UPDATE: 

Thank you to everyone who helped out! 

View our Trailer here: http://youtu.be/RzeDuyVXchA

Our Story

The 20 minute comedic short film Souls of Splendor features the story of Leo, a black, gay comic book store clerk and writer who is dealing with his own complicated relationship to his art. He feels left behind by his ex-boyfriend Joe (a successful white artist) and creatively stuck in a place of self-sabotage and distraction. Although steeped in the worlds of comic geeks and San Francisco gay culture, Leo feels alienated from both. He finds the success of others unfair but can not seem to budge himself out of his creative rut. When he sits down to write, distractions abound in the form of video games and his alter-egos a straight, white superhero named Captain Fabulous and Franz Kafka (yes, THE Franz Kafka) who argue with him and offer little solace. After an overdue confrontation with his ex-boyfriend, Leo realized that metamorphosis comes from within and has nothing to do with fairness or luck.

Through humor and a critical look at inter-personal relationships, Souls of Splendor takes identity politics to the next level by looking closely at a subculture within a subculture. Many in the Bay Area take it for granted that we are in a post-racial and post-gendered society as we are immersed in a multitude of lifestyles, but what about the life inside the style? Identifying as gay is just the beginning of the battle for identity and many struggle to find where they fit in within that culture. Add geek and black to the mix, and its a whole new ballpark. The black/queer/geek contingent is a growing group without much representation in our culture. Representation is the first step towards empowerment. Additionally, Souls of Spendors lessons about self-determination, identity, and artistic integrity are universal. 

The script was co-written by Desmond Miller and Audra Wolfmann, who have been friends and collaborators since they met in high school in Fresno, California where they edited the schools literary magazine Indigo and started Fresnos first gypsy punk band, The Gout, with several talented musicians.  

Desmond Miller is the Manager of HIV Testing and Prevention at Larkin Street Youth Services and owner/publisher of Slumberland Press where he writes the titles Hansel and Gretel: Agents of the Coven and Robinson Caruso: The Sixth Dimension. 

The Impact

Your donations will allow Desmond and Audra to launch and complete production of Souls of Splendor with a talented and professional crew. Being able to financially compensate the actors and crew, and work with excellent recording gear will make all the difference in the speed and success of the shoot. 

What We Need & What You Get

We are asking for a $6,000 to cover all costs related to the production of the short film, including daily stipends for actors and film crew, rental of equipment, craft services, promotional materials, premiere screening, entrance fees for film festivals, and a superhero costume! Those don't grow on trees folks! 

Besides a chance to be part of a ground-breaking short film that represents a growing culture, we hope that you will get to feel a sense of pride when Souls of Splendor hits the film fest circuit. We're offering a tiered structure of donations and rewards that are accessible to everyone who wants to be part of this exciting project.   

Other Ways You Can Help

Please share this link with everyone you know. Facebook it! Tweet it! Print this page out and leave it in a coffee shop! Join the Facebook page!

Contact us if you feel you could offer your services or just want to be part of the fun. We're looking for extras.

TANX!

Support our friends at Amazing Fantasy in San Francisco's Sunset District!

Thanks to Dockers and their Man Grant for taking us to the next level!

Introducing...Our Talented Cast: