THE RESIDENTS
OF 8265 OAKLAND AVE
KZ ELIZABETH ● DAN LEAHY ●
KURT KANAZAWA ● L'LERRET JAZELLE ●
KATIE KERSHAW ● MOLLY RAGEN ●
CASEY LEACH ● KEI ROLDAN
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY RHEA BOZZACCHI
A STORY ABOUT A CHOSEN FAMILY
PLEASE ENJOY OUR PROOF OF CONCEPT TRAILER
A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
OUR TEAM: Residents is a queer-centered story brought together by a queer-led team, featuring an all queer cast.
OUR MISSION: We are dedicated to lifting up marginalized voices through the power of storytelling.
OUR STATUS: We are currently seeking investors and production companies interested in partnering with us to fund our production. For budget breakdown and total, click here.
THE STORY
LOGLINE
When their home is sold to a high-end land developer, a queer chosen family must come to terms with this chapter of their lives coming to an end.
SYNOPSIS
Though 8265 Oakland Ave may look like a run of the mill home in Milwaukee, it actually contains a queer chosen family with Randy, the self-proclaimed mother of the group, at the helm. The house is filled with sweet, talented, complex, lost, 20-somethings and Randy wouldn’t have it any other way.
Our story begins on the night of one of the house’s crazy monthly parties, when Aiden, the newest roommate, comes to the home for the very first time. There, Aiden meets the rest of the roommates: Teddy, a transman and local bar manager, Kate and Ryan, a non-monogamous queer couple, Eli, Randy’s moody younger brother, and Gwen, a queer femme yoga instructor.
In the early morning, after the party has died down, Lou, a transwoman singer, comes back from work and swoons a bit over Aiden asleep on the couch. The next morning, while everyone makes breakfast together, there is a knock at the door. Randy is greeted by their landlord who informs her that their house has been bought out to become a strip mall. They have six months before they will be forced to move.
Shocked by the news, Randy keeps the eviction notice a secret in hopes that she can convince the property owner otherwise. Meanwhile, their final roommate, Syd, a nonbinary environmental activist, returns from working in Ghana and is forced to share a room with Gwen.
Soon after, Randy finally breaks and tells the group about the eviction notice. With this news, the immediate reality of everyone’s lives sets in. They are suddenly forced to take a closer look at their relationships, careers, and friendships.
Randy, starts on a personal quest to keep everyone together in a new house, ignoring the very real possibility that this chapter in the family’s lives may be coming to an end.
MARKETING SUMMARY
So often in film and television, as queer people, we only see ourselves reflected back in moments of crisis or in the process of coming out. Our community craves (and deserves) content that showcases our everyday, full, and complex lives- just like everyone else.
Residents is a love letter to all queer people navigating friendship, family dynamics, careers, romance, and their own self-fulfillment.
GENRE
Dramedy
LGBTQIA+
Coming of Age
TARGET AUDIENCE
Adults
LGBTQIA+
18-35
FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
AND PRESS
We are proud to announce we were granted fiscal sponsorship through Film Independent in 2021. Later that year, our project was listed as one of “Three Queer-Focused Films to Support During Pride Month” and was written up in the LA Society Page.
While the fiscal sponsorship program does not provide funding, it allows all donations to the project to be considered nonprofit funding and therefore, tax-deductible.
Links to the above-mentioned pages:
THE APPROACH
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Primary Distribution: Indie Distributors and Festivals for Theatrical
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Distribution Target: Netflix, Amazon, and other VOD Platforms
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Main Marketing Points: Queer-Lead Cast and Crew, Quality Performances and Actors with Sizable Fan Followings, “Festival Darling” Positioning
Our #1 goal is to make an authentic, queer-centered feature film distributors will be excited about and audiences will enjoy. We have experienced actors, crew members, and advisors dedicated to making this a reality.
Making the Film: Every dollar in the budget is directed at bringing a high-quality production to fruition that viewers will perceive on screen. Our crew has immense and vast experience making the most out of our budgets with little to no resources. Therefore, we feel confident we can deliver an authentic, original film with high production value. The Residents of 8265 Oakland Ave is currently scheduled to shoot in approximately 18 shooting days. Several department heads, all of them highly-seasoned indie filmmakers and film festival veterans, are working in exchange for no up-front costs. We currently plan to finish the film by mid 2024 to begin our festival tour.
Festival Circuit & Social Media: Our social media engine is now under way, bringing early fans to the project. Due to each of our cast members having a notable social media presence, we anticipate Residents having a significant and dedicated following. In addition, our filmmakers have an excellent history in the film festival circuit, with our writer/director Rhea Bozzacchi screening their films at festivals such as Outfest and TWIST Seattle, and our cinematographer Mike Maliwanag’s work screening at Sundance and SXSW, among other notable successes. We will leverage our allies at major representation agencies to invite distributors to festival screenings to secure a deal for the film. If theatrical distribution does not materialize, we intend to take this film to distribution conventions such as the American Film Market (AFM) to find domestic and international home-video distribution and TV deals. Additionally, we will pursue non-exclusive online distribution via services such as Netflix, Amazon, and emergent on-line platforms. We will also seek foreign distribution which can be highly profitable.
SOCIAL MEDIA
We were lucky enough to have our on-set photographer, Erin Pearlman, capture portraits as well as BTS photos of our crew while shooting our promotional footage. Our Instagram will continue to showcase these photos in order to introduce our cast, showcase the film’s style and tone, and gain traction for the film. In addition, our TikTok will act as documentation for the film’s journey and give new audiences a place to fall in love with our characters.
Please enjoy our Instagram feed below featuring the above mentioned photos and character teasers:
@theresidentsfilm
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
When dealing with such personal subject matters like queerness and chosen family, we don’t want to cut any corners. Our budget will go towards our cast, crew, equipment, locations, production design and art, an intimacy coordinator, and so much more.
We are planning to shoot in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Here is how your investment will make an impact:
INVEST IN OUR FILM
Profitability
Film investment is inherently high risk, however, like most high risk investments it holds potential for large and on-going returns on investment. Those contributing funds should be comfortable with potentially losing 100% of their contribution. That being said, we are confident we have the skills to make this film an artistic and financial success. We will share any net profit with our financial contributors and hardworking crew. If you’re willing to donate 80% or more of our budget, our team is willing to discuss splitting any and all profits from the film up to 50%. This is an opportunity to invest in a team that is dedicated to bringing a unique and necessary story to life and we are always happy to collaborate with others who share our vision and mission.
Distribution
Our producers are dedicated to finding as many windows of exhibition as possible in order to maximize revenue from box office, VOD, and DVD Sales. This process involves securing the services of the distributor most capable of taking the film to theatrical venues, major streaming services, and even airline and hotel entertainment. Our team will closely vet each individual deal to make sure it is not only the most fair for our company and its investors, but also that it best positions the film for longevity so that it can continue to be seen widely for as long into the future as possible.
Joining our Team
Investing in a motion picture is unlike any other type of investment in that it offers investors a unique opportunity to be directly involved in the filmmaking process. Additionally, the team will continue to invest as much time, effort, and resources as necessary to see the film through to a successful completion. Join our team and be a part of not only the film’s success, but also The Residents family.
COMPARABLE SUCCESS STORIES
MY SISTER'S SISTER
Premiered at 2012 Toronto Film Festival
Budget $125,000
Worldwide Box Office $3,090,593
Streaming on Amazon
Featuring a limited location shoot. Shot with a low budget.
SHIVA BABY
Premiered at 2020 SWSW Film Festival
Budget $200,000
Worldwide Box Office $311,780
Streaming on Amazon, Max, and Hulu
Featuring a Queer Protagonist. Shot with a low budget.
DADDY ISSUES
Premiered at 2018 Outfest Film Festival
Awarded Best Feature Film
Budget $250,000
Streaming on Peacock
Featuring a Queer Protagonist. Shot with a low budget in Los Angeles.
PROFITABILITY IN QUEER CINEMA
As we know, LGBTQIA+ viewers have always been one of the most dedicated fanbases and now top streaming services are finally taking notice.
“Stream, Queen: Which Streaming Service Is the Queerest of All?”- NewNowNext, 2019
“We’re at a real inflection point in the history of TV, and Gen Z teenagers and young adults right now are the most queer-friendly, trans-friendly, and queer- and trans-identified generation in U.S. history,” says Jacob Tobia, a nonbinary writer and actor who plays the nonbinary character Double Trouble in Netflix’s She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, a show from DreamWorks Animation.
“They are the future of every single one of these companies. If a network or streaming service knows what’s good for them, they’re going to reflect the world as Gen Z understands it.”
“Did culture really embrace queer people this decade?”- BBC, 2019
“…This year’s Where We Are on TV GLAAD report revealed that there were more LGBTQ+ characters on primetime television than ever before. Netflix featured the highest number of LGBTQ characters among all the streaming services, with shows such as Orange is the New Black, Queer Eye, Grace and Frankie, Sex Education, and Sense8 wowing audiences over the last decade.”
“Abraham says that LGBTQ+ creators being allowed to shape their own narratives is the main catalyst behind …. moving past the tired stereotypes of previous decades. “I think that one of the biggest shifts has been letting people tell their own stories, and really understanding the value that that can add,” she says. “Pose, which was created by Ryan Murphy, has set a great example by bringing trans writers like Janet Mock into the writing room, and I think that's really paid off – look how amazing the show is.”
“How Sundance Changed the Landscape for Queer Film”- Philadelphia Gay News, 2021
“…Queer films came to prominence as part of a broader wave of new independent works “not just because they represented the ‘others,’ but because they were, by nature, good and fresh and exciting.”
FURTHER ANALYSIS
THE TEAM
RHEA BOZZACCHI
WRITER | DIRECTOR (THEY/SHE)
Their films have screened at Outfest, TWIST, Damn These Heels, Chicago REEL Shorts Festival, and more. Their memoirs have been published in Selfish magazine. As a filmmaker, her mission is lift up marginalized voices through the power of storytelling.
Press & Accolades
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2021 Official Selection of the Damn These Heels Film Festival
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“Simple, beautiful, and emotional…” DTH Press
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Chosen as one of Spaghettimag’s 2020 New Era Artists
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2018 Official Selection of the Tacoma Film Festival
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“… the back-alley queer dance-off of your dreams.” Hardly Art
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2018 Official Selection of the Outfest Film Festival
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Chosen as one of “The Best Lesbian Films at Outfest 2018”
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When I started to write The Residents of 8465 Oakland Ave, I envisioned a chosen family, a common theme in queer lives. I didn’t want it to be a side piece or a bonus, I wanted it to be the center of this story. So often in film, viewers are only shown one type of person on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, and nine times out of ten, their story centers around their struggle with their queerness. Coming out stories are important, but my goal with The Residents was to present queer characters with full, complex lives that don’t always revolve around their identity. The Residents tells the story of various queer lives, exploring the evolution of their friendships, careers, romantic relationships, and their own self-fulfillment.
While the themes in our film- career vs love, the fear of being vulnerable, letting go of the past- are not uncommon, they are unique when depicted through a queer lens. I want viewers to see the day-by-day life queer people lead. I truly feel we are a crew that can be entrusted to tell this story. As a queer writer/director, this is a story I have been dreaming of seeing my whole life. Our crew is dedicated to telling authentic stories with diverse queer people in front of and behind the camera. We believe there is great power in allowing queer people to tell their own stories.
In The Residents, the audience will see characters such as a transman bartender, who longs to get married and have a simple life, a transwoman singer, who struggles with her first romantic relationship since her transition, a nonbinary activist, who is challenged with being vulnerable, as well as so many others. So often as queer people, we are presented with a one-dimensional version of ourselves. We hope our story will honor what real queer relationships look and feel like and will reach people who dream of seeing themselves on screen.
-Rhea
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
MOLLY RAGEN
CREATIVE PRODUCER (SHE/HER)
Molly Ragen is an actor, producer, and teaching artist born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Columbia College Chicago, graduating with a degree in Theater. Since moving to Los Angeles, she continues to study at The Imagined Life and also teaches musical theater at The Youth Academy of Dramatic Arts. While auditioning, Molly was inspired to produce her own work. Since then, Molly has acted in and produced several short films, including Boihood, which was an official selection at Outfest Film Festival.
Molly is committed to creating content rooted in empathetic storytelling for those who dream of seeing themselves on screen.
MIKE MALIWANAG
CINEMATOGRAPHER (HE/HIM)
Mike Maliwanag is a Filipino American cinematographer based in Los Angeles. His work has been featured at Sundance, SXSW, Outfest, and other festivals across the world. Mike’s purpose is to continue to shoot films for underrepresented communities.
Press & Accolades
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Film Independent Project Involve Cinematography Fellow 2021
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In The Land of Lost Angeles Winner Best Cinematography Queens World Film Festival 2020
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“The black and white cinematography is gorgeous…” - Film Threat Review
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ASC Vision Program 2019 - Mentored under Mark Doering-Powell, ASC
MORE TEAM
SASHA SMITH
INTIMACY DIRECTOR
Sasha is an acclaimed actor, teacher, and intimacy director based in Los Angeles. Her professional credits include: Yellow- Donald Glover, Beef- Ali Wong, Truth Be Told- Octavia Spencer, Daisy Jones and the Six- Reese Witherspoon, Perry Mason- HBO, The Last Thing He Told Me- Reese Witherspoon, among many others. She also has an extensive theater background, intimacy coordinating at world renowned theaters such as The Steppenwolf and The Goodman. Sasha was recently featured in Elle Magazine in an article exploring the reality of working as a black intimacy coordinator in today's current cultural and political climate.
MICHELE POSCH
WARDROBE
Michele Posch has worked in wardrobe and costume design since 1999. She began costume designing in indie movies such as “Ken Park” and “Brick.” In 2018, “Brick” was voted one of
The New York Times Best Clothing in a Movie.
She has also worked on numerous television shows, live performances, and commercials. Michele has the distinct ability to get into a character’s mind and choose clothing that is uniquely reflective of their personality. Her clothing design has a profound impact on the actors she works with and leaves a lasting impression on audiences.
MARTY GO
DIRECTOR & PRODUCER
"Black Magic"
ADVISORS
SAM SCHECTMAN
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
At Dark Burn Creative
JACK & JUSTIN
DIRECTOR DUO
"Stan Against Evil"
ROBERT SMITH
ATTORNEY
& FINANCIAL ADVISOR
THE LOOK
The Residents is a film about a family of friends and their time together before being evicted from their home. During this period, we watch the characters evolve, whether it be by attending medical school or growing as an individual and learning to love. I am personally influenced by Joey Soloway and Jim Frohna's approach to filmmaking and their ability to create a safe environment for the cast and crew. My goal with this film is to light a space rather than an actor. I will take a naturalistic approach to lighting in order to give the audience a sense of realism, and to allow the viewer to inhabit the world we've created. When the world is built, I'll add a touch of stylistic lighting representing the mood, whether it be an argument or falling in love. I'd like to give the actors the freedom to improvise and not have my lighting constrained to where the camera is framed. As the film starts off, I'd like to film in tighter compositions, with the exception of showing the house as a character in wides. I’ll start to pull back as each character progresses and develops to represent growth and the freedom to move forward.
-Mike, The Residents Cinematographer
THE FEEL
As the writer/director, I envision our film to be a uniquely collaborative process. Though we are only with these characters for a short period of time, my vision is for the film to feel almost like we are shooting a documentary. I want you to feel as if the characters have been living together for years and we are presenting you with a collection of moments in their lives. In order to create this feeling, I want the blocking and the camera work to come off very organic. Through the rehearsal process, we will lean heavily on the actors to show us how they see the scenes playing out through their physicality and behavior. From there, I will work with our cinematographer to find natural, handheld movements for the camera. Both myself and our cinematographer, intend to create a “fly on the wall,” approach to the process to give off an observational intimacy to the viewer. Because The Residents takes place over a long period of time and many of the roommates have a long-standing history with one another, I will take time to collaborate with the actors on what has happened in between scenes and in the past. I believe this will encourage complex and authentic performances.
-Rhea , The Residents writer/director
THE CAST
As dedicated queer content viewers, we know the significance of not only seeing ourselves on screen, but also seeing these roles portrayed by actors with the same identity as their character. To be transparent, our casting process was not easy. Because there is an extreme lack of representation and opportunities for queer actors, especially queer actors of color, we decided to take an unorthodox approach to finding our ensemble.
In the end, the time and energy it took to fill these roles was of immeasurable worth and we are so proud of this cast.
RANDY
PLAYED BY KZ ELIZABETH (SHE/HER)
Randy (she/her) (short for Miranda) is born and raised in Wisconsin and loves everything about the Midwest. The self-proclaimed “mother” of the group. Shotguns a beer in under five seconds and is in love with Teddy.
From Chicago, Kz Elizabeth (she/her) is an actor, director, and filmmaker. Kz co-starred in the GLAAD nominated episode of Netflix’s Easy, was featured on ABC’s Bless This Mess, and on NBC’s Chicago Fire. She trained in improv at The Second City and The iO Theater in Chicago, where she created and hosted the live, queer comedy show, Gender Is A Drag. Her directorial debut, a satirical short film about the injustice behind breast health, was featured on The Huffington Post, Upworthy, and Women You Should Know. In 2018, her short film, Ponytail, won Audience’s Choice, Best Made in Chicago, and Best Female Filmmaker awards at national and international film festivals, and is now distributed by Pixquid. Her 2020 film, Pathetic Woman showcased in festivals internationally and nationally, LGBTQ+ festivals, and reviewed as “Arts/Culture to Follow” by Autostraddle.
ELI
PLAYED BY DAN LEAHY (HE/HIM)
Eli (he/him) a queer man who makes it known he’s a triple Scorpio. He likes writing, crop tops, and drama. Has broken many boys’ hearts and isn’t finished.
Dan Leahy (he/him) is an actor and comedian hailing from the delicious city of Chicago, where he was bestowed the honor of “reddest hair in Chicago” at a Gaelic Festival in 2004. He is a proud Northwestern University graduate where he studied Musical Theatre for himself and Economics for his parents. TV Credits include: Reboot (Hulu), Barry (HBO), Dave (FX), and Perry Mason (HBO). Ask him about deep dish.
RYAN
PLAYED BY KURT KANAZAWA (HE/HIM)
Ryan (he/him) dreams of being a documentary filmmaker. He works as an editor at a local news station. His favorite things include: old cameras, finding the perfect gift, and Kate. Ryan and Kate have been in an open relationship for the past five years.
Kurt Kanazawa (he/him) is a Los Angeles native. He studied at The Juilliard School, and lived in Italy for several years, where he starred in the Italian drama series, "Provaci Ancora Prof!" Since returning to L.A., he has starred in ABC’s "Grey's Anatomy,” Amazon Freevee’s “Bosch: Legacy," as Stanley Hayami in "A Life in Pieces: the Diary and Letters of Stanley Hayami" (Tribeca, Cannes, BFI, Hawai'i), and as Alan in the upcoming feature film “No No Girl." He is both Japanese American (4th generation) and Filipino American (3rd generation), and is fluent in Italian, French, and Japanese. Both of his parents were born in Hawai'i, where he was also partly raised. Formerly a professional opera singer, he has worked in China, France, Italy, and across the United States, including at the Met Opera, Lincoln Center, and with the NY City Opera, and was featured in the New York Times, Time Magazine, and Opera News.
KATE
PLAYED BY KATIE KERSHAW (SHE/HER)
Kate (she/her) is a queer woman who loves gossip and hates bullshit. She works as a nurse, studying to be a surgeon, and is therefore busy as hell, but she likes it that way. She’ll be the first to tell you she’s a Sagittarius Sun with a Capricorn Rising, but notoriously leaves out her Cancer Moon. Her and Ryan have been in an open relationship for the past five years.
Katie Kershaw (she/her) - most recently reoccurred on Season 4 of the FX series Fargo. She previously starred in HBO’s limited series Mrs. Fletcher, opposite Kathryn Hahn. Katie has written stage material for notable comedy institutions The Second City and Boom Chicago in Amsterdam, as well as a limited engagement revue at The Kennedy Center. She has written several digital shorts for the IFC network.
SYD
PLAYED BY KEI ROLDAN (THEY/THEM)
Syd (they/them) an environmentalist activist who has a spreadsheet for just about everything. They dream of making vegan nachos for their crush. If only they could talk to her without coming off like an overly critical robot. Big Virgo energy.
Kei Roldan is a non-binary queer actor, model, and musician living in Los Angeles. The past few years they have been focused on commercial work (you might have seen them for brands like Starbucks, Bose, Oculus, Shure, Best Buy, GoDaddy, and more) as well as making music under the name Aliek. They recently put out their second music video for their single "Pillow Talk" which deals with gender expression and self acceptance, and have a semi-autobiographical series in the works about a struggling queer artist trying to find their footing. It's an important point of focus for Kei to use their storytelling to create art that helps others feel seen and represented.
GWEN
PLAYED BY MOLLY RAGEN (SHE/HER)
Gwen (she/her) is a queer woman who teaches yoga and dreams of moving to California, but has a hard time committing to anything. A hipster to no end, she bounces from trend to trend, afraid that one day people will see through her bohemian front and find out she’s an atheist who just likes the scene.
Molly Ragen is an actor, producer, and teaching artist born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Columbia College Chicago, graduating with a degree in Theater. Since moving to Los Angeles, she continues to study at The Imagined Life and also teaches musical theater at The Youth Academy of Dramatic Arts. She has acted in and produced several short films, including Boihood, which was an official selection at Outfest Film Festival.
LOU
PLAYED BY L'LERRÉT JAZELLE (SHE/HER)
Lou (she/her) an old soul who dreams of being a professional singer. She works nights, but doesn’t mind missing parties. She loves Nina Simone, home-cooked meals, and a solid jumpsuit look.
L’lerrét Jazelle (she/her) is a classically trained transgender actress born and raised in Baltimore, MD and currently living in Los Angeles, CA. She began her artistic training in 2019 and despite a global pandemic, has been focused on honing her skills and cultivating a craft that she is proud of. She has secured a number of guest star roles - most notably playing on the new CW reboot of 4400. She could also be seen on NCIS: Los Angeles as well as the upcoming 5th season of Showtime’s The Chi.
AIDEN
PLAYED BY CASEY LEACH (HE/HIM)
Aiden (he/him) is the type of guy who doesn’t need a GPS, reads a lot of thrifted paperbacks, and is running from his childhood trauma. A romantic, in love with Lou.
Casey Leach (he/him) is a LA based creative and SAG-AFTRA actor. Born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida, he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from the School of Theatre at Florida State University. TV / Film credits include: Nico in "Pam & Tommy" on Hulu, Danny Spagnolo in "NCIS" on CBS, Charlie in "Secret Obsession" on Netflix, Corey Haim in "A Tale of Two Corey’s" on Lifetime, and Jack in the Amazon horror "The Sleep". In addition to his performance career, Casey enjoys writing and developing his own work for both stage and screen, directing & producing, fashion, styling, and clothing design, creative directing, and writing & producing music.
"I can't believe this is how it ends..."
THANK YOU