It's Fine I'm Fine: a short film
Donation protected
There are five men for every one woman making films today. In a climate where Doing it Yourself, communal action and crowdfunding give small artists previously unattainable access to opportunities, we are working to make things happen, while also hoping to tip the gender scales. Writer/Director/Actor Carlee McManus and Executive Producer Jill Snow need your help to bring this project to life. In truth, they need your help to feed their people.
THE STORY
It’s Fine I’m Fine is the story of a woman navigating her mental health. Liz is in the midst of severe depression. After weeks isolated in her apartment, she is out of money and must return to work. Her best friend Amelia brings her to live in her basement, with the hopes of accelerating the healing process and regaining a sense of self before reintegrating into her life. Depression can be isolating, consuming and painful. In the hopelessness it can take you far away from yourself, leaving you wondering if you’ll ever get back. Liz’s journey is about finding the resilience to keep going, while coping with a disorder for which there is no quick fix. With the help of loved ones, she learns it’s not just about getting better, it’s about perseverance and a discovery of hope. An honest look at the depressive experience, It’s Fine I’m Fine examines the solitary, painful and often comedic reality of coping with something so consuming in a world that doesn’t stop moving.
This true-to-life dark comedy is a 20 minute short film, shot in Seattle WA in September 2018.
THE TEAM
Writer/Director/Actor Carlee McManus is joined by Executive Producer Jill Snow, Director of Photography Brad Curran, First Assistant Camera Erik Hecht and Producer Kendra Cox. We are very lucky to be working with a cast of talented, all around good-eggs including: Lauren Herrick, Tim Gouran, Devin Badoo and first-timer Randy the Pekingese.
SO WHAT’S THE MONEY FOR?
This is a “passion project” which is code for “no money”. Everyone involved in this film is donating their time and efforts because they want to do creative work and they believe in the story. We are so fortunate to have this group of talented cast and crew to learn and grow and build something with—and while we will continue to say thank you, what we’d also like to do is feed them.
Your contribution will go towards meals, snacks and beverages. Any funds raised beyond craft services will go towards reimbursing people for their travel. Everyone is local, but gas ain’t cheap. A donation of any size is welcomed and appreciated. Even a dollar covers the cost of a microwave burrito, and hey, that’s not nothing!
FROM CARLEE
After years of working on a commercial career (paying the bills, am I right?), I started knowing it was time to broaden my efforts to the creative side. Chase those dreams, you know what I mean? Having mostly hidden my writing from the world (too scary), I started to realize that if I wanted to tell stories and entertain people, I needed to take on a larger role in creating that work. After collaborating on some smaller efforts, this is the first time I’ve been at the helm of something of this scale. What people say about how you have to stop asking for permission really is true. You just have to decide to do it. And then do it. And, in my case, make that possible by finding people you believe in to collaborate and grow with and learn from. The bottom line is that I resisted exploring filmmaking because it seemed so big, and I worried I wasn’t ready or good enough, until I realized I would never encourage another person to think that way, and so I shouldn’t, either.
I hope that this story can be a reminder that we are not alone. That in the pain of depression, there is humor. In the solitude, there is love. In its consumption of one’s self, there is still our remarkable ability to make space for others. Popular applicable ideas include “we are all in this together”, “be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle”, and my favorite Leonard Cohen quote “there is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in”.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read about our project! If you feel so inclined, please share it on social media, text, email, snail mail.
THE STORY
It’s Fine I’m Fine is the story of a woman navigating her mental health. Liz is in the midst of severe depression. After weeks isolated in her apartment, she is out of money and must return to work. Her best friend Amelia brings her to live in her basement, with the hopes of accelerating the healing process and regaining a sense of self before reintegrating into her life. Depression can be isolating, consuming and painful. In the hopelessness it can take you far away from yourself, leaving you wondering if you’ll ever get back. Liz’s journey is about finding the resilience to keep going, while coping with a disorder for which there is no quick fix. With the help of loved ones, she learns it’s not just about getting better, it’s about perseverance and a discovery of hope. An honest look at the depressive experience, It’s Fine I’m Fine examines the solitary, painful and often comedic reality of coping with something so consuming in a world that doesn’t stop moving.
This true-to-life dark comedy is a 20 minute short film, shot in Seattle WA in September 2018.
THE TEAM
Writer/Director/Actor Carlee McManus is joined by Executive Producer Jill Snow, Director of Photography Brad Curran, First Assistant Camera Erik Hecht and Producer Kendra Cox. We are very lucky to be working with a cast of talented, all around good-eggs including: Lauren Herrick, Tim Gouran, Devin Badoo and first-timer Randy the Pekingese.
SO WHAT’S THE MONEY FOR?
This is a “passion project” which is code for “no money”. Everyone involved in this film is donating their time and efforts because they want to do creative work and they believe in the story. We are so fortunate to have this group of talented cast and crew to learn and grow and build something with—and while we will continue to say thank you, what we’d also like to do is feed them.
Your contribution will go towards meals, snacks and beverages. Any funds raised beyond craft services will go towards reimbursing people for their travel. Everyone is local, but gas ain’t cheap. A donation of any size is welcomed and appreciated. Even a dollar covers the cost of a microwave burrito, and hey, that’s not nothing!
FROM CARLEE
After years of working on a commercial career (paying the bills, am I right?), I started knowing it was time to broaden my efforts to the creative side. Chase those dreams, you know what I mean? Having mostly hidden my writing from the world (too scary), I started to realize that if I wanted to tell stories and entertain people, I needed to take on a larger role in creating that work. After collaborating on some smaller efforts, this is the first time I’ve been at the helm of something of this scale. What people say about how you have to stop asking for permission really is true. You just have to decide to do it. And then do it. And, in my case, make that possible by finding people you believe in to collaborate and grow with and learn from. The bottom line is that I resisted exploring filmmaking because it seemed so big, and I worried I wasn’t ready or good enough, until I realized I would never encourage another person to think that way, and so I shouldn’t, either.
I hope that this story can be a reminder that we are not alone. That in the pain of depression, there is humor. In the solitude, there is love. In its consumption of one’s self, there is still our remarkable ability to make space for others. Popular applicable ideas include “we are all in this together”, “be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle”, and my favorite Leonard Cohen quote “there is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in”.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read about our project! If you feel so inclined, please share it on social media, text, email, snail mail.
Fundraising team (4)
Jill Snow
Organizer
Seattle, WA
Kendra Cox
Team member
Carlee McManus
Team member
Brad Curran
Team member
