The Cecily Documentary
Denver, Colorado | Film Feature
Documentary
When Maya was seven, her mom died. In June of 2025, she and her two best friends are going on a 16-day road trip across the Western United States to talk to the people that knew her best. She's eager to know who her mother was and reckons it's about time to find out.
The Cecily Documentary
Denver, Colorado | Film Feature
Documentary
1 Campaigns | Colorado, United States
100 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$10,820
Goal: $8,000 for production
When Maya was seven, her mom died. In June of 2025, she and her two best friends are going on a 16-day road trip across the Western United States to talk to the people that knew her best. She's eager to know who her mother was and reckons it's about time to find out.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
My mom died when I was seven!!!!!
Have you heard? lolz
mom (cecily) + me
Over three-quarters of my life has been lived without a mother. Maya Angelou says, "A mother's love liberates." Am I trapped? What have I lost not knowing a mother's love? Having been so long since her death, I sometimes forget how the impact of it has affected me. But as I near closer to the age that she was when she died (38), I am drawn back to her short life. And what is a life but a constellation of connections: a middle school girl that you befriended in band class, a man that you met while applying for the same job who would later become your husband, a doctor that recognized you in the hallway of a cancer hospital who happened to be friends with your ex-boyfriend.
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from left to right: mom, dad, emmy, me
It feels as though I have been told the same ten stories about my mom. Over and over and over. And I'm grateful for them! I am. But I'm getting greedy. I want more. Most of you are likely not in my inner circle but if you were...
stock photo of what I wished my inner circle looked like
...then you most definitely would have heard me talk about the documentary that I dreamed of making of my mom while I was a poor graduate student in Michigan in 2016. You know what, even if you weren't in my inner circle you could've been the 50-something year old guy that I talked about it to at an Irish bar on St. Patrick's Day in Denver a couple years back. The point is: I've dreamed of doing this for nearly a decade.
Why Now?
the artist's way: the catalyst of inspiration!
I was inspired to finally take action thanks to a weekly Artist's Way group that my best friend and soulmate, Tess, hosted. And now here we are. I have no film degree or background in any type of media. In fact, I'm far from it. Tess and my life partner, Sean, literally have to explain memes to me. But I heard that there's no time like the present so BAM! Let's dive in. I'm very scared and feel quite underprepared but as Efren Ramirez aka Pedro from Napoleon Dynamite says:
.jpeg)
tina, you fat lard
The Process
In June of 2025, my best friends (aforementioned: Sean + Tess) and I are going on a 16-day road trip across the Western United States to talk to the family and friends of my late mother. I'm hoping to shake out untold stories big and small. The story that only the older brother knows. That only the broke post-college roommate knows. Give it to me. I want it all!! I just want to know who she was. I want to feel closer to my mom. Because their stories are all I'll ever have.
from left to right: sean, me, and tess aka dream team
We intend for the film to be shot practically within this 16-day window. With June approaching quickly, your support will allow for us to focus on the filming and content of the road trip rather than worrying about incurring costs and sizable deficits in our bank accounts.
Our dream is to submit the finished project for premiere at the Sundance Film Festival held in Boulder, CO in 2027. We look forward to seeing you there ;)
Why We Need You
The three of us are independently funding and creating this project. This is why we're asking for your help. I'm a social worker. Tess and Sean are artists without health insurance. We're not like... rich. Our modest fundraising goal of $8,000 is for everything we need to make this grassroots production happen. It'll go to equipment and travel expenses (see our wishlist for more info). It'll go to Tess and Sean as compensation for their days on the road since they don't get PTO. Just pretty basic stuff.
two artists just living their lives
Stretch Goals
Should we amazingly hit our goal of $8,000... WOW!!!! Holy shit. You can continue to pledge your support past our initial goal and we will use the additional funds for things like: snacks/drinks for interview subjects, editing software, small gifts of thanks for our generous consultants, an emergency savings fund for the road trip should we need car repairs, etc. Thank you so much!
What You Can Do To Support
Pledge!
- Pledge money directly through Seed&Spark to help us reach our goal! No amount is too small.
Follow!
- Please click the button to "follow" our project right here on Seed&Spark. The more followers we have, the more eligible we become for some of Seed&Spark's incentives.
- Find us on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack as @thececilydocumentary
Share!
- We would love it if you would share our campaign and project with others! We're just a tiny team so we count on your voices to magnify ours.
If you got this far, thank you so much. Seriously. This is the passion project of my lifetime. And with your support, I can make it happen. I am so, so grateful.
Lots and lots of love,
Maya + Team
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Film Equipment
Costs $1,500
Camera lenses, tripods, wireless microphones, memory cards, external hard drives, etc! Needed to bolster our amateur filmmaking supplies.
Travel
Costs $1,700
This is mostly for gas and motel stays as we travel across the Western United States in 16 days. Daily food stipend also included!
Festival Submissions
Costs $600
Our ultimate dream is to submit the finished product to the Sundance Film Festival when it moves to Boulder, CO in 2027!
Crew
Costs $4,200
Tess and Sean won't receive PTO for the 2 weeks they're off work so this is all going to them. We aren't making any profit on this project.
Share this update!
About This Team
Tess, best friend of Maya, is a writer/artist based in Denver, CO with a love for storytelling, movies, and friendship. She is excited to hit the road this summer with Maya and Sean to learn about Maya’s mom and create something special at the end of it all. Maya always tells Tess the purpose of life is love, that’s what this documentary means to Tess too.
Sean is a visual artist and professional doodler living in Denver, CO. He’s a glutton for nostalgia and has a knack for easily getting along with anyone and everyone. Having his own unknown dead parent means fully supporting Maya’s quest to find out.
Maya is a budding documentary filmmaker currently based in Denver, CO. Her social work background and appetite for deep and authentic connection is what feeds this project. Maya loves reading all types of books, doing things in the sunshine, and a little bit of competition. Her favorite kind of art is the art of gathering.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
My mom died when I was seven!!!!!
Have you heard? lolz
mom (cecily) + me
Over three-quarters of my life has been lived without a mother. Maya Angelou says, "A mother's love liberates." Am I trapped? What have I lost not knowing a mother's love? Having been so long since her death, I sometimes forget how the impact of it has affected me. But as I near closer to the age that she was when she died (38), I am drawn back to her short life. And what is a life but a constellation of connections: a middle school girl that you befriended in band class, a man that you met while applying for the same job who would later become your husband, a doctor that recognized you in the hallway of a cancer hospital who happened to be friends with your ex-boyfriend.
from left to right: mom, dad, emmy, me
It feels as though I have been told the same ten stories about my mom. Over and over and over. And I'm grateful for them! I am. But I'm getting greedy. I want more. Most of you are likely not in my inner circle but if you were...
stock photo of what I wished my inner circle looked like
...then you most definitely would have heard me talk about the documentary that I dreamed of making of my mom while I was a poor graduate student in Michigan in 2016. You know what, even if you weren't in my inner circle you could've been the 50-something year old guy that I talked about it to at an Irish bar on St. Patrick's Day in Denver a couple years back. The point is: I've dreamed of doing this for nearly a decade.
Why Now?
the artist's way: the catalyst of inspiration!
I was inspired to finally take action thanks to a weekly Artist's Way group that my best friend and soulmate, Tess, hosted. And now here we are. I have no film degree or background in any type of media. In fact, I'm far from it. Tess and my life partner, Sean, literally have to explain memes to me. But I heard that there's no time like the present so BAM! Let's dive in. I'm very scared and feel quite underprepared but as Efren Ramirez aka Pedro from Napoleon Dynamite says:
tina, you fat lard
The Process
In June of 2025, my best friends (aforementioned: Sean + Tess) and I are going on a 16-day road trip across the Western United States to talk to the family and friends of my late mother. I'm hoping to shake out untold stories big and small. The story that only the older brother knows. That only the broke post-college roommate knows. Give it to me. I want it all!! I just want to know who she was. I want to feel closer to my mom. Because their stories are all I'll ever have.
from left to right: sean, me, and tess aka dream team
We intend for the film to be shot practically within this 16-day window. With June approaching quickly, your support will allow for us to focus on the filming and content of the road trip rather than worrying about incurring costs and sizable deficits in our bank accounts.
Our dream is to submit the finished project for premiere at the Sundance Film Festival held in Boulder, CO in 2027. We look forward to seeing you there ;)
Why We Need You
The three of us are independently funding and creating this project. This is why we're asking for your help. I'm a social worker. Tess and Sean are artists without health insurance. We're not like... rich. Our modest fundraising goal of $8,000 is for everything we need to make this grassroots production happen. It'll go to equipment and travel expenses (see our wishlist for more info). It'll go to Tess and Sean as compensation for their days on the road since they don't get PTO. Just pretty basic stuff.
two artists just living their lives
Stretch Goals
Should we amazingly hit our goal of $8,000... WOW!!!! Holy shit. You can continue to pledge your support past our initial goal and we will use the additional funds for things like: snacks/drinks for interview subjects, editing software, small gifts of thanks for our generous consultants, an emergency savings fund for the road trip should we need car repairs, etc. Thank you so much!
What You Can Do To Support
Pledge!
- Pledge money directly through Seed&Spark to help us reach our goal! No amount is too small.
Follow!
- Please click the button to "follow" our project right here on Seed&Spark. The more followers we have, the more eligible we become for some of Seed&Spark's incentives.
- Find us on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack as @thececilydocumentary
Share!
- We would love it if you would share our campaign and project with others! We're just a tiny team so we count on your voices to magnify ours.
If you got this far, thank you so much. Seriously. This is the passion project of my lifetime. And with your support, I can make it happen. I am so, so grateful.
Lots and lots of love,
Maya + Team
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Film Equipment
Costs $1,500
Camera lenses, tripods, wireless microphones, memory cards, external hard drives, etc! Needed to bolster our amateur filmmaking supplies.
Travel
Costs $1,700
This is mostly for gas and motel stays as we travel across the Western United States in 16 days. Daily food stipend also included!
Festival Submissions
Costs $600
Our ultimate dream is to submit the finished product to the Sundance Film Festival when it moves to Boulder, CO in 2027!
Crew
Costs $4,200
Tess and Sean won't receive PTO for the 2 weeks they're off work so this is all going to them. We aren't making any profit on this project.
Share this update!
About This Team
Tess, best friend of Maya, is a writer/artist based in Denver, CO with a love for storytelling, movies, and friendship. She is excited to hit the road this summer with Maya and Sean to learn about Maya’s mom and create something special at the end of it all. Maya always tells Tess the purpose of life is love, that’s what this documentary means to Tess too.
Sean is a visual artist and professional doodler living in Denver, CO. He’s a glutton for nostalgia and has a knack for easily getting along with anyone and everyone. Having his own unknown dead parent means fully supporting Maya’s quest to find out.
Maya is a budding documentary filmmaker currently based in Denver, CO. Her social work background and appetite for deep and authentic connection is what feeds this project. Maya loves reading all types of books, doing things in the sunshine, and a little bit of competition. Her favorite kind of art is the art of gathering.