HOA president Harlan Ellison (no, not that one) sits in his office extolling the virtues of the neighborhood he presides over—Anywhere, U.S.A, the Most Town Ever. Displayed (or trapped?) in a television in the room is the adorable but militant housewife Tammy, giving a tour of the neighborhood. If Harlan is Walt Disney, Tammy is his Tinkerbell. 

Tammy introduces you, new neighbor, to the strange and repressive world of Anywhere— unusable amenities, strict surveillance, etc.—maintaining a bright, white smile with the help of some mysterious pills. As the tour goes on, Tammy runs out of pills, and when she tries to tell a story about her husband, she starts to glitch. Tammy’s grip on reality, and the neighborhood itself, rapidly declines as Harlan struggles to maintain control, ultimately pulling the plug on Tammy. 

I am fascinated by the landscape of suburbia and the visual and political implications it has for storytelling. As an infrastructure that has stood the test of time without necessarily keeping up with it, American suburbia provides an unchanging, oppressive backdrop on which to project an ever-shifting landscape of cultural questions. As right wing republicanism tightens its grip on the Unites States, sameness has reared its ugly head across the nation: “Mar-a-Lago face”, demonization of the LGBTQ+ community, “Republican makeup”, the gutting of the Voting Rights Act. The past few years have made clear what many of us knew already: if you are not a cisgender, straight, white person, you need to try your best to look like one, or be eliminated. 

The very structure of American suburbia, a monument to a time of prosperity that the United States has rapidly fallen from, provides the dramatic question: how can people live in these outdated ways when (in some ways) our society has progressed so much? And does everyone feel as insane about it as you do?

Welcome to Anywhere is a project being made by a group of committed and passionate people- your generous contribution will primarily go towards making sure those people are compensated for their time and their talent. This includes not only fair wages for our cast and crew, but coverage for their transportation, meals, etc.  

Welcome to Anywhere is currently in the early pre-production phase: the crew has been assembled, locations are being scouted, and we are on the hunt for our Harlan and Tammy. Your contribution will also help bring the real, physical world of Anywhere to life, through: payment for artists creating bespoke props and set decorations, sustainably thrifted costumes for Harlan and Tammy, and securing the locations that will become the town of Anywhere.  

For us, Welcome to Anywhere is not just a reflection on nostalgia, but a plea for a free and diverse future. Your contribution to this film will not only help us create this message we believe in, but ensure that it is the best it can possibly be.  

Thank you for being a wonderful neighbor!