The Roommate
New York City, New York | Film Short
LGBTQ, Shorts Program
Kirsten, a queer New Orleans transplant, is consumed with depression. Her dreary reality is disrupted when she meets Sharon, the ghost of the former tenant in her apartment. Though at first terrified, Kirsten finds a sense of purpose through helping Sharon reconcile with her grandchild Remy.
The Roommate
New York City, New York | Film Short
LGBTQ, Shorts Program
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $9,980 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
64 supporters | followers
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Kirsten, a queer New Orleans transplant, is consumed with depression. Her dreary reality is disrupted when she meets Sharon, the ghost of the former tenant in her apartment. Though at first terrified, Kirsten finds a sense of purpose through helping Sharon reconcile with her grandchild Remy.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Kirsten has recently moved to New Orleans and is consumed by depression and loneliness, listlessly moving through her days. Her dreary reality is disrupted when Sharon, the ghost of the former tenant in Kirsten’s apartment, appears to her repeatedly. Though at first terrified, Kirsten soon realizes that Sharon needs her help to resolve an important conflict with her grandchild Remy. By helping Sharon, Kirsten finds a sense of purpose and connection that sets her on the path to greater happiness and contentment.
Creative Direction
In The Roommate, the camera will act as an engine of whimsy and heart. We’ll closely follow the pacing of Kirsten’s journey with camera movements that augment the supernatural events and enhance the core emotional beats - depression, confusion, hope, and humor. Films like Jean-Pierre Jeunot’s Amelie and Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom serve as inspirations for magical, story-book like cinematography, while Edgar Wright’s Hot Fuzz shows how even smaller moments like transitions or cut-aways can be used for comedic effect.
For most of the film - medium warm lighting to emphasize the lightly comedic and playful tone of the film - the light will get brighter and warmer as Kirsten’s life also does the same.
Supernatural moments will have the subject (Sharon) brightly lit amidst a dark, nocturnal setting, giving her a non-corporeal glow
We are filming on location in New Orleans because, well, it's the perfect city for a ghost story. And, its natural vibrancy and charm add just the right amount of warmth to the narrative. Plus, as someone with deep familial roots in South Louisiana, it felt only right to tell a story about intergenerational family dynamics here.
Characters
Kirsten
Sad, lost, and unmoored, Kirsten is stuck in a serious depressive episode. She’s recently moved to a new city to jump start her life, but instead the move has just added to her sense of emotional paralysis. Despite wanting to change her life for the better, her sense of overwhelm is totally weighing her down – until she meets Sharon.
Sharon
Sharon is a cross between a glamazon and your typical Italian grandma – she’s down to earth, friendly and outspoken, but with a taste and enjoyment for the art, food, wine, fashion, and other sensual pleasures. She loves her grandchild Remy more than anything – even if she doesn’t always see eye to eye with them.
Remy / Young Remy
Remy is a bold, artistic, queer and non-binary person, living their life unapologetically. They have a close relationship with Sharon – she’s more like a mother than a grandmother. Remy has come to expect unconditional love from Sharon, and the moment they don’t, they begin to question their entire relationship.
Director's Statement
This project is inspired by an ACTUAL ghost story - really! A little over two years ago, a friend channeled messages from my paternal grandmother, Barbara, who passed away in the summer of 2020. My grandmother came across in spirit much as she had in life - funny, chatty, kind, and loving. She was full of updates about the mechanics of her spirit form (at one my point my friend said: “Your grandmother says you wouldn’t BELIEVE all the things she can do now”) and practical advice like: “Always keep your finances separate from your husband.” This event has affected me in many profound ways, and was the first seed for the idea behind The Roommate. I began toying with the story of a friendly ghost - or at the very least, a ghost whose death only changed her form, not her essence.
But ghosts are just the beginning - I wanted to tell a story about overcoming loneliness, isolation, and division, because we're collectively suffering from this trifecta more than ever. We need stories that show the light at the end of the tunnel - that the darkness isn't overbearing, and that there's hope, whimsy and laughter just around the corner. And the LGBTQ+ community is in even greater need for these types of stories, and the visibility that Kirsten and Remy's characters provide.
~ Whitney Bryan, Director
Support Our Film!
If you donate to The Roommate, you'll be supporting a story that adds a little bit of lightness and kindness to the world. You'll help us pay for the expenses we need to shoot it (equipment, travel, cast/crew payments, permits, location fees, etc), and if we're really lucky and meet our funding goal, we'll have some leftover for post production expenses - editing, color correction, scoring, even some festival submissions to make sure this story gets seen and in front of the audiences that matter most!
You can make a contribution by making a pledge (we need to collect at least 80% of our crowdfunding goal to keep our funds). You can choose an incentive or make a pledge to a specific wishlist item. You decide what fits your budget. Seriously, no pledge is too small. Every dollar makes a difference in making our film possible! We have some awesome incentives including custom gifts, private links/events, behind the scene access, and so much more!
SPREAD THE WORD!
Please share this page with anyone you think would be interested in seeing a film like this come alive!
Follow our journey on Instagram @theroommate.film to get constant updates.
Repost our pictures and videos, DM us questions, comment what you like!
Thank you so much for checking out our campaign and we hope you consider being a part of the creation of this short and follow us along on our filmmaking journey!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast & Crew
Costs $7,000
Help us pay for our incredible actors, cinematographer, camera assistant, sound team, editor, and production assistant.
Composer and Score
Costs $1,000
Music will help us bring this story to life.
Film Festival Fees
Costs $1,500
Help us share our film with a larger audience!
Equipment
Costs $2,500
The right gear makes all the difference!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
CREW
Whitney Bryan
Writer/Director
Whitney Bryan is an advertising strategist, poet, screenwriter, and filmmaker. Her feature length screenplay The Retreat has placed in five screenplay competitions, including as a 2023 Austin Film Festival Second Rounder, and a 2024 Palm Springs Film Festival Quarter Finalist; the screenplay for The Roommate was a quarter finalist in the Spring 2024 Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards. As a poet, she has performed her work at the Poetry Society of New York’s Poetry Festival, and has performed with the Poetry Brothel in both NYC and Amsterdam. The Roommate marks her directorial debut.
Maxwell Collins
Director of Photography
Maxwell Collins is a Director of Photography, gaffer, and filmmaker. He truly has a passion for short form storytelling. His latest features as gaffer, “I think I’m Sick”, won a number of awards at festivals across the country. When he’s not shooting he enjoys collaborating with other filmmakers as a gaffer. This allows him to continue learning, challenging himself, and growing as a visual storyteller.
Ryan Patricolo
Producer/1st AD
Ryan Patricolo is a professional videographer and producer with over 5 years of experience who specializes in both short-form media production, as well as film production. He has worked on various different production sets such as commercials and promotional content, films, education content, fashion content, and corporate content as a videographer, assistant cameraman, and producer. He is also the co-founder of his own production company Buck and a Quarter Films.
Liz Beeson
Producer/2nd AD
Liz Beeson is a NYC-based producer. Her latest film, Holding Back the Tide, a feature-length documentary exploring the role of oysters in the NYC harbor, premiered at DOC NYC in 2023 and is currently in its nationwide theatrical release and making its rounds in the film festival circuit. Liz is also in production on a feature-length hybrid film focusing on the International Jugglers' Association. In addition, Liz produced the short film Serious Play, which premiered at the Brooklyn Film Festival in 2023, where it won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Short Film. The film has also been showcased at the Cucalorus Film Festival, Savannah Film Festival, and New Orleans Film Festival. Additionally, Liz produced, edited, and co-hosted the award-winning podcast On the Virge, which addresses themes related to virginity and sexuality.
Rebecca Duckert
Producer/Wardrobe Supervisor
Rebecca Duckert is a creative New Orleanian who currently works at Preservation Hall. She also serves as a board member for The NOLA Project, an award-winning non-profit theater company. She has also served as the Secretary of the Board of Directors of L’Union Francaise, Louisiana’s oldest Francophile organization. Additionally, she was the co-founder and choreographer of an all-female dance troupe in New York City, producer and co-host of On the Virge podcast, and is currently the founder/creator of ODIJUNE, a handmade jewelry line that focuses on fashion sustainability by repurposing vintage objects.
Lindsey Phillips
Editor
Lindsey Phillips is a documentary filmmaker and editor based in Brooklyn, New York. In her work she celebrates unique traditions and idiosyncrasies of place, culture, and communities, finding humor and humanity in complex places. She is currently directing and editing the comedic hybrid film about the juggling community. She recently edited the documentary, Holding Back the Tide which premiered at DocNYC 2023. Her award-winning films have screened at numerous festivals including Cucalorus, New Orleans, Miami International, Indie Grits, SF Shorts, and more, and have appeared on PBS's Reel South and Mailchimp Presents. Lindsey was part of the 2019 UnionDocs Collaborative Studio residency, holds a Certificate in Documentary Arts from the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University, and graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in Digital Media Production.
CAST
Natalie Boyd
"Kirsten"
Natalie Boyd is a native New Orleanian who has been acting since the 6th grade. She is an ensemble member of The NOLA Project, and has won 4 Big Easy Entertainment Theater Awards. Natalie loves Diet Coke, and is really excited to be in a movie with a person who was in a movie with Jesse Plemons.
Poppy Tooker
"Sharon"
Poppy Tooker is a native New Orleanian who has spent her life immersed in the vibrant colors and flavors of her state. Louisiana Eats!, Poppy’s NPR-affiliated radio show, has been awarded Best National and Best Regional Radio Program in the Food and Beverage category by the Taste Awards in Los Angeles, and was awarded first, second and third place in the Best Radio Show category by the New Orleans Press Club in 2015 and 2016. She is also a celebrated cookbook author, with titles including Crescent City Farmers Market Cookbook and The Pascal’s Manale Cookbook. Poppy also appears weekly on the WYES public television show, Steppin’ Out, with spicy food commentary.
Steven Pendleton
"Remy"
Steven Rose Pendleton (he/they) is a New Orleans based theatremaker. Recent credits include 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Barfee) and NOLA Shakespeare Festival's Julius Caesar (Titinius). Steven holds a B.A. in Drama from Loyola University New Orleans.
Merah Benoit
"Young Remy"
Merah Benoit started her professional career at the age of 5 and is well known in the New Orleans theatre scene in productions of Peter Pan, The Sound of Music, A Christmas Story, and most recently as “Katie” in School of Rock. As a film actress, she’s worked alongside award winning directors and actors such as Will Smith (Emancipation), Renee Zellweger (The Thing About Pam), and Oscar winner Emma Stone (Kinds of Kindness). In her latest project, Merah worked with the American Film Institute (AFI), Los Angeles, as a lead in a feature film that is set to make the festival circuit next year.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Kirsten has recently moved to New Orleans and is consumed by depression and loneliness, listlessly moving through her days. Her dreary reality is disrupted when Sharon, the ghost of the former tenant in Kirsten’s apartment, appears to her repeatedly. Though at first terrified, Kirsten soon realizes that Sharon needs her help to resolve an important conflict with her grandchild Remy. By helping Sharon, Kirsten finds a sense of purpose and connection that sets her on the path to greater happiness and contentment.
Creative Direction
In The Roommate, the camera will act as an engine of whimsy and heart. We’ll closely follow the pacing of Kirsten’s journey with camera movements that augment the supernatural events and enhance the core emotional beats - depression, confusion, hope, and humor. Films like Jean-Pierre Jeunot’s Amelie and Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom serve as inspirations for magical, story-book like cinematography, while Edgar Wright’s Hot Fuzz shows how even smaller moments like transitions or cut-aways can be used for comedic effect.
For most of the film - medium warm lighting to emphasize the lightly comedic and playful tone of the film - the light will get brighter and warmer as Kirsten’s life also does the same.
Supernatural moments will have the subject (Sharon) brightly lit amidst a dark, nocturnal setting, giving her a non-corporeal glow
We are filming on location in New Orleans because, well, it's the perfect city for a ghost story. And, its natural vibrancy and charm add just the right amount of warmth to the narrative. Plus, as someone with deep familial roots in South Louisiana, it felt only right to tell a story about intergenerational family dynamics here.
Characters
Kirsten
Sad, lost, and unmoored, Kirsten is stuck in a serious depressive episode. She’s recently moved to a new city to jump start her life, but instead the move has just added to her sense of emotional paralysis. Despite wanting to change her life for the better, her sense of overwhelm is totally weighing her down – until she meets Sharon.
Sharon
Sharon is a cross between a glamazon and your typical Italian grandma – she’s down to earth, friendly and outspoken, but with a taste and enjoyment for the art, food, wine, fashion, and other sensual pleasures. She loves her grandchild Remy more than anything – even if she doesn’t always see eye to eye with them.
Remy / Young Remy
Remy is a bold, artistic, queer and non-binary person, living their life unapologetically. They have a close relationship with Sharon – she’s more like a mother than a grandmother. Remy has come to expect unconditional love from Sharon, and the moment they don’t, they begin to question their entire relationship.
Director's Statement
This project is inspired by an ACTUAL ghost story - really! A little over two years ago, a friend channeled messages from my paternal grandmother, Barbara, who passed away in the summer of 2020. My grandmother came across in spirit much as she had in life - funny, chatty, kind, and loving. She was full of updates about the mechanics of her spirit form (at one my point my friend said: “Your grandmother says you wouldn’t BELIEVE all the things she can do now”) and practical advice like: “Always keep your finances separate from your husband.” This event has affected me in many profound ways, and was the first seed for the idea behind The Roommate. I began toying with the story of a friendly ghost - or at the very least, a ghost whose death only changed her form, not her essence.
But ghosts are just the beginning - I wanted to tell a story about overcoming loneliness, isolation, and division, because we're collectively suffering from this trifecta more than ever. We need stories that show the light at the end of the tunnel - that the darkness isn't overbearing, and that there's hope, whimsy and laughter just around the corner. And the LGBTQ+ community is in even greater need for these types of stories, and the visibility that Kirsten and Remy's characters provide.
~ Whitney Bryan, Director
Support Our Film!
If you donate to The Roommate, you'll be supporting a story that adds a little bit of lightness and kindness to the world. You'll help us pay for the expenses we need to shoot it (equipment, travel, cast/crew payments, permits, location fees, etc), and if we're really lucky and meet our funding goal, we'll have some leftover for post production expenses - editing, color correction, scoring, even some festival submissions to make sure this story gets seen and in front of the audiences that matter most!
You can make a contribution by making a pledge (we need to collect at least 80% of our crowdfunding goal to keep our funds). You can choose an incentive or make a pledge to a specific wishlist item. You decide what fits your budget. Seriously, no pledge is too small. Every dollar makes a difference in making our film possible! We have some awesome incentives including custom gifts, private links/events, behind the scene access, and so much more!
SPREAD THE WORD!
Please share this page with anyone you think would be interested in seeing a film like this come alive!
Follow our journey on Instagram @theroommate.film to get constant updates.
Repost our pictures and videos, DM us questions, comment what you like!
Thank you so much for checking out our campaign and we hope you consider being a part of the creation of this short and follow us along on our filmmaking journey!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast & Crew
Costs $7,000
Help us pay for our incredible actors, cinematographer, camera assistant, sound team, editor, and production assistant.
Composer and Score
Costs $1,000
Music will help us bring this story to life.
Film Festival Fees
Costs $1,500
Help us share our film with a larger audience!
Equipment
Costs $2,500
The right gear makes all the difference!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
CREW
Whitney Bryan
Writer/Director
Whitney Bryan is an advertising strategist, poet, screenwriter, and filmmaker. Her feature length screenplay The Retreat has placed in five screenplay competitions, including as a 2023 Austin Film Festival Second Rounder, and a 2024 Palm Springs Film Festival Quarter Finalist; the screenplay for The Roommate was a quarter finalist in the Spring 2024 Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards. As a poet, she has performed her work at the Poetry Society of New York’s Poetry Festival, and has performed with the Poetry Brothel in both NYC and Amsterdam. The Roommate marks her directorial debut.
Maxwell Collins
Director of Photography
Maxwell Collins is a Director of Photography, gaffer, and filmmaker. He truly has a passion for short form storytelling. His latest features as gaffer, “I think I’m Sick”, won a number of awards at festivals across the country. When he’s not shooting he enjoys collaborating with other filmmakers as a gaffer. This allows him to continue learning, challenging himself, and growing as a visual storyteller.
Ryan Patricolo
Producer/1st AD
Ryan Patricolo is a professional videographer and producer with over 5 years of experience who specializes in both short-form media production, as well as film production. He has worked on various different production sets such as commercials and promotional content, films, education content, fashion content, and corporate content as a videographer, assistant cameraman, and producer. He is also the co-founder of his own production company Buck and a Quarter Films.
Liz Beeson
Producer/2nd AD
Liz Beeson is a NYC-based producer. Her latest film, Holding Back the Tide, a feature-length documentary exploring the role of oysters in the NYC harbor, premiered at DOC NYC in 2023 and is currently in its nationwide theatrical release and making its rounds in the film festival circuit. Liz is also in production on a feature-length hybrid film focusing on the International Jugglers' Association. In addition, Liz produced the short film Serious Play, which premiered at the Brooklyn Film Festival in 2023, where it won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Short Film. The film has also been showcased at the Cucalorus Film Festival, Savannah Film Festival, and New Orleans Film Festival. Additionally, Liz produced, edited, and co-hosted the award-winning podcast On the Virge, which addresses themes related to virginity and sexuality.
Rebecca Duckert
Producer/Wardrobe Supervisor
Rebecca Duckert is a creative New Orleanian who currently works at Preservation Hall. She also serves as a board member for The NOLA Project, an award-winning non-profit theater company. She has also served as the Secretary of the Board of Directors of L’Union Francaise, Louisiana’s oldest Francophile organization. Additionally, she was the co-founder and choreographer of an all-female dance troupe in New York City, producer and co-host of On the Virge podcast, and is currently the founder/creator of ODIJUNE, a handmade jewelry line that focuses on fashion sustainability by repurposing vintage objects.
Lindsey Phillips
Editor
Lindsey Phillips is a documentary filmmaker and editor based in Brooklyn, New York. In her work she celebrates unique traditions and idiosyncrasies of place, culture, and communities, finding humor and humanity in complex places. She is currently directing and editing the comedic hybrid film about the juggling community. She recently edited the documentary, Holding Back the Tide which premiered at DocNYC 2023. Her award-winning films have screened at numerous festivals including Cucalorus, New Orleans, Miami International, Indie Grits, SF Shorts, and more, and have appeared on PBS's Reel South and Mailchimp Presents. Lindsey was part of the 2019 UnionDocs Collaborative Studio residency, holds a Certificate in Documentary Arts from the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University, and graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in Digital Media Production.
CAST
Natalie Boyd
"Kirsten"
Natalie Boyd is a native New Orleanian who has been acting since the 6th grade. She is an ensemble member of The NOLA Project, and has won 4 Big Easy Entertainment Theater Awards. Natalie loves Diet Coke, and is really excited to be in a movie with a person who was in a movie with Jesse Plemons.
Poppy Tooker
"Sharon"
Poppy Tooker is a native New Orleanian who has spent her life immersed in the vibrant colors and flavors of her state. Louisiana Eats!, Poppy’s NPR-affiliated radio show, has been awarded Best National and Best Regional Radio Program in the Food and Beverage category by the Taste Awards in Los Angeles, and was awarded first, second and third place in the Best Radio Show category by the New Orleans Press Club in 2015 and 2016. She is also a celebrated cookbook author, with titles including Crescent City Farmers Market Cookbook and The Pascal’s Manale Cookbook. Poppy also appears weekly on the WYES public television show, Steppin’ Out, with spicy food commentary.
Steven Pendleton
"Remy"
Steven Rose Pendleton (he/they) is a New Orleans based theatremaker. Recent credits include 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Barfee) and NOLA Shakespeare Festival's Julius Caesar (Titinius). Steven holds a B.A. in Drama from Loyola University New Orleans.
Merah Benoit
"Young Remy"
Merah Benoit started her professional career at the age of 5 and is well known in the New Orleans theatre scene in productions of Peter Pan, The Sound of Music, A Christmas Story, and most recently as “Katie” in School of Rock. As a film actress, she’s worked alongside award winning directors and actors such as Will Smith (Emancipation), Renee Zellweger (The Thing About Pam), and Oscar winner Emma Stone (Kinds of Kindness). In her latest project, Merah worked with the American Film Institute (AFI), Los Angeles, as a lead in a feature film that is set to make the festival circuit next year.