The Big Chop is an exploration of the relationship between a Black woman, her hair, and the various ways it affects her mental health, career, and perception of reality. For Makennah, her hair isn’t the most important thing — it's the only thing. For her roommate Zaria, it's a plot device.
The Big Chop is an exploration of the relationship between a Black woman, her hair, and the various ways it affects her mental health, career, and perception of reality. For Makennah, her hair isn’t the most important thing — it's the only thing. For her roommate Zaria, it's a plot device.
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Story
Mission Statement
As a Black female filmmaker, I've never been satisfied with Hollywood's depictions of hair that look like mine. They're often corny or extremely offensive and I'm tired of wishing someone would get it right. Black female hair is complex and nuanced, and this film will depict it as such.About The Project
Other Films About
Black Female Hair:
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- Male producers/writers/directors
- Lacking empathy and understanding
- Relies on stereotypes and misinformation
- Generally lazy and underwhelming plotsTHIS Film About
Black Female Hair:
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- Black female producer/writer/director
- Black cast and crew
- Characters w/ depth and autonomy
- A thrilling mystery with an ending you won't forgetTHE CHARACTERS
THE INSPIRATION
THE AESTHETIC
WIGS
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Wigs Supplied by PoshyGrl
Follow them on IG
Pledge $100 or more and get coupons to shop at PoshyGrl!
MAKEUP
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Inspired by the 90s Black beauties
Slayed by Destiny Dan
Follow them on IG
WARDROBE
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Supplied by ShopQueensAve
Follow them on IG
Pledge $100 or more and get coupons to shop at ShopQueensAve
COVID INFO
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BTS FROM OUR
PITCH VIDEO SHOOT
OUR FESTIVAL
SUBMISSION LIST
1. Big Apple Film Festival
2. New York State International Film Festival
3. Tribeca Film Festival (Yup, THAT Tribeca Film Festival. We ain't scared)
4. The American Film Awards
5. Harlem International Film Festival
6. Atlanta Film Festival
7. Chicago International Film Festival
And 24 other festivals across the country!
OTHER WAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
1. Follow us on Instagram (we follow back!) - This helps us during festival application season. Films with a strong social media presence are more likely to be selected for festivals.
2. Tell your friends and family about our crowdfunding campaign - Getting the word out about our film is free, easy, and incredibly effective!
3. When the film is released online in 2022, watch it!
SOCIAL MEDIA
Now that you're following us on IG (you did follow us right?), help us spread the word about The Big Chop and our crowdfunding campaign. A simple post/tweet/tag/mention goes a lonnngggg way. We'll even make it easier by coming up with the caption and text for you.
Copy and paste any one of these to your social media platform of choice:
Help local indie filmmaker @roomnumber_237 bring her next project @thebigchop_film to life by joining their film community and making a pledge to their crowdfunding campaign on @seedandspark. It's the film about hair you never knew you needed! #BlackStoriesMatter
I just watched @thebigchop_film crowdfunding pitch video and HOLY SH*T! You gotta see it to believe it. You can find the full pitch video on their @seedandspark crowdfunding page. While you're there, make a pledge and bring them one step closer to bringing this film to the big screen! #BlackFilmmakersRock
I just joined @thebigchop_film community by pledging to their crowdfunding campaign with @seedandspark! Each contribution comes with a handful of perks and giveaways that you won't find anywhere else. Visit their page today and help them achieve their goal. I did. #ISupportTheBigChopFilm
A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR Makeba L. Ross
Hey You,
This is it. I'm finally launching the crowdfunding campaign for The Big Chop!
Between you and me, I'm sooo nervous. The last time I tried to crowdfund for this film it didn't go very well. Back in 2020, I severely underestimated the demands of running a successful campaign. I thought 2 months would be enough time to plan, which is ridiculous in hindsight. I also thought I could execute the campaign alone, which was equally ridiculous. Then...Covid happened.
I canceled The Big Chop's crowdfunding campaign that year for a number of reasons, the main one being that asking people for money during a pandemic made me feel like a Disney villain.
Crowdfunding a year ago didn't feel right. But a year and a half later, it feels like the next big step towards completing this film. This time around, I gave myself a full year to prep for this campaign. I secured a crowdfunding team, reworked the film's social media strategy, and committed myself to Seed&Sparks crowdfunding workshops. It's also a slightly less scary time to be alive now that Covid cases are down and vaccination rates are up. People are also starting to return to work so there's gonna be a little extra coin in our pockets these days. Generally speaking, things are looking up.
Everyone is so happy to see this film is still being made, but no one is happier than me. Things change and life happens, but nothing will stop this film.
We have a real winner on our hands.
I hope you'll agree - and pledge.
Peace, Love & Curls,
Makeba L. Ross (Producer/Director)
Incentives
$10
Just A Trim
- A thank you email from the producer
- A shout out on The Big Chop IG
(sample shout out)
- 2 shareable social media graphics
(sample graphic)
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$25
Shampoo n Condition
All of the above, PLUS:
- A link to a "Which Character Are You?" quiz
- 2 personalized screensavers for your phone
(sample screensaver)
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$50
Blow Out
All of the above, PLUS:
- Early access link to the completed film (see The Big Chop before it's even released!)
$100
No-Lye Relaxer
All of the above, PLUS:
- Have a hair product named after you, personalized for your specific hair type and texture
(sample product)
- 3 all-natural DIY hair mask recipes from the producer's personal recipe book
- A 10% off coupon to PoshyGrl, the hair boutique supplying the wigs for our film
- A 10% off coupon to ShopQueensAve, the clothing boutique supplying the wardrobe for our film
$250
Silk Press
All of the above, PLUS:
- A digital copy of the official script
- Exclusive access to a filmed rehearsal with the film's two leads
- A 2-minute voice recording of a personal hair story from the Director (Send us a voice recording of your own hair story and we'll post it to our IG page)
- Digital copies of ALL the film's look books
Claimed: 2 of 25
$500
Lace Front
All of the above, PLUS:
- Exclusive access to footage from a filmed camera test
- Exclusive access to the rough cut of the film (See the film before it's even complete, give feedback on the final cut, and have your name added to the end credits!)Claimed: 4 of 15
$1,000
The Big Chop
All of the above, PLUS:
- Exclusive invite to the screening premiere (Summer 2022)
- Associate Producer credit in the end credits of the film
- A prop or piece of set dec from the film
- Be added to our film festival newsletter for updates on the film once it's completeClaimed: 3 of 10
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
Just A Trim
- A thank you email from the producer
- A shout out on The Big Chop IG
(sample shout out)
- 2 shareable social media graphics
(sample graphic)
$25
Shampoo n Condition
All of the above, PLUS:
- A link to a "Which Character Are You?" quiz
- 2 personalized screensavers for your phone
(sample screensaver)
$50
Blow Out
All of the above, PLUS:
- Early access link to the completed film (see The Big Chop before it's even released!)
$100
No-Lye Relaxer
All of the above, PLUS:
- Have a hair product named after you, personalized for your specific hair type and texture
(sample product)
- 3 all-natural DIY hair mask recipes from the producer's personal recipe book
- A 10% off coupon to PoshyGrl, the hair boutique supplying the wigs for our film
- A 10% off coupon to ShopQueensAve, the clothing boutique supplying the wardrobe for our film
$250
Silk Press
All of the above, PLUS:
- A digital copy of the official script
- Exclusive access to a filmed rehearsal with the film's two leads
- A 2-minute voice recording of a personal hair story from the Director (Send us a voice recording of your own hair story and we'll post it to our IG page)
- Digital copies of ALL the film's look books
Claimed: 2 of 25
$500
Lace Front
All of the above, PLUS:
- Exclusive access to footage from a filmed camera test
- Exclusive access to the rough cut of the film (See the film before it's even complete, give feedback on the final cut, and have your name added to the end credits!)Claimed: 4 of 15
$1,000
The Big Chop
All of the above, PLUS:
- Exclusive invite to the screening premiere (Summer 2022)
- Associate Producer credit in the end credits of the film
- A prop or piece of set dec from the film
- Be added to our film festival newsletter for updates on the film once it's completeClaimed: 3 of 10
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
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Media
Videos
Images
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Community
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