The Act
Atlanta, Georgia | Film Short
Drama
After a public breakdown in 1965, Vivienne Sinclair is slowly pushed from the spotlight. A ghostwriter shapes her “comeback” as the studio quietly installs her replacement, forcing Vivienne to confront the lies meant to ease her out of Hollywood.
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After a public breakdown in 1965, Vivienne Sinclair is slowly pushed from the spotlight. A ghostwriter shapes her “comeback” as the studio quietly installs her replacement, forcing Vivienne to confront the lies meant to ease her out of Hollywood.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Act follows Vivienne Sinclair, a 1960s Hollywood starlet whose carefully crafted image collapses after a public breakdown. As the studio rushes to control the narrative, Vivienne becomes trapped in a system that repackages her pain as entertainment and quietly prepares her replacement. Through her unraveling, the film explores how women in the spotlight are celebrated, scrutinized, and ultimately discarded once they no longer serve the industry’s ideals. Vivienne’s struggle reflects a repeating cycle where mental health is misunderstood, image is weaponized, and women are silenced revealing the high cost of reclaiming one’s truth in a world built on performance.
Your support directly brings The Act to life. As a period film, every dollar helps us create an authentic 1960s world, from securing locations to building era-accurate production design and costumes. Donations also allow us to fairly pay our cast, rent essential camera and lighting equipment, and cover practical costs like trucks, transportation, and moving gear between sets. Independent filmmaking relies on community, and your contribution ensures we can make this story with the care, craft, and integrity it deserves. Every donation, big or small, meaningfully impacts our ability to tell this film the right way.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Locations
Costs $3,000
Securing period appropriate filming locations that authentically reflect the world of The Act. Including permits, fees, and restoration.
Equipment Rentals
Costs $2,000
Renting high quality cameras, lighting, and lenses to achieve the film’s cinematic, vintage inspired look.
Casting
Costs $3,000
Covering casting director fees, audition sessions, and talent payments.
Costume & Production Design
Costs $3,500
Building the 1960s world of The Act through wardrobe, makeup, props, and set design.
Distribution & Marketing
Costs $1,500
Supporting festival submissions, promotional materials, and targeted marketing to bring the film to audiences.
Crew
Costs $2,000
This will cover on set needs such as catering, supplies, and materials that keep the team supported and the production running smoothly.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
"This story has lived in my head for years, an image, a feeling, a woman quietly slipping out of the frame. As I developed The Act, I realized its themes have never stopped being relevant. The systems that controlled women in Hollywood’s golden era didn’t vanish; they evolved, softened their edges, and learned to disguise themselves. Vivienne emerged as a character who embodies that tension, someone trying to hold onto self as the world rewrites her. I believe audiences will recognize her, not as a relic of the past, but as a reflection of struggles that still echo today." - Elissa Matey
"Starting in theatre over a decade ago, you see the entertainment business change throughout the years. I immediately wanted to be a part of the change I want to see in the project often completed by my fellow creatives. The Act is a story that undoubtably should be told. It has a lot to offer audiences through its stylistic innovation and the timeless nature of the plot. I have always admired a unique perspective, and now I am on the team bringing this special one into the light."
-Solange Muller
"I'm excited to DP The Act because it's such fun opportunity to shoot a period piece, and I've seen firsthand the effort going into the look and texture of the film. I grew up watching lots of older films and tv shows. Plenty of chilling political dramas and period pieces that cover similar themes as The Act. To have the chance to collaborate with Elissa and the crew on a project that mirrors what I grew up watching is exciting. Throughout my undergrad years, I've shot multiple capstones and thesis projects, and a project with this strong of a visual direction is something I couldn't pass up."
-Theo Braddock
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Act follows Vivienne Sinclair, a 1960s Hollywood starlet whose carefully crafted image collapses after a public breakdown. As the studio rushes to control the narrative, Vivienne becomes trapped in a system that repackages her pain as entertainment and quietly prepares her replacement. Through her unraveling, the film explores how women in the spotlight are celebrated, scrutinized, and ultimately discarded once they no longer serve the industry’s ideals. Vivienne’s struggle reflects a repeating cycle where mental health is misunderstood, image is weaponized, and women are silenced revealing the high cost of reclaiming one’s truth in a world built on performance.
Your support directly brings The Act to life. As a period film, every dollar helps us create an authentic 1960s world, from securing locations to building era-accurate production design and costumes. Donations also allow us to fairly pay our cast, rent essential camera and lighting equipment, and cover practical costs like trucks, transportation, and moving gear between sets. Independent filmmaking relies on community, and your contribution ensures we can make this story with the care, craft, and integrity it deserves. Every donation, big or small, meaningfully impacts our ability to tell this film the right way.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Locations
Costs $3,000
Securing period appropriate filming locations that authentically reflect the world of The Act. Including permits, fees, and restoration.
Equipment Rentals
Costs $2,000
Renting high quality cameras, lighting, and lenses to achieve the film’s cinematic, vintage inspired look.
Casting
Costs $3,000
Covering casting director fees, audition sessions, and talent payments.
Costume & Production Design
Costs $3,500
Building the 1960s world of The Act through wardrobe, makeup, props, and set design.
Distribution & Marketing
Costs $1,500
Supporting festival submissions, promotional materials, and targeted marketing to bring the film to audiences.
Crew
Costs $2,000
This will cover on set needs such as catering, supplies, and materials that keep the team supported and the production running smoothly.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
"This story has lived in my head for years, an image, a feeling, a woman quietly slipping out of the frame. As I developed The Act, I realized its themes have never stopped being relevant. The systems that controlled women in Hollywood’s golden era didn’t vanish; they evolved, softened their edges, and learned to disguise themselves. Vivienne emerged as a character who embodies that tension, someone trying to hold onto self as the world rewrites her. I believe audiences will recognize her, not as a relic of the past, but as a reflection of struggles that still echo today." - Elissa Matey
"Starting in theatre over a decade ago, you see the entertainment business change throughout the years. I immediately wanted to be a part of the change I want to see in the project often completed by my fellow creatives. The Act is a story that undoubtably should be told. It has a lot to offer audiences through its stylistic innovation and the timeless nature of the plot. I have always admired a unique perspective, and now I am on the team bringing this special one into the light."
-Solange Muller
"I'm excited to DP The Act because it's such fun opportunity to shoot a period piece, and I've seen firsthand the effort going into the look and texture of the film. I grew up watching lots of older films and tv shows. Plenty of chilling political dramas and period pieces that cover similar themes as The Act. To have the chance to collaborate with Elissa and the crew on a project that mirrors what I grew up watching is exciting. Throughout my undergrad years, I've shot multiple capstones and thesis projects, and a project with this strong of a visual direction is something I couldn't pass up."
-Theo Braddock