Help Bring 'The Trial of Miss Tutu' to Life

WHAT'S IT ABOUT?

"The Trial of Miss Tutu" is a dark-comedic short film that flirts with the absurd. It follows a young woman, the eponymous C.C. Tutu, as she tries to shed the scourge of passivity. The absurdity comes into play when her strange but persuasive therapist advises her to do something radical, something she has never considered.

Inspired by Eraserhead, The Killing of the Sacred Deer, and the plays of Eugene Ionesco, "The Trial of Miss Tutu" is intended to be funny and bizarre, as well as thought provoking.

WHO ARE YOU?

Hi, my name is Charles Towle, and I am the writer and director. I know firsthand the pressures of being a people-pleaser. Though it may feel selfless to constantly consider the feelings of others (and proactively orient yourself in response), self-abnegation hides much more than it heals. Infection still grows in the dark, and emotions we abandon can and do lead to explosions of unpredictable proportions. At the same time, an explosion may be just what it takes to snap you out of it.

As an actor whose background is primarily in the theatre, I am eager to get behind the camera and direct my own words. I am intent on collaborating heavily with the wonderful young artists our team has assembled in order to yield a film that sparks with the joys, fears, and curiosities of a spectrum including and beyond my own.

WHY SUPPORT?

Many artistic practices can be done in solitude, with few or no additional resources. But to exercise the filmmaking muscle requires the participation of numerous other players and factors, including skilled artisans, expensive technology and equipment, mandatory location permits, and insurance.

As you may know, Kettlemaker Films, the Production Company I co-founded and am producing the film under, is no stranger to low-to-no budget filmmaking, which is a beautiful way to work. It brings ingenuity, scrappiness, and creativity to the fore. The desire to elevate the budget for this project stems from wanting to operate at a level that can include a wider range of collaborators and technological features without sacrificing that spirit.

The money you pledge will go toward feeding the cast and crew, securing LA filming permits, renting a camera kit, transportation, and much more!

Please consider supporting my directorial debut. Thank you!