We have just 3 weeks left to finish filming "The Seeds You Planted" — your support now will make it possible.

"The Seeds You Planted" is my first feature-length hybrid documentary as a filmmaker, exploring the legacy of Marsha P. Johnson through today’s trans activism in New York City. Filmed during Pride season 2025, the project has grown into a living archive of resistance, joy, and care — centering the Black Trans Liberation Kitchen and it's co-founder Qween Jean and the broader trans and gender-nonconforming community that gathers there each week.

Over the past two months, I’ve been embedded in the community, filming both as a participant and as an observer. The film’s protagonists — trans leaders, organizers, and artists — have emerged organically through shared space, volunteer work, and collective action.

My visual approach shifts between two languages: intimate, raw handheld footage when I am part of the scene, and a more refined, cinematic setup when covering events as a witness. Throughout, I’ve been in close consultation with experienced DPs and a sound designer to ensure the technical quality meets international festival standards.

We’ve already covered major Pride events with a focus on trans resistance, leadership, and celebration, as well as weeks of behind-the-scenes work at the BTL Kitchen. In the next three weeks, I will film the big one-on-one interviews that will anchor the film — moments that connect each protagonist’s story visually and thematically. For this I had to extend my stay in NYC by a month (at my own expense) to make this possible.

✨ Upcoming Milestone – Marsha’s 80th Birthday ✨

On August 24th, thanks to our first donors, we’re able to sponsor a big Flower Crown Contest for Black trans femmes at the Black Trans Women’s annual cookout held by Gia Love — a historic celebration on what would have been Marsha P. Johnson’s 80th birthday. Inspired by Marsha’s deep love of flowers and her belief that every sibling lost to transphobic and police violence or AIDS lives on as a flower within her, the contest will award two cash prizes, honoring creativity, beauty, and community spirit. This day will also be a major visual and emotional finale for the film.

️‍️‍️‍⚧️ Why Your Support Matters Now

This is a no-budget passion project, built with the belief that our histories and futures deserve to be documented with the same care and artistry as any major production. Every contribution directly supports:

+ Safe transportation and care (catering etc) for participants.

+ Technical equipment for final interviews (sound gear, tripod, lighting).

+ Additional external hard drives, including one master archive to remain in NYC.

+ Crew support for filming key scenes in the final weeks.

If we exceed the essentials, funds will go into further participant care, crew support, and strengthening the film’s post-production.

Supporting "The Seeds You Planted" is supporting the preservation of trans Herstory — a living legacy of Marsha P. Johnson, whose shoulders we all stand on in the LGBTQIA+ community. In this dangerous and regressive political moment, your solidarity ensures that stories of trans abundance, resilience, and joy are not only told, but archived for future generations.

Your name will appear in the film credits (unless otherwise desired), and all supporters will receive updates as the work progresses. Every contribution makes a difference.

Thank you for believing in the vision, the community, and the urgency of this work. ❤️‍

— Jules* Elting