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OBJECT OF AFFECTION is a short film about rape culture and accountability. Help us get back on set and share this story with the world.
This is a female-led production about power, accountability, and rape culture. 70% of our crew are women/LGBTQIA+/POC. We are dedicated to bringing urgent stories to life, interrogating power structures, and effecting change.
THE STORY
OBJECT OF AFFECTION is a boy-meets-girl psychological thriller about rape culture and accountability. Jonah, 21, has finally accomplished his lifelong goal: admission into Yale Law School. Coasting on his newfound freedom, Jonah arrives at his massive twenty-first birthday party, where he meets the fascinating, larger-than-life freshman, Violet.
When Jonah resolves to pursue Violet, the Crowd begins to act oddly, like a harmonious school of fish. They grow reverent of him, subservient to him. The party launches into a surreal celebration. Cheerleaders present him with a grotesque cake. Jocks brawl to defend his honor. As Jonah fights through the Crowd to find Violet, he comes to understand the strange, violent ritual that has been prepared for him.
WHY US?
We believe that in order to create change, we must be made uncomfortable. We must interrogate the nature of our culture, our lives. When powerful men abuse their power, it is our responsibility to trace the source of that abuse, that power. It is the only way for us to grow.
WHY THIS?
The beginning of Object of Affection plants us at the start of a familiar story: A promising young man secures a promising future, and it seems all-the-more promising after his introduction to a young woman. Too often, these stories end in an act of violence wherein the man is left unscathed, while the woman, silently, must deal with her trauma. By manipulating this narrative structure, we are able to examine its underbelly and offer an interpretation for why it so often comes to a violent end. Thus, Object of Affection constructs a microcosm of rape culture expressed through a birthday party that transforms into a surreal celebration.
WHY NOW?
The Me Too movement brought countless stories of sexual abuse by men in power to the forefront of the American consciousness. But too often, the language and thought dealing with sexual assault isolates men in power as subhuman monsters, outliers on the scatterplot where the rest of us exist comfortably in normalcy.
While these men must be held accountable, most of us have failed to draw a connection between our rape culture and the truth of our lives. What is the genesis of this culture? Where does power begin, and most importantly, who bestows it? When are we going to finally, painfully...look inward?
THE BUDGET
Here is how your kind contributions will be spent:
COVID-19
We began shooting Object of Affection in March of this year...and we decided, two days in, to suspend production to ensure the safety of our cast and crew. Our cast delivered stunning performances in that short time, and our crew created a deeply immersive world -- giving us just enough beautiful footage to share it with you. We're about 1/3 of the way through principal photography, and we are so eager to get back to work!
We aim to recoup our financial losses from this setback and return to set stronger than ever and safer than ever. We are committed to following health guidelines set by Pennsylvania and health officials and are planning our careful return to Violet and Jonah's world.
HOW TO HELP
We so appreciate all contributions, large and small. Please consider contributing to our campaign!
You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram and check out the Object of Affection website to learn more about us and the film.
If you're unable to contribute, we still love you! Please share our GoFundMe link with your friends and family, and with anyone who enjoys a good story.
xo Marygrace, Kaya, Mary, Karl, Sasha & Valerie, and all of the Object of Affection team
This is a female-led production about power, accountability, and rape culture. 70% of our crew are women/LGBTQIA+/POC. We are dedicated to bringing urgent stories to life, interrogating power structures, and effecting change.
THE STORY
OBJECT OF AFFECTION is a boy-meets-girl psychological thriller about rape culture and accountability. Jonah, 21, has finally accomplished his lifelong goal: admission into Yale Law School. Coasting on his newfound freedom, Jonah arrives at his massive twenty-first birthday party, where he meets the fascinating, larger-than-life freshman, Violet.
When Jonah resolves to pursue Violet, the Crowd begins to act oddly, like a harmonious school of fish. They grow reverent of him, subservient to him. The party launches into a surreal celebration. Cheerleaders present him with a grotesque cake. Jocks brawl to defend his honor. As Jonah fights through the Crowd to find Violet, he comes to understand the strange, violent ritual that has been prepared for him.
WHY US?
We believe that in order to create change, we must be made uncomfortable. We must interrogate the nature of our culture, our lives. When powerful men abuse their power, it is our responsibility to trace the source of that abuse, that power. It is the only way for us to grow.
WHY THIS?
The beginning of Object of Affection plants us at the start of a familiar story: A promising young man secures a promising future, and it seems all-the-more promising after his introduction to a young woman. Too often, these stories end in an act of violence wherein the man is left unscathed, while the woman, silently, must deal with her trauma. By manipulating this narrative structure, we are able to examine its underbelly and offer an interpretation for why it so often comes to a violent end. Thus, Object of Affection constructs a microcosm of rape culture expressed through a birthday party that transforms into a surreal celebration.
WHY NOW?
The Me Too movement brought countless stories of sexual abuse by men in power to the forefront of the American consciousness. But too often, the language and thought dealing with sexual assault isolates men in power as subhuman monsters, outliers on the scatterplot where the rest of us exist comfortably in normalcy.
While these men must be held accountable, most of us have failed to draw a connection between our rape culture and the truth of our lives. What is the genesis of this culture? Where does power begin, and most importantly, who bestows it? When are we going to finally, painfully...look inward?
THE BUDGET
Here is how your kind contributions will be spent:
COVID-19
We began shooting Object of Affection in March of this year...and we decided, two days in, to suspend production to ensure the safety of our cast and crew. Our cast delivered stunning performances in that short time, and our crew created a deeply immersive world -- giving us just enough beautiful footage to share it with you. We're about 1/3 of the way through principal photography, and we are so eager to get back to work!
We aim to recoup our financial losses from this setback and return to set stronger than ever and safer than ever. We are committed to following health guidelines set by Pennsylvania and health officials and are planning our careful return to Violet and Jonah's world.
HOW TO HELP
We so appreciate all contributions, large and small. Please consider contributing to our campaign!
You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram and check out the Object of Affection website to learn more about us and the film.
If you're unable to contribute, we still love you! Please share our GoFundMe link with your friends and family, and with anyone who enjoys a good story.
xo Marygrace, Kaya, Mary, Karl, Sasha & Valerie, and all of the Object of Affection team