“What About Elaine?” is the story centering around our main character Elaine who goes through the ups and downs of fertility and life after tremendous loss plus the toll it takes on the human heart.

Why this film? Why Crystal? Why now?  Crystal’s script was derived directly from the E+ Zoom Advanced Screenplay workshop. It came to the attention of the Program Director for E+, Dennis Curry, who upon reading it said, “This script needs to be produced!” Dennis then created a Zoom Pre-Production weekly workshop to collaborate with Crystal. She became familiar with all aspects of Pre-Production: Scene Breakdown, Shot List (which she created on her own), Locations, Casting, and Budget.  Many “Firsts” will come out of the project: Crystal’s first film making it to Production. Crystal’s debut as a Director, and this will be the first project written and directed by an E+ program participant. Her time is NOW!

Having completed Pre-Production (still locking down locations), these funds will be used primarily for Production: the highest percentage going toward the costs to provide stipends for the Cast & Crew along with Food. Secondarily, the budget covers an initial bid of Film Festival fees, along with a Wrap Party for the Cast, Crew, and Major Contributors. Since E+ has, as a part of their instructional training program, a studio complete with several Edit Bays, there will be no costs for Post Production.  The Distribution plan, at this point, is to first enter short film festivals around the globe.  Additionally, the team is looking into a variety of ways to get it out to the public.

This film project will also give other E+ program participants, who are currently being trained in Production – Sound, Grips, PAs, etc. an opportunity to truly practice their craft in a real-world setting and receive stipends for their efforts.

HOW can you get involved?

1. Contribute to the project.

2. Share, email, Pony Express, phone calls – help get The Word out so more people will complete #1.

Stretch Goals if/when we surpass our Funding Objective? 

Provide stipends to the E+ program participants who will help to complete the Post Production through their participation in the E+ Post Production Workshops.

Additional funds would help us to submit to even more festivals and further market the project.

The Effects of the COVID Pandemic on the project?

In March of 2020, our onsite program closed its doors based on the state mandate shutdown. Since then, we have continued to offer an array of workshops including Voice Over Acting, Production, and Post Production via Zoom.  Auditions, Callbacks, the Table Read, and rehearsals for the film are also being managed via Zoom. We are working diligently and safely to head toward production once funding is secured.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

The short film “What About Elaine?” is meant to spark conversations on a taboo subject, pregnancy loss and overcoming the sorrow of the heart.

This Docu-Short Fiction is to bring awareness to the topic for all parents whether you’re a nonbinary, male, woman, or the LGBTQIA+ community, has a disability, physical + nonvisible and single parents whether a father, mother or however you choose to identify. This educates the audience about the subject matter at hand.

This film is a double entendre since I wrote it in the Fall of 2020 during the lockdown due to the pandemic. You are meant to see yourself in every character because, in every script, you should be able to see similar characteristics in one’s yourself. Hope to see you as we bring Elaine’s story to a screen near you. At the end of the day, everyone deserves their happily ever after no matter what that happiness is.