.
ANY contribution (monetary or otherwise) is greatly appreciated!
TATIANA MASLANY - WILLOW
Tatiana proved her ability to effortlessly play multiple characters for five seasons on the BBC America series, Orphan Black, garnering one Golden Globe and three Emmy nominations, leading to an Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. The role also earned her two Critics’ Choice Awards and a SAG Award nomination, among other accolades. Recently, she starred opposite Matthew Rhys in HBO’s Perry Mason and in the animated series The Harper House for Paramount+. She recently starred as the titular role in Marvel’s She-Hulk series for Disney+ opposite Mark Ruffalo.
In 2018, Maslany made her Broadway debut in Ivo van Hove’s Network opposite Bryan Cranston and Tony Goldwyn. Other theatre credits include, Grey House (Broadway) opposite Laurie Metcalfe, Mary Page Marlowe written by Tracy Letts and Pre-Existing Condition written by Marin Ireland.
In film, Maslany will appear in The Monkey and Keeper, both directed by Longlegs writer/director Osgood Perkins. She also appeared in Destroyer alongside Nicole Kidman, starred in Stronger opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, Two Lovers and a Bear, The Other Half and The Woman in Gold. For her role in Grown Up Movie Star, she earned the Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize for Breakout Star.
DANNY DOLAN - WRITER/DIRECTOR - TRAVIS
Danny is an actor, dancer, choreographer, teacher, writer and film maker based in Los Angeles. He has worked with Emmy winners Ryan Heffington and Nina McNeely, Holly Rothschild, Axiom Dance Theater, LACDC and multi-disciplinary artists Lita Albuquerque and Jarrod Beck.
He has choreographed videos for Beth Ditto, Chromeo, American Apparel, MTV, Hi-Fashion, Folsom Street Fair, Bloomingdales, and Active Child, while also appearing in music videos for Hercules and Love Affair, Katy Perry, Carly Rae Jepsen, P!nk, Dua Lipa, Beck, Passion Pit, Depeche Mode and Florence and the Machine.
Some highlights from the last few years include playing Hobie Ashman in the upcoming feature Off the Record, dancing in Hulu’s Welcome to Chippendales and in the Apple+ series Palm Royale, choreographing Young Caesar for the LA Opera at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, staging a runway show for Amazon's Making The Cut winner Jonny Cota, and co-choreographing/directing Surprise! - an immersive dance theater extravaganza.
RESHMA GAJJAR - MEESHA
Reshma is an actor, dancer and embodied storyteller. The only one in her family to pursue the arts, she moved to Los Angeles on a scholarship to the Edge Performing Arts Center and went on to tour the world with Madonna and Ricky Martin. She has also shared stages with Selena Gomez, Dua Lipa and Hozier and is featured in music videos for Charli XCX and Adele.
Her on-screen acting credits include working with directors Spike Jonze, Kathryn Bigelow and Damien Chazelle - recognizable for opening Oscar-winning film La La Land as the “ingenue in the yellow dress” stuck in traffic.
Currently she is in New York performing as an original cast member and co-choreographer in Life & Trust, the new immersive theater production by the producers of Sleep No More.
Her heart beats for collaboration - from acting in independent films to working on artistic photoshoots - balancing one foot in the entertainment industry and the other in movement arts. Navigating these spaces with compassion and grace, she lets her humanity lead.
BRICK PATRICK - FELIX
Actor, comedian, writer and director, Brick was born and raised in the small mining community of Butte, Montana and received his Bachelors in Acting from the Univerity of Montana. He went on to receive his MFA in Acting from UC Irvine and has lived in Los Angeles now for the past 19 years.
Making a habit of engaging with projects that challenge and inspire him, his film credits include Now You See Me 2, The Triangle, Love Like Gold and his directorial debut Guttermuckers, which he just wrapped and stars in with Leslie Jones, Lil Rey Howery and Jim Belushi. His stage credits include Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (National Tour), Bill in Sure Thing, Les in West (Electric Lodge) and Andrew in As Sure As You Live (World Premier).
LEONORA PITTS - PRODUCER
Leonora is an award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter, actress, dancer, and teacher. She received her BFA in Acting from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied with the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School, serving on their faculty for several years upon graduation. As an actress, Leonora has guest starred on shows The Rookie, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and The Grinder, appeared in Charlie Day’s directorial debut, Fool’s Paradise, and was a recurring character on the Apple+ series For All Mankind.
A frequent collaborator with the prolific Duplass Brothers, she’s appeared in their films The Freebie and Magic Hour (both directed by Katie Aselton) and Manson Family Vacation (directed by J. Davis) as well as guest-starring in their two acclaimed HBO series Togetherness and Room 104.
Presently an MFA in Screenwriting candidate at the David Lynch School of Cinematic Arts, her screenplay Mad Bad Dangerous to Know (written with Emily Robinson) won Best Unproduced Screenplay at the Raindance Film Festival and was a semi-finalist in the Academy’s Nicholl Fellowship in 2024. Her four award-winning short films have screened at Aspen Shortsfest, Hollyshorts, Outfest, Raindance, Bentonville, Dam Short, Mill Valley, and Indie Memphis.
She recently produced her first feature film, I Hate Myself and Want to Die, which will premiere at the Austin Film Festival in October 2024.
GABE RODRIGUEZ - PRODUCER
Gabe is a Los Angeles based producer (Quiver’s Off the Record, out early 2025). He has come up in the industry as a man of many hats (literally…this cutie has stacks of hats). Starting as a writer in his 20s before joining IATSE in Portland, OR, his crew life continued with crafty and costumes before moving to LA and onto the AD staff of many major network TV shows (NBC’s Grimm and Good Girls, HBO’s Euphoria) and several films (Focus Features' The High Note and The Boys in the Band on Netflix). Doing so many different jobs on set has instilled a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of how things work, from the micro level to the big picture. His learn-by-doing approach and solution based demeanor keeps every set he works on flowing, creative and supported.
TAMARA SANTOS - DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Tamara Santos is a cinematographer from Brazil, based in Los Angeles. A UCLA Alumnae, her passion to translate storytelling into cinematic visuals led Tamara to collaborate with artists such as Mark Ronson, Ana de Armas, Gisele Bündchen, and Steve Aoki among others. She has been the eye of campaigns for large corporations (Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf) as well as short films and music videos (singer Margot Price), with a keen sensibility for capturing the fluidity of movement. A recent highlight was working on the Second Unit crew of Academy Award-winning film Nomadland directed by Chloé Zhao.
SPECIAL THANKS to:
Ryan Heffington, Melissa Schade, Aron Kantor, Rick Gradone,
Paul Waxman, Charissa Kroeger, and Roman Udalov
for their donated efforts and continued support throughout this process!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
CAMERA EQUIPMENT
Costs $4,000
We need an incredible camera to visually realize our incredible story. Don't let the name fool you, the Alexa Mini packs an enormous punch.
CATERING/CRAFTY
Costs $2,500
We gotta eat. Most of this money will be going back into the community as we are tapping some local restaurants for our catering needs.
LODGING FOR CAST AND CREW
Costs $6,000
Our hardworking crew deserves a place to rest their heads on this three day shoot, all while supporting a locally owned/operated hotel.
PROPS AND WARDROBE
Costs $2,000
We need clothes and severed limbs and pool toys, oh my! Intrigued? Show some support so you can see how it all plays out.
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Costs $3,000
We have to create a nepo baby's dream house out in the desert. Her taste is 'elevated basics', and it's all very expensive. And beige.
BLOOD
Costs $500
This is a horror film and there will be blood. Turns out, fake blood is more expensive than real blood. Maybe we should...
POST PRODUCTION
Costs $7,500
Editing, score, color correction, special effects. And when all is locked in, there will be festival submissions.
INSURANCE
Costs $2,500
SAFETY THIRD! Jk, Jk...our crew, our location, and our equipment need to be protected while we tell this wild story. Plus, it's the law.
CAST AND CREW
Costs $22,000
Without these folks, it would just be words on a page. This will be an equitable set - every person involved gets paid the same fair wage.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
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About This Team
DANNY DOLAN - WRITER/DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER
Danny is an actor, dancer, choreographer, teacher, writer and director based in Los Angeles. He has worked with Emmy winners Ryan Heffington and Nina McNeely, Holly Rothschild, Axiom Dance Theater, LACDC and multi-disciplinary artists Lita Albuquerque and Jarrod Beck. He has also staged runway shows for clothing designers SKINGRAFT and R.Swaider and online content for Lulu's and NYDJ. You might have seen him in television shows Euphoria, Palm Royale and Welcome to Chippendales or caught him dancing in movies Yes Day and Transparent: Musicale Finale, or even in commercials for McDonald's, Tiffany & Co., Doritos, Taco Bell, Bonobos and most fittingly, Gas-X.
His choreography has been seen in clubs all over Los Angeles as well as The Art of Elysium, BENT, the LACE Gallery, and The Ace Hotel Los Angeles. He has choreographed videos for Beth Ditto, Chromeo, American Apparel, MTV, Hi-Fashion, Folsom Street Fair, Bloomingdales, Active Child, and Gold Zebra while also appearing in music videos for Hercules and Love Affair, Katy Perry, Carly Rae Jensen, P!nk, Due Lipa, Beck, Passion Pit, Depeche Mode and Florence and the Machine.
Some recent highlights include playing Hobie Ashman in the upcoming feature Off The Record, choreographing Young Caesar for the LA Opera at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, staging a runway show for Amazon's Making The Cut winner Jonny Cota, collaborating with artist Jarrod beck for his immersive show MOON at Smack Mellon Gallery in Brooklyn, NY, and co-choreographing/directing Surprise! - an immersive dance theater extravaganza.
GABE RODRIGUEZ - PRODUCER
Gabe is a Los Angeles based producer (Quiver’s Off the Record, out early 2025). He has come up in the industry as a man of many hats (literally…this cutie has stacks of hats). Starting as a writer in his 20s before joining IATSE in Portland, OR, his crew life continued with crafty and costumes before moving to LA and onto the AD staff of many major network TV shows (NBC’s Grimm and Good Girls, HBO’s Euphoria) and several films (Focus Feature’s The High Note and The Boys in the Band on Netflix). Doing so many different jobs on set has instilled a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of how things work, from the micro level to the big picture. His learn-by-doing approach and solution based demeanor keeps every set he works on flowing, creative and supported.
LEONORA PITTS - PRODUCER
Leonora is an award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter, actress, dancer, and teacher. She received her BFA in Acting from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied with the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School, serving on their faculty for several years upon graduation.
As an actress, Leonora has guest starred on shows The Rookie, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and The Grinder, appeared in Charlie Day’s directorial debut, Fool’s Paradise, and was a recurring character on the Apple+ series For All Mankind.
A frequent collaborator with the prolific Duplass Brothers, she’s appeared in their films The Freebie and Magic Hour (both directed by Katie Aselton) and Manson Family Vacation (directed by J. Davis) as well as guest-starring in their two acclaimed HBO series Togetherness and Room 104.
Presently an MFA in Screenwriting candidate at the David Lynch School of Cinematic Arts, her screenplay Mad Bad Dangerous to Know (written with Emily Robinson) won Best Unproduced Screenplay at the Raindance Film Festival and was a semi-finalist in the Academy’s Nicholl Fellowship in 2024. Her four award-winning short films have screened at Aspen Shortsfest, Hollyshorts, Outfest, Raindance, Bentonville, Dam Short, Mill Valley, and Indie Memphis.
She recently produced her first feature film, reuniting with her Manson Family Vacation director. The film, titled I Hate Myself and Want to Die, will premiere at the Austin Film Festival in October 2024.
TAMARA SANTOS - CINEMATOGRAPHER
Tamara Santos is a cinematographer from Brazil, based in Los Angeles. A UCLA Alumnae, her passion to translate storytelling into cinematic visuals led Tamara to collaborate with artists such as Mark Ronson, Ana de Armas, Gisele Bündchen, and Steve Aoki among others. She has been the eye of campaigns for large corporations (Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf) as well as short films and music videos (Grammy-Nominated Margot Price), with a keen sensibility for capturing the fluidity of movement. Most recently she worked on the Second Unit crew of Academy Award winning film Nomadland directed by Chloé Zhao.