Oats
Deer Isle, Maine | Film Short
Drama, LGBTQ
On a small island off the coast of Maine, Oats follows seven-year-old Ellis, struggling with grief after their father accidentally runs over Oats, the family dog. Withdrawing into silence Ellis navigates loss, gender identity, and their relationship with their father.
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$4,425
Goal: $13,500 for production
On a small island off the coast of Maine, Oats follows seven-year-old Ellis, struggling with grief after their father accidentally runs over Oats, the family dog. Withdrawing into silence Ellis navigates loss, gender identity, and their relationship with their father.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Set on a small island off the coast oMaine, Oats follows seven-year-old Ellis, who struggles with grief after their father accidentally runs over Oats, the family dog. After making the difficult decision to put Oats down and feeling at fault, Ellis withdraws into silence, navigating grief, identity, and their relationship with their father.
Masculinity and loss become inseparable forces shaping their understanding
of themself and the world around them.
Based on a true story and propelled by the natural landscape of Maine,
Oats is a coming-of-age storyexploring transness, dog love, dog death and familial relationship.
Wren and Oats 1988
Hello reader and watcher,
I am the writer and director of Oats, a short film inspired by a true story from my childhood, when my father accidentally ran over our family dog, Oats, while rushing to my soccer game. Having grown up on Deer Isle, Maine, I am really happy to be able to come home and shoot Oats on the island.
As a gender expansive child, I was constantly observing and trying to understand masculinity. Through this traumatic moment of losing Oats, I witnessed masculinity not only through physical expression, but also through vulnerability, grief, and the emotional complexities that emerge in moments of loss. Complexities that I hope to capture in this film.
Oats is being brought to life by a team of queer and trans creatives who are committed to telling authentic stories. In the above film, the lovely Ian Harvie plays the father Kieth and the amazing Iggy Dodge Nelson plays Ellis. In the final film Ian will continue to play Kieth and my dear friend's child Io Fox Jackarrows, who lives on Deer Isle, will play Ellis.
Through Ellis’s experience, I hope to create a space where trans and gender variant audiences can witness parts of their younger selves reflected on screen, while also offering comfort and connection to anyone who has experienced a similar loss, because healing is created by our bravery to enter the wound.
We are currently seeking funding to help bring this film to light. And are looking to raise $13,500 just to shoot. Contributions will support essential production costs, including cast and crew, travel and lodging, meals, and other production expenses. And if any donations go over the initial amount, then those funds will go towards post production.
Thanks for watching and for considering supporting Oats,
Wren Warner
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Travel, Lodging, Food
Costs $4,200
This will help to feed and house the cast and crew as well as pay for flights and transportation.
Crew
Costs $4,000
This will pay for the cinematographer, production sound mixer and gaffer.
Misc Production Expenses
Costs $3,000
This will go towards kits, accessories, permits, fees, wardrobe, locations etc
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
CREW
Director and Writer: WREN WARNER
Wren Warner is a filmmaker whose work explores the intersections of nature, spirituality, consciousness, and trans existence. Growing up on Deer Isle, a small island off the coast of Maine, instilled a deep connection to the natural world, which continues to shape the emotional and visual language of their films. Their work has screened internationally at festivals including Frameline, NewFilmmakers New York, the Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival, Philadelphia QFest, the San Francisco Transgender Film Festival, the LA Transgender Film Festival, and Divergenti Film Festival. Warner holds an MFA in Film/Video from the California Institute of the Arts and is based in Los Angeles.
Producer: PARA
Para is a producer based out of Los Angeles, CA.
Cinematographer: VAUGHN GREVE
Vaughn Greve is a Los Angeles - based cinematographer, with a deep passion for shooting on film and telling stories that connect people to the natural world. Vaughn holds an MFA in Cinematography from AFI Conservatory, where they were a recipient of the prestigious Tom Yoda Scholarship Award, and trained to shoot on 35mm film. Their work is informed by a BA in Film Studies from Barnard College, Columbia University, a 35mm film program at FAMU, and three years as a screener and script reader for Sundance Film Festival.
They were also a 2024 Film Independent Project Involve Fellow. Vaughn thrives in challenging, visually rich settings that demand dedication. They believe in the capacity of storytelling to create radical empathy, and strive to make imagery that is vital, visceral, and atmospheric. When not working, they can be found flying their drone in the mountains, developing film, or camping in the desert.
IO FOX JACKARROWS playing Ellis
Io Fox Jackarrows lives in Stonington Maine and enjoys helping her parents
Abby Barrows and Ben Jackson on their oyster farm. She loves playing outside, swimming in her cove, singing and eating ice cream.
IAN HARVIE playing Kieth
Ian Harvie is an American comedian, actor, writer and director. Harvie didn’t have a language for his identity growing up on Beaver Pond in rural Maine in the 70s & 80s, but he knew he was trans* from an early age. He came out twice to his parents, as he describes in his comedy routine. “The first time I came out to my parents, I was a girl and I simply told them, ‘I like girls’. Later, I came out to my parents a second time, I said ‘Mom, Dad, I still like girls and I want to be a dude.” Ian began his standup comedy career in 2002 at a comedy club in Portland, Maine and continued performing material throughout the northeast. Four years into his standup career, he moved to Los Angeles and began working with iconic comic, Margaret Cho, as her regular opening act for the next several years. Ian Harvie was the first FTM transgender comedian in the world, unafraid to joke about subjects no other comedian had ever touched. Ian’s unique act challenged the traditionally macho, sex-obsessed world of stand up in ways you wouldn’t believe, proving that laughter cuts across all gender identities and ultimately unites us all. He has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious comedy festivals: JUST FOR LAUGHS in Australia and Canada, and the MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL in Australia, and SKETCHFEST in San Francisco and others. Ian travels back to his home state of Maine every summer for over 10 years to produce his own home-grown style comedy writing camp, followed by the MAINE COMEDY FESTIVAL. Harvie stepped into the acting world, making his acting debut as “Dale” in the critically acclaimed, Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning TV series TRANSPARENT on Amazon. He recently played “Ken” (formerly Kendra) Bruce Springsteen’s manager, in the penultimate episode of CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM. You may have also seen Ian guest starring as “Bud” on the return season of NBC’s WILL & GRACE, ”Michael” on the ABC soapy, nighttime drama, MISTRESSES; as “Chris” on FREEFORM’s hilarious, millennial sitcom YOUNG AND HUNGRY; and as himself on COMEDY CENTRAL’s THE NIGHTLY SHOW. Later, Ian became a theater kid again, off-Broadway, playing the role of “Henry” in Jordan Harrison’s play titled, LOG CABIN, at Playwrights Horizon’s Theater. The play featured an all-star ensemble, with skilled thespian, Jesse Tyler Ferguson at the helm. Ian has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious comedy festivals: JUST FOR LAUGHS in Australia and Canada, and the MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL in Australia, and SKETCHFEST in San Francisco and numerous others. Ian travels back to his home state of Maine every summer to produce a home-grown style COMEDY CAMP, followed by the MAINE COMEDY FESTIVAL. Ian Harvie’s one-hour standup special, MAY THE BEST COCK WIN or MAY THE BEST MAN WIN (name changes depending on the platform) can be found streaming on all platforms now.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Set on a small island off the coast oMaine, Oats follows seven-year-old Ellis, who struggles with grief after their father accidentally runs over Oats, the family dog. After making the difficult decision to put Oats down and feeling at fault, Ellis withdraws into silence, navigating grief, identity, and their relationship with their father.
Masculinity and loss become inseparable forces shaping their understanding
of themself and the world around them.
Based on a true story and propelled by the natural landscape of Maine,
Oats is a coming-of-age storyexploring transness, dog love, dog death and familial relationship.
Wren and Oats 1988
Hello reader and watcher,
I am the writer and director of Oats, a short film inspired by a true story from my childhood, when my father accidentally ran over our family dog, Oats, while rushing to my soccer game. Having grown up on Deer Isle, Maine, I am really happy to be able to come home and shoot Oats on the island.
As a gender expansive child, I was constantly observing and trying to understand masculinity. Through this traumatic moment of losing Oats, I witnessed masculinity not only through physical expression, but also through vulnerability, grief, and the emotional complexities that emerge in moments of loss. Complexities that I hope to capture in this film.
Oats is being brought to life by a team of queer and trans creatives who are committed to telling authentic stories. In the above film, the lovely Ian Harvie plays the father Kieth and the amazing Iggy Dodge Nelson plays Ellis. In the final film Ian will continue to play Kieth and my dear friend's child Io Fox Jackarrows, who lives on Deer Isle, will play Ellis.
Through Ellis’s experience, I hope to create a space where trans and gender variant audiences can witness parts of their younger selves reflected on screen, while also offering comfort and connection to anyone who has experienced a similar loss, because healing is created by our bravery to enter the wound.
We are currently seeking funding to help bring this film to light. And are looking to raise $13,500 just to shoot. Contributions will support essential production costs, including cast and crew, travel and lodging, meals, and other production expenses. And if any donations go over the initial amount, then those funds will go towards post production.
Thanks for watching and for considering supporting Oats,
Wren Warner
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Travel, Lodging, Food
Costs $4,200
This will help to feed and house the cast and crew as well as pay for flights and transportation.
Crew
Costs $4,000
This will pay for the cinematographer, production sound mixer and gaffer.
Misc Production Expenses
Costs $3,000
This will go towards kits, accessories, permits, fees, wardrobe, locations etc
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
CREW
Director and Writer: WREN WARNER
Wren Warner is a filmmaker whose work explores the intersections of nature, spirituality, consciousness, and trans existence. Growing up on Deer Isle, a small island off the coast of Maine, instilled a deep connection to the natural world, which continues to shape the emotional and visual language of their films. Their work has screened internationally at festivals including Frameline, NewFilmmakers New York, the Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival, Philadelphia QFest, the San Francisco Transgender Film Festival, the LA Transgender Film Festival, and Divergenti Film Festival. Warner holds an MFA in Film/Video from the California Institute of the Arts and is based in Los Angeles.
Producer: PARA
Para is a producer based out of Los Angeles, CA.
Cinematographer: VAUGHN GREVE
Vaughn Greve is a Los Angeles - based cinematographer, with a deep passion for shooting on film and telling stories that connect people to the natural world. Vaughn holds an MFA in Cinematography from AFI Conservatory, where they were a recipient of the prestigious Tom Yoda Scholarship Award, and trained to shoot on 35mm film. Their work is informed by a BA in Film Studies from Barnard College, Columbia University, a 35mm film program at FAMU, and three years as a screener and script reader for Sundance Film Festival.
They were also a 2024 Film Independent Project Involve Fellow. Vaughn thrives in challenging, visually rich settings that demand dedication. They believe in the capacity of storytelling to create radical empathy, and strive to make imagery that is vital, visceral, and atmospheric. When not working, they can be found flying their drone in the mountains, developing film, or camping in the desert.
IO FOX JACKARROWS playing Ellis
Io Fox Jackarrows lives in Stonington Maine and enjoys helping her parents
Abby Barrows and Ben Jackson on their oyster farm. She loves playing outside, swimming in her cove, singing and eating ice cream.
IAN HARVIE playing Kieth
Ian Harvie is an American comedian, actor, writer and director. Harvie didn’t have a language for his identity growing up on Beaver Pond in rural Maine in the 70s & 80s, but he knew he was trans* from an early age. He came out twice to his parents, as he describes in his comedy routine. “The first time I came out to my parents, I was a girl and I simply told them, ‘I like girls’. Later, I came out to my parents a second time, I said ‘Mom, Dad, I still like girls and I want to be a dude.” Ian began his standup comedy career in 2002 at a comedy club in Portland, Maine and continued performing material throughout the northeast. Four years into his standup career, he moved to Los Angeles and began working with iconic comic, Margaret Cho, as her regular opening act for the next several years. Ian Harvie was the first FTM transgender comedian in the world, unafraid to joke about subjects no other comedian had ever touched. Ian’s unique act challenged the traditionally macho, sex-obsessed world of stand up in ways you wouldn’t believe, proving that laughter cuts across all gender identities and ultimately unites us all. He has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious comedy festivals: JUST FOR LAUGHS in Australia and Canada, and the MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL in Australia, and SKETCHFEST in San Francisco and others. Ian travels back to his home state of Maine every summer for over 10 years to produce his own home-grown style comedy writing camp, followed by the MAINE COMEDY FESTIVAL. Harvie stepped into the acting world, making his acting debut as “Dale” in the critically acclaimed, Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning TV series TRANSPARENT on Amazon. He recently played “Ken” (formerly Kendra) Bruce Springsteen’s manager, in the penultimate episode of CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM. You may have also seen Ian guest starring as “Bud” on the return season of NBC’s WILL & GRACE, ”Michael” on the ABC soapy, nighttime drama, MISTRESSES; as “Chris” on FREEFORM’s hilarious, millennial sitcom YOUNG AND HUNGRY; and as himself on COMEDY CENTRAL’s THE NIGHTLY SHOW. Later, Ian became a theater kid again, off-Broadway, playing the role of “Henry” in Jordan Harrison’s play titled, LOG CABIN, at Playwrights Horizon’s Theater. The play featured an all-star ensemble, with skilled thespian, Jesse Tyler Ferguson at the helm. Ian has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious comedy festivals: JUST FOR LAUGHS in Australia and Canada, and the MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL in Australia, and SKETCHFEST in San Francisco and numerous others. Ian travels back to his home state of Maine every summer to produce a home-grown style COMEDY CAMP, followed by the MAINE COMEDY FESTIVAL. Ian Harvie’s one-hour standup special, MAY THE BEST COCK WIN or MAY THE BEST MAN WIN (name changes depending on the platform) can be found streaming on all platforms now.