As a diverse group of women in every way, we share the same challenges. We all want the most from life, yet struggle to achieve it. But we believe we can tip the scales now while making the journey for future generations even easier. Our story characters embrace our vision of unity and strength.

 

SMASHED is a Hollywood-inspired, female-driven comedy short set in the fast-paced and chaotic world of home shopping network sales. At its heart, SMASHED is about the complicated accountability women have to a career, motherhood, and themselves.

Career-obsessed Lucy has worked tirelessly to give her daughter the things that Lucy never had,  but when her daughter's departure for college collides with a high-stakes deadline at work, Lucy must choose between saving the relationship with her daughter or keeping the job for which she has sacrificed everything. 

With the help of some very potent bourbon balls, Lucy hysterically processes the complex emotions of being a career-focused single mother who realizes her child has grown up without her. In a heightened world that is focused on instant gratification, SMASHED reminds us that money cannot buy happiness.

Smashed will shoot in August of 2021 in Los Angeles, California at Television City Studios! We will build the home shopping network we call SIA (Sell It All) on one of the sound stages in Hollywood. We're focusing on festival submission, and using this as a proof of concept for the feature and/or series that is currently in development. Naturally, we're open to opportunities further distribution too.

All of this happens with your support! With your financial love, in-kind gifts and generous SHARES of this CAMPAIGN, you will help bring Smashed to the screen and create greater gender balance in Hollywood! Did we mention that our cast and crew is over 90 percent women & women-identifying. That means your sister, mother, aunt, grandma, daughter, wife, friend... will have greater opportunities. Join us in changing the system!

Television City Studio Tour June 2021

An award-winning writer and filmmaker, Dawn is fascinated with true stories about marginalized characters who struggle and triumph over adversity. As a director, Ms. Spinella is intrigued by the power of the human spirit to endure challenges and persevere, especially with the help of comedy and irony. This is a consistent theme in her work. Dawn employs extensive research for her projects and enjoys building complex, multi-layered worlds firmly rooted in reality by way of the characters who inhabit them.

Her award-winning shorts Creme Brulee and The Joymaker are both biographical stories and have experienced great success on the film festival circuit. Ms. Spinella is passionate about sharing her skills as a teacher and mentor.

Bex is an Alaskan/ Californian with a passion for cinema and storytelling. She has worked in radio, TV, and film since the late 90s, including public, community, and government media. In addition, Bex Co-Directs Sacramento's newest film festival, SacFilmChallenge. Bex currently works full-time as a Project Manager at Uptown Studios in Sacramento and part-time as Producer and Director for the show "And Action".

A life-long champion of animation, technology, and filmmaking with over a decade of experience in story development and production management at Walt Disney Animation Studios, Leah brings her unquellable passion for producing complex narratives and high-quality, stunning visuals. She comes armed with her battle-tested filmmaking knowledge, having worked on award-winning movies such as ZOOTOPIA, FROZEN I & II, and MOANA. Straight from her work on the female-driven epic tale, RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON, she is thrilled to join the team to tell this story about the perils of falling to pieces and the friendships that hold you together.

Samantha is a Producer in Sacramento, California. She earned her MBA from San Francisco State University and has worked in banking and finance since the early 2000s. Her knowledge of business, finance, and accounting makes her proficient in budgeting and scheduling and knowing how to get a team on the same page. She is an award-winning filmmaker, co-director of the SacFilmChallenge, a music and film festival, and founded Sacramento Film Project, a film group that focuses on networking and developing filmmakers. She also serves on the Board of Directors at Access Sacramento (public access TV and radio) and is certified as a TV and Radio Producer.

The Smashed script is a Finalist in Women in Media's CAMERAderie Initiative. Through this Initiative WiM provides opportunities for Women and Women Identifying in above and below the line positions to develop experience, support, networking, and mentorship. Our project is over 70 percent women &, women-identifying crew. Through support from Women in Media Initiative Producers, online workshops and hands-on training from industry professionals in each department crew members will gain experience and knowledge in the field.

Women In Media Mission Statement: Promoting gender balance in the film and entertainment industries through networking, professional development, and advocacy for women, women-identifying, and gender-nonconforming filmmakers who work above and below the line and the people who love to collaborate with them.