The story.

What does a high school freshman do when he falls in love with the one girl who won't have him? He devises a plan to convince her to give him a chance. But "sometimes convincing her it's meant to be is harder than realizing it yourself."

"Adorkably Yours" follows Galveston, a high school freshman, as works out his master plan to use prom night – the zenith of social existence in any high school – to woo the adorkable girl with whom he has recently fallen in love. As an underclassmen, Galveston must enlist the help of his upperclassman friends to execute the plan, but new accomplices mean new complications that could foil Galveston’s goal.

The film offers a comedic depiction of the tension between would-be lovers from two houses. One family supports abstinence-only sex education, and the other favors a comprehensive sex-ed curriculum. The high schoolers find their daily interactions affected by the ideological differences they do not yet fully understand.

The project.

Slated for release in April 2012, "Adorkably Yours" is a short film that will be 20 to 25 minutes long and tell the story of high schoolers in love and lust. The film represents the culmination of my mass media degree and is my senior thesis project for the Division of Communication and the Mary C. Dodd Honors Program at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind.

My name is Steven Porter. I'm currently assembling a team and cast list, which I will publish online once it's finalized. I've written the script, and I'm excited to direct and edit the film, beginning in February.

In spring 2010, I completed a semester of off-campus study at the L.A. Film Studies Center where I honed some of the video production skills I'll be using for this project, produced two 5-minute pieces of my own and served as Producer/1st A.D. for a 10-minute film with an $1,800-budget and 10-member team.

Upon returning to Indiana, I completed a super-short film to practice using IWU's equipment and edit labs and review the basics of visual storytelling. I completed the short film "The End of Love" for a one-credit course, and I believe it demonstrates the basic abilities I possess and will build upon. "Adorkably Yours" represents four credits of my 12-credit load for spring 2012, and I've already earned five credits directly related to preparation for this project.

To view "The End of Love" and summaries of my other work, check out the production resume on my personal website: http://bit.ly/vrCOP1.

Why I need your money.

The theatre majors in IWU's Division of Communication receive $1,200 to produce a play for their senior thesis projects. I asked my content adviser to request the same amount for my film, but that request was denied. The Theatre Guild sells tickets to recoup the funds it disburses for senior shows, though, so I fully understand why my film doesn't receive the same funding.

That's why I need your help. I have basic equipment, but I hope to raise $1,200 to pay for the following items for which I'll be expected to pay out-of-pocket:

1. Auxiliary equipment, such as light diffusers and flags
2. Production design, including costumes, makeup, props and set pieces
3. Craft Services, including meals for cast and crew members
4. Promotion materials, including a website and premiere fliers
5. Distribution costs, including online DVD sales
6. Film festival submission fees
7. Miscellaneous fees (they always crop up)

Other Ways You Can Help

1. Donate! Sparing even just $10 will help my film even more eye-catching and adorkable.
2. Spread the news. Post links on your Facebook profile. Tweet me. Follow my updates and share them with people who might be interested in reading them.
3. Check out my personal site: http://bit.ly/uT8M3s. I'll post updates about open casting and crew calls in addition to all sorts of fun updates throughout the film's production.