Heya! I'm Toya.

And I want to make a series!

It's called Over & Over &, affectionately shortened to OAOA, and pronounced Wawa!

OAOA Synopsis -

Three colleagues become unlikely friends following a traumatic incident at their work.

When new information comes to light, they suddenly find themselves caught in a web of secrets, conspiracies and the knowledge that life as they know it has been altered.

Forever.

Why I'm doing this -

So I am a human that needs to create. I doubt I’m alone in this - our world has always revolved around art. It allows us to feel, to be, to become.

As a photographer; I’ve seen people grow in front of the camera. Seen their performance take shape, watched my lens capture their very essence.

So I decided I needed to push that further.

I’ve written several episodes of a series that showcases the very best and worst of humanity, and all emotions therein. It puts on display an enduring friendship, the complicated boundaries that new and established relationships have, all the while allowing local talent to take centre stage.

I'm looking to make sure all corners of the world are represented, many of the humans in the cast and crew are queer and/or neurodivergent.

I myself, am AuDHD and asexual, there's not much representation for people like me out there either.

That's not to say this is a queer story. Or a neurodivergent one. Just a story that has a variety of humans within.

It's a humanity story. A friendship story. And friendship to me, is one of the very foundations of life.

So I need you to help us.

This is my first foray into film making. The first time I’ve decided I needed to tell a story to the world outside of those snapshots I take of other people.

As experienced as I am in directing photoshoots, I've not directed a film before - but I truly believe in my current casting choices. I know they're gonna be amazing.

I’ve been writing this for months now. There’s so much of me in there. Which parts those are, I’ll let you have fun figuring out!

Of course, with putting myself and my work out there, there’s fear.

Fear it won’t be well received, fear it sucks, fear I’ll raise £1.50 total.

I've spent my life hiding from fear, and now I'm facing it. Head on. Terrified and excited.

So How Will I Be Spending Your Money?

    •    Equipment Costs/Hire

Our Proof of Concept was created entirely through the kindness of our filmmaking friends (and strangers who became friends!) - who generously offered both their skills and their gear to help make it a reality. 

In order to create an entire series, we’ll need funds to either secure or rent cameras, lenses, microphones, lighting and all the other stuff a film set needs.

    •    Venue/Area Hire

Without giving too much away, our story takes place across several key locations - including three offices, three bedrooms, one coffee shop, countless city streets, and one mysterious but very important secret venue …

    •    Voice Booth & Studio Hire

For V/O, foley and recording music for the show!

    •    Talent Hire

Kind of an obvious one, but art is expensive, yo!

At the moment, everyone involved in OAOA is working entirely for free (outside of reimbursed travel costs and catering) - both cast and crew. We’ve always said that if we can secure enough funding to pay everyone fairly for their time, everyone is being paid. But as you can imagine, we have a lot of people we’d like to pay, so it’s something we're still working on...

    •    Merch 

Initially we planned just to create some as mementoes for cast and crew - however, if there’s enough interest, any merch sales will go directly into funding production of the show. 

We’ve got lots of ideas already!

    •    Props/Set Design/Wardrobe

Like any artist on a budget, we’ve become very good at making do with what we already have. However, due to the nature of the show, there are still many items in this world we’ll need to purchase, commission or create from scratch in order to really bring it to life. 

One of the recurring themes of OAOA is making peace with our own limits, so we’re not doing anything by halves!

    •    Extras

The main series has a number of crowd scenes that we’re gonna need quite a few faces for - but we’re also gonna need passers-by in the street, coffee shop customers, office colleagues and medical staff. We’d love to raise enough to provide fair day rates for everyone involved. 

    •    Catering

Everyone’s gotta eat! 

I want our cast and crew to come to set knowing they’ll be well fed, with healthy and safe options for everyone, particularly those with allergies and/or specific dietary requirements.

    •    Insurance & Permits

Easily the most boring thing on this list, and easily one of the most necessary.

There’s already a lot of crime happening in this show, and I intend to keep it all fictional.

    •    Intimacy Co-Ordination

OAOA’s largest recurring themes are grief, trauma, and the variety of ways those things are approached and processed. Already pretty heavy subjects by themselves, so naturally I decided to add several other things into the mix that you tend to need specific training for.

So it's worth noting that Over & Over & will also feature scenes containing the following in varying amounts:

    •    Criminal violence

    •    Injury and combat

    •    Hospitals

    •    Medical negligence

    •    Panic attacks

    •    Familial issues

    •    Discussions around mortality

    •    Therapy sessions 

    •    LGBTQ+ relationships

All of these topics have their own important place in OAOA - but they’re obviously a lot for most people to handle. I’d like to be able to have someone on set at all times with the appropriate training who can help make sure everyone feels safe and respected.

I have personal experience around most of the topics listed, so I’m acutely aware of how hard it is - and incredibly rewarding - creating and maintaining a safe environment.

    •    Accommodation & Travel Expenses

Our aim is to shine a light on the local talent and beauty of the South West — but there are still some folks from further afield we simply could not do this show without. We already aim to reimburse travel, but it’d be cool to get them a hotel room too!

Additionally, several of our filming locations are miles apart and the least we can do is cover petrol costs for anyonew willing to ferry us (and our heavy-ass equipment) around.

   •    Distribution

Getting the series onto a streaming service like Netflix, Amazon Prime, MUBI, etc. for everyone to enjoy

   •    Wrap Party

This series has been years in the making already — so by the time we wrap all episodes, it’ll have been even more!

I’d love to put together an event that celebrates all the people who came together and breathed life into this show - both in front of the camera, and behind.

Plus, our largest donators can be invited to come along and meet the cast and crew, if they so desire!

   •    Premiere

At the moment, we’re looking into having a mini red carpet event for the Proof of Concept when it’s finished.

When the first two episodes of the main series are ready, we’d love to have another (even shinier) premiere if budgets and schedules allow. 

It’s unlikely they’ll let us have a premiere for all 8 planned episodes, but I’m not writing that notion off just yet.

I have some truly incredible and diverse talent on board already.

I’ve got the perfect leads. Absolutely beautiful humans.

An Excellent supporting cast, who have embraced this for all it is. There's an incredible vocalist for the soundtrack too.

And I have the beginnings of an amazing crew who can help me realise that vision I know we’re all capable of.

That's a whole host of people I’d dearly love to be able to pay. Especially as some of them have already generously given so much of their time to me for free. They're all worth everything. And I can't wait to step into my new role as Director with them.

There's about 8 episodes to shoot - and more material for expanded worlds if demand allows.

So We Really Need You.

Please, Will you help us?

We look forward to hearing from you all!

Thank you. Genuinely.