The path to success is full of uncertainty and comes with no guarantees. For many, an already-difficult road is compounded by various factors: gender, race, sexuality, economic status, appearance, ability. There’s also no singular path, as evidenced by this month’s crowdfunding picks. The following projects all explore different routes to obtaining success, be it through achieving one’s dreams, overcoming setbacks, or empowering oneself to make change.
Feature film “Jasmine Star” is the story of a teenage girl with albinism who is determined to become a professional model. The documentary “Pearl” follows six extraordinary women who overcame homelessness to find success in the arts. “Typecast” is a series created by a trio of actors who are tired of ethnic typecasting and are determined to create their own opportunities within the film and television industry.
Here’s our latest round of women-created and women-centric crowdfunding picks.
“Jasmine Star” – Written and Directed by Jo Rochelle
If you were asked to name a film featuring a character with albinism, chances are you would struggle to provide an answer – especially if asked to name one in which the character is centered in a narrative where they are treated positively and humanely. Writer-director Jo Rochelle aims to change exactly that with her debut feature film, “Jasmine Star.”
The film tells the story of Jasmine (Iyana LeShea), a 16-year-old with albinism growing up in Minneapolis who dreams of being a professional model. Recognizing the lack of positive portrayals of people with albinism within media — and wider societal misconceptions surrounding the absence of pigment in hair, skin, and eyes — Rochelle is determined to provide a much overdue coming-of-age story. Her concept trailer offers a preview of what audiences can expect from the film, which is inspired by the likes of “To All the Boys I Loved Before,” “Real Women Have Curves,” and “Eighth Grade.”
Rather than wait for permission to tell such a story — or for the mainstream media to meet the demand for it — Rochelle and her team are determined to make it happen themselves. As such, following the success of the crowdfunding campaign for her short film “Sirens,” Rochelle is looking to that same avenue of community support for funds.
You can support “Jasmine Star” by visiting its Indiegogo campaign page.
“Pearl” (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Cali Gilbert
Cali Gilbert knows first-hand the milieus and social complexities that may lead to homelessness; she experienced it herself for two years in San Francisco. Since then, she has turned her life around, becoming a best-selling author, award winning photographer, and social impact filmmaker. Now, she plans to make this film to celebrate other women who, like her, have overcome homelessness and found success in the arts.
Created by an all-female crew, the film will share Gilbert’s journey alongside the experiences five other women: Angelique Fawcette, Victoria Reynolds, Julie Clemmons, Neeko Freeman, and Klaudia Kovacs. Gilbert will explore subjects such as race, mental health, LGBTQ+ experiences, and discrimination, and how they all contribute to and complicate the experience of homelessness.
In sharing these stories, Gilbert hopes to not only celebrate these women’s extraordinary feats, but also inspire others to find solutions for tackling the social pandemic and work towards ending homelessness altogether.
You can contribute to the film by visiting its Seed&Spark campaign page.
“Typecast” (Series) – Created by Randa Newman, Dajanae Cole and Ali Alsaleh; Directed by Brionna Scrivens
https://youtu.be/rLAXkdF3oqQ
While small steps are being taken within the film and television industry toward much improved racial inclusion and representation, little has changed on a systemic level. The latest research from Dr. Stacy L. Smith and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative found that just 11 of the 100 top films in 2018 were led or co-led by women of color. Elsewhere, research presented by the MENA Arts Advocacy Coalition in 2018 showed that 78% of MENA (Middle Eastern and North African) characters in prime time and streaming television are terrorists/agents/soldiers or tyrants, perpetuating the stereotype of MENA as threats.
All too aware of the dangers of typecasting and the scarcity of roles for people for marginalized ethnic groups, actors Randa Newman, Dajanae Cole, and Ali Alsaleh are three Nashville-based friends taking matters into their own hands. Together, they have created this dramedy series in which they – an Asian-American woman, a Black woman, and an Arab man – play actors dealing with these same issues in their both their profession and daily lives off-screen.
Pitching the series as “Master of None” meets “Atlanta,” they need help raising funds to shoot the pilot.
Help their project get off the ground by contributing to its Indiegogo campaign.
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.
