The creativity and audacity of women directors and writers know no bounds in this round of crowdfunding picks. These stories, ranging from sharp-witted comedies to powerful dramas, all showcase the creativity women exhibit when presenting their views of the world.
“Imitating Life: The Audacity of Suzanne Heintz” is a documentary on satirical photographer/art activist Suzanne Heintz. Heintz’s work centers on the pressure surrounding us to live our lives a certain way — for fifteen years she has photographed and filmed herself in real life scenes with an adopted mannequin family. She chose to project her image for the documentary’s poster art through Queen Elizabeth I; “Queen Elizabeth made herself into a visual icon, so do I,” Heintz explained. She spoke of the way image is tied to her art form, saying it’s “critical to a shift in my path and my role as an artist.”
After their Channel 4 sitcom was axed, Caitlin and Caroline Moran are taking to Kickstarter to save “Raised by Wolves.” The series is loosely inspired by the sisters’ own lives growing up in Wolverhampton, and follows two sisters (played by Helen Monks and Alexa Davies), the oldest children in a large family being raised by a single mother with somewhat unconventional parenting tactics. If successful, at least one future episode will be funded entirely by fans, a first for UK television.
On the dramatic end of the spectrum, “Pearl Rain” blends West African myth and European fairy tales in this romance/fantasy short about a young woman trapped in an emotionally abusive relationship. Writer-director Jumai Yusuf is “a huge fan of sci-fi, fantasy, and genre filmmaking, but not a fan of the lack of representation of minorities in these genres.” Her goal is to tell a different type of fantasy story that still is universal and relatable for audiences.
“Mourning Dove,” written and directed by Alexandra Petrus, also seeks to tell an important and underrepresented story. Inspired by Petrus’s father’s childhood living under the regime of Saddam Hussein, “Mourning Dove” tells the story of the struggles and healing of Youna, a young refugee trying to understand the forces that have torn apart the home she loves.
Here are our choices for crowdfunding projects this month.
“Imitating Life: The Audacity of Suzanne Heintz” (Documentary) — Directed by Karen Whitehead
Witty and candid, “Imitating Life: The Audacity of Suzanne Heintz” shows the path of the titular satirical artist as she confronts the pressures placed on women by society and by contemporary feminism. Heintz became “an accidental artist” through the Internet. The documentary also looks at the way iconography and branding are central to representing ideas. You can support the film on Kickstarter.
“Raised by Wolves” (TV Series) — Written and Created by Caitlin Moran and Caroline Moran
Caitlin and Caroline Moran’s loosely autobiographical look at one big, unconventional family living in Wolverhampton was voted the ninth best sitcom of the twenty-first century by Radio Times, won the Rose d’Or for Best Sitcom in 2016, and is currently being adapted by Oscar-winner Diablo Cody for American audiences. The series was recently cancelled by Channel 4, so the creators are taking to Kickstarter to continue the adventures of the Garry family. Support the campaign or find out more by visiting the Save the Wolves! page.
“Pearl Rain” (Short) — Directed by Jumai Yusuf; Written by Ange Clayton and Jumai Yusuf
Morayo is trapped in an emotionally abusive relationship, but after spending a magical day with someone who truly appreciates her, she catches her first glimpse of what a healthy relationship could look like. Writer-director Jumai Yusuf was inspired by the Orishas, a traditional religion practiced in Nigeria and the African Diaspora, and hopes that women in similar situations can draw strength from Morayo to change their lives. You can support the short film on Seed and Spark.
“Mourning Dove” — Written and Directed by Alexandra Petrus
A young refugee named Youna struggles to understand the forces that tore her beloved home apart, as well as move forward with her life. The writer and director, Alexandra Petrus, is pursuing degrees in Narrative Film Production and German Language and Literature, and “Mourning Dove” is her senior project. To quote her crowdfunding campaign page, the film’s “purpose is to energize against Western apathy to this destruction of antiquity, culture, and human life.” You can support the film on Indiegogo.
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.
