Only Bears
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Romantic Comedy, LGBTQ
ONLY BEARS is a short film about a married couple navigating intimacy, stagnation, and connection when love alone isn’t enough to move them forward. Drawn from lived experience, the story reflects what intimacy actually looks like once the storybook ending fades.
Only Bears
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Romantic Comedy, LGBTQ
59 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$13,045
Goal: $19,713 for production
ONLY BEARS is a short film about a married couple navigating intimacy, stagnation, and connection when love alone isn’t enough to move them forward. Drawn from lived experience, the story reflects what intimacy actually looks like once the storybook ending fades.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Fiscal Sponsorship Provided by FiLM iNDEPENDENT
(10).png)
ONLY BEARS is a short film about a married couple navigating intimacy, stagnation, and connection when love alone isn’t enough to move them forward.
Set inside the quiet rhythms of domestic life, the film explores what happens after the fairy tale ending — when two people who chose each other are still figuring out how to grow, change, and stay connected. It’s funny, tender, and a little absurd, because long-term love often is.
At its heart, Only Bears is about bodies of size, intimacy, and the moments where connection doesn’t arrive with fireworks — but with honesty, patience, and humor.
Photo by Danielle Barnum Photography - www.inspiredbydanielle.com
(11).png)
Why this story
This story comes directly from lived experience. As a queer, midlife artist navigating love, career uncertainty, and visibility, I wanted to tell a story that reflects what intimacy actually looks like once the storybook ending fades.
We see many films about falling in love — far fewer about staying in love. Only Bears lives in that quieter, messier space.
Why us
This project is led by married creators telling a story from the inside. The connection you see in the images here between Jeff and Adam — including the warmth reflected in their illustrated counterparts — mirrors the care and intention behind the filmmaking itself.
We’re building this project with collaborators who understand that representation isn’t just about who appears on screen, but how they’re treated in the process.
Why now
At a moment when LGBTQ+ stories are often expected to be either political statements or glossy fantasies, Only Bears offers something different: a grounded, human portrait of long-term love.
This film is also a proof of concept for a larger episodic world centered on queer relationships, bodies, and intimacy — stories that deserve space to be complex, funny, and deeply relatable.
(12).png)
The film blends grounded realism with moments of heightened fantasy, including a playful escape-room sequence that mirrors the couple’s internal emotional journey.
Visually, the world is warm, intimate, and lived-in:
- Natural LA daylight
- Cozy interiors
- Colorful nightlife
- Close, character-driven framing
- The tone lives at the intersection of Fire Island, Kevin Can Go F*ck Himself, Community and Little Miss Sunshine — funny without being cynical, heartfelt without being precious.
*Adam and Jeff as Paladins of Voltron
(13).png)
This film is made for:
- LGBTQ+ audiences (especially underrepresented midlife queer folks)
- Rom-com lovers craving something honest
- Anyone navigating long-term love
Our goal is not just to screen the film, but to build connection — through festivals, community screenings, and online engagement that invites conversation about love, intimacy, and joy. The short film is a proof of concept for a larger episodic world, and this is the first step at building the community who want to see that world come to life.
*Jeff and Adam in Rudolph!
(14).png)
We are currently in active development and pre-production, with the script finalized and a core creative team in place.
This Seed&Spark campaign will directly support:
- 🎥 Production costs
- 🎬 Paying our cast and crew
Our goal is to complete the film and begin festival submissions shortly after production, with plans to share the finished short with our supporters first.
ONLY BEARS is a fiscally sponsored project of Film Independent, a non-profit independent media arts organization. Seed&Spark will receive funds for the charitable purposes of ONLY BEARS, while Film Independent will provide oversight to
ensure that funds are used in accordance with grant agreements, and provide reports as required. Contributions for the charitable purposes of ONLY BEARS are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
.jpg)
If the campaign exceeds our greenlight target, additional funds will allow us to:
- Cover festival submissions
- 🎶 Sound, music, and post-production
- 🎞 Festival delivery and distribution
- Invest in accessibility and outreach
- Further develop the larger episodic world Only Bears introduces
*Jeff and Adam in Dragonball
(15).png)
Seed&Spark values creative independence, inclusion, and community-powered storytelling — which is exactly how Only Bears is being made. This campaign isn’t just about funding a film. It’s about inviting people into the process, the humor, and the heart of the story.
(16).png)
If you’ve ever loved someone deeply, felt overwhelmed by life, or laughed at the ridiculous ways intimacy shows up — Only Bears is for you.
Help us bring this love story to life.
- Pledge if you’re able
- Follow the campaign
- Share with people who love queer stories, relationship-driven films, or bodies-of-size representation
Copy & paste to share:
“I just backed ONLY BEARS, a short film about long-term queer love, bodies of size, and what happens after ‘happily ever after.’ Worth checking out. 🐻❤️”
photo from Adam and Jeff's Wedding
*All artwork with a * created by artist Estelle Kim @estellustrator and are fan made gifts from Adam to Jeff
Fiscal Sponsorship Provided by FiLM iNDEPENDENT
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Makeup Artists
Costs $2,600
Makeup Artists to join us for the entirety of the three day shoot. 1 primary artist for 3 days, 1 SFX Makeup Artist for 1 day
Location Rentals, Insurance, Permits
Costs $3,100
Helping us secure our locations for the shoot, and make sure everything is covered by insurance!
Production Team / Crew
Costs $8,350
Director, Mixer, Gaffer, Grip, Production Assistants make the world go round!
Transpo
Costs $500
Van rental to help move equipment from location to location. We're middle aged bears, so we'll def be using our AARP cards...
Actors!
Costs $4,263
SAG-AFTRA actors plus health and pension payments. Beyond Adam and Jeff we have five day player roles & will hire 10-15 background artists.
Catering
Costs $900
Making sure the crew and cast are fed, hydrated and cared for throughout the shoot. Image - Adam as an Oven Mitt, Beauty and the Beast
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
ADAM KERN
Producer / Writer / “Adam” in Only Bears / Real Life Husbear of Jeff!
Adam Kern is a writer, actor, producer, and director working across film, theatre, and immersive storytelling. He is the Director and Co-Creator of Shadow of the Run Chapter 1: WanderLust, Cleveland’s first full-scale immersive theatre production, inspired by the Eliot Ness investigation into the Cleveland Torso Murders.
As a writer, Adam creates character-driven work that explores intimacy, memory, and queer identity through both live and filmed forms. He is the co-creator and writer of An Awfully Big Adventure: a wake in Neverland, an immersive theatrical experience examining grief, legacy, and chosen family through the lens of Peter Pan mythology. He is also the co-writer and producer of Only Bears, a short-form queer romantic comedy inspired by real events, currently in development as both a standalone short film and a larger episodic world.
Adam’s producing and directing work includes over twenty readings, multiple workshops, benefits, and five full productions. His credits include work with Cleveland Play House, the 5th Avenue Theatre Gala, The Water Dream (starring Anthony Rapp and J. Robert Spencer), and Liz Femi’s Take Me to the Poorhouse, a 2014 NAACP Theatre Award nominee. He has also served as an Artistic Virtual Programs Manager for CPH, overseeing large-scale digital programming and new-work initiatives.
Adam holds an MFA from the American Repertory Theatre / Moscow Art Theatre Institute at Harvard University and a BFA from Kent State University. Across disciplines, his work centers queer storytelling, collaborative authorship, and immersive experiences that invite audiences to step inside emotionally complex worlds.
AEFH/Pinnacle, BAM Management. www.adam-kern.com
JEFF WILLEY
Co-Creator / “Jeff” in Only Bears / Real Life Husbear of Adam!
BFA Theatre - Cornish College of the Arts A Denver native, Jeff moved to Seattle in 2000 to study Theatre, and stayed there for twenty four years! While he studied acting, he has worked as a bartender for the past twenty years. Having recently relocated to LA with Adam, Jeff is reigniting his passion for acting and film making, and is excited for the opportunity to build the Only Bears world. Recent acting credits include work for XBox, The 5 Avenue Theatre, and the short film GAY JESUS. Jeff is repped by BAM Management and the Osbrink Agency.
SKYE
Emotional Support Dog
No notes. Carries the film.
Has turned down three offers in LA so far. Booked and blessed.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Fiscal Sponsorship Provided by FiLM iNDEPENDENT
ONLY BEARS is a short film about a married couple navigating intimacy, stagnation, and connection when love alone isn’t enough to move them forward.
Set inside the quiet rhythms of domestic life, the film explores what happens after the fairy tale ending — when two people who chose each other are still figuring out how to grow, change, and stay connected. It’s funny, tender, and a little absurd, because long-term love often is.
At its heart, Only Bears is about bodies of size, intimacy, and the moments where connection doesn’t arrive with fireworks — but with honesty, patience, and humor.
Photo by Danielle Barnum Photography - www.inspiredbydanielle.com
Why this story
This story comes directly from lived experience. As a queer, midlife artist navigating love, career uncertainty, and visibility, I wanted to tell a story that reflects what intimacy actually looks like once the storybook ending fades.
We see many films about falling in love — far fewer about staying in love. Only Bears lives in that quieter, messier space.
Why us
This project is led by married creators telling a story from the inside. The connection you see in the images here between Jeff and Adam — including the warmth reflected in their illustrated counterparts — mirrors the care and intention behind the filmmaking itself.
We’re building this project with collaborators who understand that representation isn’t just about who appears on screen, but how they’re treated in the process.
Why now
At a moment when LGBTQ+ stories are often expected to be either political statements or glossy fantasies, Only Bears offers something different: a grounded, human portrait of long-term love.
This film is also a proof of concept for a larger episodic world centered on queer relationships, bodies, and intimacy — stories that deserve space to be complex, funny, and deeply relatable.
The film blends grounded realism with moments of heightened fantasy, including a playful escape-room sequence that mirrors the couple’s internal emotional journey.
Visually, the world is warm, intimate, and lived-in:
- Natural LA daylight
- Cozy interiors
- Colorful nightlife
- Close, character-driven framing
- The tone lives at the intersection of Fire Island, Kevin Can Go F*ck Himself, Community and Little Miss Sunshine — funny without being cynical, heartfelt without being precious.
*Adam and Jeff as Paladins of Voltron
This film is made for:
- LGBTQ+ audiences (especially underrepresented midlife queer folks)
- Rom-com lovers craving something honest
- Anyone navigating long-term love
Our goal is not just to screen the film, but to build connection — through festivals, community screenings, and online engagement that invites conversation about love, intimacy, and joy. The short film is a proof of concept for a larger episodic world, and this is the first step at building the community who want to see that world come to life.
*Jeff and Adam in Rudolph!
We are currently in active development and pre-production, with the script finalized and a core creative team in place.
This Seed&Spark campaign will directly support:
- 🎥 Production costs
- 🎬 Paying our cast and crew
Our goal is to complete the film and begin festival submissions shortly after production, with plans to share the finished short with our supporters first.
ONLY BEARS is a fiscally sponsored project of Film Independent, a non-profit independent media arts organization. Seed&Spark will receive funds for the charitable purposes of ONLY BEARS, while Film Independent will provide oversight to
ensure that funds are used in accordance with grant agreements, and provide reports as required. Contributions for the charitable purposes of ONLY BEARS are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
If the campaign exceeds our greenlight target, additional funds will allow us to:
- Cover festival submissions
- 🎶 Sound, music, and post-production
- 🎞 Festival delivery and distribution
- Invest in accessibility and outreach
- Further develop the larger episodic world Only Bears introduces
*Jeff and Adam in Dragonball
Seed&Spark values creative independence, inclusion, and community-powered storytelling — which is exactly how Only Bears is being made. This campaign isn’t just about funding a film. It’s about inviting people into the process, the humor, and the heart of the story.
If you’ve ever loved someone deeply, felt overwhelmed by life, or laughed at the ridiculous ways intimacy shows up — Only Bears is for you.
Help us bring this love story to life.
- Pledge if you’re able
- Follow the campaign
- Share with people who love queer stories, relationship-driven films, or bodies-of-size representation
Copy & paste to share:
“I just backed ONLY BEARS, a short film about long-term queer love, bodies of size, and what happens after ‘happily ever after.’ Worth checking out. 🐻❤️”
photo from Adam and Jeff's Wedding
*All artwork with a * created by artist Estelle Kim @estellustrator and are fan made gifts from Adam to Jeff
Fiscal Sponsorship Provided by FiLM iNDEPENDENT
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Makeup Artists
Costs $2,600
Makeup Artists to join us for the entirety of the three day shoot. 1 primary artist for 3 days, 1 SFX Makeup Artist for 1 day
Location Rentals, Insurance, Permits
Costs $3,100
Helping us secure our locations for the shoot, and make sure everything is covered by insurance!
Production Team / Crew
Costs $8,350
Director, Mixer, Gaffer, Grip, Production Assistants make the world go round!
Transpo
Costs $500
Van rental to help move equipment from location to location. We're middle aged bears, so we'll def be using our AARP cards...
Actors!
Costs $4,263
SAG-AFTRA actors plus health and pension payments. Beyond Adam and Jeff we have five day player roles & will hire 10-15 background artists.
Catering
Costs $900
Making sure the crew and cast are fed, hydrated and cared for throughout the shoot. Image - Adam as an Oven Mitt, Beauty and the Beast
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
ADAM KERN
Producer / Writer / “Adam” in Only Bears / Real Life Husbear of Jeff!
Adam Kern is a writer, actor, producer, and director working across film, theatre, and immersive storytelling. He is the Director and Co-Creator of Shadow of the Run Chapter 1: WanderLust, Cleveland’s first full-scale immersive theatre production, inspired by the Eliot Ness investigation into the Cleveland Torso Murders.
As a writer, Adam creates character-driven work that explores intimacy, memory, and queer identity through both live and filmed forms. He is the co-creator and writer of An Awfully Big Adventure: a wake in Neverland, an immersive theatrical experience examining grief, legacy, and chosen family through the lens of Peter Pan mythology. He is also the co-writer and producer of Only Bears, a short-form queer romantic comedy inspired by real events, currently in development as both a standalone short film and a larger episodic world.
Adam’s producing and directing work includes over twenty readings, multiple workshops, benefits, and five full productions. His credits include work with Cleveland Play House, the 5th Avenue Theatre Gala, The Water Dream (starring Anthony Rapp and J. Robert Spencer), and Liz Femi’s Take Me to the Poorhouse, a 2014 NAACP Theatre Award nominee. He has also served as an Artistic Virtual Programs Manager for CPH, overseeing large-scale digital programming and new-work initiatives.
Adam holds an MFA from the American Repertory Theatre / Moscow Art Theatre Institute at Harvard University and a BFA from Kent State University. Across disciplines, his work centers queer storytelling, collaborative authorship, and immersive experiences that invite audiences to step inside emotionally complex worlds.
AEFH/Pinnacle, BAM Management. www.adam-kern.com
JEFF WILLEY
Co-Creator / “Jeff” in Only Bears / Real Life Husbear of Adam!
BFA Theatre - Cornish College of the Arts A Denver native, Jeff moved to Seattle in 2000 to study Theatre, and stayed there for twenty four years! While he studied acting, he has worked as a bartender for the past twenty years. Having recently relocated to LA with Adam, Jeff is reigniting his passion for acting and film making, and is excited for the opportunity to build the Only Bears world. Recent acting credits include work for XBox, The 5 Avenue Theatre, and the short film GAY JESUS. Jeff is repped by BAM Management and the Osbrink Agency.
SKYE
Emotional Support Dog
No notes. Carries the film.
Has turned down three offers in LA so far. Booked and blessed.