About the Film

Slay follows Colby, a feminine queer man in his early twenties who finds confidence and self expression through drag under the persona Venus Bawi. After a violent attack, Colby begins to question himself and his belief in love. His anger leads to a violent revenge fantasy, that asks “Why try?

Characters

Colby - an aspiring drag performer whose joy is infectious. After surviving a violent assault, his spirit fractures, and he struggles to rediscover the light he once carried.

Geo - A closeted man in a secret relationship with Colby, torn between genuine love and the pressure to conform to social norms.

Teresa - Colby's protective older sister who takes him in after his trauma, offering unconditional support even when he cannot recognize it.

Alex - A hypermasculine man who spearheads efforts to assert rigid masculinity with his friend Austin.

Austin - Follows Alex's lead with unquestioned loyalty, posing the physical threat of the duo as they target Colby.

Why We Should "Slay"

Anti-queer legislation and cultural rhetoric are rising rapidly across the U.S. Drag artists are being targeted and LGBTQIA+ people are unsafe in spaces meant for them. As a queer filmmaker and drag artist, I understand the fragility of Queer joy. "Slay" offers and honest portrayal of Queer survival centering on endurance rather than triumph. In a time when queer stories are being diminished, I believe it necessary to assert our presence with clarity and care.

Now is the time to fund and protect queer storytelling - especially from queer creators.

Budget Breakdown

This film hopes to raise a total of $2,250 to allow Slay to fully slay! Our budget breakdown includes:

Note From Director

Hello Queens and Kings! My name is Marc Manapat and I am the writer and director of Slay. As a queer filmmaker and drag artist, I have known what it feels like to be celebrated one moment and erased the next. Slay is born from this reality.

I'm making Slay to honor queer survival, not as a triumph, but as an endurance. Drag is not Colby's costume, it's the way he breathes. When that identity is attacked the damage is not just physical, but threatens the very thing holding him together. This film is a refusal to look away from rage, shame, grief, and the quiet ache of continuing.

My goal in making this film, is that queer audiences feel seen. I hope others feel invited to step into a world many of us live inside every day.

Your support and donations, whether it be $5 or $500, make an impactful difference to allow queer and diverse voices be heard within the new generation of filmmakers. Thank you so much!

Learn more about me and my work at https://marc-vision.my.canva.site/.

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