Nessa's New Adventure! Get Nessa to LA!

Hey, I'm Nessa, and I make films about conformists who become unafraid to rebel against societal expectations. I'm raising £15,000 to embark on a new adventure in Los Angeles, where I want to be an active part of the conversation about changing the toxic culture in the Film and TV industry.

Having come from a Film and TV background, I know all too well the neglect that happens regularly behind the camera. We often hear of the mistreatment of on-screen talent (the acting cast of a show or film). However, we also need to take a serious look at the mistreatment of hundreds, if not thousands of crew, who work long hours, are underpaid and suffer from mental health problems in silence because they fear losing their jobs for speaking out. I have sadly lost work colleagues and friends to suicide, often with suicide notes that have mentioned the turmoil they were going through and the feeling of having no way out due to the lack of support in the workplace.

An ethical standards manifesto ensures that production is hitting specific criteria for making sure that those working on a production, both on and off-screen are treated well. With this in mind, I created The Hit R.E.S.E.T Manifesto. Through my new founded production company, The Retreat Productions, I am seeking to create a culture where productions are:

(R)esponsible

(E)thical

(S)ustainable

(E)njoyable

(T)eamwork Oriented

On a recent trip out to LA back in May, I was overwhelmed with the feeling of home I felt by being in this city. During a meeting, an opportunity for a well-known platform to buy my script occurred. However, throughout the meeting, it became clear that what they were proposing was in no way ethical and would have meant that I would not have been able to be involved in making sure that everyone was able to work in a safe environment. So I declined their offer.

From that moment on, God started putting people in my path for the rest of the trip that further reinforced that I had made the right decision. Opportunities for more ethical ways of doing things arose, and by the end of my trip, I left confident in the knowledge that in order to make a lasting impact and change the culture, I needed to go back into that industry full time and make this calling and purpose for my life a bigger priority.

The sicky feeling in the pit of my stomach, the tears when I had to leave and the homesickness that has lingered ever since indicate to me that LA is the next place I will be calling home.

It's a scary realisation to come to and it means a lot of change going forward. I’m a firm believer in two sayings that I’ve heard many times throughout my life and they are:

”Old orders are good orders until you get new ones.”

and

“You know, that you know, that you know” when you’re being called to a specific location and specific space!

I know, that I know, that I know, that now is the time to start a new thing and it’s with that confidence, I know that now is the time for me to close this chapter in the UK and head to the USA.

The £15,000 will go towards:

*Accommodation - Accommodation in LA is not cheap. It is my vision to not just have a place to rest my head but a space where I can host people I am working with, get to know their stories, walk alongside them and truly nurture them as individuals. Accommodation costs are at around £3,500 per month for a property in a location in the heart of the entertainment industry.

*Travel costs - For flights to LA from either Birmingham International or London Heathrow, leaving in mid-October

*Technological costs - To do my remote work, I need to buy a new laptop with enough memory to edit videos and high-resolution graphics.

*Transportation costs in LA - I will be learning to drive whilst I am there. This covers the cost of hiring a car or any transport costs should I not be successful in navigating those fun LA roads myself.

*Groceries

*Recreational

*Admin fees for visa applications - At the moment, I intend to stay in LA for the 3 months that I am allowed on the visa waiver program. I will be looking into ways to get a visa and extend my trip during my time in LA. I will also be applying for a work visa in Canada so that should I need to, I can continue building connections on that side of the world and make collaborations easier.

Other ways you can help me:

-Hire Me - I am making up income by relaunching myself on a self-employed basis as a graphic designer and social media consultant. You can find my graphic design Instagram over on https://www.instagram.com/nessaccreates/ and you can stay in the loop on my personal Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nessa.chileshe

-Pray - If you’re the praying kinda pal, please do be praying for this new adventure. There are high and low times ahead. I do really believe that any and all prayer makes a difference.

-Share this fundraiser - I can't do this alone. Sharing it with your friends, family, or anyone you think might be interested could make a world of difference between hitting or missing my goal.

-If you would like more information about The Retreat Productions and about me, you can head to https://msha.ke/nessacwrites/