God Forbid! A short film ft a drag queen & religious lesbian

A nun, a lesbian,

and a hell lot of religious tension

walk in to a bar…

God Forbid! is a coming-of-age LGBTQ+ story about finding your place in two very different communities, and how unlikely friendships just might be the key to embracing the parts of you that you can't change.

Hi, we are a bunch of MA Filmmaking students at the University for the Creative Arts, Farnham, UK and the crew of a promising short - God Forbid!

We are shooting the film between 2nd April and 3rd May 2025.

Synopsis

Eve (“call me Evie!”) is a fresh-faced 18-year-old closeted lesbian who has grown tired of red-stamped bills and her lingering depression, so she decides she needs a job.

She takes the first one on offer, bar work, with a scarily intense manager who sort of frightens Evie. It’s on her first shift that she realises the bar isn’t totally, completely, normal.

HEAT! is Soho’s ‘most famous’ drag queen bar. And one of their resident drag queens is Rose Arybeads. A nun. A very, very camp nun. Who consequently, is very, very bad at her job.

Seeking connection in this new, overwhelming, glittery, loud environment, Evie finds Rose post-routine, frustrated with her inability to dance with elegance.

Evie seizes the opportunity to help a new friend out.

But things don’t stay happy in HEAT! Evie has grown up religious and remains so, determined to find her place as a lesbian in the church, but

Rose grew up with some serious religious trauma and wont let Evie live life as she feels she should.

Can Evie and Rose get over their differences to help Rose get her act together, literally? And can Evie be gay and still be part of the church community?

Meet The Team!

We are proud to have a diverse, inclusive crew with a common vision - to make a film that represents the underrepresented. To break stereotypes and debunk the definition of "normal".

Alena – Director

The Visionary Storyteller

Alena has been involved in filmmaking since she was 15, working on short audiovisual projects like Cestovatelka (2D and stop-motion animation) and Samota. She has collaborated with several fellow filmmakers to create compelling stories under tight deadlines. Passionate about both the theoretical and practical sides of film, she is excited to direct God Forbid! and bring this story to life.

Aneri – Producer

The Master of Chaos (and Order)

Aneri is a passionate filmmaker dedicated to bringing creative visions to life. With a strong background in storytelling and producing, she aims to run God Forbid! smoothly from pre-production to final delivery. She believes in the power of film to make an impact and is excited to collaborate with a talented team to bring this project to the screen.

Chloe Wallace – Writer & 1st AD

The Narrative Alchemist

Chloe is a screenwriter who loves flipping familiar stories on their heads. She focuses on LGBTQ+, coming-of-age, comedy, and drama screenplays, always adding a unique twist. God Forbid! is her latest work, and she is now stepping into the role of 1st Assistant Director. She looks forward to adapting her writing for the screen and being part of the filmmaking process to translate the vision from script to screen.

Kartik – Gaffer

The Light Sculptor

Kartik is a skilled photographer, videographer, and video editor with a diverse experience in crafting visually compelling content. With a keen understanding of how light shapes a story, he is looking forward to ensuring that every frame of God Forbid! is enhanced through enticing light design.

Fujia Wang – Cinematographer

The Visual Architect

Fujia has spent years studying cinematography and collaborating with directors to shape their stories visually. His approach blends technical expertise with an intuitive sense of storytelling, ensuring every shot contributes to the film’s emotional depth. With God Forbid!, he aims to create a striking and immersive visual experience that not only enhances the director’s vision but also resonates deeply with audiences.

Rishabh Gaba – Sound Mixer

The Sonic Storyteller

Rishabh’s love for filmmaking started with Bollywood and evolved into a deep passion for the craft. After earning his master’s in Film Theory in Mumbai, he worked professionally in various roles, including as an assistant writer, AD, production manager, and post-production manager. Having run his own production company in India, he now continues to refine his skills in the UK. As the sound mixer for God Forbid!, he aims to ensure every beat, breath, and whisper adds to the film’s emotional depth.

Shawn Basil Gouveia – Location Manager

The Curious Curator

With a background in theater production, Shawn brings expertise in coordination, problem-solving, and logistics. As a former producer for a theater company and he has managed everything from securing venues to overseeing budgets. For God Forbid! he aims to make sure that every location used enhances the storytelling and fits seamlessly into the director’s vision.

Szu-Fan Chung (Ricky) – Editor

The Rhythm Keeper

With a deep passion for visual storytelling and extensive experience as a photographer, editor, and on-set production manager in Taiwan’s film industry, Ricky understands how rhythm and emotion shape a film. As the editor for God Forbid!, he is excited to craft an edit that weaves together visuals, sound, and performance into a seamless narrative.

The Money

Each one of us are pitching in some amount to the film, however we need additional resources to make this film of a high-production value, suitable for film fests.

We will be spending the donated money mainly to pay for the location (drag bar), expenses for cast, costumes, props and set design. Here's a rough estimation for each:

Location (drag bar) - £300 (2 day shoot)

Expenses for cast - £200

Props, Costumes & Set Design - £200

> High quality, professional equipment is sponsored by our Uni.

> Home location sponsored by Chloe Wallace

> Final scene location to be shot at the studio in our Uni where we will be building the set.

> Insurance is covered by the Uni.

Why should you be part of this film?

The film brings a fresh perspective to the often debated LGBTQ+ & Religion conflicts. If you're someone who struggles with being accepted by your community or who wants to support fellow humans regardless of their preferences, this is the film you want to bring it to life.

Moreover, you will be an integral catalysts to the whole crew and cast to launch their careers in the UK film industry.

Support the Vision!

This film isn’t just a project—it’s a passion. We are a bunch of honest, hardworking creatives who need your support to blossom into filmmakers of tomorrow.

Thank you for your trust!