You Don't Know Ball
New York City, New York | Film Short
Comedy, Horror
After accidentally implying she's a bad luck charm at her boyfriend's best friend's football watch party, Monica is confronted with the extent of their superstitions and must fend for her life against their desperate attempts to quell their team's losing streak.
You Don't Know Ball
New York City, New York | Film Short
Comedy, Horror
20 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$1,717
Goal: $5,000 for pre-production
After accidentally implying she's a bad luck charm at her boyfriend's best friend's football watch party, Monica is confronted with the extent of their superstitions and must fend for her life against their desperate attempts to quell their team's losing streak.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Imagine there is a little girl- maybe she’s you, your sister, your friend from down the street. Every Sunday, between September and February, her dad would sit down to watch the great American game: football. It will become apparent to that little girl, very quickly, that she is not wanted there with him. She cannot understand the game the same way he does, cannot cheer loud enough or memorize stats and plays fast enough, and she will grow to not want to watch the game at all. She could not care enough, so now she will not care at all.
Then, maybe one day, after she’s grown up and she’s living on her own- away from the father who made her hate the game, she might find herself watching again. And maybe she makes it through the first quarter, and realizes she’s engaged. Maybe she makes it through the second without really understanding the penalties, the third before she understands a down, and by the fourth she realizes she’s having a blast. Removing the barrier of the confrontational male fan and the expectation of her to know it all created a whole new connection to a sport she now loves.
I’m familiar with her story- it’s the same for both her and me. You Don’t Know Ball is for her, and every other girl who was convinced she had to be a superfan to fit in with the boys. It’s about letting women enjoy sports casually, and embracing the enthusiasm any fan can bring to the game, whether or not they can name five players.
(and yes, those pics are me and Sam. we wrote You Don't Know Ball for us, too)
After accidentally wearing the opposing team’s color to her boyfriend’s best friends’ football watch party, Monica is confronted with the extent of her boyfriend Ethan and his friends, Rob & Tripp’s, superstitions. Their team- the Tonawanda Tatonka’s- are notorious underdogs and are not doing well. In an effort to connect with the guys, Monica shares that she used to watch the games with her dad before he deemed her a “bad luck charm”, which incites a quiet panic within the boys. Rob and Tripp resort to desperate measures, and Monica must fend for her life against their efforts to quell the Tatonka’s continued losing streak.
Thank you so much for asking! Your donation not only helps fulfill more straightforward production needs, like costuming actors, setting up lights and renting a very nice camera, but it also shows support for women in sports and indie filmmaking!
Women's sports is entering a golden age, with the rise in popularity of the PWHL, the launch of the WPBL, and new women's tackle football teams popping up all over the place- including Columbus, where we intend to shoot the film! There's never been a better time to be a fan of women, a fan of sports, or a woman fan of sports, and therefore, there's never been a better time for us to make this film.
If raise $5,000, we're able to break even and cover all our expenses: camera rental, grip equipment, insurance, meals, production design, and contingency. This is our main goal, however, we do have some stretch goals:
If we raise $7,000, we'll be able to pay all of our crew members! We're fortunate enough to be working with wonderful friends who are donating their time because they care about the film, but if we could afford to give them an extra thanks, it would be fabulous!
If we raise $10,000, not only will we be able to bump that pay up for each of our lovely crew members, but we would be able to cover the expenses of our festival run, which would allow more submissions, and therefore more eyes on the final product.
Obviously, anything donated is such a gift, and it means the world to me and the entire You Don't Know Ball team. If you can't donate, that's okay too! Following the page here on Seed&Spark or on Instagram @jackrabbit.three will help spread the word!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera Rental
Costs $1,250
A picture is worth a thousand words, and a cinema quality camera will allow us to tell this story with the prettiest pictures possible.
Grip Equipment
Costs $850
This is the lighting that will bring the set to life, the flags that create the perfect atmosphere, and the boxes to support our sound team.
Insurance
Costs $500
Even though we'll always do our best to keep all the gear in good condition, it's always better to be safe than sorry.
Meals
Costs $1,500
The food can make or break a set, and we always want the best for our cast and crew!
Production Design
Costs $400
The costumes to dress actors, the props they hold and the art on the walls- all of it is meticulously sourced for maximum believability.
Just in Case
Costs $500
Since anything can happen, and boy does it, it's important to expect the unexpected and have a little bit of contingency to fall back on.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Writer - Sam Fleming
Sam Fleming is a writer from the Poconos. They love telling important stories about identity through the lens of comedy. Examples include Turn Table, the story of a young man with Down syndrome navigating a busy record store, and Thesbians, a feature about a Broadway actress coming to terms with her sexuality. They’re currently working as a freelance video editor, producing their first independent film, and collecting as many Toronto Blue Jays baseball cards as they can.
Director - TK James
Originally from central Ohio, TK James is a writer-director currently based in Brooklyn, New York, after graduating from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Through their studies, they continued to find ways to integrate animation and experimental video practices into their live-action narrative work, creating a distinct voice and visual style they continue to hone today. As a non-binary filmmaker, they hold high standards of inclusion and visibility in all of their work, thematically and in practice. Their work has been recognized at benchmark genre festivals such as the Almeria Western Film Festival (FIREBALL), The JVC Film Fest (push forward and growing pains), and the One Take Doc Series (F*ck Your Policy).
Director of Photography - Rosie Sirk
Rosie Sirk is a director and camera professional based in Los Angeles, originally from Cleveland, Ohio. She has a strong background in visual storytelling and technical cinematography, developed through her work on set and in camera rental support. A graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology, Rosie currently works as a camera prep technician at Old Fast Glass, where she deepens her understanding of camera systems and workflows. Her short film “Lambkin” earned recognition on the festival circuit, screening at the Montreal Women Film Fest, The Finger Lakes Film Fest, Standing Rock International Shorts Festival, and the Short. Sweet. Film Fest. As a director, Rosie is passionate about exploring character-driven stories that challenge perspective and evoke empathy. She is eager to continue gaining hands-on experience in narrative filmmaking and to collaborate with creative teams that push artistic and technical boundaries
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Imagine there is a little girl- maybe she’s you, your sister, your friend from down the street. Every Sunday, between September and February, her dad would sit down to watch the great American game: football. It will become apparent to that little girl, very quickly, that she is not wanted there with him. She cannot understand the game the same way he does, cannot cheer loud enough or memorize stats and plays fast enough, and she will grow to not want to watch the game at all. She could not care enough, so now she will not care at all.
Then, maybe one day, after she’s grown up and she’s living on her own- away from the father who made her hate the game, she might find herself watching again. And maybe she makes it through the first quarter, and realizes she’s engaged. Maybe she makes it through the second without really understanding the penalties, the third before she understands a down, and by the fourth she realizes she’s having a blast. Removing the barrier of the confrontational male fan and the expectation of her to know it all created a whole new connection to a sport she now loves.
I’m familiar with her story- it’s the same for both her and me. You Don’t Know Ball is for her, and every other girl who was convinced she had to be a superfan to fit in with the boys. It’s about letting women enjoy sports casually, and embracing the enthusiasm any fan can bring to the game, whether or not they can name five players.
(and yes, those pics are me and Sam. we wrote You Don't Know Ball for us, too)
After accidentally wearing the opposing team’s color to her boyfriend’s best friends’ football watch party, Monica is confronted with the extent of her boyfriend Ethan and his friends, Rob & Tripp’s, superstitions. Their team- the Tonawanda Tatonka’s- are notorious underdogs and are not doing well. In an effort to connect with the guys, Monica shares that she used to watch the games with her dad before he deemed her a “bad luck charm”, which incites a quiet panic within the boys. Rob and Tripp resort to desperate measures, and Monica must fend for her life against their efforts to quell the Tatonka’s continued losing streak.
Thank you so much for asking! Your donation not only helps fulfill more straightforward production needs, like costuming actors, setting up lights and renting a very nice camera, but it also shows support for women in sports and indie filmmaking!
Women's sports is entering a golden age, with the rise in popularity of the PWHL, the launch of the WPBL, and new women's tackle football teams popping up all over the place- including Columbus, where we intend to shoot the film! There's never been a better time to be a fan of women, a fan of sports, or a woman fan of sports, and therefore, there's never been a better time for us to make this film.
If raise $5,000, we're able to break even and cover all our expenses: camera rental, grip equipment, insurance, meals, production design, and contingency. This is our main goal, however, we do have some stretch goals:
If we raise $7,000, we'll be able to pay all of our crew members! We're fortunate enough to be working with wonderful friends who are donating their time because they care about the film, but if we could afford to give them an extra thanks, it would be fabulous!
If we raise $10,000, not only will we be able to bump that pay up for each of our lovely crew members, but we would be able to cover the expenses of our festival run, which would allow more submissions, and therefore more eyes on the final product.
Obviously, anything donated is such a gift, and it means the world to me and the entire You Don't Know Ball team. If you can't donate, that's okay too! Following the page here on Seed&Spark or on Instagram @jackrabbit.three will help spread the word!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera Rental
Costs $1,250
A picture is worth a thousand words, and a cinema quality camera will allow us to tell this story with the prettiest pictures possible.
Grip Equipment
Costs $850
This is the lighting that will bring the set to life, the flags that create the perfect atmosphere, and the boxes to support our sound team.
Insurance
Costs $500
Even though we'll always do our best to keep all the gear in good condition, it's always better to be safe than sorry.
Meals
Costs $1,500
The food can make or break a set, and we always want the best for our cast and crew!
Production Design
Costs $400
The costumes to dress actors, the props they hold and the art on the walls- all of it is meticulously sourced for maximum believability.
Just in Case
Costs $500
Since anything can happen, and boy does it, it's important to expect the unexpected and have a little bit of contingency to fall back on.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Writer - Sam Fleming
Sam Fleming is a writer from the Poconos. They love telling important stories about identity through the lens of comedy. Examples include Turn Table, the story of a young man with Down syndrome navigating a busy record store, and Thesbians, a feature about a Broadway actress coming to terms with her sexuality. They’re currently working as a freelance video editor, producing their first independent film, and collecting as many Toronto Blue Jays baseball cards as they can.
Director - TK James
Originally from central Ohio, TK James is a writer-director currently based in Brooklyn, New York, after graduating from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Through their studies, they continued to find ways to integrate animation and experimental video practices into their live-action narrative work, creating a distinct voice and visual style they continue to hone today. As a non-binary filmmaker, they hold high standards of inclusion and visibility in all of their work, thematically and in practice. Their work has been recognized at benchmark genre festivals such as the Almeria Western Film Festival (FIREBALL), The JVC Film Fest (push forward and growing pains), and the One Take Doc Series (F*ck Your Policy).
Director of Photography - Rosie Sirk
Rosie Sirk is a director and camera professional based in Los Angeles, originally from Cleveland, Ohio. She has a strong background in visual storytelling and technical cinematography, developed through her work on set and in camera rental support. A graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology, Rosie currently works as a camera prep technician at Old Fast Glass, where she deepens her understanding of camera systems and workflows. Her short film “Lambkin” earned recognition on the festival circuit, screening at the Montreal Women Film Fest, The Finger Lakes Film Fest, Standing Rock International Shorts Festival, and the Short. Sweet. Film Fest. As a director, Rosie is passionate about exploring character-driven stories that challenge perspective and evoke empathy. She is eager to continue gaining hands-on experience in narrative filmmaking and to collaborate with creative teams that push artistic and technical boundaries