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Help Bring the Best Summer Ever to Life! -In Memory of Megan
0% complete
$8,978 raised of $14K
49 donations
Mission Statement
Max & Danny’s Guide to the Best Summer Ever is a fun, coming-of-age film that serves as a love letter to the 2000s teen comedies that defined a generation. Brought to life by three young Latina filmmakers, the story is inspired by their shared dream of an unforgettable high school experience and the perfect summer break. This film reimagines the teenage years they longed for, transforming that vision into a joyful, feel-good celebration of youth, friendship, and possibility, leaving audiences smiling long after the credits roll.
The Story
Logline
On a mission to have the greatest summer of their lives, two lifelong friends take on a wild bucket list, but when a summer romance pulls one of them off course, both must navigate the changing tides of friendship, identity, and growing up.
Synopsis
With the summer after sophomore year stretching out before them, best friends Max and Danny are determined to make it the most unforgettable one yet. Armed with a handwritten bucket list full of wild dares, personal goals, and spontaneous adventures, the two set out to chase freedom before life starts getting serious.
But as the weeks roll on, Danny falls hard for Audrey, an unpredictable and magnetic girl who pulls him into a whirlwind romance. As Danny becomes more entangled in his new relationship, Max finds himself stuck between clinging to the summer they planned and watching his best friend change into someone he barely recognizes.
What starts as a carefree season of fun turns into an emotional journey of growing up, as both boys are forced to confront shifting identities, first love, and the fragile threads of friendship.
Funny, adventurous, and real, this coming-of-age story explores what it means to stay true--to yourself and the people who’ve been there from the start.
Tone
A fun, sun-soaked coming-of-age comedy packed with nostalgic and comedic summer energy. Inspired by Superbad, Sky High, and Bottoms, the film blends heartfelt chaos, epic pop-punk vibes, and the kind of friendship-fueled madness you only get when growing up hits all at once.
Locations
Filmed across the Denver metro area, including an amusement park hangout, a neon-lit arcade, and a classic high school, real places that capture the feeling of unforgettable summers and reckless fun.
Characters:
- Max Taylor (Played by Mason Bussie): Max is a quiet, thoughtful 16-year-old who prefers music, movies, and skateboarding over big social scenes. He spends most of his time with his best friend Danny, making playlists, playing bass, and working through video games. After the recent loss of his childhood dog and learning that Danny will be moving away at the end of summer, Max is determined to make this the best summer ever. Max hopes to finish his summer bucket list, get his license, and maybe finally ask out Beth, the girl he’s secretly liked for years.
- Danny Wilde (Played by Ethan Hoover): Danny is a lively, outgoing teen with a chaotic sense of humor and a love for all things emo. He’s the type to dive into every new idea headfirst, often without thinking it through, which makes him both fun and a little unpredictable. He’s a confident talker with a dry sense of humor but tends to be impulsive and easily influenced, especially by Audrey, who he’s recently started crushing on. He is hoping to have an epic summer with his best friend, Max, before he has to move towards the end of the summer.
- Nikki Wilde (Played by Nicole Gowen): Nikki often uses her sarcasm and attitude to hide her soft side. She is inspired by the pop punk girls of the time, Hayley Williams and Avril Lavigne. She has true “don’t mess with me” vibes. Nikki is the type to roll her eyes at everyone, but is still a true team player. She is a talented guitarist and a straight-A student; she’s got the brains to match her edge. Though she acts like she can’t stand most people (including her brother, Danny, and his best friend, Max), she still values the few connections she has. She hopes to have a better summer than her brother, hoping to get gigs for her band to play before she has to move.
- Beth Rivera (Played by Estrella D'imambro): Beth’s soft and gentle presence helps her easily move between social circles. She loves both planning school events and spending quiet evenings painting or scrapbooking. She is a natural caretaker; her kindness, empathy, and belief in the good of people make her beloved by those around her. But also, this leaves her vulnerable, as seen in her complicated relationship with Blake.
- Audrey Carrington (Played by Lola Bazile): A textbook Scorpio, Audrey is confident, ambitious, and loves being the center of attention. On the surface, Audrey is sociable, outgoing, and seems like the kind of girl who has it all together. But under the surface, she’s deeply insecure and craves validation. She seeks any sort of attention, good or bad. She’s controlling, manipulative, and quick to play the victim when things don’t go her way. She does have leadership qualities and knows how to influence others, which makes her both admired and disliked among her peers.
- Colin Davenport (Played by Owen Jenkins): Colin is the charming, party-loving guy who’s always the center of attention, and usually the host. Outgoing and generous, he loves making people laugh and keeping things lively, though he sometimes tries too hard to buy friendship. With wealthy but absent parents, he fills the quiet with fun, card tricks, and wild ideas. Underneath his confidence, Colin just wants to feel truly connected, even if he hasn’t realized yet that not everyone lives in his world of easy fun and big parties.
- Blake Stryker (Played by Kentral Williamson): Blake Stryker is an 18-year-old high school football star who has built his entire identity around the game. Athletic and broad-shouldered, he’s usually seen in his letter jacket or casual athletic wear, earning the nickname “Stryker” from his teammates. Academically, Blake struggles and was held back at one point, only managing to graduate thanks to Beth’s tutoring and constant support. He has strong himbo energy: physically powerful but insecure, quick-tempered, and intensely jealous, especially when it comes to Beth. Though he leans into toxic bravado and questionable behavior, there’s a softer side he keeps hidden, like his love for baking, pop music, and emotional sports movies. He often relies on Beth’s forgiveness, using small gestures, usually homemade sweets, to make up for his mistakes.
Director’s Statement:
This whole idea started as a hypothetical idea that my cousin, Megan, and I had come up with about three years ago. We both love 2000s teen/ coming-of-age movies, so we wanted to create our own. We began with a Spotify playlist titled "The summer when everything changed," filled with music from the mid-90s to the early 2010s from artists like Fall Out Boy, Weezer, The Killers, Blink-182, etc. We then moved on to picking out certain cliches and tropes that these sorts of movies are known for, not to mock, but rather to appreciate. We took inspiration from some of our favorite movies, "Sky High", "Bottoms", and "My Babysitter's A Vampire", to name a few. Megan was a freshman at CU Boulder studying film. She was taking a screenwriting class during her second semester, so it was perfect timing for us to start curating our film. She and I had plans to write our script this summer (2025), but she unfortunately passed away this February. My older sister, Rebecca, and I still plan to follow through with the idea to honor Megan's legacy and her love of film. To me, this film is a way to keep Megan's spirit alive. The title is an homage to a time when Megan and I were creating summer bucket lists to have the "best summer ever". Megan titled hers "Megan's Guide to the Best Summer Ever" Although we never fully finished the lists, we did have one last great summer together.
Meet Some of Our Crew
Sam O’Hara (Producer/1st AD)
Sam earned his B.A. in Cinema Studies from CU Boulder. He has around 4 years of experience at all levels of the production department. He loves Audrey Hepburn, old movies, and weird music. In his free time he plays drums, makes crafts, and loves to read. He is incredibly excited to help with the production portion of his very first feature film.
Via Moscato (Costume Designer)
Via Moscato has an extensive background in Costume Design, Fashion and apparel design, and stage wear. Appearing in both Paris and Milan Fashion Week in 2024 with her apparel brand, Via is expanding her work into film and TV as a wardrobe stylist.
Anna Hunter (Art Director)
Anna is a NoCo local, though she went to Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio to pursue a BFA in Theater Design and Technology. She specializes in stage management, props, and scenic design, but enjoys many design and tech roles in theater and film. When no on set or backstage, she can be found reading, playing board games, and junk journaling.
Where Your Money Goes
Every dollar raised goes straight into making this film feel authentic, time-accurate, and alive, from the clothes on our characters’ backs to the pop-punk-fueled energy behind the camera. We’re committed to fairly compensating our cast and crew for their time, talent, and hard work while bringing this summer story to life.
Budget Breakdown
- Cast & Crew: $4,650
- Equipment & Gear: $500
- Locations & Permits: $1,400
- Art / Props / Wardrobe: $1,600
- Food (keeping the crew fueled): $2,350
- Post-Production: $1,900
- Marketing & Misc: $600
Production Schedule
- August 2025 – June 2026: Crowdfunding & production fundraising
- December 2025: Finalize casting for main characters
- Now – April 2026: Pre-production (script lock, promo photoshoot, locations, scheduling)
- May – July 2026: Production
- May – December 2026: Post-production
- February 2027: Film premiere
- January - April 2027: Film festival submissions & streaming distribution
No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or promotions are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe.
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