No Animals Harmed
San Diego, California | Film Short
LGBTQ, Romantic Comedy
Set in a vegan cafe, two queer exes fight over the value of an animal's life while ignoring the man choking next to them. With exciting incentives and exclusive behind-the-scenes updates that put you right in the action, supporters get a front seat to the movie making magic.
No Animals Harmed
San Diego, California | Film Short
LGBTQ, Romantic Comedy
1 Campaigns | California, United States
9 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$2,050
Goal: $19,950 for production
Set in a vegan cafe, two queer exes fight over the value of an animal's life while ignoring the man choking next to them. With exciting incentives and exclusive behind-the-scenes updates that put you right in the action, supporters get a front seat to the movie making magic.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
No Animals Harmed is a comedic short film set in a vegan café, where ex-girlfriends Brooklyn and Sunshine rehash their issues and confess their love for each other and animals – all while a man chokes to death next to them.
It's chaotic. It's queer. It's laugh-out-loud funny.
But it's nothing without your help.
4 EASY WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT THIS FILM
Seed & Spark – the crowdfunding platform we're using – makes it easy to help us get this film made by offering four different ways you can show your support:
- Follow and share this campaign page with family, friends and followers.
- Donate your time and talent.
- Sponsor a specific production expense or item.
- Give to the general film fund.
Whether you donate time and talent, sponsor a specific need, give to the general fund, or do all four, you'll get to enjoy the fabulous and fun incentives we have for our supporters! So be sure to check those out.
After the film wraps, we'll spend 1–2 years submitting to film festivals. Once the festival run is complete, all backers will receive a digital copy of the finished film and the behind-the-scenes lookbook.
So you're not just helping us get the film made – you're pre-ordering a copy of it for yourself.
WHY NOW? WHY THIS FILM?
At a time when governments at every level are cutting funding to the arts, it is a radical act of resistance to come together and make a movie — especially one with LGBTQ characters, cast, and crew.
At its core, this project is about bringing community together at a time when we need each other the most. Right now, it feels like the world is on fire. Creativity and community are the balm that politicians can't take away.
So whether you join the cast or crew, donate to help fund the film, or simply send a message cheering us all on, you’re actively supporting independent queer filmmaking.
WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS
We have a hilarious and heartfelt script, auditions are underway for the cast, and we're in the process of finalizing our crew – with great people already signed on, including Emily Deady as Director of Photography and Emmy-nominated Jess Furman as our Music Supervisor.
We've secured Ultreya Coffee – a fabulous local queer and woman owned café – as our venue, and have a shooting date of September 18-20, 2026.
Now, all we need is funding to make this happen!
OUR GOALS
We are making this film with three goals in mind:
- Bring community together to make art and have fun.
- Create a high quality short film that will be a crowd favorite at major film festivals.
- Provide comedic relief in these divisive times, especially to LGBTQ+ people and our allies.
To make this happen, we need to raise at least $20,000.
What happens if we raise less money?
If we raise under $16,000 (or 80% of our goal), your money will be refunded and the film put on hold until we can secure full funding. This means you can donate with confidence — you'll only be charged if we hit our goal, and we'll only make this film when we can do it right.
What happens if we raise more money?
Our stretch goal is $30,000 – this would allow us to pay more to our cast and crew, and fly to festivals to promote the film in person.
Where Your Contribution Goes
Our $20,000 goal goes directly towards covering:
- Cast
- Crew
- Catering
- Venue
- Equipment
- Distribution
- Post-Production
- Insurance
- Legal
- Contingency (industry standard 10% buffer for the unexpected)
You Can Donate to the General Fund or Sponsor a Specific Production Item
The "Wishlist" tab on this campaign page will show you the exact breakdown of the budget and allow you to sponsor a specific production item either monetarily or with your time.
For example, you can pay to cover catering, or you can sign-up to bring food for the cast and crew yourself.
It's a great way to know exactly where your money is going and how it will help make this film a success.
We've also got some great incentives if you want to simply donate to the general film fund itself. They include IMDB credit, visits to the set, and even naming a character after yourself – or an ex. 😉
We've talked with local filmmakers, taken classes, and reviewed the budget many times, but there's always unexpected expenses, so we have the industry standard 10% contingency built in for that.
Contributions of $1,000 or more may be tax-deductible through our fiscal sponsor. Email [email protected] for details.
On a Personal Note
I started dreaming of making movies around the same time I came out of the closet. That's not a coincidence.
Movies, television, and books are a reflection of our culture, and I didn't see myself in any of them. I dreamt of the day that I could make stories that starred queer kids like me.
I went to film school, studied really hard, but got discouraged along the way. The experiences I had in filmmaking were sexist and homophobic, sometimes dangerously so. A professor pulled me aside and encouraged me to use my storytelling talents to write books and then turn those books into movies as a backdoor into Hollywood.
So that's what I did.
I don't regret my twenty-years in publishing – I have some great memories, skills, and experiences from that time and am so proud of both my books and my company, School for Writers®. There will be more of both in my future! But I am ready to also pursue my multimedia storytelling dreams as well.
While I made a couple student films back in 2001-2005, No Animals Harmed is my first official short film. I'm nervous, ecstatic, scared and giddy all at once to take on this project.
The thing I am looking forward to the most is bringing others along for the ride. From the cast and crew, to backers like you, I want this to be as collaborative of a process as possible. I want to encourage others to make their art, and I want all of us to have fun using our voices.
Because the world needs our stories now more than ever.
With love and excitement,
Lauren
writer, director, and producer of No Animals Harmed
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD
One of the best ways to support this film is to share it. Here's some ready-to-go copy you can paste and post — feel free to tweak it and make it your own!
For Instagram/Facebook:
My friend @laurenmariefleming is making a queer comedy short film called No Animals Harmed, and it sounds so good. It's about two lesbian exes in a vegan café fighting about the sanctity of animal life while a man chokes to death next to them. It's chaotic, it's queer, it's hilarious — and it needs our support. Check it out here: [LINK]
For Twitter/X/Bluesky/Threads:
A queer comedy about two lesbian exes, a vegan café, and a man no one notices is choking to death. @laurenmariefleming is making it and needs our help. Check it out: [LINK]
For texting a friend:
Hey! My friend Lauren is crowdfunding a really funny queer short film. It's about two lesbian exes fighting in a vegan café while a guy almost dies next to them and nobody notices. I thought you might want to check it out: [LINK]
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast
Costs $1,300
This would allow us to pay our 4 talking roles and 4-6 background actors a stipend that's close to SAG/AFTRA suggested rates for microfilms.
Catering
Costs $1,000
A hangry team is not a fun team! This will help us buy 34 meals over multiple day to keep our team energized and sustained through shooting.
Legal + Insurance
Costs $1,500
Good contracts make good partnerships, and this will help us make sure the project has legal and monetary protections.
Distribution
Costs $2,500
Making a film is great – having people see it is even better! This covers film festival fees, marketing, and other distribution expenses.
Venue
Costs $1,000
Our plan is to film at a local café that not only has great vibes for a film, but is also owned and ran by great humans.
Lighting Equipment + Lighting Tech
Costs $1,250
Helping the actors shine – literally. This covers renting the lighting equipment and paying a stipend to the lighting tech.
Sound Equipment + Sound Tech
Costs $1,250
Sound is everything in a film. This covers renting the sound equipment and paying a stipend to a sound tech.
Production Assistants + Assistant Director
Costs $750
This allows us to pay stipends to 2 PA's and 1 AD – very important positions that make sure the film shoot runs smoothly.
Camera Equipment + Cinematographer
Costs $1,050
We gotta capture the action! We have two cameras, so this covers hard drives, lenses, and a stipend for the cinematographer.
Writer, Director, & Producers
Costs $1,000
This covers a stipend for the core group of humans making this film happen from start to finish.
Post Production
Costs $2,000
Where the film comes together! This complex process covers editing, color, effects, and sound to make the film festival ready.
Music
Costs $1,500
A film feels flat without music. This covers licensing a composition or song for us to use in the film.
Costumes + Props
Costs $500
Gotta look good! This covers outfits for our cast plus any props needed on set, and someone to manage both on set.
Hair and Makeup
Costs $250
Looking fabulous! This covers basic supplies plus a stipend for someone to come and do hair and makeup for our cast.
Contingency + Fees
Costs $3,100
Expect the unexpected. This includes the 10% industry standard contingency buffer, plus 3% credit card fee and 5% fiscal sponsorship fee.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Lauren Marie Fleming – Writer, Director, Producer
Lauren Marie Fleming (xe/her) is an author, filmmaker, and story coach. Her work explores power, desire, resilience, and the stories we tell about our bodies and our lives.
Xe is the author of the hit queer romance novel Because Fat Girl and multiple nonfiction books, including Bawdy Love: 10 Steps to Profoundly Loving Your Body and The Writer’s Career Guide.
A graduate of film school and law school, Lauren has produced and overseen multimedia content for major stages and audiences, including two years as a Creative Content Producer for Tony Robbins.
Xe has been featured in Good Morning America, Glamour, and Cosmo, and has written for VICE, Curve, and The Huffington Post. As a speaker, Lauren has presented at universities and conferences including Yale, Brown, and Cal Poly.
A lover of a good story, Lauren will try almost anything once—as long as it’s gluten-free. When not traveling, xe can be found walking her dog along the beach in San Diego listening to an audiobook.
Emily Deady – Director of Photography
Emily Deady grew up as an avid reader who hated writing. But one day she realized that most authors loved cats and tea, her two favorite things. So, she stopped fighting the inevitable and she began to write. A graduate of film school, she's got a keen eye for telling a story through a camera lens. She loves a good romance, her real-life hero who patiently listens to all her plotlines, and hitting the trails for a light hike in sunny San Diego.
Emily and Lauren met while writing books next to each other in a cafe. They bonded over a love of film and a deep desire to make a movie without having to move to L.A. Thus, this collaboration was born.
Jasmin Duong – Associate Producer
Jasmin Duong is a San Diego native who studied Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at San Diego City College and Film and Media at Mount Saint Mary's University. She has worked as a production coordinator, associate producer, script manager, and compliance officer for multiple organizations including productions at The Old Globe and Hulu.
Yazdi Pithavala – Script Supervisor
Yazdi K. Pithavala is a lead reviewer and podcaster at Moviewallas.com, that provides film debate, streaming recommendations and coverage of film festivals. He has been writing about cinema on his personal blog since 2009. He is a member of the San Diego Film Critics Society, and has been elected Secretary since 2014. He is a guest on the monthly Midday Movies segment on Midday Edition at KPBS to discuss film. He loves all cinema, but has a particular affinity for independent and foreign films, particularly those from India, his place of birth.
Yazdi is a scientist by training and has been involved with oncology drug development for several decades. He is also Assistant Clinical Professor at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy at UCSD. However, there is nothing he would rather do than be in the glorious darkness of a movie theater gorging on cinema.
Jess Furman – Music Supervisor
Jess Furman is an Emmy-nominated creative director, music producer, and songwriter with hundreds of credits across TV/film, video games, and advertising.
She is the founder and Executive Creative Director of Sound Revolver, an award-winning, 100% woman-owned custom music and sound-design house whose work spans clients including A24, Disney, Apple TV, and 20th Century Fox, with honors ranging from RIAA Gold-certified records to Telly and Clio Awards.
Her flagship credits include serving as Executive Music & Creative Director on Discovery's Book of Queer — the landmark LGBTQ+ history limited series that earned 6 Emmy nominations and 1 win — alongside TV and film music credits for DreamWorks, Nickelodeon, Hasbro, Viacom, and other major networks.
A recent Governor of the Recording Academy's (Grammys) LA Chapter, where she now sits on the Producers & Engineers Wing and Advocacy Committees, Jess was named a Billboard Magazine's Top 40 Industry-Shaping Executives in its annual Pride issue.
Ultreya Coffee – The Venue
We found the perfect location in Ultreya Coffee – a local queer and woman-owned shop. Not only do they have delicious coffee and treats, they've also got great vibes and the perfect feel for this film. Plus, Dani and the team at Ultreya are wonderful humans who are very excited to help make this movie the best it can be!
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
No Animals Harmed is a comedic short film set in a vegan café, where ex-girlfriends Brooklyn and Sunshine rehash their issues and confess their love for each other and animals – all while a man chokes to death next to them.
It's chaotic. It's queer. It's laugh-out-loud funny.
But it's nothing without your help.
4 EASY WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT THIS FILM
Seed & Spark – the crowdfunding platform we're using – makes it easy to help us get this film made by offering four different ways you can show your support:
- Follow and share this campaign page with family, friends and followers.
- Donate your time and talent.
- Sponsor a specific production expense or item.
- Give to the general film fund.
Whether you donate time and talent, sponsor a specific need, give to the general fund, or do all four, you'll get to enjoy the fabulous and fun incentives we have for our supporters! So be sure to check those out.
After the film wraps, we'll spend 1–2 years submitting to film festivals. Once the festival run is complete, all backers will receive a digital copy of the finished film and the behind-the-scenes lookbook.
So you're not just helping us get the film made – you're pre-ordering a copy of it for yourself.
WHY NOW? WHY THIS FILM?
At a time when governments at every level are cutting funding to the arts, it is a radical act of resistance to come together and make a movie — especially one with LGBTQ characters, cast, and crew.
At its core, this project is about bringing community together at a time when we need each other the most. Right now, it feels like the world is on fire. Creativity and community are the balm that politicians can't take away.
So whether you join the cast or crew, donate to help fund the film, or simply send a message cheering us all on, you’re actively supporting independent queer filmmaking.
WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS
We have a hilarious and heartfelt script, auditions are underway for the cast, and we're in the process of finalizing our crew – with great people already signed on, including Emily Deady as Director of Photography and Emmy-nominated Jess Furman as our Music Supervisor.
We've secured Ultreya Coffee – a fabulous local queer and woman owned café – as our venue, and have a shooting date of September 18-20, 2026.
Now, all we need is funding to make this happen!
OUR GOALS
We are making this film with three goals in mind:
- Bring community together to make art and have fun.
- Create a high quality short film that will be a crowd favorite at major film festivals.
- Provide comedic relief in these divisive times, especially to LGBTQ+ people and our allies.
To make this happen, we need to raise at least $20,000.
What happens if we raise less money?
If we raise under $16,000 (or 80% of our goal), your money will be refunded and the film put on hold until we can secure full funding. This means you can donate with confidence — you'll only be charged if we hit our goal, and we'll only make this film when we can do it right.
What happens if we raise more money?
Our stretch goal is $30,000 – this would allow us to pay more to our cast and crew, and fly to festivals to promote the film in person.
Where Your Contribution Goes
Our $20,000 goal goes directly towards covering:
- Cast
- Crew
- Catering
- Venue
- Equipment
- Distribution
- Post-Production
- Insurance
- Legal
- Contingency (industry standard 10% buffer for the unexpected)
You Can Donate to the General Fund or Sponsor a Specific Production Item
The "Wishlist" tab on this campaign page will show you the exact breakdown of the budget and allow you to sponsor a specific production item either monetarily or with your time.
For example, you can pay to cover catering, or you can sign-up to bring food for the cast and crew yourself.
It's a great way to know exactly where your money is going and how it will help make this film a success.
We've also got some great incentives if you want to simply donate to the general film fund itself. They include IMDB credit, visits to the set, and even naming a character after yourself – or an ex. 😉
We've talked with local filmmakers, taken classes, and reviewed the budget many times, but there's always unexpected expenses, so we have the industry standard 10% contingency built in for that.
Contributions of $1,000 or more may be tax-deductible through our fiscal sponsor. Email [email protected] for details.
On a Personal Note
I started dreaming of making movies around the same time I came out of the closet. That's not a coincidence.
Movies, television, and books are a reflection of our culture, and I didn't see myself in any of them. I dreamt of the day that I could make stories that starred queer kids like me.
I went to film school, studied really hard, but got discouraged along the way. The experiences I had in filmmaking were sexist and homophobic, sometimes dangerously so. A professor pulled me aside and encouraged me to use my storytelling talents to write books and then turn those books into movies as a backdoor into Hollywood.
So that's what I did.
I don't regret my twenty-years in publishing – I have some great memories, skills, and experiences from that time and am so proud of both my books and my company, School for Writers®. There will be more of both in my future! But I am ready to also pursue my multimedia storytelling dreams as well.
While I made a couple student films back in 2001-2005, No Animals Harmed is my first official short film. I'm nervous, ecstatic, scared and giddy all at once to take on this project.
The thing I am looking forward to the most is bringing others along for the ride. From the cast and crew, to backers like you, I want this to be as collaborative of a process as possible. I want to encourage others to make their art, and I want all of us to have fun using our voices.
Because the world needs our stories now more than ever.
With love and excitement,
Lauren
writer, director, and producer of No Animals Harmed
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD
One of the best ways to support this film is to share it. Here's some ready-to-go copy you can paste and post — feel free to tweak it and make it your own!
For Instagram/Facebook:
My friend @laurenmariefleming is making a queer comedy short film called No Animals Harmed, and it sounds so good. It's about two lesbian exes in a vegan café fighting about the sanctity of animal life while a man chokes to death next to them. It's chaotic, it's queer, it's hilarious — and it needs our support. Check it out here: [LINK]
For Twitter/X/Bluesky/Threads:
A queer comedy about two lesbian exes, a vegan café, and a man no one notices is choking to death. @laurenmariefleming is making it and needs our help. Check it out: [LINK]
For texting a friend:
Hey! My friend Lauren is crowdfunding a really funny queer short film. It's about two lesbian exes fighting in a vegan café while a guy almost dies next to them and nobody notices. I thought you might want to check it out: [LINK]
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast
Costs $1,300
This would allow us to pay our 4 talking roles and 4-6 background actors a stipend that's close to SAG/AFTRA suggested rates for microfilms.
Catering
Costs $1,000
A hangry team is not a fun team! This will help us buy 34 meals over multiple day to keep our team energized and sustained through shooting.
Legal + Insurance
Costs $1,500
Good contracts make good partnerships, and this will help us make sure the project has legal and monetary protections.
Distribution
Costs $2,500
Making a film is great – having people see it is even better! This covers film festival fees, marketing, and other distribution expenses.
Venue
Costs $1,000
Our plan is to film at a local café that not only has great vibes for a film, but is also owned and ran by great humans.
Lighting Equipment + Lighting Tech
Costs $1,250
Helping the actors shine – literally. This covers renting the lighting equipment and paying a stipend to the lighting tech.
Sound Equipment + Sound Tech
Costs $1,250
Sound is everything in a film. This covers renting the sound equipment and paying a stipend to a sound tech.
Production Assistants + Assistant Director
Costs $750
This allows us to pay stipends to 2 PA's and 1 AD – very important positions that make sure the film shoot runs smoothly.
Camera Equipment + Cinematographer
Costs $1,050
We gotta capture the action! We have two cameras, so this covers hard drives, lenses, and a stipend for the cinematographer.
Writer, Director, & Producers
Costs $1,000
This covers a stipend for the core group of humans making this film happen from start to finish.
Post Production
Costs $2,000
Where the film comes together! This complex process covers editing, color, effects, and sound to make the film festival ready.
Music
Costs $1,500
A film feels flat without music. This covers licensing a composition or song for us to use in the film.
Costumes + Props
Costs $500
Gotta look good! This covers outfits for our cast plus any props needed on set, and someone to manage both on set.
Hair and Makeup
Costs $250
Looking fabulous! This covers basic supplies plus a stipend for someone to come and do hair and makeup for our cast.
Contingency + Fees
Costs $3,100
Expect the unexpected. This includes the 10% industry standard contingency buffer, plus 3% credit card fee and 5% fiscal sponsorship fee.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Lauren Marie Fleming – Writer, Director, Producer
Lauren Marie Fleming (xe/her) is an author, filmmaker, and story coach. Her work explores power, desire, resilience, and the stories we tell about our bodies and our lives.
Xe is the author of the hit queer romance novel Because Fat Girl and multiple nonfiction books, including Bawdy Love: 10 Steps to Profoundly Loving Your Body and The Writer’s Career Guide.
A graduate of film school and law school, Lauren has produced and overseen multimedia content for major stages and audiences, including two years as a Creative Content Producer for Tony Robbins.
Xe has been featured in Good Morning America, Glamour, and Cosmo, and has written for VICE, Curve, and The Huffington Post. As a speaker, Lauren has presented at universities and conferences including Yale, Brown, and Cal Poly.
A lover of a good story, Lauren will try almost anything once—as long as it’s gluten-free. When not traveling, xe can be found walking her dog along the beach in San Diego listening to an audiobook.
Emily Deady – Director of Photography
Emily Deady grew up as an avid reader who hated writing. But one day she realized that most authors loved cats and tea, her two favorite things. So, she stopped fighting the inevitable and she began to write. A graduate of film school, she's got a keen eye for telling a story through a camera lens. She loves a good romance, her real-life hero who patiently listens to all her plotlines, and hitting the trails for a light hike in sunny San Diego.
Emily and Lauren met while writing books next to each other in a cafe. They bonded over a love of film and a deep desire to make a movie without having to move to L.A. Thus, this collaboration was born.
Jasmin Duong – Associate Producer
Jasmin Duong is a San Diego native who studied Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at San Diego City College and Film and Media at Mount Saint Mary's University. She has worked as a production coordinator, associate producer, script manager, and compliance officer for multiple organizations including productions at The Old Globe and Hulu.
Yazdi Pithavala – Script Supervisor
Yazdi K. Pithavala is a lead reviewer and podcaster at Moviewallas.com, that provides film debate, streaming recommendations and coverage of film festivals. He has been writing about cinema on his personal blog since 2009. He is a member of the San Diego Film Critics Society, and has been elected Secretary since 2014. He is a guest on the monthly Midday Movies segment on Midday Edition at KPBS to discuss film. He loves all cinema, but has a particular affinity for independent and foreign films, particularly those from India, his place of birth.
Yazdi is a scientist by training and has been involved with oncology drug development for several decades. He is also Assistant Clinical Professor at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy at UCSD. However, there is nothing he would rather do than be in the glorious darkness of a movie theater gorging on cinema.
Jess Furman – Music Supervisor
Jess Furman is an Emmy-nominated creative director, music producer, and songwriter with hundreds of credits across TV/film, video games, and advertising.
She is the founder and Executive Creative Director of Sound Revolver, an award-winning, 100% woman-owned custom music and sound-design house whose work spans clients including A24, Disney, Apple TV, and 20th Century Fox, with honors ranging from RIAA Gold-certified records to Telly and Clio Awards.
Her flagship credits include serving as Executive Music & Creative Director on Discovery's Book of Queer — the landmark LGBTQ+ history limited series that earned 6 Emmy nominations and 1 win — alongside TV and film music credits for DreamWorks, Nickelodeon, Hasbro, Viacom, and other major networks.
A recent Governor of the Recording Academy's (Grammys) LA Chapter, where she now sits on the Producers & Engineers Wing and Advocacy Committees, Jess was named a Billboard Magazine's Top 40 Industry-Shaping Executives in its annual Pride issue.
Ultreya Coffee – The Venue
We found the perfect location in Ultreya Coffee – a local queer and woman-owned shop. Not only do they have delicious coffee and treats, they've also got great vibes and the perfect feel for this film. Plus, Dani and the team at Ultreya are wonderful humans who are very excited to help make this movie the best it can be!