Autonomy and Me: Crowdfunding Picks
Whether fighting the system, combating societal prejudices, or coping under the weight of a parent’s expectations, women all around the world struggle with maintaining their autonomy. This month’s crowdfunding picks remind us that women often fight to be seen, heard, and believed in everyday interactions with loved ones, and in the bigger battles against systemic, institutional oppression.
“Diwa” chronicles the many such trials faced by immigrants — legal, economic, and social — by focusing on an immigrant from the Philippines who comes to America to support her family back home. It is not long before she is exploited and abused by her employer, and then victimized a second time by a broken immigration system.
The short “Fugaz” follows two young women in Mexico City, who both express themselves through aerial dance as they become increasingly frustrated with their community’s environment of toxic masculinity and violence against women.
Comedy web series “Phi and Me” follows the adventures of mother-daughter duo Phi and Kim Huong. Phi is a second generation Vietnamese Australian who studies hard to make her mother proud but struggles to reconcile her mother’s expectations with her own aspirations.
“I Don’t Give a F*ck” candidly discusses sexuality from the perspective of two young queer women of color, as roommates Maya and Jasmine support one another in the challenges they face from the very opposite ends of the sexual orientation spectrum: asexual, and aromantic pansexual, respectively.
Finally, in the short “Wait” strangers find themselves in silent unity as they sit in an abortion clinic waiting room, whilst their right to bodily autonomy is violently challenged by the angry protesters outside.
Here’s our latest round of women-created and women-centric crowdfunding picks.
“Diwa” (Short) — Co-Written and Directed by Aina Dumlao
Writer, director, and actress Aina Dumlao brings us this social justice short film, inspired by the many real stories of people she knows. “Where I’m from, unless you were born into privilege, opportunities for a good life are scarce — which is why 10.2 million Filipinos work abroad … I had an uncle who worked as a seafarer — barely seeing his family for three decades,” she says. It’s these experiences that Dumlao wishes to shine a light on through the lens of the fictional character Diwa, an undocumented Filipino immigrant in the U.S.
According to the project’s website, the film aims to not only give a name and face to the millions of undocumented immigrants, and deliver to them the message that they are not alone, but also to effect change in society by exposing our broken immigration system for what it is.
To help the film through its post-production, and to learn more, you can visit the project’s Indiegogo campaign page.
“Fugaz” (Short) — Directed by Berenice Viveros
Director Berenice Viveros, a University student in Mexico City, was inspired to make the short “Fugaz” by thinking about how she and her young, female peers struggle to survive in a culture of male chauvinism whilst simultaneously being blamed for the violence and harassment they suffer.
Her story focuses on Camila and Isabel, two 20-something best friends who live together, and who refuse to give in to the pressures of their patriarchal society, despite the contempt and uncomfortable situations they face. Alarmed by Mexico’s statistics on violence against women and its culture of victim blaming, Viveros hopes to change the conversation in her community.
You can help “Fugaz” tell its story by contributing to its Kickstarter campaign.
“Phi and Me” (Web Series) — Directed by Mel Killingsworth; Written by Fiona Chau and Diana Nguyen
“Phi and Me” began life in 2011 as a successful comedy theater production, featured at Australian festivals in Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide, before moving on to international shores: California, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017. Now it’s ready to hit the screen as a five-part web series.
Written by two Vietnamese Australian women — Fiona Chau and Diana Nguyen — the series aims to offer Vietnamese Australians some much needed representation. “We want to dive right in and explore the Vietnamese stereotypes, break down the misconceptions, and have fun doing it,” says Nguyen, who also stars in the series.
Check out “Phi and Me” on Indiegogo to learn more about how to fund the project.
“I Don’t Give a F*ck” (Web Series) — Created and Directed by Victoria Kee
“I Don’t Give a F*ck’s” mission statement is simple: to raise awareness of asexuality, and challenge misconceptions about the sexual and romantic spectra which are so rarely discussed within our media. “The reason I’m creating this series is because of the serious lack of accurate, relatable, or open representation of asexuality in media, and especially for people of color,” says creator and director Victoria Kee.
By focusing on two young, modern women who come from different backgrounds yet face similar prejudices and societal ignorance, the series hopes to give a voice to the underrepresented, and allow them to see that growth and self-realization are possible for them, just as they are for the characters, Maya and Jasmine.
Visit “I Don’t Give a F*ck’s” Indiegogo campaign page to learn more about how to back the series.
“Wait” (Short) — Written and Directed by Johanna Block
“Wait” investigates the stigma surrounding abortion with its portrayal of a group of strangers sitting in a waiting room, united by similar circumstances, whilst the atmosphere in the room weighs heavy with the muffled noise of protesters outside.
Hoping to normalize the conversation around abortion, writer and director Johanna Block’s goal is “to depict the true face of abortion through characters that are diverse in age, race, social class, and gender.” “Wait” is an optimistic story about a subject that is at the heart of women’s fight for autonomy.
Help support the production of “Wait” by donating via its Seed & Spark campaign page.
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.
