Sick and Tired: A Horror Comedy Short Film
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Horror, Comedy
Coming to her knees over a healthcare system she can’t afford and doctors who don’t seem to understand, Mary decides to take matters into her own hands- but what starts as a dangerous experiment grows far worse when Mary becomes addicted to not only “getting better” but “becoming perfect.”
Sick and Tired: A Horror Comedy Short Film
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Horror, Comedy
2 Campaigns | California, United States
18 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$1,085
Goal: $21,150 for development
Coming to her knees over a healthcare system she can’t afford and doctors who don’t seem to understand, Mary decides to take matters into her own hands- but what starts as a dangerous experiment grows far worse when Mary becomes addicted to not only “getting better” but “becoming perfect.”
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Sick and Tired is a horror comedy short film about a young woman who enlists her scientist boyfriend to reconstruct her brain and body out of human remains to heal her depression and chronic illness.
It's about the challenges that people with chronic illnesses and mental health conditions go through, as well as addiction, which so often plays a part when the vices we use to cope spiral out of control.
After a messy accident due to lack of medication, aspiring chef Mary hits a bottom with her mental and physical health. Coming to her knees over a healthcare system she can’t afford and doctors who don’t seem to understand, Mary takes matters into her own hands. But what starts as a dangerous experiment grows far worse when Mary becomes addicted to not only “getting better” but “becoming perfect.” 
Writer/producer Christina Marie Leonard here!
Let me tell you a little about why I wrote this script in the first place:
I have always loved Frankenstein stories since reading Mary Shelley's novel in high school. This past spring I was working on a different Frankenstein script but I was having trouble focusing because I was so angry at my mental and physical health for taking a turn for the worse.
After finally attempting to face my fears and get more help for my chronic bladder condition that I've had since I was twelve, I was unfortunately met with a doctor who lacked empathy and gave me pills that made the condition even worse.
That resulted in worsening depression, more meds switching, and then, you guessed it, a psychiatrist who also did not give a shit. I was PISSED. And when I'm pissed, I write. I sat down, angry A.F., and got the idea for Sick and Tired.
Above: A moment from the solo show "Bathroom Diaries" about addiction, mental health and chronic illness. Photograph by David Haverty.
Healthcare Costs
We're at a time where healthcare prices are rising at an astronomical rate and even with health insurance, co-pays can be so unaffordable people are skipping important doctors appointments altogether. Individuals are having to choose between rent and medication and some are dying because they cannot afford life-saving care or prescriptions needed to survive. These healthcare costs especially affect people with chronic illnesses and mental health issues who are regularly visiting doctors and taking medication.
Chronic Illnesses
When I developed my chronic illness at age 12, I felt very alone, but it turns out that is not the case. About 50% of my network of close-friends has some sort of chronic illness or condition and that's just in my personal circle.
According to clevelandclinic.org, about 6 in 10 people in the U.S. have at least one chronic disease. And about 4 in 10 have two or more.
What is a chronic illness?
Chronic illnesses are medical conditions that last a long time, typically a year or longer. These illnesses are often incurable and lifelong. Having one might mean you also need ongoing — or even daily — medical care. Chronic illnesses also commonly interfere with activities of daily living. (clevelandclinic.org.)
Depression and Mental Health
- Depression is a common mental disorder.
- An estimated 4% of the population experience depression, including 5.7% of adults (4.6% among men and 6.9% among women), and 5.9% of adults aged 70 years and older. Approximately 332 million people in the world have depression (1). Depression is about 1.5 times more common among women than among men. Worldwide, more than 10% of pregnant women and women who have just given birth experience depression (2). In 2021, an estimated 727 000 people lost their lives to suicide. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in 15–29-year-olds. (World Health Organization)
Frankenstein Stories
Humans have always been drawn to stories about bringing people back to life, about "playing god", and the questions that are posed within those stories about right and wrong, the danger of unchecked power and responsibility, and what it means to mess with science and life itself.
Frankenstein movies have spanned genres and pleased audiences for decades, from the iconic 1931 Frankenstein with Boris Karloff, to the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show with the beloved Tim Curry (RIP ❤️) to the gothic favorite Edward Scissorhands to Mel Brooks' comedic gem Young Frankenstein. With the more recent Maggie Gyllenhaal's The Bride and Guillermo del Toro's box office hit Frankenstein, it seems like audiences are continuing to gravitate to Frankenstein's monsters just as much as they always have, if not more.
Some of the things people have said so far about the project:
"The film is a strong metaphor for the desperation to be “well” in a world that treats illness as inconvenience or personal failure. I like the escalation from wanting relief, and a body she can trust through to the mutation into a desire for perfection. The script has energy in Mary's immediate physical frustration rather than starting with some vague suffering."
"A Frankenstein-inspired story made by a woman starring a woman as a main lead is always an exciting project to look forward to. The message of the original story is carried into this film as well: beauty standard, playing God, society acceptance. This time, it is reclaimed to be told through the feminine point of view, like Mary Shelley herself. Absolutely want to see this get made."
"A brilliant story, love the mix between comedy and horror, the story keeps you at your edge. It promises a thrilling and visually gory and exciting horror film. A horror story that is a smart commentary on the hardships of surviving in a failed health system, and a society that is obsessed with perfect looks. Would love to see this project get made!"
"A fiendishly clever exploration of chronic struggle and the inexplicably human desire to fix yourself!"
"A gnarly, cathartic horror-dramedy. Mary's DIY body-horror descent into "perfection" makes for a sharp, unsettling commentary on healthcare failure and self-optimization gone wrong."
"Such a necessary short. In a world where women are constantly encouraged to chase the next thing that will heal them, make them “hotter”, FIX them, we need more stories challenging the situation we find ourselves in. It is not only important, but opening conversations like this can literally save lives."
Sick and Tired is helmed by director Dorothy Booraem (Wake the Witch, Corrupter) and writer/producer Christina Marie Leonard (Riley Rewind, The Buddy Cop), with cinematographer Marilyn Flores (Where in Hell, Beauty Booth) and art director Jay Forman (props lead at Universal Studios Hollywood.) We are proud to have a team of all women and non-binary artists with extensive experience in the horror genre! You can read even more about them on our Team page.
In order to make our movie safely and effectively, we need the following items, also listed on our "wishlist" page!
- Paying our cast and crew
- SFX makeup and blood
- Travel
- Storage drives
- Locations
- Production insurance
- Food & craft services
- Camera, grip & electric gear
- Fake body parts & prosthetics
- Costumes
- Post production
- Film festival submissions
Here's how it all boils down....
Stretch Goals:
After we reach our initial goal of $21,150, here are some stretch goals that can help take our project to the next level!
+ additional $1000: able to submit for more film festivals and increase the reach of this film
+ additional $6,300: one day at a standing set location (ideal location for science experiment scenes)
+ additional $12,600: two days at a standing set location (ideal location for science experiment scenes and Mary/Frank's house)
Before you go, one last VERY IMPORTANT thing…
Seed&Spark only lets you receive the funds pledged if you reach 80% of your goal, so contributing whatever you can is helpful to our project, even $1, $5, of $10!
Some other ways to support the project if you’re not able to help financially:
- Pass it on! Share this page to your socials, and forward to your friends. This is truly so helpful ❤️
- Here's a quick and easy blurb you can copy and paste to help support the project: "check out this horror-comedy short film Sick and Tired that focuses on chronic illness and mental health. Like/share/contribute if you can to help this project come to life!"
- Follow us here & on IG! The amount of followers on Seed&Spark really makes a difference on directing people to the page. (500 + followers on here and they start pushing our page to other people on the site! And don’t forget to follow our IG for even more updates (@sickandtiredhorrorcomedy)
Thank you so much for your support, for supporting independent film, women in film, indie horror and comedy! With your pledge, you are also helping decrease stigma for mental health, chronic conditions and addiction.
THANK YOU!!
-Christina Marie Leonard, writer/producer, Sick and Tired
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Paying our cast and crew
Costs $5,600
We need funds to pay our cast and crew fairly for their work and time.
Special effects makeup and blood
Costs $1,100
With a horror film, you definitely need blood and SFX makeup to make the movie magic happen!
Travel
Costs $1,300
Some of our cast and crew are local, some is not, so we will need to everyone to and from set safely from both near and far.
Location- Basement Lab
Costs $2,000
A lot of the film takes place in Mary and Frank's basement- we need a place that gives just the perfect creepy vibe!
Location- House
Costs $1,000
We also need a house to film the scenes where Mary and Frank live and a good chunk of the action takes place.
Production Insurance
Costs $2,500
Very important to protect our gear, locations, crew and actors!
Food and craft services
Costs $800
Gotta make sure our cast and crew have food, water and can stay energized and hydrated throughout the shoot.
Camera Package
Costs $600
We need lenses, memory cards, monitors and more so we can get the shots we need.
Grip and Electric Package
Costs $750
We need lights to light our actors and stands to put the lights on and a grip truck to put everything in.
Fake body parts and prosthetics
Costs $1,500
Because, remember, this is body horror! We have an amazing props master who specializes in horror but they need the right tools for the job
Editing and Color correction
Costs $1,000
So our movie is altogether and not in tiny chunks looking grey!
Sound Design
Costs $500
Very important so you can hear us and all the extra sound editing that is needed for a horror movie for all the creepiness!
Composer
Costs $500
Like so many great horror movies, we plan to have a score to go along with this eerie story.
Visual Effects
Costs $500
To really sell the horror we need both practical and visual effects.
Film Festival Submissions
Costs $500
So we can share this story with our fellow horror and comedy movie lovers, and hopefully help people going through similar things.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Dorothy Booraem, director:
Between 2008 and 2018, Booraem directed three independent horror features — including Wake the Witch, which found a devoted audience on Netflix for three years running. Carving out a signature style of low-res, off-beat horror steeped in a mumblecore, Gen X sensibility, Booraem has honed her voice: intimate, unpolished, and unafraid to sit in discomfort. Now she's back behind the camera, teaming up with filmmaker Christina Marie Leonard for the short film Sick and Tired. For Booraem, horror isn't just a genre — it's a palette with a thousand colors of black.
Christina Marie Leonard, writer, producer, actor (Mary):
Christina Marie Leonard is an actress and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, CA. She grew up in Nebraska which is full of corn, corn mazes, and haunted hayrack rides, so that naturally led to her getting her start acting in indie horror movies before moving to Hollywood. Within a few months of moving to LA, she was cast in the hit web series Riley Rewind which inspired her to start creating her own work- a web series, several short films, a stage play and one woman show. After her solo show Bathroom Diaries, a dark comedy about chronic illness, addition and depression, she realized that she wanted to continue to combine her love of dark/horror comedy and use it for the causes that matter to her most- to help decrease stigma around chronic illness and mental health disorders, inspire change and help others to feel less alone.
Marilyn Flores, cinematographer:
Marilyn Flores is a Los Angeles–based cinematographer and filmmaker with a love for horror and character-driven storytelling. Her work is deeply inspired by the psychology of her characters, using cinematography to explore their inner worlds and bring emotion, tension, and atmosphere to the screen. She has shot numerous narrative projects, including the feature film Where in the Hell, now available on Amazon. Her passion for the horror genre also extends to directing; her horror short Beauty Booth was featured on Shudder. Marilyn is thrilled to bring her love of psychological storytelling and horror to Sick and Tired, exploring women’s mental health, and is excited to help bring this special story to life through its visual language.
Jay Forman, art director:
Jay Forman is a Props Lead at Universal Studios Hollywood, decorating and fabricating for events such as Halloween Horror Nights. As a horror lover, they are excited to bring this wild story to life with such a great cast and crew.
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Sick and Tired is a horror comedy short film about a young woman who enlists her scientist boyfriend to reconstruct her brain and body out of human remains to heal her depression and chronic illness.
It's about the challenges that people with chronic illnesses and mental health conditions go through, as well as addiction, which so often plays a part when the vices we use to cope spiral out of control.
After a messy accident due to lack of medication, aspiring chef Mary hits a bottom with her mental and physical health. Coming to her knees over a healthcare system she can’t afford and doctors who don’t seem to understand, Mary takes matters into her own hands. But what starts as a dangerous experiment grows far worse when Mary becomes addicted to not only “getting better” but “becoming perfect.”
Writer/producer Christina Marie Leonard here!
Let me tell you a little about why I wrote this script in the first place:
I have always loved Frankenstein stories since reading Mary Shelley's novel in high school. This past spring I was working on a different Frankenstein script but I was having trouble focusing because I was so angry at my mental and physical health for taking a turn for the worse.
After finally attempting to face my fears and get more help for my chronic bladder condition that I've had since I was twelve, I was unfortunately met with a doctor who lacked empathy and gave me pills that made the condition even worse.
That resulted in worsening depression, more meds switching, and then, you guessed it, a psychiatrist who also did not give a shit. I was PISSED. And when I'm pissed, I write. I sat down, angry A.F., and got the idea for Sick and Tired.
Above: A moment from the solo show "Bathroom Diaries" about addiction, mental health and chronic illness. Photograph by David Haverty.
Healthcare Costs
We're at a time where healthcare prices are rising at an astronomical rate and even with health insurance, co-pays can be so unaffordable people are skipping important doctors appointments altogether. Individuals are having to choose between rent and medication and some are dying because they cannot afford life-saving care or prescriptions needed to survive. These healthcare costs especially affect people with chronic illnesses and mental health issues who are regularly visiting doctors and taking medication.
Chronic Illnesses
When I developed my chronic illness at age 12, I felt very alone, but it turns out that is not the case. About 50% of my network of close-friends has some sort of chronic illness or condition and that's just in my personal circle.
According to clevelandclinic.org, about 6 in 10 people in the U.S. have at least one chronic disease. And about 4 in 10 have two or more.
What is a chronic illness?
Chronic illnesses are medical conditions that last a long time, typically a year or longer. These illnesses are often incurable and lifelong. Having one might mean you also need ongoing — or even daily — medical care. Chronic illnesses also commonly interfere with activities of daily living. (clevelandclinic.org.)
Depression and Mental Health
- Depression is a common mental disorder.
- An estimated 4% of the population experience depression, including 5.7% of adults (4.6% among men and 6.9% among women), and 5.9% of adults aged 70 years and older. Approximately 332 million people in the world have depression (1). Depression is about 1.5 times more common among women than among men. Worldwide, more than 10% of pregnant women and women who have just given birth experience depression (2). In 2021, an estimated 727 000 people lost their lives to suicide. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in 15–29-year-olds. (World Health Organization)
Frankenstein Stories
Humans have always been drawn to stories about bringing people back to life, about "playing god", and the questions that are posed within those stories about right and wrong, the danger of unchecked power and responsibility, and what it means to mess with science and life itself.
Frankenstein movies have spanned genres and pleased audiences for decades, from the iconic 1931 Frankenstein with Boris Karloff, to the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show with the beloved Tim Curry (RIP ❤️) to the gothic favorite Edward Scissorhands to Mel Brooks' comedic gem Young Frankenstein. With the more recent Maggie Gyllenhaal's The Bride and Guillermo del Toro's box office hit Frankenstein, it seems like audiences are continuing to gravitate to Frankenstein's monsters just as much as they always have, if not more.
Some of the things people have said so far about the project:
"The film is a strong metaphor for the desperation to be “well” in a world that treats illness as inconvenience or personal failure. I like the escalation from wanting relief, and a body she can trust through to the mutation into a desire for perfection. The script has energy in Mary's immediate physical frustration rather than starting with some vague suffering."
"A Frankenstein-inspired story made by a woman starring a woman as a main lead is always an exciting project to look forward to. The message of the original story is carried into this film as well: beauty standard, playing God, society acceptance. This time, it is reclaimed to be told through the feminine point of view, like Mary Shelley herself. Absolutely want to see this get made."
"A brilliant story, love the mix between comedy and horror, the story keeps you at your edge. It promises a thrilling and visually gory and exciting horror film. A horror story that is a smart commentary on the hardships of surviving in a failed health system, and a society that is obsessed with perfect looks. Would love to see this project get made!"
"A fiendishly clever exploration of chronic struggle and the inexplicably human desire to fix yourself!"
"A gnarly, cathartic horror-dramedy. Mary's DIY body-horror descent into "perfection" makes for a sharp, unsettling commentary on healthcare failure and self-optimization gone wrong."
"Such a necessary short. In a world where women are constantly encouraged to chase the next thing that will heal them, make them “hotter”, FIX them, we need more stories challenging the situation we find ourselves in. It is not only important, but opening conversations like this can literally save lives."
Sick and Tired is helmed by director Dorothy Booraem (Wake the Witch, Corrupter) and writer/producer Christina Marie Leonard (Riley Rewind, The Buddy Cop), with cinematographer Marilyn Flores (Where in Hell, Beauty Booth) and art director Jay Forman (props lead at Universal Studios Hollywood.) We are proud to have a team of all women and non-binary artists with extensive experience in the horror genre! You can read even more about them on our Team page.
In order to make our movie safely and effectively, we need the following items, also listed on our "wishlist" page!
- Paying our cast and crew
- SFX makeup and blood
- Travel
- Storage drives
- Locations
- Production insurance
- Food & craft services
- Camera, grip & electric gear
- Fake body parts & prosthetics
- Costumes
- Post production
- Film festival submissions
Here's how it all boils down....
Stretch Goals:
After we reach our initial goal of $21,150, here are some stretch goals that can help take our project to the next level!
+ additional $1000: able to submit for more film festivals and increase the reach of this film
+ additional $6,300: one day at a standing set location (ideal location for science experiment scenes)
+ additional $12,600: two days at a standing set location (ideal location for science experiment scenes and Mary/Frank's house)
Before you go, one last VERY IMPORTANT thing…
Seed&Spark only lets you receive the funds pledged if you reach 80% of your goal, so contributing whatever you can is helpful to our project, even $1, $5, of $10!
Some other ways to support the project if you’re not able to help financially:
- Pass it on! Share this page to your socials, and forward to your friends. This is truly so helpful ❤️
- Here's a quick and easy blurb you can copy and paste to help support the project: "check out this horror-comedy short film Sick and Tired that focuses on chronic illness and mental health. Like/share/contribute if you can to help this project come to life!"
- Follow us here & on IG! The amount of followers on Seed&Spark really makes a difference on directing people to the page. (500 + followers on here and they start pushing our page to other people on the site! And don’t forget to follow our IG for even more updates (@sickandtiredhorrorcomedy)
Thank you so much for your support, for supporting independent film, women in film, indie horror and comedy! With your pledge, you are also helping decrease stigma for mental health, chronic conditions and addiction.
THANK YOU!!
-Christina Marie Leonard, writer/producer, Sick and Tired
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Paying our cast and crew
Costs $5,600
We need funds to pay our cast and crew fairly for their work and time.
Special effects makeup and blood
Costs $1,100
With a horror film, you definitely need blood and SFX makeup to make the movie magic happen!
Travel
Costs $1,300
Some of our cast and crew are local, some is not, so we will need to everyone to and from set safely from both near and far.
Location- Basement Lab
Costs $2,000
A lot of the film takes place in Mary and Frank's basement- we need a place that gives just the perfect creepy vibe!
Location- House
Costs $1,000
We also need a house to film the scenes where Mary and Frank live and a good chunk of the action takes place.
Production Insurance
Costs $2,500
Very important to protect our gear, locations, crew and actors!
Food and craft services
Costs $800
Gotta make sure our cast and crew have food, water and can stay energized and hydrated throughout the shoot.
Camera Package
Costs $600
We need lenses, memory cards, monitors and more so we can get the shots we need.
Grip and Electric Package
Costs $750
We need lights to light our actors and stands to put the lights on and a grip truck to put everything in.
Fake body parts and prosthetics
Costs $1,500
Because, remember, this is body horror! We have an amazing props master who specializes in horror but they need the right tools for the job
Editing and Color correction
Costs $1,000
So our movie is altogether and not in tiny chunks looking grey!
Sound Design
Costs $500
Very important so you can hear us and all the extra sound editing that is needed for a horror movie for all the creepiness!
Composer
Costs $500
Like so many great horror movies, we plan to have a score to go along with this eerie story.
Visual Effects
Costs $500
To really sell the horror we need both practical and visual effects.
Film Festival Submissions
Costs $500
So we can share this story with our fellow horror and comedy movie lovers, and hopefully help people going through similar things.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Dorothy Booraem, director:
Between 2008 and 2018, Booraem directed three independent horror features — including Wake the Witch, which found a devoted audience on Netflix for three years running. Carving out a signature style of low-res, off-beat horror steeped in a mumblecore, Gen X sensibility, Booraem has honed her voice: intimate, unpolished, and unafraid to sit in discomfort. Now she's back behind the camera, teaming up with filmmaker Christina Marie Leonard for the short film Sick and Tired. For Booraem, horror isn't just a genre — it's a palette with a thousand colors of black.
Christina Marie Leonard, writer, producer, actor (Mary):
Christina Marie Leonard is an actress and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, CA. She grew up in Nebraska which is full of corn, corn mazes, and haunted hayrack rides, so that naturally led to her getting her start acting in indie horror movies before moving to Hollywood. Within a few months of moving to LA, she was cast in the hit web series Riley Rewind which inspired her to start creating her own work- a web series, several short films, a stage play and one woman show. After her solo show Bathroom Diaries, a dark comedy about chronic illness, addition and depression, she realized that she wanted to continue to combine her love of dark/horror comedy and use it for the causes that matter to her most- to help decrease stigma around chronic illness and mental health disorders, inspire change and help others to feel less alone.
Marilyn Flores, cinematographer:
Marilyn Flores is a Los Angeles–based cinematographer and filmmaker with a love for horror and character-driven storytelling. Her work is deeply inspired by the psychology of her characters, using cinematography to explore their inner worlds and bring emotion, tension, and atmosphere to the screen. She has shot numerous narrative projects, including the feature film Where in the Hell, now available on Amazon. Her passion for the horror genre also extends to directing; her horror short Beauty Booth was featured on Shudder. Marilyn is thrilled to bring her love of psychological storytelling and horror to Sick and Tired, exploring women’s mental health, and is excited to help bring this special story to life through its visual language.
Jay Forman, art director:
Jay Forman is a Props Lead at Universal Studios Hollywood, decorating and fabricating for events such as Halloween Horror Nights. As a horror lover, they are excited to bring this wild story to life with such a great cast and crew.