Hello! We are Alex and Sel.

After more than a decade of building our lives and creative careers in Los Angeles, we’ve come to a turning point. We’re preparing to leave the U.S. and start over somewhere we can feel safer, more stable, and able to keep growing the life we've created together. Last week, Alex was accepted into a Master’s in Directing program at ESCAC in Spain. To make this path possible, we need to raise $6,914 by May 15 for Alex’s first tuition payment, after discovering that private U.S. loans won’t apply.

GOAL BREAKDOWN

First goal:

Part 1 Tuition Payment $6,914 May 15, 2026

Second Goal:

Part 2 Tuiton Payment June 15th, 2026 $6,914

GoFundMe and transfer fees cushion: ~ $600

Deposit already paid (to recoup): $1,407

Our immediate goal is to raise $6,900 by May 15 to secure my enrollment and recover the $1,400 deposit that came directly from our moving fund.

The rest of the goal must be hand by the time we apply for our Visas on June 20, hence the second goal of June 15th.

The timeline is tight, but we’re doing everything we can to make this transition happen. Our decision to leave isn’t tied to any one program, but the path offered to us feels like a rare and hopeful opportunity to continue our careers while similtaneously providing the exit we have been searching for.

Our Story

We met in a “Directing I” class at Columbia College Hollywood in 2015. We were just two broke film students chasing stories, finding ourselves, spending long nights on set, and figuring out how to make our way in an industry that can feel impossible to break into without initial connections and within the stark needs of survival in LA.

Eleven years later, we’ve built a beautiful full life in Los Angeles with careers in film and television, a home full of cats, love, art, and a close community. Over time, the U.S. has become less stable both for our work and for our safety. The industry we love has slowed down through strikes, shutdowns, and productions leaving California, and for Sel, who is a brown, trans person, this country is no longer a safe place to continue our lives.

Through the past year, we have watched this country devolve further into a dangerous, unstable place; we decided we couldn’t keep waiting for things to get better. We needed to take charge of our future.

In December, Sel proposed, and due to the unstable nature of the time, we decided to move up our timeline and tie the knot on Valentines day, 2026, It was small, spontaneous, and perfect, overlooking the city where we found each other. That day, we promised to start again together.

Now we are doing exactly that: moving to Spain to rebuild our creative lives on our own terms.

The Next Chapter: School and Life Abroad

I, Alex, have been accepted into the Master’s in Directing program at ESCAC (Escola Superior de Cinema i Audiovisuals de Catalunya), one of Europe’s leading film schools. It’s the chance to finally put my lifelong dream front and center and to create powerful, beautiful, and queer stories that merge everything I have been building towards with my time in the LA industry.

Why We’re Fundraising

I applied for private student loans, only to learn that ESCAC is not eligible for U.S. loan servicing. That means the tuition must be paid directly and upfront. The total cost of the program is $15,235, split into three payments.

Once tuition is handled, Sel and I can focus over the next four months on saving for the move by selling what we can, taking on extra work, and preparing for our relocation.

What This Support Means

This campaign is not only about paying for school. It’s about giving us the stability to create a safe and sustainable life. It’s about creative freedom and being able to live without fear or constant survival mode.

If you can contribute, share our story, or even just send words of encouragement, you’re helping two artists take a leap toward safety, love, and the freedom to keep living.

Thank you for reading, cheering us on, and helping us make this next chapter possible.

Additional Note for those in the film community, Alex is currently available for freelance editing, makeup, and directing work ahead of our move. If you are looking for support on a project or know someone who is, we would be grateful for the opportunity to connect.

With love,

Alex and Sel

Please enjoy Alex's Application Video to ESCAC, where they Elle Woods'd their way into the hearts and minds of ESCAC's admissions department.