The Big Chop
New York City, New York | Film Short
Thriller
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
New York City, New York | Film Short
Thriller
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $10,827 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
108 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
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.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
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 plots
THIS Film About
Black Female Hair:
.png)
- Black female producer/writer/director
- Black cast and crew
- Characters w/ depth and autonomy
- A thrilling mystery with an ending you won't forget
THE CHARACTERS
THE INSPIRATION
THE AESTHETIC
WIGS
.png)
Wigs Supplied by PoshyGrl
Follow them on IG
Pledge $100 or more and get coupons to shop at PoshyGrl!
MAKEUP
.png)
Inspired by the 90s Black beauties
Slayed by Destiny Dan
Follow them on IG
WARDROBE
.png)
Supplied by ShopQueensAve
Follow them on IG
Pledge $100 or more and get coupons to shop at ShopQueensAve
COVID INFO
.png)
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)
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Wigs & Wig Specialist
Costs $2,175
This is a film about hair, so naturally, we need hair and a hairstylist.
SFX MakeUp Artist
Costs $3,200
We need lots of blood and realistic-looking wounds done by a pro. Don't ask why.
Beauty Supply Store Rental
Costs $1,750
Ever seen a scary-ass beauty supply store scene? Help us secure this shooting location and you will.
Equipment Rentals
Costs $1,235
For a modest lens and lighting kit, plus a quasar or two so we can get the lighting juuuust right.
Good Eatin'
Costs $2,175
High-quality meals for a team of 25 for five days. No donuts. No pizza. All Black caterers.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
.png)
.jpg)
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Other Films About
Black Female Hair:
- Male producers/writers/directors
- Lacking empathy and understanding
- Relies on stereotypes and misinformation
- Generally lazy and underwhelming plots
THIS Film About
Black Female Hair:
- Black female producer/writer/director
- Black cast and crew
- Characters w/ depth and autonomy
- A thrilling mystery with an ending you won't forget
THE CHARACTERS
THE INSPIRATION
THE AESTHETIC
WIGS
Wigs Supplied by PoshyGrl
Follow them on IG
Pledge $100 or more and get coupons to shop at PoshyGrl!
MAKEUP
Inspired by the 90s Black beauties
Slayed by Destiny Dan
Follow them on IG
WARDROBE
Supplied by ShopQueensAve
Follow them on IG
Pledge $100 or more and get coupons to shop at ShopQueensAve
COVID INFO
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)
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Wigs & Wig Specialist
Costs $2,175
This is a film about hair, so naturally, we need hair and a hairstylist.
SFX MakeUp Artist
Costs $3,200
We need lots of blood and realistic-looking wounds done by a pro. Don't ask why.
Beauty Supply Store Rental
Costs $1,750
Ever seen a scary-ass beauty supply store scene? Help us secure this shooting location and you will.
Equipment Rentals
Costs $1,235
For a modest lens and lighting kit, plus a quasar or two so we can get the lighting juuuust right.
Good Eatin'
Costs $2,175
High-quality meals for a team of 25 for five days. No donuts. No pizza. All Black caterers.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team