This month’s crowdfunding picks look at women who persevere — whether through daring feats, everyday moments that could mean life or death, or divulging something personal to someone they care about. Each of these short films showcase formidable women who survive.
In Michelle Locke’s biographical documentary, “Throttle It Up: The Story of a Wing Walker” she examines the history of wing walking, and of a modern-day wing walker Carol Pilon, who is rebooting the retro occupation that dazzled in the 1920s. Then, there are two narrative films that look at the trials young girls overcome. In “Trust,” by Diane Lansing, a Nazi officer tries to trick a teen into revealing her true identity as a Jew. It is based on real events. Then, there is “What Goes on Inside a Cocoon” by Anika Guttormson, which explores the complicated relationship between growing up and sisterhood.
Here are Women and Hollywood’s latest women-centric and women-made crowdfunding picks.
“Throttle It Up: The Story of a Wing Walker” (Documentary Short) – Directed by Michelle Locke
“Throttle It Up: The Story of a Wing Walker”
Michelle Locke’s Carol Pilon documentary combines the director’s two loves: filmmaking and aviation. Pilon is the first and only Canadian wing walker. The film will look at the history of the daring profession, with a focus on Pilon and her team, who have been working since 2000. The title, “Throttle It Up,” is a reference to Pilon’s own catchphrase.
The project will act as Locke’s senior thesis. She wants to raise funds to ensure she can travel to Canada and capture footage of Pilon in action, at one of her live shows.
Support “Throttle It Up: The Story of a Wing Walker” on Kickstarter.
“Trust” (Short) – Written and Directed by Diane Lansing
During World War II, a 13-year-old girl and her family fled Yugoslavia to live under assumed names in Italy. A young Nazi lieutenant befriended the girl in hopes of tricking her into revealing her Jewish identity. He did this by giving her sweets and playing games with her, then switching languages to see if the girl understood a tongue that betrayed her ethnicity. In the pitch video on Seed&Spark, writer-director Diane Lansing, a personal friend of the woman whose experiences the project is based on, says it is important to tell this story now due to the rise in white nationalism, stressing that people “must not forget” the anti-Semitic atrocities throughout history.
The filmmaking team is comprised of women, and has partnered with Pitch Her Productions. Every donation to “Trust” goes to supporting women in film.
Support “Trust” on Seed&Spark.
“What Goes on Inside a Cocoon” (Short) – Written and Directed by Anika Guttormson
“What Goes on Inside a Cocoon”
This short follows a high school senior named Alyssa, whose trip to visit her crush at the diner where she works is complicated when her little sister, Eleanor, decides to tag along. The sisters are close and Alyssa has always been someone Eleanor looks up to, but their relationship is becoming strained as Alyssa has not yet come out to her family. Alyssa contemplates if it is time to divulge details of her private life to her little sis on their way to the diner.
In a video on Kickstarter, writer-director Anika Guttormson said, “I wanted to make this film because I feel so few films explore the complicated relationship that can exist between sisters.” She was also inspired by the relationship she has with her own two younger sisters. Guttormson elaborated she feels queer media usually focuses coming out stories on the parent-child relationship, and wanted to highlight other kinds of relationships that deserve attention.
This movie will be Guttormson’s thesis film. She is largely crowdfunding for equipment rental costs, transportation, and location shooting in New Jersey.
Support “What Goes on Inside a Cocoon” on Kickstarter.
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.
