As anti-LGTBQIA+ assaults ramp up everywhere in the nation, it’s extra necessary than ever to concentrate to what LGBTQ persons are saying in our personal phrases. As the liberty to debate the very existence of queer, homosexual, and trans folks is rolled again in state legislators across the nation, let’s keep in mind that no combat in opposition to oppression is ever decisively received. These crowdfunding movies by homosexual and bisexual ladies have much more to say than “homosexual”: they’ve ideas and concepts about overcoming worry, advocating for your self within the medical system, and what it feels prefer to see your self on-screen for the primary time.
In “Solely the Lovers,” it takes the tip of the world for Amy to come back to phrases along with her sexuality and to go after what (and who!) she actually needs. A poignant reminder that, regardless of all our steps ahead, so many LGBTQ folks face a battle with out and inside as they have to overcome their very own internalized homophobia and worry.
The top of a lady’s life is averted in “Graft” when a younger lady advocates for herself throughout the American medical system. A mole waved off by a health care provider seems to be doubtlessly lethal and the younger lady impacted has to combat to be taken severely. Primarily based on writer-director Abby Burton’s private story of surviving most cancers in her early 20s, this brief reminds us that it’s as much as us to avoid wasting ourselves.
And at last, as so many attempt to erase homosexual and queer folks from our lecture rooms, “Feeling Seen” is a well timed reminder concerning the energy of media to point out folks they aren’t alone. This characteristic documentary began out as director Beth Ryne’s exploration of “Xena: Warrior Princess” and the affect the present had on a whole era of queer ladies, and has morphed right into a deeper look into the illustration of queer ladies on-screen.
Bear in mind, if our voices weren’t highly effective they wouldn’t be making an attempt to maintain us quiet.
Listed here are Ladies and Hollywood’s newest crowdfunding picks.
“Feeling Seen” (Documentary) – Directed by Beth Ryne
With a power-house group and an ideal roster of interviews, “Feeling Seen” provides an all-access take a look at the illustration of queer ladies in tv. Impressed by director Beth Ryne’s childhood expertise of watching “Xena: Warrior Princess” and seeing one thing in Xena and Gabrielle’s relationship that spoke to her, this characteristic doc is a deep dive into the significance of feeling seen.
Whereas queer ladies served as jokes and punchlines throughout their first TV portrayals, their characterization has developed and so too have the followers of their exhibits. From “Xena” to “Orange Is the New Black” to “The Fosters” every depiction added to the dialog queer ladies have been having with themselves about who they may very well be, who they may love, and what their lives might appear like.
This venture was disrupted due to COVID-19, however is again on observe and able to end what was began. Be a part of an L.A.-based group with deep routes within the leisure trade to discover and rejoice how far depictions of queer ladies have come and the place they will nonetheless go.
Be taught extra about “Feeling Seen” and donate on Seed&Spark.
“Solely the Lovers” (Brief) – Written and Directed by Jocelyn Koo
This brief movie features a comet heading towards Earth, a lesbian wedding ceremony, and a second-chance romance. When Amy (Sarah Lilly), now an older lady, attends a marriage on the final day earlier than the apocalypse, she runs into Patricia (Lauren Peterson), a lady she used to — and perhaps nonetheless does — love. Amy actually has nothing left to lose because the world ends, besides her illusions about herself.
As writer-director Jocelyn Koo writes on the “Solely the Lovers” marketing campaign web page, “The characters make decisions on this story as a result of the comet headed in direction of them is a ticking bomb reminding them of their restricted time on Earth. The comet is symbolic of the motivation it takes for folks to alter their lives and select otherwise.”
Not each reminder of our brief time on Earth comes within the form of a comet, however there have been loads of reminders to decide on love over the previous few years. As Koo says, “This story is necessary to me personally as a result of I’ve fears and would really like one thing to inspire me to point out braveness. I would like this film to be the push that I would like.”
Be taught extra about “Solely the Lovers” and donate on Indiegogo.
“Graft” (Brief) – Written and Directed by Abby Burton and Antonio Harper
Typically reminders of our mortality are nearer to residence. In “Graft,” a younger lady discovers a mole on her scalp and has to beg her physician to take her severely. Primarily based on writer-director Abby Burton’s personal expertise with most cancers in 2019, “Graft” is an exploration of the American medical system and the lengths ladies should go to be believed.
When Burton discovered a mole on the left facet of her head, she begged her physician to ship a pattern out for testing. She was advised she was being “overdramatic” and cautioned to remain off the web. However when the outcomes got here again, she had stage 2A invasive malignant melanoma, a fast-spreading type of most cancers.
“Graft” is a movie a few younger lady simply beginning out in life and making an attempt to determine who she is and what she needs, who should as a substitute combat for her very existence.
Be taught extra about “Graft” and donate on Kickstarter.
To be thought of for Ladies and Hollywood’s crowdfunding characteristic, please write to wandhcrowdfunding@gmail.com. All codecs (options, shorts, net sequence, and many others.) welcome. Initiatives should be by and/or about ladies.
Supply: Women And Hollywood