Dear friends, family, and fellow filmmakers,

We are seeking funding for the CSU Thesis short film, Lovely– a unique and challenging film that focuses on themes of addiction, escapism, and human connection. Portrayed through an over-the-top story that is both jarring and sentimental. Highlighting the strange things that bring people together. Written and directed by me, Malakee McGuier, the film follows Eve and Everett, two directionless twenty-somethings who grow closer as they pursue a newfound fascination with death after witnessing a murder. They bond over their shared traumatic experience, with Eve becoming obsessed with recapturing the high she felt, while Everett tries to chase that feeling just to spend more time with Eve. Throughout the film, their search grows progressively more intense, continually pushing themselves to new extremes in an attempt to re-experience the rush.

Following the success of my previous film, “Stone Birds,” I knew that whatever I made next had to be something special. I decided to revisit a story I had previously deemed too difficult to attempt. Lovely is the most ambitious project I have written, blending the structure of a romantic comedy with dark subject matter to create a tone that balances cute moments with disturbing, evocative imagery and story beats. This is a deeply personal project for me, and I can’t wait to bring it to life alongside a cast and crew made up of my closest collaborators and friends. The two leads will be portrayed by Wyatt Woods and Grace Prentice, delivering complex, emotionally dense performances, paired with warm, dreamlike visuals by director of photography Anna Pizon.

Many of you may have contributed to or seen my third-year film, Stone Birds. The success of that film can only be attributed to those who generously supported our fundraiser and to the stellar team of filmmakers I am excited to work with again on this new project. As one of the acting producers, along with Grace Prentice and Paige Robinson, I will be collecting funds on behalf of the production and those involved in bringing it to the screen. Donations will go to feeding our cast and crew, production design, location fees, and special effects makeup.

Of course, any contribution, including sharing this fundraiser, is greatly appreciated!