BAD GROUPIE, a film by Violet Paley

Help Bring "Bad Groupie" to Life!

I’m Violet Paley, the writer and director of a short film called BAD GROUPIE, which tells the story of Alice, a neurotic young woman who attempts to have a one-night stand with a famous musician. Despite being strangers and fully aware of the stereotypes they are supposed to fulfill in their dynamic, the two embark on an absurd, awkward, unsexy, and surprisingly sweet night together.

This short will not only be submitted to the festival circuit, but it is also a proof of concept for a series my collaborators and I are developing. Please check out the mood board.

As we all know, making a film is no small feat. It requires hard work, dedication, and financial resources from pre-production to post-production. That's why I’m reaching out to my community for support.

We are seeking to raise $25,000 in funding to cover the costs of pre-production, production, and post-production. Here is a breakdown of how the funds will be used:

Pre-production: $5,000

During this stage we will be scouting locations, casting actors, and planning the logistics of the shoot.

Production: $14,000

The production phase involves actually filming the scenes, and includes costs such as equipment rentals, crew salaries, transportation, catering, and other expenses that come with shooting a film.

Post-production: $6,000

The final stage of the process is post-production, which involves editing, sound design, color grading, and visual effects. This is where the film truly comes to life, and where the funds will help us ensure that BAD GROUPIE is the best it can be.

We have an incredible team:

Director/Writer: Violet Paley is a writer, director, actor and comedian currently based in Los Angeles. At 22 years old, she wrote and directed her first short film which won the Adolescent Content young filmmaker contest that can be watched here. She has worked as a director for a web series adaptation of the book Spent Saints. As well as writing and directing for the screen, in 2018 she published an autobiographical stream-of-consciousness book on living with Borderline Personality Disorder. She has acted in several projects, was involved in improvisational comedy at UCB for years, and performs stand-up comedy. She has a passion for telling compelling stories through a comedic lens.

Producer: Tallulah Dirnfeld is a writer, producer and artist based in Los Angeles. With a passion for storytelling and a creative drive, Tallulah has worked on a range of projects in film and television and is currently in production on several short films. With a background in development and production at companies such as Blumhouse Productions, HBO, WME, NBCUniversal, and Tribeca Film, Tallulah has gained valuable experience and insights into the industry. Tallulah graduated from the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, where she honed her skills and developed a strong foundation in the film industry.

Co-Producer: Brainfreeze Productions, founded by Dana Boulos. A Lebanese and Sudanese multidisciplinary artist known for her work as a film director, producer, and commercial fashion photographer embracing a punk and irreverent approach to filmmaking. Boulos carries with her a unique sensibility and global perspective that’s foundational to her creative output working with global clients and creatives, no matter the medium of executing a vision.

Co-Producer: Frank Pellegrino is an LA-based artist, producer, and musician. He has worked independently with 80-2 Productions on various projects, including "Teenage Emotions" and the upcoming feature “Isaiah’s iPhone.” He has also directed and produced a number of music videos across an array of genres and styles. Frank's background is in the art department, where he has worked on projects such as "Divinity" and "Joker: Folie a Deux."

Assistant Director & Associate Producer: Blu Hunt is a multifaceted creative who has been working in the industry for over 10 years as a director, writer, and actress. She offers a diverse and unique perspective to any project she is involved in. At the age of 20, she wrote, produced, and starred in her first solo project, for which she also served as an assistant director. This led to her first role on television and, subsequently, to her being cast as the lead in a major studio film. She has worked for Paramount, Netflix, ABC, The CW, Marvel Films, as well as multiple independent productions. With nearly a decade of experience on set, she stepped away from acting to position herself behind the camera. Her latest endeavor was producing and directing her second short film. Blu has been consumed with her love of film since she was a young girl, and this passion has driven her career both in front of and behind the camera.

Editor: Isa Ghaffari is an editor and director currently based in Los Angeles. She has worked on several feature films and television series at Netflix, DreamWorks Animation, and 20th Century Studios. As a member of the New Museum's artist incubator program, Isa has also produced, directed, and co-programmed numerous virtual reality interactive stories.

Art Director: Perla Haney-Jardine is an artist currently based in New York City.

Art Director: Lilliya Scarlett Reid is an artist and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. She is currently shooting a short film Bits.

On Set Stills: Maya (stolenbesos) is a creative director and photographer based in Los Angeles & New York. Her work has been published in Dazed, Galore, King Kong Magazine, MAPS Magazine, Office, PAPER Magazine, Sicky Magazine, Snuff Magazine, & Vogue.

The banner photo was taken by Noah Dillon.

We believe that BAD GROUPIE has the potential to be a standout short film that will entertain and resonate with audiences. With your help, we can make this a reality.

Thank you for considering this project, and for supporting independent filmmaking!