I'm Making a Queer Short Film in San Diego. Want to Join Me?
After a 20-year detour through publishing, law school, and building a business, I'm back behind the camera — and I'm looking for cast, crew, cheerleaders, and investors to join in on the fun.
Dear friend,
This summer I’m making a queer romcom here in San Diego with local cast and crew — and I want you to join in the fun.
Wow. It feels scary and exciting to say that out loud!
If you want to know why this is such a HUGE deal for me, here are some past posts talking about my history with film and television:
Long story short:
I started my career in film school, was highly discouraged from going into directing for Hollywood because I was a queer, fat, and femme.
A thoughtful professor told me I could have better luck in film if I wrote the book first, so I spent twenty years in publishing working on building up my brand as a writer.
Now, I have a book in almost every bookstore and airport in the nation and I’m ready to make films again – on my own terms.
Doing it My Way
Going into publishing, getting a law degree, and running my own business all looked like detours, but the whole time I kept my eye on the ultimate goal: multimedia storytelling.
My novel Because Fat Girl is a fictionalized memoir set in a world where I did move to L.A. to become a director. For two decades, I’ve gone to film festivals, taken classes, and read books on filmmaking. I’ve directed and produced numerous live events. I’ve kept my craft going even when Hollywood wasn’t watching.
When I panic that I’m forty-three and it’s way too late for me, I remind myself of this:
I’m not arriving late. I am arriving with experience.
Since I was a teen, I’ve felt like I was too late to the game. But life has taught me that no matter what age we are, there’s still time.
I’d love to know: what dreams are you arriving just on time to make come true?
Let me know in the comments so I can cheer you on.
The greatest thing about being forty-three and heading back into filmmaking is I’m arriving with both leverage and confidence.
And a list of things I would have given up back then, but refuse to do so now.
I refuse to silence my queer voice.
I refuse to make my characters all be super thin.
I refuse to leave my friends and family behind.
I refuse to move to L.A. just because everyone tells me to.
I refuse to be scared of the process.
I refuse to let the cost keep me from doing it — because technology has changed and I know I can find a way.
I refuse to feel too old to start again.
I refuse to believe I wasn’t a filmmaker all along.
And I absolutely refuse to do this alone.
Which is why I’m bringing you along for every step of the process.
Want to Join in the Fun?
At a time when federal, state, and local governments are all defunding the arts, working together to make a movie is a radical act.
San Diego’s mayor just proposed a new budget that would radically and drastically cut all funding to the arts and culture.
My goal is not just to make a film, but to have a place for creatives to build community and make art together – regardless of the opinion of politicians.
A place where we honor collaboration over competition and celebrate the diversity of humans and talent in San Diego and beyond.
There are four ways you can be a part of this film:
Cast
Crew
Cheerleader
Investors
More on each below.
Star in the Film 🎭
Calling all experienced and aspiring actors: we need your talent!
Here are the four main roles I’m casting:
Brooklyn — masc lesbian/enby queer, stylish, appears to be all smooth and full of swag, really heartbroken
Sunshine — femme lesbian/enby queer, staunch vegan, uses her morals as a wall against connection
Doug — kind but clueless straight man trying so hard to be a woke feminist
Genevieve — colorful coffee shop worker who wishes she could just find a nice guy and settle down
Plus, we will need about 4–6 background actors.
Want to act in the film?
Second: Check out the casting call information and audition here!
Join the Crew 🎬
More of a behind-the-camera type? Love logistics and the technicalities of film? We’d love to have you on our crew.
Here are the skills we need and support team we’d love to help make this happen:
Pre-Production & Production:
Director of Photography – this will be my friend Emily Deady!
Assistant Director
Assistant Producer
Production:
Lighting tech
Sound tech
Makeup and hair
Props and costumes
Script supervisor
Production assistants
BTS/social photographer
Catering
Post-production:
Editor and color tech
Sound tech
Composer/musician
Want to be a part of the crew? Fill out this form to get all the updates.
Be a Cheerleader 📣
Making a film is a long process and taking on this endeavor is both scary and exciting all at once. That’s where you come in.
Having a team of people to cheer me on, spread the word, and eventually watch the film when it’s done will help me keep going when things feel overwhelming.
As a cheerleader, you get access to behind-the-scenes posts, insider’s look at production, and that warm fuzzy feeling of knowing you’re helping get queer stories out in the world.
Want to cheer us on and help spread the word? Fill out this form to get all the updates.
Become an Investor 💸
If you’re a financier who wants to support LGBTQ storytelling and get producer credit, reply to this email and let’s talk.
A crowdfunding campaign is coming as well, with really great perks planned. Fill out this form to get all the updates.
Benefits of Joining Us in Making a Movie:
You get to help make a movie! That’s pretty cool.
You’ll get clips for your reel and resume.
Pay will depend on fundraising, but we strive to meet union minimums.
All cast, crew, and financiers get credit in the film and on IMDB.
The film will be pitched to festivals and streaming services.
It will be creative and fun!
The world is on fire, and creativity is the balm.
Whether you want to be part of the cast or crew, invest in the film, or just watch it all unfold in real time — there’s a place for you on this project.
If you want in, fill out this form.
I’ll also be documenting the whole process here on Substack, so if you aren’t a subscriber yet, be sure to do that now.
I cannot wait to make a movie with you!
Because the world needs our stories now more than ever.
With love and art,
Lauren
P.S. Know someone who has always wanted to be in the movies? Got a friend in San Diego who would be a great member of our creative team? Have a following on social media who might want in? Share this post!