Jimmy  Darts

SB Mowing

Pattie Gonia

Little Miss Flint

Kalina Silverman / @makebigtalk on Instagram

The Dogist

Samuel Weidenhofer

Patriotic Kenny Foundation

Peter Bond

That Good News Girl

Ben Saunders - Flawless Cleaning

Flavor Flav

Ask Uncle Jack

Amy Jandrisevits

FowlMouthFarmer

Tess Bohne

Latonja and Taylor Richardson

Officer Richard Craig

John Wolfe

Khloe

<div>At On the Outside Films, we’re dedicated to celebrating and uplifting Black voices through storytelling, community events, and artist-centered spaces. Based in Chicago, we create platforms for emerging and underrepresented Black creatives to showcase their work, connect, and be seen through events like our Annual Reel Black Festival and Filmmaker Mixers.
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<div>Your donation helps us host impactful events, support independent Black artists, and continue building a creative community rooted in authenticity, empowerment, and joy. Contributions go toward venue rentals, promotional efforts, and resources that keep our events accessible and thriving.
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Support On the Outside Films

<div>Help Send Me to Bali for the Eat Hoop Love Retreat!

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<div>Hi, my name is Nicole Goss, but in the flow arts world, I’m known as Thee Galavanting Bae. I am a hula hoop artist, teacher, and performer who believes in the power of movement to heal, empower, and bring joy. I’ve been given an incredible opportunity to attend the <strong>Eat Hoop Love Retreat in Bali</strong>, one of the very few flow arts retreats led by a POC instructor. This experience would allow me to grow as an artist, connect with a global community, and bring back valuable knowledge to share with others.

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<div>But here’s the reality—I am a single mother working two jobs, and despite my dedication, opportunities like this are often financially out of reach. The total cost for me to attend is $3,157 ($2,157 for the retreat + $1,000 for the flight). <strong>I am asking for your support to help make this dream a reality.</strong>

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<div>Why This Retreat Matters

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<div>✨ Representation in Flow Arts – As a Black hooper, I’ve often felt priced out of opportunities like this. Spaces for flow artists led by and designed for Black and POC creators are rare, and attending this retreat is a way to break barriers and create visibility.

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<div>✨ Expanding My Art &amp; Teaching – This experience will allow me to learn new skills, techniques, and movement styles that I can bring back to my students and community.

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<div>✨ A Much-Needed Reset – Between working multiple jobs, teaching, and performing, I rarely have the space to just focus on myself and my growth. This retreat is a chance to recharge, be in community, and pour into my artistry in a way I’ve never been able to before.

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<div>How You Can Help

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<div>If my journey has inspired you, entertained you, or encouraged you to move with joy, I would love your support! Every donation, share, and word of encouragement makes a difference.

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<div> Donate – Any amount helps me get closer to my goal!

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<div> Share – Spreading the word means so much!

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<div> Book a hoop session – If you want to support while learning something new, I’m offering hoop dance sessions in exchange for donations!

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<div>Thank you for believing in me and for being part of my journey. Let’s show the world that Black flow artists belong on global stages!

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<div>With gratitude,

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<div>Nicole Goss | Thee Galavanting Bae

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Empower a Black Hooper's Bali Dream

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<div>Proof of Concept Video
</div><iframe media_type="0" media_id="SvmF9TBQcAE" class="youtube-replace" title="YouTube video player" style="margin-bottom:20px;width:560px;height:315px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/SvmF9TBQcAE/?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="1"></iframe>
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<div><em>"Wonderful script and project, cannot wait to see it on the big screen. So powerful what you're doing" - Chelsea</em>
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<div><em>"Great to read your script tonight. Was so lovely. True activist films are few and far between, so this one is super special, timely and brings awareness to the Chicago Bus Crisis. - Sahar (London)</em>
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<div><em>"As an actor, reading a script where I intuitively know who all of the people are, is really exciting. It's a testament to your writing, and the way I felt reading your script, was the same way I felt reading Short Term 12. Can't wait to see where your film goes. Congratulations!" - Dominique</em>
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<div><strong>THE WHAT</strong>
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<div><strong><em>SHORT FILM:</em></strong><em> MI-MI SHU-SHU</em>
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<div><em>Following a tragic loss, Claire Banes confronts her anguish by channeling her grief into advocacy.</em>
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<div>Hello, we are filmmakers embarking on a project to spotlight a narrative on the nationwide bus driver shortage.
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<div>This is a multifaceted issue stemming from challenging work hours, inadequate pay, lack of benefits, and competition from companies like Amazon, Uber, and Doordash offering more flexible schedules and higher wages. This complex situation involves numerous factors, but with the right background information, here's our vision for the project:
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<div><strong>Craft a narrative short film centered around a young family profoundly affected by this systemic challenge.</strong>
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<div>During this school year, a staggering 5,500 students from Chicago Public School Selective Enrollment and Magnet Schools lost their bus services, leaving numerous families, including our central characters, stranded and struggling.
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<div><strong>THE WHY</strong>
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<div>The significance of this narrative lies in its reflection of a larger issue that affects countless families, emphasizing the urgency and importance of addressing these systemic challenges.
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<div>Here are some statistics:
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<div><em>Elgin buses 27,000 students daily on yearly a budget of $29.2 million. This costs them approximately $1081 per student yearly.</em>
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<div><em>Houston, with only 950 buses, buses 36,000 students daily on a yearly budget of $54.4 million This costs them approximately $1511 per student yearly.</em>
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<div><em>Miami-Dade county, a district similar in size to Chicago, has only 725 drivers and buses 35,000 students daily on a yearly budget of $99 million. This costs them approximately $2828 per student yearly.</em>
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<div><em>Chicago Public Schools is currently busing only 12,500 students with budget of $146.3 million. In the previous year, they were busing almost 18,000 students on that same budget. Just three weeks before the start of school, they cut the number of students bused by about 30%, yet they never offered to provide stipends to affected families, even though their budget was still the same. </em>
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<div><em>Public sources for this information are found at</em>
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<div><a href="https://cpsparentsforbuses.softr.app/#feature-grid4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CPS PARENTS FOR BUSES</a>
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<div>This film aims to delve into this issue, highlighting its complexities and impact.
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<div>Without delving too deeply into political intricacies, here's how we plan to allocate the donations:
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<div><strong>DONATIONS BROKEN DOWN</strong>
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<div>While we are primarily self-funding this project, an additional $8,500 can be allocated as follows:
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<div>Salary for the Crew is $6,600 alone.
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<div>Salary for the Actors is $2544-$3000
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<div>Food to feed Actors and Crew for 3 days on set is $1000-1500 approx
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<div>Permit to shoot on CTA is $3000
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<div>Travel for out of town Actors - $500-$1000
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<div>Production Design - $300
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<div>Locations - Rental of office space or coffee shop area $200-$300
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<div>Actors Wardrobe - $200
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<div>And,
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<div>Post Production (Editing, Coloring, Music Composition, Sound Correction)
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<div><strong>THE WHO</strong>
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<div>Let me introduce you to our team:
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<div>The director:
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<div>Andrew Littlefield
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<div>Andrew, originally from Pennsylvania, is a veteran director and writer recognized for his work on films such as "The One True Thing" (2010), "Deadline" (2003), and "Perhaps" (2016). His most recent film, "When the Clock Strikes," has garnered critical acclaim, being selected as the official entry, winner, and nominee at 14 prestigious film festivals.
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<div>Our cinematographer:
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<div>Estrella Vargas
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<div>My mother used to tell me “Calladita te ves mas bonita (you look prettier when you’re quiet);” at a young age, I noticed how much women were policed, and instead of challenging such ideals we accepted them, believed them, and perpetuated them. But I realized I had a political heart. Instead of yearning to be beautiful, I made it a goal to never stay silent and use my voice to expose the ugliness of racism, sexism, classism, and xenophobia. It got me in trouble and made me undesirable, but the feeling of never conforming became addicting.
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<div>Estrella is a professor of cinematography at Depaul University and received her degree at Denizen University and Depaul for her MFA in Cinematography.
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<div><a href="https://estrellav95.wixsite.com/estrellavargas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Estrella Vargas Website</a>
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<div>Executive Producer
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<div>Marissa Lichwick is an actress, screenwriter, filmmaker, theatre artist, and producer. "Mi-Mi Shu-Shu" marks her fourth film endeavor. Her initial short film, "Yellow Dress," earned 16 Best Short Film Awards. Marissa's feature film, "Searching for Yoo," secured global distribution and is set to stream on major platforms in the upcoming fall of 2024. She honed her screenwriting skills at UCLA and earned an MFA in Acting from the University of Washington.
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<div><a href="https://www.searchingforyoofilm.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Searching for Yoo Film Site</a>
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<div>Producer
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<div>Keipth Oliver is graduate of Whitney Young High School and Depaul University (BFA Film)
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<div>[I] Love making films that attempt to raise questions about human behaviors and tendencies, often using humor and satire as aids in telling stories about idiosyncratic subjects and topics. Started as a writer and producer for comedian Sammy Obeid. A huge proponent of “you get out of it what you put into it." He recently was on the producing team of the acclaimed short film "Cottage Grove."
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<div>THE PRINCIPAL PERFORMERS
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<div>TIFFANY BEDWELL leads the cast as Claire Banes. Tiffany is a consummate award winning actress recognized for her work in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and overseas. She has recurred in 61st. St (AMC), appeared on Next (FOX), as well as Chicago Fire and Chicago PD.
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<div>LILLIANE KLEIN joins us from the East Coast where she recently appeared in FEUD starring Jessica Lange, Naomi Watts and Susan Sarandon. Lili is a force and we are thrilled she can join us this summer!
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<div>MARC JABLON plays Attorney Mark Cohen and comes to Chicago from Los Angeles. He was recently seen on Seth McFarlane's TED on Peacock.
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<div>SEAN PATRICK FAWCETT has been seen on Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Somebody Somewhere (HBO) and on many of the Equity Chicago Stages.
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<div><strong>THANK YOU </strong>
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<div>Our Gratitude!
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<div>All donors will be thanked at the end credits of the film. And if there are some people that have deep-pockets and want to donate $500 or more, you will be listed at an Associate Producer in the credits as well as on IMDB.com.
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<div>Thank you for your precious time and support!
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<div>Gratefully, Marissa, Andrew, Estrella and Keipth!
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