Why you should support Our Rite…
With your help, we can get this bold, incisive short film out into the world!
Our Rite is:
Written, produced, directed, and filmed… by women, trans and non-binary artists.
A way for this team to build their careers and pave the way towards making a feature!
A story about the force and cost of change that the world needs to see.
All donations are tax deductible.
Our Rite uses magic and horror as a metaphor to explore the galvanizing power of female rage.
The Story:
To cope with election day anxiety, a group of queer friends plays a practical joke on a local incel (member of a misogynist online community)—but after their candidate loses, they discover there are more ways to take back their power than so-called democracy.
The Mission:
In this moment when the fabric of society is wearing thin and even the survival of our species on the planet is in question, our rage, and the action it inspires, may be the key to our salvation—or our damnation.
This film is a call to action to anyone who feels powerless, especially women, trans and non-binary folx, to think about your power in a new way, and to use it to make the world you want to live in.
Support Female Filmmakers
Today, there are 11 male film directors of top grossing films for every 1 female director.
During the #MeToo and Times Up movement, major studios made public commitments to hire women directors, but didn’t follow through. In the past 2 years, the number of women helmed films decreased by 5%.
In OUR RITE, all leadership roles are held by women or trans artists. 68% of the entire filmmaking team is female, trans or non-binary.
If you want authentic stories about women and queer people…
The best way to support female filmmakers is to support independent film. Women need to be able to show their work before studios will hire them.
By supporting Our Rite, you help this whole group of artists to tell this story and many more to come.
Join our coven!
With your help, we can get this bold, incisive film out into the world!
We need to pay…
an editor to finalize the cut; a colorist so the visuals look lush and emotional; a composer to add the drama of a great score; a sound designer to make it feel like you’re in the room with the characters; and, special effects artist for the flying!
We need to finish compensating our artists, and then apply to festivals!
All donations are tax deductible.
From your tax deductible donation:
Any amount will receive undying gratitude
$250 will receive a Special Thanks in the credits
$500 will receive an invitation to the debut screening
$1,000 will receive invitations to exclusive film festival events
Options to become an Associate or Executive Producer available (with IMDB credit). Reach out to Ellie.
Learn more about Our Rite…
The WORLD
Kingston, NY– A picturesque town with many old things, including Dutch structures dating back to the 1600s. It feels haunted by something ancient. Something primal.
The Characters
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Smart, sensitive, recently sober and in love with her ex. Ruth is looking for a new start. She is working hard to channel her long suppressed anger into positive change.
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they/them, Ruth’s ex, exudes a smart roguish vibe that Ruth, like many, can’t resist. J takes little seriously but they can see the truth inside Ruth.
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J's fun-loving new girlfriend, much to the dismay of Ruth. She maintains the same prankish spirit one might encounter in a softball dugout.
The Cast
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is an award-winning actress based in New York City. She currently plays Turner on HBO’s THE GILDED AGE. She was recently seen opposite Glenn Close in The Public Theater’s MOTHER OF THE MAID. In 2017 she made her Broadway debut opposite Kevin Kline in PRESENT LAUGHTER. Off-Broadway work includes: THE WINTER'S TALE, THE OUTSIDER, SENSE & SENSIBILITY, PETER PAN, DINGDONG (nominated for a Drama League Award alongside Lin Manuel Miranda, Lupita Nyong’o, Michelle Williams, Jessica Lange, and Jeff Daniels), ‘TIS PITY SHE’S A WHORE (Joseph A. Callaway Award for the Best Performance), and ANGELS IN AMERICA with the Signature Theatre Company. Kelley can be seen in season 6 of NBC’s THE BLACK LIST, and in the recently released feature, THE MAN WHO KILLED HITLER AND THEN BIGFOOT, starring Sam Elliott and Aidan Turner.
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is a mixed Black, Indigenous Brazilian, Jewish (im)migrant artist, cultural worker and facilitator based in Lenapehoking (Brooklyn) from Pindorama (Brazil). They recently starred in Tribeca festival horror hit, BAD THINGS with Gayle Rankin and Hari Nef. They are also known for High Maintenance, (Blank) My Life, Betty, The Endgame and have contributed to stories at HBO, CBS, MTV, National Black Theatre, MITU350, The Public Theater, La Mama etc., Shakespeare Theatre in DC, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, ART Boston, The Bushwick Starr, Target Margin, Ars Nova, New Ohio, Clubbed Thumb, The Flea Theatre, Sesame Street, Theatre 167 and various online media platforms.
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can be seen on HBO, AppleTV+, FX, Starz, HBOMax, Netflix, NBC, Nickelodeon, Audible, Broadway, off-Broadway, off-off Broadway and the stages of cabaret and nightlife. Notable performances include: FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE, SUCCESSION, THE SPONGEBOB MUSICALl: LIVE ON STAGE! and SERVANT. Her collaboration on the comedy hit "Fuck Me Ray Bradbury" garnered the attention of Mr. Bradbury himself and was nominated for a Hugo Award. She collaborated again for a comedic follow-up: "You Can Touch My Boobies," again directed by Paul Briganti (SNL).
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Recent credits include: Angels in America (standby for Prior, Broadway revival); Sun & Sea (BAM Opera); The Iceman Cometh (BAM/Goodman Theater); Ms. Blakk For President (Steppenwolf Theater, opposite Tarell Alvin McCraney); Fosse (dir. Ann Reinking); American Buffalo (Steppenwolf/McCarter, dir. Amy Morton); Red (Goodman/Arena, dir. Robert Falls); The Normal Heart (Timeline Theatre, opposite David Cromer); Romeo + Juliet (Westport, dir. Mark Lamos); Parade (Writers Theater, dir. Gary Griffin); Metamorphoses (Lookingglass, dir. Mary Zimmerman). A former frontman in the subversive synth pop surrealist quartet BAATHHAUS (baathhaus.com.) patrickandrewsartist.com
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is a performance artist, actor, model, burlesque performer, comedian and producer. Her work is admired across Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, England, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland and Sweden. Credits include: The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, Boardwalk Empire, The Other F Word Series, Betty and BIZARRE the film. The Sundance Channel made Darlinda a “Top 10 Badass Burlesque Babe” and The Village Voice calls DARLINDA JUST DARLINDA a "Mastermind of Bizarre Extravaganza!" She was voted in the Top 50 International Burlesque Industry Figures multiple times. Darlinda is the recipient of the Golden Pastie Award for The Most Innovative and Creative. The first and multiple winner of The Brooklyn Nightlife Awards: Best Burlesque Dancer.
The Creative Team
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is a director of theater and film. Recent credits include: THE GREAT WORK BEGINS featuring Glenn Close, Patti LuPone, Paul Dano and Brian Tyree Henry (Drama League Award; NYT Best of 2020), SPACE DOGS (MCC), THE TRAVELING IMAGINARY with Julian Koster (Neutral Milk Hotel), rated “Top 5 shows of the year” by NPR, THE ORBITING HUMAN CIRCUS (OF THE AIR), featuring John Cameron Mitchell, Tim Robbins, Mandy Patinkin and Charlie Day, was rated #1 on Apple Podcasts and downloaded over 5 million times, and “cult classic”podcast DREAMBOY (Night Vale Presents). She was a Drama League Film & TV Directing Fellow with NBC. Current projects include: A STREET WITHOUT DRUMS, with POE GLOBAL and BRUNDIBAR, with Tony Kushner. Ellie is a graduate of Northwestern University (BS) and Boston University (MFA), a former WP Theater Time Warner Directing Fellow and Drama League Fellow. ellieheyman.com
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is the co-founder of FORM & PRESSURE FILMS, a production company dedicated to diversity and equality on set and on screen. Their first film, MARISOL, won the 2019 HuffPost Impact Award and was licensed by HBO. Other films she’s produced can be seen on DUST, Tubi, Amazon Prime, and at film festivals all over the world. Select festival credits include: Slamdance, Nitehawk Shorts Festival, San Diego Latino Film Festival, Immigration Film Festival, Cinequest. She is also the co-president of PANO, a non-profit dedicated to women filmmakers. laurensowa.com
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is an award-winning, London born cinematographer living in New York and working internationally. She attended NYU for an undergraduate degree and specializes in a fluid and immersive style. alicemillar.com
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is a writer, activist and mystic. Her first book, An American Covenant: A Story of Women, Mysticism and Making of Modern America, was published by Topple/Little A in October 2020. She has reported on national and international health and human rights issues for over a decade—including for the United Nations, VICE and POZ magazine. Her plays have been produced in New York City, Edinburgh and Los Angeles. She currently lives in Brooklyn with her wife. lucilescott.com
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has been a writer and a film lover all his life. He spent his youth living in drag, wearing floor length skirts to yeshiva day school by day and watching any arty lesbian movie he could find at night. He went on to attend Dartmouth College, graduating in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in Philosophy before opening a bagel store in Manhattan, called Vic's Bagel Bar. At Vic's diner could create their own custom cream cheese from over 30 individual ingredients. After Hurricane Sandy, Vic's never reopened but his experience running the retail and wholesale operations informed his decision to forge a career in business to business sales. When Victor isn't working you can find him in the first row at any of his wife, Darlinda Just Darlinda's shows, walking their dog Falkor or writing by the fire.
Associate Producer: Jess Lazar I 1st AD: Rhi Collins I Script Supervisor: Maria Castillo I 1st AC: Dan Rodriguez I 2nd AC: Katya Yefetova I Gaffer: Eren Gedikoglu I Grip: Saki Bharti I Swing: Inna Ivanovskaya I Production Designer: Mathilde Suissa I Art Director: Nathan Rapport I Set Dresser: Kai Van Der Putten I Production Sound Mixer: Mariya Chulichkova I Hair & Makeup Artist: Addie Thompson I Key Production Assistant: Gus Mahoney I Production Assistant: Mia Aston I Production Assistant: Jonnathan Pintado I Production Assistant: Isaiah Frank Intimacy I Director/Stunt Choreographer: Chelsea Pace I Levitation Consultant: Paul Curran I Wardrobe Designer: Sarah Maiorino
All donations to the making of OUR RITE are tax deductible with fiscal sponsorship from PANO.
PANO supports people underrepresented in the industry, including women, non-binary, and trans creators.