Starman - A Short Film
Vancouver, Canada | Film Short
Drama, LGBTQ
Starman is a character-driven short film set in 1990 that follows Bowie Madison, a queer woman forced to leave the Air Force after being outed. Told through an array of fragmented memories and grounded in raw emotion, the film explores themes of grief, identity, and what it costs to be who you are.
Starman - A Short Film
Vancouver, Canada | Film Short
Drama, LGBTQ
2 Campaigns | British Columbia, Canada
Green Light
This campaign raised C$10,375 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
51 supporters | followers
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Starman is a character-driven short film set in 1990 that follows Bowie Madison, a queer woman forced to leave the Air Force after being outed. Told through an array of fragmented memories and grounded in raw emotion, the film explores themes of grief, identity, and what it costs to be who you are.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Starman is a queer drama that follows Bowie Madison, a hot-headed young woman who has always dreamed of flying. We first meet Bowie attending the Air Force Academy in the summer of 1990, in the aftermath of a fight. As she lays in her room, black eye and all, she remembers why she joined the Academy in the first place.
Through a series of flashbacks, we learn that, despite it being her dream, Bowie had no intention of leaving for the Academy. She was acknowledging the romantic feelings she had for her best friend, Tyler Morgan, and knew that she couldn’t belong in the Air Force as a lesbian due to the time. They had just started letting women fly combat and were not yet at the point of allowing openly queer people in. Bowie desperately wants to come out to her father so he understands but isn’t ready to have that conversation with him yet. Instead, she ends up starting a fight with him to avoid it.
She turns to Tyler for comfort and a night out, which goes awry when she gets into a fight with a drunken man at the bar. As Tyler bandages her hand, Bowie confides in her that she won’t be going to the Academy and the two of them share a brief kiss. When the vulnerable moment is interrupted, they both panic and Bowie flees the bar full of heartbreak and regret.
Bowie tries to call her father but instead gets his voicemail. She leaves a message apologizing for the fight she started and comes out to him. Before she can finish, she is interrupted by a police officer with news about her dad. He was in an accident.
Bowie returns home later that night with her father’s personal belongings, but not him. She sees the car keys he left her and is compelled to join the Academy despite her doubts. Bowie’s dream to fly was one that her father influenced and nurtured and she is desperate to make him proud now that he has died.
At the Air Force Academy, we learn that Bowie got into a fight over her sexuality and is discharged for being queer. Bowie packs her things, leaves the academy and returns to her hometown. Instead of going to her father’s empty house, she knocks on Tyler’s door, who is surprised to see her there after nearly a year of no contact.
'Starman’ is the endearing nickname her father had for her as a kid, as well as the call sign her peers gave her in the academy. In this short, Bowie embarks on a journey of self discovery as she confronts her feelings about her father, her best friend and where she belongs in the world. Inspired by films such as Little Miss Sunshine (2006) and Uncle Frank (2021), Starman is an emotional exploration of identity, grief and failure.
Why this story?
As a queer filmmaker, it is so important to me to get queer stories out into the world. Making our stories public and visible has the power to encourage change and humanize members of our community. We need that now more than ever.
Help us bring more diverse stories to the big screen by supporting Starman !
HITTING OUR GOAL WILL ALLOW US TO...
- LOCK ALL OF THE LOCATIONS IN THE SCRIPT! Not only is this story a period piece, but a period piece with planes and Air Force bases. These things don't come cheap but having them will enhance our production value and make our film look all the more authentic!
- GET THE RIGHTS TO DAVID BOWIE'S MUSIC - Obviously this film has a lot of inspiration from David Bowie, and to be able to use some of his music in the film would be a dream come true and really bring our vision to life.
- FEED OUR CREW *GOOD* CATERING EVERY DAY. It is so important that we are able to treat our cast and crew to good catering. They deserve the best!
- HAVE ACCURATE PRODUCTION DESIGN & COSTUMES! Again, period pieces are a lot of work but so worth it when done well. Help us make our film look like it came straight out of the 90s!
- SUBMIT TO FILM FESTIVALS!!! We want to share our film and story with some big festivals and that can really add up!
We need your support to make this film a reality! Join us in bringing this story to life!
- Pledge to our campaign if you can!
- Follow along on our film journey on Instagram: @starman.shortfilm & @gooseberryfilmsltd
- Share with your friends!
Thank you!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Locations!
Costs C$4,000
Help us create an authentic world for our audience! We have to shoot in all kinds of locations, from dive bars to airplanes!
Starman by David Bowie
Costs C$1,000
What is a film titled 'Starman' without the song Starman? This will pull the entire vision together
Gear!
Costs C$4,000
We want this film to look beautiful. Help us get our dream gear for the shoot!
Production Design/Costumes
Costs C$2,000
Help us make our film look like it came straight out of the 90s!
Cash Pledge
Costs C$0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Lorna Kidjo is Bowie Madison
Lorna is a bilingual filmmaker and actor whose background is shaped by her European upbringing and ties to her Beninese heritage. She made her directorial debut with the dark comedy horror short film “Fester”, which premiered at the International Fantasia Film Festival. Funded by the “Conseil des Arts et Lettres du Québec,” her second short film, “Oversight”, won Best Actress at the Reelworld Film Festival and was shortlisted at Sundance. The film is now available on CBC Gem as part of the “Canadian Reflections” program, which showcases Canada’s best and brightest filmmakers to a national audience.
As a writer, Lorna co-wrote an educational fiction series for Black pre-teens with Ontario-based company Moi&Dave, set to air on TFO next year. She also contributed to Radio-Canada's “Afro-Canada” docu-series and served as a script editor for Tout.TV’s web series “Les Météorites”. Currently she is working on two feature films, a supernatural horror about intergenerational trauma and a dark comedy thriller exploring interracial relationships, with funding from the Canada Council for the Arts.
As the co-founder of Stellar Collision Inc., a film development company dedicated to producing women-led stories from diverse cultural perspectives, Lorna has produced her two short films and is currently developing a Telefilm-funded documentary about the erasure of influential women from West African history. Stellar Collision Inc. also supported the production of the French documentary “Je Suis La France”. As an actor, she is represented by Element Artist Management, and Brave Artists Management in both Canada and the US.
Writer / Director / Producer - Maddy Ginn
Maddy is a Canadian filmmaker based in Vancouver, BC. She studied film production at Vancouver Film School where she specialized in directing and producing, and has been able to continue her work as an independent filmmaker on short films such as Space Cadet (2024), Magenta (2024) and Pieces (2025), as well as directing/producing local artist Lila Gray’s last four music videos Oceans (2023), Haunt (2024), Something I Knew Was Missing (2024) and Oh, Hey Honey (2025).
As a queer filmmaker, she wants to use her work as a conduit to uplift underrepresented communities in the media, with a special focus on intersectional feminism & 2SLGBTQIA+ stories. She hopes to make a difference in the film industry with her passion for inclusive storytelling.
Producer - Ava Maria Safai
Ava Maria Safai, a Canadian-Iranian artist from Vancouver, Canada, is a Dean's List graduate from UBC's BFA in Acting program and currently serves as the artistic director of The Harlequin Theatre Society.
Her directorial debut, "ZIP," created waves as the first short film in the 24-year history of the Crazy8s Film Festival to receive a standing ovation. "ZIP" has garnered acclaim as an Official Selection at multiple Academy Award-qualifying festivals, including Uppsala, CINEQUEST, Athens International Film & Video Festival, and the Calgary International Film Festival. Notably, it recently won Best Short at the Chilliwack Independent Film Festival, received an Honourable Mention for Best Short at the Whistler Film Festival, and earned the prestigious Ryan Nicholson Special FX Makeup Award at Blood in the Snow in Toronto.
Current directorial projects for Ava Maria include horror flick “FOREIGNER” (Telefilm Talent to Watch) and romantic comedy “FAKING IT!,” both of which are currently in post-production. She also spent time this year shadowing directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein on set for "Final Destination 6.”
Co-Producer - Justin F. Lee
Justin is a filmmaker, playwright, and sailor interested in the evolution of Canadian drama as a building block for a richer national identity. He holds a BFA in theatre from the University of Victoria.
He primarily works in Production and Lighting for film. He co-produced “Red Light Rebel” (Crazy8’s 2025), associate-produced the feature film “Mongrels” which world premiered at Vancouver International Film Festival (DGC Horizon Award) and the short film “SO-RI” part of VAFF’s 2024 Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon. He was the Project Manager at The Canadian Play Thing Theatre, showrunning the audio drama series “A Way Out” and creating the interview series “Playwright to Playwright” funded through Playwrights Guild Canada.
His writer/director debut short film “Knots” is inspired by his time crewing tall ships from coast to coast and is currently in festival applications. This summer he’s excited to be making two projects that stem from his formative experience as a Sea Cadet: “The Summer I Found Myself”, a romantic teenage drama web-series and co-producing “Starman”!
Cinematographer / Producer - Tyler Banich
Tyler Banich is a director of photography based out of Vancouver, BC. After honing his craft at Vancouver Film School, he has continued his work as an independent filmmaker, influenced by the diverse and dynamic arts scene he grew up with in Vancouver.
His work spans a wide range of music videos and short films, showcasing his versatility and deep understanding of how to shape light and shadow to create visually compelling stories and narratives.
Driven by a relentless pursuit of visual excellence and a collaborative spirit, Tyler continues to push the boundaries of cinematography, creating visually stunning and emotionally resonant films & media in the hope to captivate and enthrall an audience.
Production Designer - Hannah Nicholls
Hannah Grace Nicholls is a born-and-raised-Canadian filmmaker and a veritable jack of all trades. A graduate from both Wilfrid Laurier University (BA) and Vancouver Film School (AdvDip.), she values both the technical filmmaking process and the decades of history and study behind it.
With an intense passion for production design, cinematography, and directing, she has a captivating eye for detail and an uncompromising dedication to total visual immersion in a diverse assortment of genres. She specializes in creating complex, riveting worlds out of nothing and selling the illusion above all else.
1st Assistant Director - Linzie Weiss
Linzie Weiss is a Canadian filmmaker who moved to Vancouver to pursue her passion for film. A 2024 graduate of Vancouver Film School, Linzie quickly made her mark as a standout 1st Assistant Director on student productions like Runway Kill, Killer Ambition, Bloody Knight, and Waiting for the Inevitable.
Post graduation, she has been active in the indie film community, Assistant Directing the short films “One Swipe Away” and “What, You Guys Look Sorta Similar?”. Linzie has always loved creating and takes great pride in turning visions into reality, using the power of film to bring stories to life and inspire others.
Editor - Rebecca Spiegel
Rebeca is a Brazilian filmmaker and video editor based in Canada. She studied film production at Capilano University with a focus on post-production and screenwriting. Her editing work includes the mini documentary The Man in the Rectangle, Artistic Techniques for the National Portrait Gallery of London, and short films like Moonboy and I Absolutely Hate This Place. She has also directed and edited her own award-winning stop-motion shorts, including Cranberry Juice, Feral, and Lost Media, which have screened at festivals across Canada and the US.
As a writer and director, her work often explores themes of female sexuality and surrealist experimental storytelling. She draws inspiration from magical realist films that blend whimsy and emotion in unexpected ways.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Starman is a queer drama that follows Bowie Madison, a hot-headed young woman who has always dreamed of flying. We first meet Bowie attending the Air Force Academy in the summer of 1990, in the aftermath of a fight. As she lays in her room, black eye and all, she remembers why she joined the Academy in the first place.
Through a series of flashbacks, we learn that, despite it being her dream, Bowie had no intention of leaving for the Academy. She was acknowledging the romantic feelings she had for her best friend, Tyler Morgan, and knew that she couldn’t belong in the Air Force as a lesbian due to the time. They had just started letting women fly combat and were not yet at the point of allowing openly queer people in. Bowie desperately wants to come out to her father so he understands but isn’t ready to have that conversation with him yet. Instead, she ends up starting a fight with him to avoid it.
She turns to Tyler for comfort and a night out, which goes awry when she gets into a fight with a drunken man at the bar. As Tyler bandages her hand, Bowie confides in her that she won’t be going to the Academy and the two of them share a brief kiss. When the vulnerable moment is interrupted, they both panic and Bowie flees the bar full of heartbreak and regret.
Bowie tries to call her father but instead gets his voicemail. She leaves a message apologizing for the fight she started and comes out to him. Before she can finish, she is interrupted by a police officer with news about her dad. He was in an accident.
Bowie returns home later that night with her father’s personal belongings, but not him. She sees the car keys he left her and is compelled to join the Academy despite her doubts. Bowie’s dream to fly was one that her father influenced and nurtured and she is desperate to make him proud now that he has died.
At the Air Force Academy, we learn that Bowie got into a fight over her sexuality and is discharged for being queer. Bowie packs her things, leaves the academy and returns to her hometown. Instead of going to her father’s empty house, she knocks on Tyler’s door, who is surprised to see her there after nearly a year of no contact.
'Starman’ is the endearing nickname her father had for her as a kid, as well as the call sign her peers gave her in the academy. In this short, Bowie embarks on a journey of self discovery as she confronts her feelings about her father, her best friend and where she belongs in the world. Inspired by films such as Little Miss Sunshine (2006) and Uncle Frank (2021), Starman is an emotional exploration of identity, grief and failure.
Why this story?
As a queer filmmaker, it is so important to me to get queer stories out into the world. Making our stories public and visible has the power to encourage change and humanize members of our community. We need that now more than ever.
Help us bring more diverse stories to the big screen by supporting Starman !
HITTING OUR GOAL WILL ALLOW US TO...
- LOCK ALL OF THE LOCATIONS IN THE SCRIPT! Not only is this story a period piece, but a period piece with planes and Air Force bases. These things don't come cheap but having them will enhance our production value and make our film look all the more authentic!
- GET THE RIGHTS TO DAVID BOWIE'S MUSIC - Obviously this film has a lot of inspiration from David Bowie, and to be able to use some of his music in the film would be a dream come true and really bring our vision to life.
- FEED OUR CREW *GOOD* CATERING EVERY DAY. It is so important that we are able to treat our cast and crew to good catering. They deserve the best!
- HAVE ACCURATE PRODUCTION DESIGN & COSTUMES! Again, period pieces are a lot of work but so worth it when done well. Help us make our film look like it came straight out of the 90s!
- SUBMIT TO FILM FESTIVALS!!! We want to share our film and story with some big festivals and that can really add up!
We need your support to make this film a reality! Join us in bringing this story to life!
- Pledge to our campaign if you can!
- Follow along on our film journey on Instagram: @starman.shortfilm & @gooseberryfilmsltd
- Share with your friends!
Thank you!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Locations!
Costs C$4,000
Help us create an authentic world for our audience! We have to shoot in all kinds of locations, from dive bars to airplanes!
Starman by David Bowie
Costs C$1,000
What is a film titled 'Starman' without the song Starman? This will pull the entire vision together
Gear!
Costs C$4,000
We want this film to look beautiful. Help us get our dream gear for the shoot!
Production Design/Costumes
Costs C$2,000
Help us make our film look like it came straight out of the 90s!
Cash Pledge
Costs C$0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Lorna Kidjo is Bowie Madison
Lorna is a bilingual filmmaker and actor whose background is shaped by her European upbringing and ties to her Beninese heritage. She made her directorial debut with the dark comedy horror short film “Fester”, which premiered at the International Fantasia Film Festival. Funded by the “Conseil des Arts et Lettres du Québec,” her second short film, “Oversight”, won Best Actress at the Reelworld Film Festival and was shortlisted at Sundance. The film is now available on CBC Gem as part of the “Canadian Reflections” program, which showcases Canada’s best and brightest filmmakers to a national audience.
As a writer, Lorna co-wrote an educational fiction series for Black pre-teens with Ontario-based company Moi&Dave, set to air on TFO next year. She also contributed to Radio-Canada's “Afro-Canada” docu-series and served as a script editor for Tout.TV’s web series “Les Météorites”. Currently she is working on two feature films, a supernatural horror about intergenerational trauma and a dark comedy thriller exploring interracial relationships, with funding from the Canada Council for the Arts.
As the co-founder of Stellar Collision Inc., a film development company dedicated to producing women-led stories from diverse cultural perspectives, Lorna has produced her two short films and is currently developing a Telefilm-funded documentary about the erasure of influential women from West African history. Stellar Collision Inc. also supported the production of the French documentary “Je Suis La France”. As an actor, she is represented by Element Artist Management, and Brave Artists Management in both Canada and the US.
Writer / Director / Producer - Maddy Ginn
Maddy is a Canadian filmmaker based in Vancouver, BC. She studied film production at Vancouver Film School where she specialized in directing and producing, and has been able to continue her work as an independent filmmaker on short films such as Space Cadet (2024), Magenta (2024) and Pieces (2025), as well as directing/producing local artist Lila Gray’s last four music videos Oceans (2023), Haunt (2024), Something I Knew Was Missing (2024) and Oh, Hey Honey (2025).
As a queer filmmaker, she wants to use her work as a conduit to uplift underrepresented communities in the media, with a special focus on intersectional feminism & 2SLGBTQIA+ stories. She hopes to make a difference in the film industry with her passion for inclusive storytelling.
Producer - Ava Maria Safai
Ava Maria Safai, a Canadian-Iranian artist from Vancouver, Canada, is a Dean's List graduate from UBC's BFA in Acting program and currently serves as the artistic director of The Harlequin Theatre Society.
Her directorial debut, "ZIP," created waves as the first short film in the 24-year history of the Crazy8s Film Festival to receive a standing ovation. "ZIP" has garnered acclaim as an Official Selection at multiple Academy Award-qualifying festivals, including Uppsala, CINEQUEST, Athens International Film & Video Festival, and the Calgary International Film Festival. Notably, it recently won Best Short at the Chilliwack Independent Film Festival, received an Honourable Mention for Best Short at the Whistler Film Festival, and earned the prestigious Ryan Nicholson Special FX Makeup Award at Blood in the Snow in Toronto.
Current directorial projects for Ava Maria include horror flick “FOREIGNER” (Telefilm Talent to Watch) and romantic comedy “FAKING IT!,” both of which are currently in post-production. She also spent time this year shadowing directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein on set for "Final Destination 6.”
Co-Producer - Justin F. Lee
Justin is a filmmaker, playwright, and sailor interested in the evolution of Canadian drama as a building block for a richer national identity. He holds a BFA in theatre from the University of Victoria.
He primarily works in Production and Lighting for film. He co-produced “Red Light Rebel” (Crazy8’s 2025), associate-produced the feature film “Mongrels” which world premiered at Vancouver International Film Festival (DGC Horizon Award) and the short film “SO-RI” part of VAFF’s 2024 Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon. He was the Project Manager at The Canadian Play Thing Theatre, showrunning the audio drama series “A Way Out” and creating the interview series “Playwright to Playwright” funded through Playwrights Guild Canada.
His writer/director debut short film “Knots” is inspired by his time crewing tall ships from coast to coast and is currently in festival applications. This summer he’s excited to be making two projects that stem from his formative experience as a Sea Cadet: “The Summer I Found Myself”, a romantic teenage drama web-series and co-producing “Starman”!
Cinematographer / Producer - Tyler Banich
Tyler Banich is a director of photography based out of Vancouver, BC. After honing his craft at Vancouver Film School, he has continued his work as an independent filmmaker, influenced by the diverse and dynamic arts scene he grew up with in Vancouver.
His work spans a wide range of music videos and short films, showcasing his versatility and deep understanding of how to shape light and shadow to create visually compelling stories and narratives.
Driven by a relentless pursuit of visual excellence and a collaborative spirit, Tyler continues to push the boundaries of cinematography, creating visually stunning and emotionally resonant films & media in the hope to captivate and enthrall an audience.
Production Designer - Hannah Nicholls
Hannah Grace Nicholls is a born-and-raised-Canadian filmmaker and a veritable jack of all trades. A graduate from both Wilfrid Laurier University (BA) and Vancouver Film School (AdvDip.), she values both the technical filmmaking process and the decades of history and study behind it.
With an intense passion for production design, cinematography, and directing, she has a captivating eye for detail and an uncompromising dedication to total visual immersion in a diverse assortment of genres. She specializes in creating complex, riveting worlds out of nothing and selling the illusion above all else.
1st Assistant Director - Linzie Weiss
Linzie Weiss is a Canadian filmmaker who moved to Vancouver to pursue her passion for film. A 2024 graduate of Vancouver Film School, Linzie quickly made her mark as a standout 1st Assistant Director on student productions like Runway Kill, Killer Ambition, Bloody Knight, and Waiting for the Inevitable.
Post graduation, she has been active in the indie film community, Assistant Directing the short films “One Swipe Away” and “What, You Guys Look Sorta Similar?”. Linzie has always loved creating and takes great pride in turning visions into reality, using the power of film to bring stories to life and inspire others.
Editor - Rebecca Spiegel
Rebeca is a Brazilian filmmaker and video editor based in Canada. She studied film production at Capilano University with a focus on post-production and screenwriting. Her editing work includes the mini documentary The Man in the Rectangle, Artistic Techniques for the National Portrait Gallery of London, and short films like Moonboy and I Absolutely Hate This Place. She has also directed and edited her own award-winning stop-motion shorts, including Cranberry Juice, Feral, and Lost Media, which have screened at festivals across Canada and the US.
As a writer and director, her work often explores themes of female sexuality and surrealist experimental storytelling. She draws inspiration from magical realist films that blend whimsy and emotion in unexpected ways.