Toxic Shock
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
LGBTQ, Horror
The kind of weird genre film you’d have to convince your mom to let you rent at Blockbuster.
Toxic Shock
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
LGBTQ, Horror
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $12,540 for post-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
111 supporters | followers
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The kind of weird genre film you’d have to convince your mom to let you rent at Blockbuster.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A trio of anarchist lesbian vampires, Sway, Truffle, and Moonie, break into a Los Angeles pharmaceutical facility to destroy research connected to Dr. Sims, the “Father of Modern Gynecology.” Their mission is meant to be simple: plant explosives, expose corruption, and leave before dawn.
Inside, they discover a hidden testing operation where women are being held captive and drained for experimental products designed to control and manipulate the female body. Realizing the operation is still active, the vampires shift from targeted sabotage to a full on rescue mission. Dr. Sims becomes aware of the intrusion and sends armed security to contain the breach. The vampires reach the dungeon where the prisoners are chained together and offer them a single choice:
Remain test subjects or join the kindred!
The hostages choose transformation, beginning a bloody vampiric ritual that gives them the strength they need. Reborn and enraged, the new kindred launches a punk-fueled riot through the facility. They tear through security, confront Dr. Sims, and end his legacy of abuse. The explosives detonate, and the survivors escape together,
united as a new sisterhood forged in blood, vengeance, and liberation.
Toxic Shock pays homage to the 90s and early 2000s genre films that raised us
with not-so-polished practical effects, punk rebellion, and bold queer horror.
We're in a critical time for women, where healthcare is robbing us of our own autonomy.
Although this fight isn't new, we are speaking out against institutional violence toward women. We are queer artists, women, and ally filmmakers who have a responsibility to use our voice and skills to fight for what we believe in.
Art is rebellion and absolutely necessary.
Toxic Shock is made by women and queer filmmakers both on screen and behind the scenes.
The main characters in Toxic Shock are flawed antiheroes
who fight to take down the evil institutions that profit from controlling women’s bodies.
Dr. Sims embodies the corruption of a medical system that discards human beings.
The Hostages represent the exploitation within a power structure built against them.
And together,
they bite back!
This budget supports a pickup shoot and post-production,
with every dollar going directly toward finishing Toxic Shock.
Thank you to the Alliance of Woman Directors
for believing in this project and supporting TOXIC SHOCK.
ALL DONATIONS ARE NOW TAX DEDUCTIBLE!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production Design
Costs $2,500
Set design, props, and wardrobe. Everything in front of the camera.
Movie Premiere + Festival Submission Fees
Costs $2,000
Showcasing the film once it's complete and paying for all the festival submissions.
Camera Rentals
Costs $2,000
Camera rentals to finish the film.
Post Production
Costs $4,000
Edit, color, sound design, and graphics.
Location Fees
Costs $1,500
Warehouse location fees for the pick up shoot.
Grip & Lighting Rentals
Costs $2,000
Grip and lighting equipment.
Special FX Make Up and Effects
Costs $1,000
We need blood, guts, and gore to make this truly epic.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Thank you to the Alliance of Woman Directors
for believing in this project and supporting TOXIC SHOCK.
ALL DONATIONS ARE NOW TAX DEDUCTIBLE!
SUMMER - WRITER & DIRECTOR
BIO: Summer Vaughan is a queer filmmaker and storyteller whose work lives at the intersection of visceral emotion and bold visual language. Equally at home in the art house and commercial space, she brings a distinct, vibrant signature to everything she directs, from narrative films to global campaigns.
A graduate of the New School, her award-winning debut Josephine launched a career devoted to women-centered, psychologically rich narratives. Across mediums, she is committed to crafting stories that challenge convention, provoke empathy, and center human dignity both on screen and behind the scenes.
JOHNNY- PRODUCER & CO-WRITER
BIO: Johnny Hernandez is a Los Angeles based Producer, whose work is rooted in resilience, collaboration, and a mission to uplift underrepresented voices in film. He has produced various commercial projects and films over his 8 year career, including queer Lynchian drama Beverly Heights (Short of the Week), Wait for Night (NALIP & Netflix Latino Lens Incubator) and Leaving Lebanon (Disney’s Underrepresented Storytellers Grant).
BELLA - CINEMATOGRAPHER
BIO: Bella Finn Parisot is a character driven cinematographer based between Los Angeles and New York City. She is a recipient of the ASC Visionary mentorship. A student EMMY nominated DoP, Bella holds an MFA in Cinematography from American Film Institute and a BFA in Photography at NYU Tisch. She’s worked at the Sundance Directors Labs multiple years in a row. In 2018, she camera PA’d for Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time in Hollywood under Cinematographer Robert Richardson, ASC.
CARRIE - PRODUCTION DESIGNER
BIO: Carrie J. is a passionate and imaginative collaborator who actively seeks out boundary-pushing stories. Having traveled to over 20 countries around the world growing up, she gained invaluable exposure from diverse cultures. The journeys contribute to her unique perspective, allowing her to bring fresh ideas and a nuanced understanding to her design work. She loves to create the physical world with layers of character histories and detailed architectural elements. In her own words, “Space serves as my canvas, while the sets within are my voice”. Carrie is a member of IATSE Local 871.
JORDAN - EDITOR
BIO: Jordan M. Hahn is an editor based in Los Angeles. Jordan’s films have premiered at SXSW, Beyond Fest, and Cinequest film festivals. They were the recipient of the Best Editing Award at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival for Beach Logs Kill in 2024.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A trio of anarchist lesbian vampires, Sway, Truffle, and Moonie, break into a Los Angeles pharmaceutical facility to destroy research connected to Dr. Sims, the “Father of Modern Gynecology.” Their mission is meant to be simple: plant explosives, expose corruption, and leave before dawn.
Inside, they discover a hidden testing operation where women are being held captive and drained for experimental products designed to control and manipulate the female body. Realizing the operation is still active, the vampires shift from targeted sabotage to a full on rescue mission. Dr. Sims becomes aware of the intrusion and sends armed security to contain the breach. The vampires reach the dungeon where the prisoners are chained together and offer them a single choice:
Remain test subjects or join the kindred!
The hostages choose transformation, beginning a bloody vampiric ritual that gives them the strength they need. Reborn and enraged, the new kindred launches a punk-fueled riot through the facility. They tear through security, confront Dr. Sims, and end his legacy of abuse. The explosives detonate, and the survivors escape together,
united as a new sisterhood forged in blood, vengeance, and liberation.
Toxic Shock pays homage to the 90s and early 2000s genre films that raised us
with not-so-polished practical effects, punk rebellion, and bold queer horror.
We're in a critical time for women, where healthcare is robbing us of our own autonomy.
Although this fight isn't new, we are speaking out against institutional violence toward women. We are queer artists, women, and ally filmmakers who have a responsibility to use our voice and skills to fight for what we believe in.
Art is rebellion and absolutely necessary.
Toxic Shock is made by women and queer filmmakers both on screen and behind the scenes.
The main characters in Toxic Shock are flawed antiheroes
who fight to take down the evil institutions that profit from controlling women’s bodies.
Dr. Sims embodies the corruption of a medical system that discards human beings.
The Hostages represent the exploitation within a power structure built against them.
And together,
they bite back!
This budget supports a pickup shoot and post-production,
with every dollar going directly toward finishing Toxic Shock.
Thank you to the Alliance of Woman Directors
for believing in this project and supporting TOXIC SHOCK.
ALL DONATIONS ARE NOW TAX DEDUCTIBLE!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production Design
Costs $2,500
Set design, props, and wardrobe. Everything in front of the camera.
Movie Premiere + Festival Submission Fees
Costs $2,000
Showcasing the film once it's complete and paying for all the festival submissions.
Camera Rentals
Costs $2,000
Camera rentals to finish the film.
Post Production
Costs $4,000
Edit, color, sound design, and graphics.
Location Fees
Costs $1,500
Warehouse location fees for the pick up shoot.
Grip & Lighting Rentals
Costs $2,000
Grip and lighting equipment.
Special FX Make Up and Effects
Costs $1,000
We need blood, guts, and gore to make this truly epic.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Thank you to the Alliance of Woman Directors
for believing in this project and supporting TOXIC SHOCK.
ALL DONATIONS ARE NOW TAX DEDUCTIBLE!
SUMMER - WRITER & DIRECTOR
BIO: Summer Vaughan is a queer filmmaker and storyteller whose work lives at the intersection of visceral emotion and bold visual language. Equally at home in the art house and commercial space, she brings a distinct, vibrant signature to everything she directs, from narrative films to global campaigns.
A graduate of the New School, her award-winning debut Josephine launched a career devoted to women-centered, psychologically rich narratives. Across mediums, she is committed to crafting stories that challenge convention, provoke empathy, and center human dignity both on screen and behind the scenes.
JOHNNY- PRODUCER & CO-WRITER
BIO: Johnny Hernandez is a Los Angeles based Producer, whose work is rooted in resilience, collaboration, and a mission to uplift underrepresented voices in film. He has produced various commercial projects and films over his 8 year career, including queer Lynchian drama Beverly Heights (Short of the Week), Wait for Night (NALIP & Netflix Latino Lens Incubator) and Leaving Lebanon (Disney’s Underrepresented Storytellers Grant).
BELLA - CINEMATOGRAPHER
BIO: Bella Finn Parisot is a character driven cinematographer based between Los Angeles and New York City. She is a recipient of the ASC Visionary mentorship. A student EMMY nominated DoP, Bella holds an MFA in Cinematography from American Film Institute and a BFA in Photography at NYU Tisch. She’s worked at the Sundance Directors Labs multiple years in a row. In 2018, she camera PA’d for Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time in Hollywood under Cinematographer Robert Richardson, ASC.
CARRIE - PRODUCTION DESIGNER
BIO: Carrie J. is a passionate and imaginative collaborator who actively seeks out boundary-pushing stories. Having traveled to over 20 countries around the world growing up, she gained invaluable exposure from diverse cultures. The journeys contribute to her unique perspective, allowing her to bring fresh ideas and a nuanced understanding to her design work. She loves to create the physical world with layers of character histories and detailed architectural elements. In her own words, “Space serves as my canvas, while the sets within are my voice”. Carrie is a member of IATSE Local 871.
JORDAN - EDITOR
BIO: Jordan M. Hahn is an editor based in Los Angeles. Jordan’s films have premiered at SXSW, Beyond Fest, and Cinequest film festivals. They were the recipient of the Best Editing Award at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival for Beach Logs Kill in 2024.