I am an award-winning filmmaker based in Los Angeles. As a woman in a male-dominated industry, my goal is to create new images and tropes that are created on a woman's terms, truthfully, using our own voices. My work is based in absurdist comedy, because what better way to remark on a world in which that says there's only one way to be. The project for which I would use a generous Peerspace Space for Change grant would be my short film I wrote and will direct called "cat.," about a woman who signs up for a dating coaching service in search of her soulmate only to end up marrying a cat. The story of "cat." is about Jodie, who is 41, single, and committed to her career, who finds herself deeply alone and hoping to meet The One. Enter Mari, 55, a dating coach who pretends to have a dreamy romantic life but is actually a cat lady, and ultimately ends up getting all of her clients to marry cats. We think Mari has deceived Jodie, but leave the film thinking maybe, just maybe, this is some sort of road to happiness, and that Jodie's loneliness was inspired by an expectation narrative fed to us by the patriarchy. As a single woman I am hoping to tell stories that empower all women, for we are subjected to these stereotypes - I really like my life and am pretty happy, and sometimes I feel kinda bad when someone remarks that I shouldn't be. I'm totally cool with it, and I think happiness looks different for everyone. This is dedicated to those people. (I don't own a cat, for the record.) My work has been featured on Funny or Die, I won Best Director at the Atlanta Comedy Film Festival for my short film "The Last Croissant" and my music video "Brighter Days" won Best Music Video at the Apex Short Film & Music Video Festival. I am the recipient of the Ingrid Skulstad Williams Scholarship, a need-based scholarship for Women at UCLA Extension where I am currently completing my Certificate in Directing, and for which "cat." will be my final project. I was recently accepted into USC's prestigious School of Cinematic Arts MFA Film Production Program for Fall 2021. I wish to create new and truthful, complicated images of women on screen. I am a survivor, and while the things I have experienced were terrifying, I have synthesized my experiences into comedy. Because if we don't laugh, we'll go under. Especially now! I believe comedy is a service. As Joan Rivers says: "If you've made someone laugh, you've given them a small vacation." I want to give that to an audience, I believe comedy saves lives, and as women, this is how we're going to save ourselves: if we laugh first.
My short film "cat." will be filmed July 16-25, 2021 with a 100% vaccinated crew and cast. Since the project is technically a student film under UCLA Extension's purview, we are looking to keep costs low, and the Space for Change grant would be of great help to our aggregate budget of $15,000. An extensive Seed & Spark fundraising campaign will be created in late April-May to raise funds for the project. All crew members will be professional artists and SAG actors will be used. The space will be used for one day of shooting, and we would book out a few additional days in the same location as well since it would be a recurring space for the project. The location we are seeking is a modest home with modern architecture that feels subtly decorated and has a kitchen, a bathroom, a living room and bedroom. It should look like it should be comfortable but un-lived in - a single woman's first home who is possibly a workaholic. This will be the main space for the project and our home base as a filmmaking team, as the bulk of our shoot will take place there. The house will be a character in the project, as it is used by Mari, the dating coach to taunt Jodie, our protagonist, reminding her that while it is beautiful and impressive, it is empty. Here is a link to a hi-resolution look book for the project; a lower-resolution copy is also attached in the photo section: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fELpE_TevGd7DfS8bcOwEpSLKCn9exvc/view?usp=sharing My team is 100% professional and experienced, and my lead Emmy-nominated producer Stephanie Bell of BellLipoma Entertainment will see to it that we leave no trace in any of our spaces and leave them better than we found them! I have had nothing but joyous encounters with past Peerspace hosts and would look forward to filming my short film at a Peerspace location.
Peerspace is on a mission to bring people together. We believe it is impossible to achieve that goal unless we also fight for equality and access to resources in the communities we serve.
Having a space to gather, create, and exchange ideas is an important part of any movement. In order to magnify voices that are often quieted, Peerspace will sponsor venues for people who challenge prejudice and fight for social justice and equality.
Each quarter, we will sponsor space for three projects that are relevant to our community. These projects can range from fundraisers and educational initiatives to art exhibits and photo series.
