Intro

Greetings! My name is Dylan LaRay and I am raising money to fund my graduate thesis film, Like Strangers, which must complete principal photography by December so that I can receive my MFA in Film from the City College of New York. I am asking for your help to not only finish my degree, but to aid in the telling of an important story that will be my calling card as a filmmaker and a gateway to my future career in the film industry.

Synopsis

Like Strangers is a queer drama about Travis, a trans bartender in New York City. He manages a small watering hole for blue collar locals and although everyone admires and respects him, he doesn't allow any of them to get to know him. The only exception is Chuck, Travis' vivacious, long-term situation-ship, who has been seeing Travis casually for years, but even he struggles to breach Travis' defenses. This all changes when Winslow, a recent college grad, comes to town in search of her long-lost birth mother. At risk of having his painful past exposed, Travis evades Winslow's every effort to find the truth, but her search will ultimately set him on a path towards reconciliation and new beginnings.

Financial Need

As of right now, the projected cost of producing this 15 minute film rests at $6,500. This includes:

Thus far, I have already raised $3,500 to fund my film, and this was a huge achievement, but as you can see, it will not be nearly enough.

*** No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe. ***

Also, please note that donations of any amount do not give the donor any creative control over any aspect of the project. The film is a graded student project and this could hinder the educational experience. 

Current Status

As of August 2025, the script is near its final draft, casting for the lead role is complete, and my team and I am presently location scouting for my main locales. The film is actively being storyboarded and the crew is almost completely assembled. Shooting dates are tentatively set for September 9th-15th.

About Me

I was born to a hard-working family in small-town Arizona. Growing up, I watched my parents fight for every dollar and the thought of attending college, traveling, or pursuing a career as a filmmaker felt like nothing more than fantasies. However, through the generosity of organizations such as the Dorrance Foundation, I became the first person in my family to earn a Bachelors Degree, and with my family's unending love and support, I have continued pursuing my dreams ever since. As an actor and proud member of the Screen Actors Guild, I have performed everything from live musicals and Shakespeare to television roles and I even played the lead role in an acclaimed, award-winning feature film. Now I have decided to start telling stories of my own. I began pursuing my MFA in Film in 2024 at the City College of New York, and upon graduating in 2026, I will become the first person in my family to have earned my masters degree, and I intend to use this degree to not only tell more, vitally important stories, but to also give back and educate people with the knowledge and abilities that I have been able to acquire through the generosity of people like you.

Thank you!