The Wayward
State College, Pennsylvania | Film Feature
Drama, Crime
Post-incarceration, Emmylou plans to track down each person who wronged her, only to find that life on the outside moves on even if you aren’t there to witness it. Your support in this campaign will help us take a major step toward full financing and boost confidence in the next phase of production.
The Wayward
State College, Pennsylvania | Film Feature
Drama, Crime
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $5,445 for development. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
33 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Post-incarceration, Emmylou plans to track down each person who wronged her, only to find that life on the outside moves on even if you aren’t there to witness it. Your support in this campaign will help us take a major step toward full financing and boost confidence in the next phase of production.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
We’re Phoebe Post (writer/director) and Laura B. Abellán (producer), a Danish-American and Spanish duo based in California. Together, we’re making The Wayward, a female-led, character-driven feature film set in rural Pennsylvania, slated to shoot in the summer of 2026. Our story follows Emmylou, who, after her release from jail, struggles with both re-integration into a society that left her behind and a yearning to rebuild relationships with people she once leaned on for support.
To make an independent feature like The Wayward, raising money isn’t just about numbers but also about building a loyal audience and momentum. This $5,000 campaign is a crucial first step toward making The Wayward a reality. As true grassroots filmmakers, these initial funds will allow us to host a targeted in-person fundraising dinner this November with community leaders, potential sponsors, and cultural stakeholders in Centre County who have the networks and influence to help us reach larger-scale funding. We’re launching this campaign to prompt a larger fundraising journey. In other words: this is the spark, and we want you to be part of it.
The Logistics:
Making a film is expensive, not because we're extravagant, but because we believe in paying people fairly and putting due effort into our art. Upon completing our development goal with this campaign, our total feature film budget will be just under $700,000, most of which will cover:
42% Crew & Cast Wages – Fair pay for over 40 working professionals across 15+ shoot days in Pennsylvania.
22% Locations & Travel – Permits, transportation, hotels, and meals for cast and crew.
6% Equipment & Rentals – Cameras, lights, sound, and production supplies.
4% Art & Wardrobe – Sets, props, costumes, and make-up to bring the story to life.
9% Post-Production – Editing, sound mixing, color correction, and music.
3% Legal & Insurance – Required protections for everyone working on the film.
This campaign’s $5,000 goal is just the beginning, helping us launch a larger fundraiser and attracting big supporters. Your contribution helps us build that bridge.
The Future:
With the success of this campaign, we plan to start pre-production early next year and begin filming on location in the summer of 2026. That being said, while this campaign is about one film, The Wayward, your support for us at this time will last much longer and reach much further than a single production. By signing up to “follow” this campaign, contributing when it goes live, and following our Instagram page, you’re setting us up for success in the future. Being an independent filmmaker isn’t as independent as it sounds – the proof of your support on this campaign will allow us to build momentum around the future of our careers and future projects. Artists need an audience, and by proving that you’re a loyal audience member early on in our careers, you’re showing the world that we should continue creating films for you all to enjoy for years and years to come.
Other Ways You Can Help:
If you feel particularly inspired by this project and are interested in donating a significantly large sum or investing in the film, please reach out to us! We are fiscally sponsored, which means your generous donation will be tax deductible.
If you can’t contribute at this time, you can still show your support by:
- Signing up to follow the campaign on Seed&Spark
- Sharing this campaign with friends, family, or colleagues
- Following and amplifying us on Instagram @thewaywardfilm
- Spreading the word to anyone passionate about independent film, social justice, or women-led stories
Together, we can make Emmylou's story - and other women's stories - come to life.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Travel for the production crew
Costs $2,500
Flights and lodging for us to host the fundraising dinner in Centre County, PA, where the film will be shot.
Dinner in Centre County, PA
Costs $1,500
Host a gala dinner in Centre County, PA, to spark the funding and meet with local spokespersons with network outreach.
Promotional materials
Costs $1,000
Merchandising of the movie to promote the campaign. Believe me, you DO need this swag! Pins, stickers and embroidered hats, cute!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Crew:
Director/Writer - Phoebe Post is an award-winning Danish-American filmmaker dedicated to the candid representation of women on screen. Inspired by the Dogme 95 movement, she emphasizes story and character over technical formalities, crafting films that center women’s lived experiences and invite universal connection. Her work often situates intimate struggles within familiar spaces – living rooms, shared beds, workplaces – allowing audiences to process deeper themes through settings of comfort and safety. Phoebe’s previous projects, The Seed, The Hour, and On A Narrow Range, explore reproductive rights, motherhood, women as protectors, and the complexities of family relationships. With each film, she weaves poetic realism and emotional intimacy to amplify women’s voices with authenticity and depth.
Producer - Laura B. Abellán is a producer with international experience across film, television, and development. Born in A Coruña, Spain, her passion for storytelling led her to earn a BA in Film and Media from the University Carlos III of Madrid, complemented by studies in Italy and Turkey. She began her career working with leading Spanish production companies such as Bambú Producciones before moving to the U.S. in 2019. There, she gained hands-on experience in physical production, working on large-scale fiction projects like Fear the Walking Dead and Walker. Now pursuing her MFA in the Producers Program at UCLA, she continues to expand her expertise in development, distribution, and production, with a focus on internationally driven, coming-of-age narratives.
Director of Photography - Carlos Sanchez is an award-winning cinematographer and director born in Tijuana, Mexico, and raised in San Diego, where his love for visual storytelling began through photography and concert coverage. He later studied film in San Francisco, discovering a deep passion for cinematography and honing a visual style rooted in emotional intimacy and poetic realism. Now based in Los Angeles, Carlos has built a versatile portfolio across narrative, documentary, music videos, and branded content, with clients including The Walt Disney Company, AWAL, T-Mobile, Heritage Provider Network, and The BXNG Club. His strength lies in capturing the emotional interior of characters and seamlessly drawing audiences into the cinematic world through evocative, immersive camerawork. As a Latinx filmmaker with a cross-border sensibility, Carlos brings cultural depth and a bold creative voice to every project. He is particularly drawn to The Wayward for its intimate scale and complex female protagonist, aligning with his commitment to meaningful, character-driven storytelling.
Cast:
Emmylou - Daisy Stock is an award-winning Los Angeles-based actor drawn to stories that explore the contradictions of human nature. She is honored to lead The Wayward and reunite with director Phoebe Post, following their recent collaboration on On a Narrow Range (2024). Her film work also includes Model Professor (dir. Peter Brinson) and Birds of Paradise (dir. Ira Irvani), alongside a range of stage performances spanning Shakespeare to Mean Girls. Trained at UCLA and Aloha Theater Intensives, her foundation includes Meisner technique, musical theater, long-form improvisation, and stage combat.
Having grown up in a small town, Daisy was drawn to The Wayward for its portrayal of generational trauma, emotional inheritance, and the search for escape in a place with few ways out. She approaches Emmylou with deep empathy and curiosity, and brings a collaborative spirit to every role. For Daisy, this is more than a part, it’s a story that feels lived-in and personal.
Joanne - Rayna McGrath is a seasoned actor with over 25 years of experience across film, television, theater, and commercial work. A graduate of Point Park University’s BFA program, Rayna has built a dynamic career performing in major cities including New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. Her credits span mainstream features, independent films, series television, and national commercial campaigns. In 2024, Rayna originated the role of Joanne in The Wayward’s proof of concept, and immediately recognized the creative force of director Phoebe Post and the project’s powerful storytelling. Portraying Emmylou’s older sister felt not only artistically fulfilling, but personally meaningful. She described the production as “one of the most professional, passionate, and moving experiences” of her career, and is honored to continue Joanne’s journey in the feature.
Rayna currently resides in Pennsylvania and New Jersey with her husband and three children, trains at The Actor’s Lab of Philadelphia, and is represented by Vie Talent Agency in New York.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
We’re Phoebe Post (writer/director) and Laura B. Abellán (producer), a Danish-American and Spanish duo based in California. Together, we’re making The Wayward, a female-led, character-driven feature film set in rural Pennsylvania, slated to shoot in the summer of 2026. Our story follows Emmylou, who, after her release from jail, struggles with both re-integration into a society that left her behind and a yearning to rebuild relationships with people she once leaned on for support.
To make an independent feature like The Wayward, raising money isn’t just about numbers but also about building a loyal audience and momentum. This $5,000 campaign is a crucial first step toward making The Wayward a reality. As true grassroots filmmakers, these initial funds will allow us to host a targeted in-person fundraising dinner this November with community leaders, potential sponsors, and cultural stakeholders in Centre County who have the networks and influence to help us reach larger-scale funding. We’re launching this campaign to prompt a larger fundraising journey. In other words: this is the spark, and we want you to be part of it.
The Logistics:
Making a film is expensive, not because we're extravagant, but because we believe in paying people fairly and putting due effort into our art. Upon completing our development goal with this campaign, our total feature film budget will be just under $700,000, most of which will cover:
42% Crew & Cast Wages – Fair pay for over 40 working professionals across 15+ shoot days in Pennsylvania.
22% Locations & Travel – Permits, transportation, hotels, and meals for cast and crew.
6% Equipment & Rentals – Cameras, lights, sound, and production supplies.
4% Art & Wardrobe – Sets, props, costumes, and make-up to bring the story to life.
9% Post-Production – Editing, sound mixing, color correction, and music.
3% Legal & Insurance – Required protections for everyone working on the film.
This campaign’s $5,000 goal is just the beginning, helping us launch a larger fundraiser and attracting big supporters. Your contribution helps us build that bridge.
The Future:
With the success of this campaign, we plan to start pre-production early next year and begin filming on location in the summer of 2026. That being said, while this campaign is about one film, The Wayward, your support for us at this time will last much longer and reach much further than a single production. By signing up to “follow” this campaign, contributing when it goes live, and following our Instagram page, you’re setting us up for success in the future. Being an independent filmmaker isn’t as independent as it sounds – the proof of your support on this campaign will allow us to build momentum around the future of our careers and future projects. Artists need an audience, and by proving that you’re a loyal audience member early on in our careers, you’re showing the world that we should continue creating films for you all to enjoy for years and years to come.
Other Ways You Can Help:
If you feel particularly inspired by this project and are interested in donating a significantly large sum or investing in the film, please reach out to us! We are fiscally sponsored, which means your generous donation will be tax deductible.
If you can’t contribute at this time, you can still show your support by:
- Signing up to follow the campaign on Seed&Spark
- Sharing this campaign with friends, family, or colleagues
- Following and amplifying us on Instagram @thewaywardfilm
- Spreading the word to anyone passionate about independent film, social justice, or women-led stories
Together, we can make Emmylou's story - and other women's stories - come to life.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Travel for the production crew
Costs $2,500
Flights and lodging for us to host the fundraising dinner in Centre County, PA, where the film will be shot.
Dinner in Centre County, PA
Costs $1,500
Host a gala dinner in Centre County, PA, to spark the funding and meet with local spokespersons with network outreach.
Promotional materials
Costs $1,000
Merchandising of the movie to promote the campaign. Believe me, you DO need this swag! Pins, stickers and embroidered hats, cute!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Crew:
Director/Writer - Phoebe Post is an award-winning Danish-American filmmaker dedicated to the candid representation of women on screen. Inspired by the Dogme 95 movement, she emphasizes story and character over technical formalities, crafting films that center women’s lived experiences and invite universal connection. Her work often situates intimate struggles within familiar spaces – living rooms, shared beds, workplaces – allowing audiences to process deeper themes through settings of comfort and safety. Phoebe’s previous projects, The Seed, The Hour, and On A Narrow Range, explore reproductive rights, motherhood, women as protectors, and the complexities of family relationships. With each film, she weaves poetic realism and emotional intimacy to amplify women’s voices with authenticity and depth.
Producer - Laura B. Abellán is a producer with international experience across film, television, and development. Born in A Coruña, Spain, her passion for storytelling led her to earn a BA in Film and Media from the University Carlos III of Madrid, complemented by studies in Italy and Turkey. She began her career working with leading Spanish production companies such as Bambú Producciones before moving to the U.S. in 2019. There, she gained hands-on experience in physical production, working on large-scale fiction projects like Fear the Walking Dead and Walker. Now pursuing her MFA in the Producers Program at UCLA, she continues to expand her expertise in development, distribution, and production, with a focus on internationally driven, coming-of-age narratives.
Director of Photography - Carlos Sanchez is an award-winning cinematographer and director born in Tijuana, Mexico, and raised in San Diego, where his love for visual storytelling began through photography and concert coverage. He later studied film in San Francisco, discovering a deep passion for cinematography and honing a visual style rooted in emotional intimacy and poetic realism. Now based in Los Angeles, Carlos has built a versatile portfolio across narrative, documentary, music videos, and branded content, with clients including The Walt Disney Company, AWAL, T-Mobile, Heritage Provider Network, and The BXNG Club. His strength lies in capturing the emotional interior of characters and seamlessly drawing audiences into the cinematic world through evocative, immersive camerawork. As a Latinx filmmaker with a cross-border sensibility, Carlos brings cultural depth and a bold creative voice to every project. He is particularly drawn to The Wayward for its intimate scale and complex female protagonist, aligning with his commitment to meaningful, character-driven storytelling.
Cast:
Emmylou - Daisy Stock is an award-winning Los Angeles-based actor drawn to stories that explore the contradictions of human nature. She is honored to lead The Wayward and reunite with director Phoebe Post, following their recent collaboration on On a Narrow Range (2024). Her film work also includes Model Professor (dir. Peter Brinson) and Birds of Paradise (dir. Ira Irvani), alongside a range of stage performances spanning Shakespeare to Mean Girls. Trained at UCLA and Aloha Theater Intensives, her foundation includes Meisner technique, musical theater, long-form improvisation, and stage combat.
Having grown up in a small town, Daisy was drawn to The Wayward for its portrayal of generational trauma, emotional inheritance, and the search for escape in a place with few ways out. She approaches Emmylou with deep empathy and curiosity, and brings a collaborative spirit to every role. For Daisy, this is more than a part, it’s a story that feels lived-in and personal.
Joanne - Rayna McGrath is a seasoned actor with over 25 years of experience across film, television, theater, and commercial work. A graduate of Point Park University’s BFA program, Rayna has built a dynamic career performing in major cities including New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. Her credits span mainstream features, independent films, series television, and national commercial campaigns. In 2024, Rayna originated the role of Joanne in The Wayward’s proof of concept, and immediately recognized the creative force of director Phoebe Post and the project’s powerful storytelling. Portraying Emmylou’s older sister felt not only artistically fulfilling, but personally meaningful. She described the production as “one of the most professional, passionate, and moving experiences” of her career, and is honored to continue Joanne’s journey in the feature.
Rayna currently resides in Pennsylvania and New Jersey with her husband and three children, trains at The Actor’s Lab of Philadelphia, and is represented by Vie Talent Agency in New York.