Sometimes there’s no better way to decompress from a long day or a stressful week than watching an episode of your favorite show. Or four. Or 10. There’s no shame in a good binge-watching session every so often. Luckily, Women and Hollywood’s new crowdfunding selections have you covered the next time you’re looking to watch a serial narrative unfold before you, one episode at a time. Whether you watch them over the course of a few weeks or all in one sitting — that’s none of our business.
Xenia Leblanc and Kelly Russo’s “Gritty & Pretty” centers on a rekindled high school friendship as two former besties find their way in the adult world. Jenna Larson and Mitchy McGhan’s “Hot Summer Daze” chronicles the lives of three teens as they navigate the daunting, thrilling summer after high school graduation. Finally, Julia Eringer’s “Girls Like Magic” will hopefully return for a second season, and finally reveal the fate of two women who, last season, unexpectedly fell in love in Los Angeles.
Here are Women and Hollywood’s latest batch of crowdfunding picks.
“Gritty & Pretty” (Series) – Created by Xenia Leblanc and Kelly Russo
Kira and Lauren were best friends in high school. But, as teenage friendships often do, the two drifted apart after graduation and lost touch. Fifteen years later, they reconnect, two very different people than they were in high school. But they’re both struggling in their personal and professional lives: Kira’s boxing gym is teetering on bankruptcy and Lauren is stuck hosting a talk show she hates. When they find their way back to each other, Kira and Lauren’s friendship picks up right where it left off — just in time to support each other as they face challenges and conquer their fears.
Of the inspiration for the series, “Gritty & Pretty” co-creator Xenia Leblanc writes, “The unpredictable nature of female friendships personally always amazed me. One day we’re ready to share our innermost secrets, desires, and fears. On another, we close off, compare and endlessly measure ourselves against one another.” The complexity of women’s relationships is at the heart of “Gritty & Pretty”; unsurprisingly, the creators describe the show a fusion of “GLOW” and “Bridesmaids.”
Leblanc calls the show a “feisty” exploration of love, friendship, fun, and the many complications that arise in the lives of young women. Co-creators and co-stars Leblanc and Kelly Russo, are real-life best friends, and bring the authentic, zany energy of their friendship to the screen. Leblanc adds, “I wanted to tell an entertaining and somewhat uncensored story of this bizarre friendship between two opposites that will hopefully leave people feeling good about who they truly are, without any need to hide behind appearances.”
Support “Gritty & Pretty” on Seed&Spark.
“Hot Summer Daze” (Web Series) – Created by Jenna Larson and Mitchy McGhan
Filmmakers Jenna Larson and Mitchy McGhan do everything together — they graduated from college together, moved from Chicago to Los Angeles together, and co-parent a puppy together. Now, they’re producing a web series together. With tons of experience, their own production company, and boundless passion, Larson and McGhan are ready to bring “Hot Summer Daze” to life.
“Hot Summer Daze” is a dramedy following three teenagers during the summer after their senior year of high school. This once-in-a-lifetime summer can host so many emotions: excitement for college, fear for the future, grief over the friendships that may not survive. That’s why Larson and McGhan feel it’s the perfect time of life to explore in a series. “The summer after high school, when you’re 18-years-old, teetering on the edge of adulthood, is terrifying, freeing, and exciting,” they share in their crowdfunding video for the series, “all wrapped up in one last gasp of being a teenager.”
Above all, the filmmakers want to contribute an honest, accurate depiction of teenage life, love, and loneliness to the canon of TV shows about high schoolers. “Lets be honest,” they say, “the vast majority of shows about high schoolers feel really inaccurate. We want to change the narrative of high school dramas.” That also means depicting an inclusive and diverse reflection of the teenage experience. The creators want to ensure “Hot Summer Daze” is there for “everyone that wants and needs to see a show that is sex positive, honest, and has authentic representation for racial minorities and those in the LGBTQ+ community.”
Support “Hot Summer Daze” on Seed&Spark.
“Girls Like Magic” (Web Series) – Created by Julia Eringer
Julia Eringer and Yaz Abeydeera knew they had something special with the first season of their web series “Girls Like Magic.” The season got lots of press attention and a substantial following. But they didn’t realize just how special their show was until they started to read the viewer comments below each episode. One read, “Being gay where I live is illegal and your show gave me something to hold onto.” That’s when Eringer and Abeydeera knew a second season of “Girls Like Magic” was essential.
Eringer, the creator of the series, is ready and eager to get to work on Season 2 of “Girls Like Magic.” Fortified by the reactions she’s seen from viewers all over the world, she wants to continue the narrative and honor the legacy of the first season. “I wanted to create a show that was sexy, funny, brave, and inspiring,” she shares in the crowdfunding video for the new season. In “Girls Like Magic,” Eringer plays Magic, a people-pleasing Brit who follows her boyfriend to Hollywood. Her world is turned upside down when she meets Jamie, played by Abeydeera, a lesbian musician with whom she shares an immediate connection.
As Abeydeera explains, the fundamental mission of “Girls Like Magic” — that is, beyond being a fun and sexy queer romp through Los Angeles — is “increasing visibility for minorities by creating characters that are LGBTQ or multi-ethnic.” Eringer adds, “We think [that’s] important to [our audience], too.”
Support “Girls Like Magic” on Seed&Spark.
To be considered for Women and Hollywood’s biweekly crowdfunding feature, please write to womenandhollywoodinterns@gmail.com. All formats (features, shorts, web series, etc.) welcome. Projects must be by and/or about women.
