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Bring "The Bech" to Life

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The Bech:

The Bech
is a 7-15 minute comedy/drama web series following the life of young adults of various backgrounds, living in a known liberal city. The series begins with all of the characters in college.

Nicknamed “The Bech,” a university apartment complex houses a wide range of characters with varying opinions and ways of life in Austin, Texas. A young lesbian unable to decide her exact career path moves into an apartment with a straight woman from a small town. After a rather awkward encounter, she discovers that an old friend is now her neighbor amongst a colorful array of new friends. Deciding on the perfect classes is the least of their difficulties.

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Our Production Website

“Growing up, I looked up to real women. I didn’t go in for the hero worship, and I still don’t. Everybody has feet of clay.”

Lucy Lawless


The Idea:

The Bech goes back to the summer of 2015. With a BA in English Literature sitting in a drawer, Catarina, our creator, was finally ready to begin starting a journey to work for Disney, writing movies to inspire people all around the world. After months of researching, ideas for a web series began to become more enticing. Driven by a passion from her favorite show, Xena: Warrior Princess, the desire to create something meaningful manifested.

This unnamed project was being described as what would happen if an offspring of Orange is the New Black and The L Word had a child with a cross between How I Met Your Mother and Switched at Birth. In early 2017, the treatment and first season outline for The Bech were completed and looked over by several people. Months of feedback led to finally being ready to search for a crew. Alexis, who joined the team as the makeup artist, quickly became enamored by the premise. Soon, Alexis was named producer. Within weeks, Catarina and Alexis grew close and became the production team. With Catarina’s creativity and Alexis’ enthusiasm, they were able to pull together the start of a great cast and crew. Together, we are creating a web series with similar tones of Orange is the New Black and the feel of How I Met Your Mother. Many references can be found throughout the show to all of these shows - as well as several other works of fiction. The Bech is, first and foremost, a passion project meant to give representation and messages not often seen on television.


Purpose:

There are two core themes to The Bech: diversity and young adult life.

Having a greatly diverse set of characters… Each of these characters come from various backgrounds that offer them a different perspective on similar situations that they face. While these characters may not always get along, and some simply do not like other, they will find themselves in tense discussions. Everyone has their own, unique personality that is conveyed through dialogue, mannerisms, reactions, actions, and music.

Portraying the lives of college students at different parts of their lives… Learning to be an adult and becoming independent while trying to stay afloat in college work is something every character struggles with in their own ways. There is no one size fits all method of dealing with the stresses of young adult life. They are at an age where respect is rarely given, but expectations and responsibilities are thrust upon them from all directions. Figuring out who they are and where they fit in is just one of the many things they will discover.


The recurring tones on the show:

Humorous/feel-good… Humor is a tool used by many of the characters to keep themselves from becoming overwhelmed - especially during enjoyable moments within the friend group. Characters tread lightly through uncomfortable situations by finding the balance between humor and drama to tackle difficult conversations. The show finds the balance between which topics can be portrayed through humor vs. drama. Inspiration for methods of portraying this greatly come from Orange is the New Black and How I Met Your Mother.
Overwhelmed… School, dating, work, financial aid… it can feel impossible to find some semblance of balance. For characters early in the coming out process or dealing with temperamental roommates, falling into a stressed state can be all too easy. The Fosters and Switched at Birth provided examples of how to handle young adults feeling in over their heads.
Passionate… Every character has something they are passionate about - some more than others. There will be several instances of some of the characters getting deeply passionate about a discussion, another person, or something going on in their lives. Although they may be close to someone, their passions do not always align with their friends. Part of growing up and growing close to others is learning how to respect that your loved ones may and will have different passions. This was an issue partially brought to attention in The L Word.
Compassionate...Through all of the moments, from feel-good to overwhelmed to passionate, these friends are there for each other. There is genuine love there. Several characters are the first to run in to comfort a friend, and many can empathize with what others are going through. This isn’t a group of friends that all identify the same way, but they have absolutely no difficulty sympathizing with one another. The Bech truly dives into complex relationships between friends - no matter their differences. A lesbian and straight woman can be close friends with no ulterior motives. A transgender woman and cisgender woman can live comfortably together without feeling even the slightest need to make their discussions circle around their identities.
These characters are friends because of who they are… not what they are.


"And I tried to remember any case in the course of my reading where two women are represented as friends…They are now and then mothers and daughters. But almost without exception they are shown in their relation to men. It was strange to think that all the great women of fiction were, until Jane Austen’s day, not only seen by the other sex, but seen only in relation to the other sex. And how small a part of a woman’s life is that."

Virginia Woolf

Breakdown:

With this goal reached, we will be able to completely produce the first five episodes of the show. We have two seasons completely planned out, and the following two seasons are in the works! This isn't a temporary thing. We are in this for the long haul.


Our entire budget for the first season greatly goes toward our crew and cast. Without a talented, passionate, and dedicated team, it's truly difficult to make something great. 

For this GoFundMe campaign, we will fully be funding our first five episodes: cast, crew, location, and GoFundMe fees. With the first five episodes completely funded, we can increase the strength of our future IndieGoGo campaign - averaging $5000 an episode.

Filming the episodes cannot begin until we are financially stable. Our goal is to be able to begin filming in March. 

We have filmed footage for our trailers that are currently in editing. All images and videos are from rehearsing for and filming the trailers.

Pilot:

Gabrielle has just moved to The Bech. We open with her exiting her apartment unit in a clearly frustrated state. As she’s leaving, she runs into Tiana. After the initial surprise of now living in the same apartment after not seeing each other much since they both started college, Gabrielle is introduced to Tiana’s roommate, Eliza. The three spend time in Tiana’s apartment, and Gabrielle and Eliza quickly bond by finding a shared interest in crazy Tiana stories. They each share a story before the scene changes as Gabrielle explains the tensions with her roommate.

Danielle opens her front door in the opening of the scene. Gabrielle introduces herself as Danielle’s new roommate. Danielle is studying at the kitchen table, and Gabrielle enters the apartment with a box. The two women discuss decorating the main areas of the apartment. They come to an awkward agreement. Before Gabrielle leaves her apartment in a huff, she and Danielle get into an argument over use of the shared space. Danielle insists she can’t do any work if she can see Gabrielle.

Tiana and Eliza give Gabrielle fake, unhelpful advice - ranging from “cutting the bitch” to “seducing her.” Their fun ends when Tiana has to go to her shift at the front desk.

Theme song:

Walk away or see it through.
Pick what do I have to lose.
My whole world is turnin'.
Bridges burnin'.
It's time for my debut.

First Five Episodes:

"A Funny Thing, Luck "
Gabrielle moves into her new apartment and  is introduced and reintroduced to some of the residents of The Bech.

"My Friend is Gay"
Leia is having a difficult time adjusting and meets Tiana, who tells her that she has a lesbian friend that may be able to help her.

"I See What You Mean" 
Leia mistakes Eliza for Gabrielle. Danielle finds out that her little sister will be coming to visit.

"It’s Not Awkward if You Laugh" 
Leia discovers the mistake she made over Eliza’s identity, and Gabrielle finds it amusing.

"Is it Prejudice or Personal?"
Tensions between Gabrielle and Danielle become obvious to more of The Bech friend group while they discuss different topics of diversity.


Characters:

GABRIELLE SANCHEZ is a second-year English student, feminine lesbian, and of Latin heritage. After being diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder in her first year of university, she underwent major changes in life and is now in a leadership role. More often than not, she does not realize someone is flirting with her until a friend points it out or she has someone’s tongue on her ear. She has three years to figure something out before student loans and real life begin - all while living with her near polar opposite.
LOIS ENTIN is in her third year of her communications degree. Determined to not let her depressive disorder be the leading factor in her life, she finds strength in helping animals. Growing up, she dated people of various genders, but could never find an identity she felt comfortable enough to claim. Lois cares more about being her best self than putting herself into a category. 
ALICE BETTON is cisgender and Jordan’s cousin. She’s a third-year English and Theater double major who dreams of acting at the Shakespeare Globe Theatre. She is exceptionally outgoing and amicable, and is always convincing her roommatesto throw parties. When she’s  not in party mode, she is in the mother role to the others.
DANIELLE THOMAS, a white woman, is a third-year physics student from England. She’s studious, blunt, focused, and impatient. Her idea of fun is watching a documentary with a glass of red wine, and she doesn’t read anything with a plot. As a surrogate to family, she has become close to the professor for whom she is a TA, and she has not seen her real family since her first winter break in America. Coming from a background of nobility, she considers herself far too focused on her studies to worry about judging people or taking notice of the variety of identities that live around her. 
TIANA WILLIAMS is a second-year student and a straight, black woman studying biology on a pre-med track.  She’s full of qualities that are not generally seen together: intelligent, fun-loving, driven, heavy drinker, fiercely loyal friend, man-crazed, and studious. When in social settings, she lacks discretion with personal matters, often times sharing personal stories in great detail. While she’s always worked exceedingly hard in school, Tiana now has med-school applications on the horizon amongst all of her responsibilities at The Bech, but she sometimes can’t stop thinking about sex.


ELIZA SIMMONS, a woman of color, is a straight, first-year student studying student affairs. Her love for alcohol is rivaled only by her love for food. 
LEIA CORINTH, a bisexual woman, is a first-year Radio-Television-Film student from Alaska with two dads. 
SAMMIE SMITH is a more masculinely-dressed lesbian, third-year history major, and student athlete that  was outed during an incident with another team. 
ALEXANDER McALLEN, a gay third-year journalism student, is on the football team with a full ride that sees his sexuality as merely a small part of who he is.
JORDAN TAMLIN is a transgender woman studying engineering, who enjoys joking about the odds of her and her three roommates being women loving women.
JAMES DANIELS is a multiracial, bisexual business student with the mouth of an absolute sailor. 
RENEE THOMAS, Danielle’s little sister, is in her senior year of high school. Her quick wit and sarcastic sense of humor make her stand out from her sister. 
LANE RAY is pansexual and a fourth-year history major. His goofy personality is accompanied by a love for comics, sci-fi, and superheroes.
KATIE GOMEZ, a second-year business student, transfers to the school for the second semester. She keeps to herself, and everyone begins to wonder many things about her. 


The Current Team:

Catarina Elibeth - creator, executive producer, writer, director
Alexis Skidmore - producer, assistant director, makeup artist
Lacey Smithmier - producer, editor
Robert Lloyd Moore  - director of photography
Siegen Bretzke  - composer, head of sound department
Christopher Noia  - recording engineer, sound department
Nicolette Sciore Koalewski  - production assistant
Carol Camp  - colorist
CJ Waterford - writer

Katy Atkinson..................................................Gabrielle Sanchez
Katusha Robert..............................................Lois Entin
Rachel Pallante...............................................Alice Betton
Lacey Smithmier............................................Danielle Thomas
Anitra Whitfield.............................................Tiana Williams
Catherine Rivas.............................................Eliza Simmons
Franziska Dietl...............................................Sammie Smith
Rory Mitchell..................................................Alexander McAllen
Catarina Elibeth............................................Katie Gomez

IMDB Page


Perks:

All donations $55 or more will get your name in the scrolling credits at the end of the first season.

We will keep you up to date on when merchandise will be shipped out, and access to the first five episodes will be sent to the email you provide us.

Producer Level
Covering the budget of an entire episode will invite you to join us for the entire filming process of an episode of your choosing as the producer! In order of purchase, you will choose which one of the 25 episodes you want to produce. We will let you sit in on rehearsals - virtually or in person if you are local, send you exclusive footage, let you have some input on the script, speak with you over the phone, and dedicate the episode to you. Before the launch of the series premiere, you will receive the director’s script of the episode signed by the cast and crew. Additional perks: special place on donor list, social media shout outs, name in credits, we will follow you on social media, fan kit, access to exclusive video footage and spoilers, early access to entire season, early access to season two information, IMDB credit as a producer, invitation to our wrap party and screening.


Executive Producer Level
As our sincerest thank you for donating our entire post production budget, we will honor you on our website and social media as a co-executive producer. You will be flown out to Austin, Texas for a weekend as our ultimate, special guest. You won’t just be watching us. You will be co-directing! While you’re here, we’ll also throw fun events into the itinerary. Travel, lodging, and transportation for show-related events will be provided. As co-EP, you will have an open invitation to filmings, the wrap party, and the premiere screening. Additional perks: special place on donor list, social media shout outs, name in credits, we will follow you on social media, fan kit, access to exclusive video footage and spoilers, early access to ENTIRE SEASON, regular updates during filming, early access to season two information, IMDB credit as a director and co-executive producer.

If you donate $100 or more, we will send you a handwritten and signed thank you note with a unique fun fact from the show! Donate $1,000 or more, and you will receive a fun fact for each person that donated over $100!


Thank you:

This passion project is truly designed to make a difference. We have so many identities being represented in this show, and immense, constant research has been and will continue to be put into this show.  The Bech is for you. It's for us. It's for everyone that has ever wanted to see someone like them on TV. It's for those of us want something different. There's something for everyone, and we cannot make it happen without you.

We cannot thank you enough for contributing to make this dream a reality. Our team will be highly active on social media before, during, and after the entire filming process. Along with the perks we have to offer, every person that donates will get an email from us with our sincerest gratitude. With every milestone we pass, we will share everything we feel and accomplish with you. 



Thank you so much for taking the time to help this dream become a reality.

Organizer

Catarina Elibeth
Organizer
Austin, TX

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