The Other Hollywood Story
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, Biography
Mia, a jailed homeless addict, is haunted by her mother's tragic past. This raw film exposes addiction's human toll AND offers hope to those trapped in its cycle. Support storytelling that saves lives. #TheOtherHollywoodStory
The Other Hollywood Story
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, Biography
2 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $5,185 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
47 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Mia, a jailed homeless addict, is haunted by her mother's tragic past. This raw film exposes addiction's human toll AND offers hope to those trapped in its cycle. Support storytelling that saves lives. #TheOtherHollywoodStory
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
This film will save lives—because it saved mine.
“The Other Hollywood Story” isn’t just another addiction film. It’s the truth Hollywood won’t tell: the generational trauma, the systems that fail us, and the moments when survival feels like a fluke. Through Mia—a woman battling addiction—we expose the why behind the cycle. No sugarcoating. No easy endings. Just the story many are living in silence but few dare to show.
This is more than a movie. It’s a weapon against stigma.
WHY ME?
I’m Minerva Vier—a filmmaker in recovery, a widow to overdose, and a survivor who’s crawled through the dark. I’ve been Mia. I’ve buried the people who couldn’t escape. Now, I wield a camera instead of silence.
WHY THIS?
Most addiction stories are either trauma porn or fairy tales. Ours is neither. It’s the script I needed when I was using and desperately wanted to stop, but couldn't. The one that says: “I see you. This is why it hurts. And no, you’re not crazy for struggling."
WHY NOW?
Overdoses have been stealing futures for generations. Stigma is still a death sentence. We’re done waiting for permission to tell the truth. If not now, when? IT'S TIME TO BREAK THE CYCLE.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Your support funds:
- A lifeline for those still trapped
- A mirror for those who’ve never understood
- A wake-up call for a world that treats addiction as a moral failure
- Real solutions to the real crisis - no more Band-Aids on bullet wounds
THE PLAN
Your support directly fuels:
- Critical Production Costs– Securing authentic locations, professional equipment, and fair compensation for our cast/crew (many of whom are in recovery or are recovery allies)
- Post-Production Truth-Telling– Editing, original score and sound design that captures addiction’s visceral reality
- Impact Campaign – Festival submissions + grassroots screenings in rehab centers and prisons where this story matters most
Every dollar is a brick in the bridge between art and action.
STRETCH GOALS
- 150%: Partner with harm-reduction orgs for free community screenings
- 200%: Expand into schools with a youth-focused discussion guide
- 300%: I will TATTOO EVERY BACKER'S FIRST NAME ACROSS MY ENTIRE BACK. This is my permanent tribute because I truly believe people like you are the reason I'm here today and will help many others secure the future they deserve.
YOUR ROLE
PLEDGE: Every dollar gets us closer to someone’s "maybe I’m worth saving" moment.
SHARE: Copy/paste: seedandspark.com/fund/the-other-hollywood-story or tag a friend who gets it: ‘The Other Hollywood Story’ is the unflinching addiction film we need—back it here: seedandspark.com/fund/the-other-hollywood-story #NoMoreSilence
FOLLOW: @MinervaVier on Facebook & Instagram for raw BTS of recovery in action.
This is is how we turn pain into power. Join me.
"Art doesn’t change the world. The people who see it do."
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Nvisionate Studios
Costs $1,200
Locking in Nvisionate Studios for our jail scenes—because real orange jumpsuits & steel bars make the drama wonderfully authentic. #TheItSet
1st AD
Costs $1,000
Gotta pay my 1st AD — they’re the wizard keeping this shoot on schedule! No pay, no magic. Help a filmmaker out?✨ #TheWizardWrangler
Sound Operator
Costs $1,000
Gotta pay $1K to our killer sound op—bad audio ruins everything (even explosions). Their magic ears make us sound Oscar-worthy!✨ #WorthIt
1st AC
Costs $1,000
Paying our 1st AC $1K because blurry footage is *not* an artistic choice. Their razor-sharp focus keeps us looking pro!✨ #WorthEveryPenny
Hair & Make-Up Artist
Costs $800
Paying our hair/mua magician—because 'zombie chic' should be intentional, not what happens when we cheap out.✨ #NoBadHairDaysOnSet
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Borrn in Cebu, Philippines, MINERVA VIER is a multiracial Eurasian-American artist whose dynamic career spans filmmaking, acting, writing, producing, dance, comedy, and social justice advocacy. She holds a BFA in Film Studies from Loyola Marymount University and an MFA in Theater Arts from The Actors Studio Drama School in New York, training that forged her signature fusion of artistic innovation and cultural activism she calls ARTIVISM. Her work relentlessly centers on themes of diasporic identity, gender equity, and the resilience of marginalized communities, particularly Filipinos and women.
As a filmmaker, Vier’s breakthrough came with the short film Shevolution (now on Amazon Prime Video as part of the series, Discover Indie Film), which she wrote, produced, and starred in. The project earned 52 international awards, including 17 Best Actress honors for her raw portrayal of a woman battling domestic abuse and alcoholism. Originally a 2018 award-winning TV pilot script, Shevolution evolved into a cinematic manifesto for female empowerment. Beyond this, she wrote and produced the satirical Filipino sketch comedy show, Pun Plip Pridays ( on LA18’s Kababayan Today) using humor to dissect Filipino-American stereotypes and combat xenophobia. Her theatrical works—like the burlesque-tragedy hybrid Lucky: A Burlesque Tragedy and the play Stateside Girls—blend spoken word, dance, and multimedia to explore themes of autonomy and cultural hybridity.
Vier’s acting versatility shines across mediums: recurring TV roles on The Young and the Restless and General Hospital; guest spots on New Girl (as Julie) and Dice; and an LA Weekly Best Actress-nominated performance in Barefoot Boy With Shoes On with Playwrights Arena. As a voice artist, she lends "bright, sultry, and character-driven" vocals to TV & Radio commercials (e.g. Toyota, McDonalds) and Film & TV animations (e.g., ARK on Netflix and Cartoon Network’s Craig of The Creek).
Her activism permeates her art. Pun Plip Pridays confronts reductive Filipino stereotypes, while Shevolution aligns with global movements against gender-based violence. She collaborates with community hubs like Gabriela LA, Casa 0101 and KULARTS, empowering marginalized artists through workshops and productions that amplify underrepresented narratives.
Minerva Vier’s career defies categorization. By merging burlesque with tragedy, satire with policy critique, and film with grassroots advocacy, she transcends conventional artistic and cultural boundaries. Her ARTIVISM or "polyphonic storytelling" — terms reflecting her multidisciplinary approach — has redefined Filipino representation in media and asserted art as a tool for liberation. As she develops new projects interrogating identity and power, her legacy endures as a bridge between entertainment and social justice, proving creativity knows no borders.
Emerging from Oakland, California, RAINZ CASH (SODMG) embodies the convergence of hip-hop, skateboard culture, and cinematic innovation. Rainz Cash established himself as a filmmaker, directing and editing music videos for Bay Area rap legends like Yukmouth, The Jacka and others. His visual storytelling evolved into feature-length skateboarding films, including the raw documentary-style works New Money New Motivation and New New Money Forced Abduction, which captured the athleticism and subcultural identity of urban skateboarding.
Simultaneously, Rainz Cash pioneered digital content creation as the first live-streaming skateboarder on Youtube IRL, broadcasting real-time sessions that blended athleticism with grassroots community engagement. This digital foresight complemented his entrepreneurial ventures, including signature skate products like Scrapewax, Rainz Cash Skateboards and innovative inflatable skate ramps. Notably, Rainz Cash is featured as a playable character in the expansive reTHAWed video game, a mod for Tony Hawk's American Wasteland, where his inclusion celebrates his status as a cultural icon in both skateboarding and gaming. His brand extends into the virtual realm through his signature "THUG Pro" skate deck (for sale on Amazon for $70 USD). True to his community-focused ethos, Rainz Cash hosts 24/7 free multiplayer lobbies in THUG Pro and reTHAWed, enabling skateboarders worldwide to connect and compete around the clock.
As a rap artist under Soulja Boy’s SODMG label, Rainz Cash released 28 albums within 4 years, including the acclaimed Mega Blaster, They and Coupe. His gritty, rhythm-driven tracks like Speed and Raider extended his filmmaking ethos through cinematic music visuals. This multidisciplinary approach—honed through directing Bay Area rap videos and crafting skate cinema—informs his artistic signature: a seamless fusion of street narratives, athletic authenticity, and visual experimentation.
Rainz Cash remains a cultural ambassador for Oakland, leveraging his platform to mentor young skaters and artists while continuously bridging subcultures. From his early YouTube live streams to recent SODMG releases, his career defies categorization, proving hip-hop’s evolution lies in polymathic creativity. As he develops new films, music and skate ventures, Rainz Cash’s legacy endures as a trailblazer who redefined artistic boundaries across screens, streets, and speakers.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
This film will save lives—because it saved mine.
“The Other Hollywood Story” isn’t just another addiction film. It’s the truth Hollywood won’t tell: the generational trauma, the systems that fail us, and the moments when survival feels like a fluke. Through Mia—a woman battling addiction—we expose the why behind the cycle. No sugarcoating. No easy endings. Just the story many are living in silence but few dare to show.
This is more than a movie. It’s a weapon against stigma.
WHY ME?
I’m Minerva Vier—a filmmaker in recovery, a widow to overdose, and a survivor who’s crawled through the dark. I’ve been Mia. I’ve buried the people who couldn’t escape. Now, I wield a camera instead of silence.
WHY THIS?
Most addiction stories are either trauma porn or fairy tales. Ours is neither. It’s the script I needed when I was using and desperately wanted to stop, but couldn't. The one that says: “I see you. This is why it hurts. And no, you’re not crazy for struggling."
WHY NOW?
Overdoses have been stealing futures for generations. Stigma is still a death sentence. We’re done waiting for permission to tell the truth. If not now, when? IT'S TIME TO BREAK THE CYCLE.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Your support funds:
- A lifeline for those still trapped
- A mirror for those who’ve never understood
- A wake-up call for a world that treats addiction as a moral failure
- Real solutions to the real crisis - no more Band-Aids on bullet wounds
THE PLAN
Your support directly fuels:
- Critical Production Costs– Securing authentic locations, professional equipment, and fair compensation for our cast/crew (many of whom are in recovery or are recovery allies)
- Post-Production Truth-Telling– Editing, original score and sound design that captures addiction’s visceral reality
- Impact Campaign – Festival submissions + grassroots screenings in rehab centers and prisons where this story matters most
Every dollar is a brick in the bridge between art and action.
STRETCH GOALS
- 150%: Partner with harm-reduction orgs for free community screenings
- 200%: Expand into schools with a youth-focused discussion guide
- 300%: I will TATTOO EVERY BACKER'S FIRST NAME ACROSS MY ENTIRE BACK. This is my permanent tribute because I truly believe people like you are the reason I'm here today and will help many others secure the future they deserve.
YOUR ROLE
PLEDGE: Every dollar gets us closer to someone’s "maybe I’m worth saving" moment.
SHARE: Copy/paste: seedandspark.com/fund/the-other-hollywood-story or tag a friend who gets it: ‘The Other Hollywood Story’ is the unflinching addiction film we need—back it here: seedandspark.com/fund/the-other-hollywood-story #NoMoreSilence
FOLLOW: @MinervaVier on Facebook & Instagram for raw BTS of recovery in action.
This is is how we turn pain into power. Join me.
"Art doesn’t change the world. The people who see it do."
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Nvisionate Studios
Costs $1,200
Locking in Nvisionate Studios for our jail scenes—because real orange jumpsuits & steel bars make the drama wonderfully authentic. #TheItSet
1st AD
Costs $1,000
Gotta pay my 1st AD — they’re the wizard keeping this shoot on schedule! No pay, no magic. Help a filmmaker out?✨ #TheWizardWrangler
Sound Operator
Costs $1,000
Gotta pay $1K to our killer sound op—bad audio ruins everything (even explosions). Their magic ears make us sound Oscar-worthy!✨ #WorthIt
1st AC
Costs $1,000
Paying our 1st AC $1K because blurry footage is *not* an artistic choice. Their razor-sharp focus keeps us looking pro!✨ #WorthEveryPenny
Hair & Make-Up Artist
Costs $800
Paying our hair/mua magician—because 'zombie chic' should be intentional, not what happens when we cheap out.✨ #NoBadHairDaysOnSet
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Borrn in Cebu, Philippines, MINERVA VIER is a multiracial Eurasian-American artist whose dynamic career spans filmmaking, acting, writing, producing, dance, comedy, and social justice advocacy. She holds a BFA in Film Studies from Loyola Marymount University and an MFA in Theater Arts from The Actors Studio Drama School in New York, training that forged her signature fusion of artistic innovation and cultural activism she calls ARTIVISM. Her work relentlessly centers on themes of diasporic identity, gender equity, and the resilience of marginalized communities, particularly Filipinos and women.
As a filmmaker, Vier’s breakthrough came with the short film Shevolution (now on Amazon Prime Video as part of the series, Discover Indie Film), which she wrote, produced, and starred in. The project earned 52 international awards, including 17 Best Actress honors for her raw portrayal of a woman battling domestic abuse and alcoholism. Originally a 2018 award-winning TV pilot script, Shevolution evolved into a cinematic manifesto for female empowerment. Beyond this, she wrote and produced the satirical Filipino sketch comedy show, Pun Plip Pridays ( on LA18’s Kababayan Today) using humor to dissect Filipino-American stereotypes and combat xenophobia. Her theatrical works—like the burlesque-tragedy hybrid Lucky: A Burlesque Tragedy and the play Stateside Girls—blend spoken word, dance, and multimedia to explore themes of autonomy and cultural hybridity.
Vier’s acting versatility shines across mediums: recurring TV roles on The Young and the Restless and General Hospital; guest spots on New Girl (as Julie) and Dice; and an LA Weekly Best Actress-nominated performance in Barefoot Boy With Shoes On with Playwrights Arena. As a voice artist, she lends "bright, sultry, and character-driven" vocals to TV & Radio commercials (e.g. Toyota, McDonalds) and Film & TV animations (e.g., ARK on Netflix and Cartoon Network’s Craig of The Creek).
Her activism permeates her art. Pun Plip Pridays confronts reductive Filipino stereotypes, while Shevolution aligns with global movements against gender-based violence. She collaborates with community hubs like Gabriela LA, Casa 0101 and KULARTS, empowering marginalized artists through workshops and productions that amplify underrepresented narratives.
Minerva Vier’s career defies categorization. By merging burlesque with tragedy, satire with policy critique, and film with grassroots advocacy, she transcends conventional artistic and cultural boundaries. Her ARTIVISM or "polyphonic storytelling" — terms reflecting her multidisciplinary approach — has redefined Filipino representation in media and asserted art as a tool for liberation. As she develops new projects interrogating identity and power, her legacy endures as a bridge between entertainment and social justice, proving creativity knows no borders.