Crowdfunding has given the opportunity to raise filmmaking funds to far more people than before, but even so, it can still be tough to reach your target. One gay-themed short film that’s currently hoping to raise funds to help get it made is Public Life, from young filmmaker Matthew Allen.
The short is currently running a Kickstarter in the hope of raising $5,000.
So what’s it about? Here’s the synopsis: ‘After befriending his new classmate John, Eric is forced to come to terms with both his sexuality and the tragic death of a friend. This is a coming-of-age film that examines what it is like to struggle with sexuality, depression, anxiety, and loss in high school. The characters in this story must also deal with these issues in the age of social media. A world where everyone knows what you’re doing and where nothing is ever really gone.’
On the Kickstarter, the director says that, “While everyone’s experience is different, a common theme while growing up gay is questioning who you really are. That process of discovery can be eye-opening, but can also be physically and mentally debilitating, especially when paired with other hardships happening in someone’s life. I experienced that struggle in high school when I realized my sexuality, but didn’t have to experience it while dealing with other problems.
“I want to tell this story because I feel like it’s a unique take on a story of loss and acceptance. It expertly weaves together the ideas of grief and guilt of losing a best friend, as well as the struggle of acceptance of sexuality. It does all this while also highlighting the contemporary issue of school shootings. Grief and confusion are never emotions that someone would choose to feel, but experiencing them can lead you to discovering who you really are.”
The hope is to shoot the film – which takes its stylistic influences from the likes of The Way He Looks, Call Me By Your Name, Short Term 12, and Precious – at the end of February. Take a look at the crowdfunding video below, and if you like what you see, head over to Kickstarter to help out.
Leave a Reply (if comment does not appear immediately, it may have been held for moderation)