{"data":{"type":"company_profile","id":73414,"entity_id":"wefunder:company:73414","attributes":{"canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.dropout","generated_at":"2026-06-13T01:26:35Z","updated_at":"2026-06-12T05:00:27Z","entity_ids":{"company":"wefunder:company:73414","slug":"wefunder:company_slug:the.dropout"},"profile_visibility":{"owner_published":true,"public_search_results":true,"site_search_listed":true,"privacy_mode":"promote","invite_only":false},"provenance":{"source":"wefunder_public_company_profile","as_of":"2026-06-13T01:26:35Z","claims":{"total_amount_raised":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#amount_raised","last_verified_at":"2026-06-12T05:00:27Z","as_of":"2026-06-13T01:26:35Z","confidence":"high"},"total_investors":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#number_of_investors","last_verified_at":"2026-06-12T05:00:27Z","as_of":"2026-06-13T01:26:35Z","confidence":"high"},"active_raise_states":{"source":"Fundraise.visible(nil, nil)","last_verified_at":"2025-02-06T01:17:55Z","as_of":"2026-06-13T01:26:35Z","confidence":"high"},"latest_fundraise_state":{"source":"Fundraise.visible(nil, nil).order(funding_started_at)","last_verified_at":"2025-02-06T01:17:55Z","as_of":"2026-06-13T01:26:35Z","confidence":"medium"}}},"company":{"id":73414,"entity_id":"wefunder:company:73414","slug":"the.dropout","name":"Katie's Mom","tagline":"A sexy reimagining of “The Graduate” told from a female point of view. ","elevator_pitch":"The company was formed in order to produce this film.","story":"A divorcee's beloved holiday celebration with her adult children derails when she falls for her daughter's charming new boyfriend. An R-rated, sex positive comedy influenced by “The Graduate,” but told from the perspective of a protagonist inspired by Mrs. Robinson. Set in Pasadena, California.Do Audiences Want to See Women\u0026nbsp;Behaving Badly?Classic comedies often feature difficult men misbehaving. Jack Nicholson, Bill Murray, and Seth Rogen have all played flawed but lovable romantic heroes. But can an audience empathize with a woman who makes the ultimate betrayal, a mother who sleeps with her daughter's boyfriend? We say, the answer is resoundingly yes! As women who have at times\u0026nbsp;engaged in relationships with the wrong men and struggled to break free, we know the war between desire and common sense—or as we like to call it, the battle between the head, the heart, and the vagina—is ripe for drama and teeming with comedy. As Americans retreated to their living rooms over the past year, and date night moved to the couch, high-quality entertainment has never been so paramount to our survival as a species. Audiences have shown that they are hungry for content from new voices, a chance to laugh, and a sexy storyline that explores the limits breached by human desire.Our WorkWe started working in entertainment in the mid 2000s, cutting our teeth creating short form content. We’ve collaborated with Oscar winners such as Rob Fried (and his Hallmark owned company, Feeln), renowned filmmakers like Jon M. Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians”) for his Google premium channel, and Tony-award winners. Collectively, we’ve been on hundreds of film sets and our work has played in over 100 festivals, including the Oscar-qualifying Rhode Island International, Clermont-Ferrand International and Cleveland International film festivals, as well as the Sao Paulo International, Sante Fe, Nashville International and LA Shorts International festivals, among many others. We’ve won many awards, including multiple Telly Awards, Programmer’s Award (Cleveland International Film Festival), Jury Award (Rhode Island International Film Festival), Audience Award (Bleedfest) and Founder’s Award (ReelAbilites Film Festival NY). Through our experience in the last fifteen years, we’ve gained invaluable boots on the ground knowledge of filmmaking, fattened our Rolodexes with talented filmmakers, and toured the world showing audiences our films. Now We're Embarking on Our Next Feature Film...Why Now?\u0026nbsp;In 2020, the Academy of Motion Pictures announced new standards for films to be eligible in the Best Picture category. These initiatives are driving the awards categories toward more representation and inclusion. Hollywood is finally demanding more diverse voices. Streaming services such as Hulu, Netflix and HBO Max are providing a place for edgier content to live, after, or even instead of, a theatrical release. And the appetite for provocative content is growing.We have seen strong indications that female audiences are desperately seeking scenes showing romance and sexuality, like those featured in our film,\u0026nbsp;based on the success of the steamy Netflix show \"Bridgerton,\"\u0026nbsp;which focuses on its female characters’ sexual agency, and has over 82 million viewers.\u0026nbsp; As the technology of filmmaking continues to advance, high-quality films can be made at much lower budget levels.State of the BusinessThere has never been a better time for female-centered films.\u0026nbsp;This year, the Academy upended their own history by nominating two women for\u0026nbsp;Best Director\u0026nbsp;and two movies directed by women for\u0026nbsp;Best Picture. These films already made history at\u0026nbsp;The Golden Globes, which\u0026nbsp;awarded Best Picture and Best Director to Chloe Zhao for \"Nomadland,\" a film starring a female lead over 60. \"Promising Young Woman,\" a dark comedy directed by Emerald Fennell got four Golden Globe nominations and five Oscar nods.\u0026nbsp;And Regina King gained recognition in the Globes\u0026nbsp;for her directorial debut, \"One Night In Miami,\" highlighting the growing appetite for diversity on screen. This is all evidence that audiences are hungry for content made by and for\u0026nbsp;women, and that Hollywood tastemakers are finally catching up to speed.With more women behind the camera, the female gaze has come into focus. \u0026nbsp;On the small screen, \"Bridgerton\" is the number one show in Netflix history.\u0026nbsp;\"Bad Moms,\" a modestly budgeted studio film, grossed $183M worldwide and spawned the sequel \"Bad Moms Christmas.\" In the\u0026nbsp;world of\u0026nbsp;independent films,\u0026nbsp;\"Yes, God, Yes,\"\u0026nbsp;the freshman feature from\u0026nbsp;Karen Maine, explored the sexuality of a Catholic high school junior. The independently produced film premiered at SXSW to much acclaim, receiving a score of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, and is now available\u0026nbsp;on Netflix.\u0026nbsp;And films starring women make money. According to the LA Times, \"there's a strong correlation between female-led films and box office success.\" A study conducted by the advocacy group Times Up in conjunction with the talent agency, CAA, examined the 350 top-grossing U.S. films released from 2014 through 2017, found that films with female leads outperformed male-led ones in worldwide box office averages. The proof is in the numbers!Timeline\u0026nbsp;Late Summer/Fall 2021 -- Principal PhotographyLate 2021 -- Post-Production2022 -- Film Festival Run 2022-23 -- Distribution \u0026amp; Release DistributionThe reception for indie films has never been better. Sundance Film Festival had another landmark year in film sales. Over half the films were purchased for distribution, with the independent feature \"CODA\" breaking acquisition records when it sold to Apple + for $25 million. Since 2020 had little studio or independent film production, there is a void in the market that will need to be filled by new content.Top-tier festivals are actively seeking content that celebrates diversity. Our female focused film, produced by an all-female creative team, is exactly the kind of movie that will appeal to film festivals—particularly Tribeca, Cannes, South By Southwest, Berlin, and Sundance. \"The Dropout\" shoot is scheduled to be completed by late 2021, just in time for the 2022 festival circuit. We hope our film festival strategy will gain us recognition, build our audience, and attract distributors. We plan to leverage our current relationships with film sales agents and distributors to sell our film. There are more and more marketing opportunities available to female filmmakers\u0026nbsp;such as Cherry Picks, which aggregates film reviews for female film critics, a “Film Directed by Women” category on Netflix and the ReFrame Stamp, which demonstrates success in gender balance by hiring female-identifying people in key areas of production.Our ProgressIn preparation for our late summer/fall 2021 production timeline, we are meeting with and gathering our key creatives. We are also using our vast networks to connect with actors that bring momentum and the perfect vibe for the role. There is a key location that plays an important role in the film and we have already begun looking for the perfect spot.Use of Funds\u0026nbsp;As independent filmmakers, we’re accustomed to making our dollar stretch and are adept\u0026nbsp;at\u0026nbsp;using limited funds to elevate the cinematic world of our story. We have shaped the script to fit an independent budget, limiting our cast size and locations. Our production will be nimble yet high quality, so that our budget makes the most impact on the big screen.A Note from the ProducersAfter a year of hardship and isolation, a new era of independent filmmaking has arrived. We know that audiences are looking for an escape through movies that are funny, passionate, and heart-warming, and we are determined to satiate those desires. \"The Dropout\" has been called daring and provocative, but also inherently commercial by one of the project’s mentors, the comedy writer/director Luke Greenfield. The timing to make a film with a small cast and limited locations has never been better. And due to the derth of independent films shooting now, it has an excellent chance\u0026nbsp;of standing out in next year’s festival season. We have spent years refining our story, directing scenes from the script in front of a collective of filmmakers in Los Angeles, building our social media presence, and recently started a podcast that discusses sexuality in cinema.\u0026nbsp;We believe this is the perfect time to bring this intimate story into being. With the proliferation of streaming options, the gates have been flung open, allowing for a new kind of independent filmmaker to emerge. Our team has years of proven experience in writing, directing, acting, marketing, and harnessing resources to create scintillating content.\u0026nbsp;By investing in our all-female team, you are taking a step to elevate women’s voices. But contributing to something important doesn’t have to be boring. We are making a movie that’s sexy, hilarious, a little cringey at times, and ultimately life affirming.\u0026nbsp;In Closing\u0026nbsp;This is your chance to invest in a film filled with laugh out loud moments, passionate sex, characters who make big mistakes, and ultimately find their way to redemption and new beginnings. Our all female creative\u0026nbsp;team is committed to seeing our movie become a staple in romantic(ish) comedies. \"The Graduate,\"\u0026nbsp; still resonates more than fifty years after its premiere. And we hope that the taboos broken in \"The Dropout\" will spark discussion for many years to come.Join the party! Come for a drink. Stay for a laugh.","location":"Los Angeles, CA","website":"https://www.dropoutmovie.com/","total_amount_raised":180000,"total_investors":158,"is_funded":true,"is_active":true,"quality_score":2,"related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/the.dropout","https://www.dropoutmovie.com/"]},"media":{"share_image_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/73414/xxl_cropped_Thumb_2_copy.jpg","logo_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/logo/73414/large_cropped_Logos_square_ver_3.jpg","header_media_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/73414/standard_cropped_Thumb_2_copy.jpg","cover_photo_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/73414/standard_cropped_Thumb_2_copy.jpg"},"links":{"company_url":"https://www.dropoutmovie.com/","facebook_url":"https://www.facebook.com/thedropoutfeature","instagram_url":"https://www.instagram.com/the_dropout_movie/","blog_url":"https://soundcloud.com/the-dropout-writers"},"highlights":[],"quick_facts":[{"index":1,"claim_id":"claim-fact-1","value":"Director/writer has created content for Lionsgate, Hallmark, Google, 20th Century Fox, and more."},{"index":2,"claim_id":"claim-fact-2","value":"Script placed in top 5% of Academy Nicholl Screenplay entries in 2019 and 2020 out of 15,000 others."},{"index":3,"claim_id":"claim-fact-3","value":"Award-winning team with proven track record, who has won awards at Oscar-qualifying film festivals."},{"index":4,"claim_id":"claim-fact-4","value":"Davi Santos, of CBS' \"Tell Me a Story,\" is attached to play the romantic love interest."},{"index":5,"claim_id":"claim-fact-5","value":"Diverse cast and crew. Juicy lead role for an actress in her late 40s/early 50s."},{"index":6,"claim_id":"claim-fact-6","value":"We have relationships with distributors and festivals, so we'll find a home for our finished film."},{"index":7,"claim_id":"claim-fact-7","value":"Growing appetite for sexually provocative content from a female perspective, proven by \"Bridgerton.\""},{"index":8,"claim_id":"claim-fact-8","value":"To support female filmmakers. In 2020, only 16% of films were directed by women."}],"team":[{"id":1260388,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:1260388","user_entity_id":"wefunder:user:1302920","role":"founder","name":"Tyrrell Shaffner","title":"Writer/Director/Producer","bio":"Award-winning filmmaker. Has created content for Lionsgate, Hallmark, Google, 20th Century Fox, and more. Producers Guild of America Member. Winner of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Fellowship in Comedy.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/1260388/square_cropped_TS-Headshot.jpg?1759778510","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/tyrrellshaffner","personal_url":"http://tyrrell323.com","related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/tyrrellshaffner","http://tyrrell323.com"]},{"id":1260387,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:1260387","user_entity_id":"wefunder:user:388767","role":"founder","name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","title":"Writer/Producer","bio":"Screenwriter, fiction writer, essayist and blogger for Huffington Post. Teleplays have been quarter-finalists in the Austin, Final Draft and Sundance Screenplay competitions. Graduate of S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/1260387/square_cropped_Meryl-Branch-McTiernan.jpg?1617904841","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/merylbranchmctiernan","related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/merylbranchmctiernan"]},{"id":2368049,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:2368049","user_entity_id":"wefunder:user:2460896","role":"employee","name":"Milan Chakraborty","title":"Executive Producer","bio":"Head of Film at Marginal MediaWorks, oversees all of the company’s efforts in independent, studio and streaming film. He is a 17 year veteran of the film industry.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/2368049/square_cropped_milan.jpg?1638801588","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/milan.chakraborty.2","related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/milan.chakraborty.2"]},{"id":1584560,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:1584560","role":"employee","name":"Daniel Martens","title":"Editor ","bio":"Daniel Martens is an editor who was born in São Paulo, Brazil and raised in Los Angeles. His previous work includes \"Suits\", \"The 100,\" and most recently \"New Amsterdam.\"","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/1584560/square_cropped_Daniel_Head_shot.jpg?1638650804","related_urls":[]},{"id":1539156,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:1539156","role":"employee","name":"Kara Sullivan","title":"Casting Director","bio":"Kara Sullivan Casting, established in 2003, is an independent office based in Los Angeles. KSC has a diverse range of clients and an award-winning pedigree. Credits include the breakout indie films \"Farah Goes Bang\" and \"Cuck.\"","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/1539156/square_cropped_E91233DC-1544-4DED-98FA-6E5289DCDD8B.jpg?1638650804","related_urls":[]},{"id":1533141,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:1533141","role":"employee","name":"Cassandra Jones","title":"Co-Producer","bio":"Experienced film producer. Recently produced two independent feature films: \"What?” starring deaf actor John Maucere and \"Immanence” starring Michael Beach. Her short film \"CODA\" (Child of Deaf Adult) has played in over 30 festivals.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/1533141/square_cropped_Cassandra_Headshot_square.jpg?1638650804","related_urls":[]}],"featured_investors":[{"id":5473,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_investor_profile:5473","investor_profile_id":77226,"investor_profile_entity_id":"wefunder:investor_profile:77226","subject_entity_id":"wefunder:user:46237","name":"Alan Jacobson","bio":"Psychologist, executive coach, consultant, and former non-profit leader from the Boston area. Investing $1k-$10k in independent films, cutting-edge technology companies, and life sciences startups. Open to being an early investor and lead investor.","avatar_url":"http://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/user/avatar/46237/medium_cropped_me_cropped.jpg","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/alanjacobson","endorsement_quote":"I am excited and humbled to be the Lead Investor for this project. There are many films that have raised money through crowdfunding, enough so that it has become clear what the successful ones have shared. This project has all of those qualities, including a strong well-received script; a highly unique and compelling idea, but one that has a some underlying themes that people love in movies; a well thought-out plan that is based on substantial industry knowledge; and a great start as far as the cast (Davi Santos is quite talented and has a strong social media presence). But beyond checklists, let me tell you about Tyrrell and Meryl who I've now met with twice. Their talent and energy jump out right away, and then you quickly get a sense of how focused and appreciative they are - I have no doubt that they're going to be incredibly motivated to make our investments worthwhile. By the way, they are also really fun and funny, two vital ingredients that I think will be often mentioned by critics and audiences as hallmarks of this film. These two women are going to be heard from in the industry, and I think we'll all be proud to have been a part of one of their first major works!","investment_total":2500,"investment_info":"Invested $2,500 this round","is_lead_investor":true,"related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/alanjacobson"]}],"investor_memos":[],"tab_counts":{"posts":46,"ask_questions":7,"featured_investors":1,"faq_entries":5},"active_fundraises":[{"id":39480,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:39480","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","funding_type":"note","structure":"custom","security_type":"custom","currency":"USD","testing_the_waters":false,"min_purchase":100,"max_purchase":9,"funding_target":110000.0,"funding_started_at":"2021-05-03T19:30:45Z","funding_closed_at":"2022-04-28T05:01:34Z","auto_close_at":"2022-04-28T03:59:59Z"},{"id":43476,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:43476","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","funding_type":"note","structure":"ttw","security_type":"custom","currency":"USD","testing_the_waters":true,"min_purchase":100,"max_purchase":9,"funding_target":110000.0,"funding_started_at":"2021-03-23T17:52:10Z"}],"latest_fundraise":{"id":39480,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:39480","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","structure":"custom","testing_the_waters":false,"can_invest_now":false,"funding_started_at":"2021-05-03T19:30:45Z","funding_closed_at":"2022-04-28T05:01:34Z","terms":{"eb":null,"nb":null,"txt":null}},"recent_posts":[{"id":247654,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:247654","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"First Katie's Mom Distribution Sent","preview":"Dear Investor,We’re excited to announce that our first distribution for investment in Katie’s Mom was sent to WeFunder on January 23, 2026. This can take up to two weeks to arrive in your Wefunder account.Note that this is through Q3 of 2025 minus delivery, taxes, and accounting costs. We have not received funds for Q4 or future quarters yet.If you have any issues accessing your distribution or WeFunder account, please reach out to support@wefunder.com.We’re thrilled that Katie’s Mom is curre...","published_at":"2026-01-23T15:33:43Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/247654","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/247654"},{"id":177902,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:177902","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Katie's Mom on the Roku Channel","preview":"Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We are so thankful for you!We are thrilled to announce that Katie's Mom is now available for free with ads on the Roku Channel, in addition to being available to rent or purchase on Amazon Prime and Fandango at Home. From now until Christmas/the first night of Chanukah, we'll be sharing deleted scenes, behind the scenes footage and more fun posts on our Instagram page. Follow along @katies_mom_movie. If you haven't had a chance to rate the film, please l...","published_at":"2024-12-03T18:19:18Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/177902","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/177902"},{"id":176625,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:176625","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Featured in Playgirl + Available to Stream","preview":"We're thrilled to announce that Katie's Mom was featured in a Playgirl trend piece about the proliferation of May December romances in film this year. Aaron Dominguez Photo in PlaygirlThe film is now available to rent or buy on Amazon and Fandango at Home.We are thrilled that this film is now available to a wide audience. But we need your help to spread the word!Here are some ways you can help: 1.) Share the trailer on your social media. 2.) Rate Katie's Mom on IMDb (10 stars) and Amazon. 3.)...","published_at":"2024-10-10T16:30:51Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/176625","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/176625"},{"id":175161,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:175161","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"We Have Distribution!","preview":"Coming off winning Best Debut Feature at the Female Eye Festival in Toronto and playing opening night at Woods Hole Film Festival, we are thrilled to let you know that we have procured US Distribution, which was announced by Deadline this morning. Katie's Mom will be available on DirecTV on September 1st and all Transactional Video Services (like Amazon and iTunes) on November 1st. Just in time for the holidays! We are thrilled to share this film with a wider audience and are so grateful that...","published_at":"2024-08-12T18:00:17Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/175161","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/175161"},{"id":173978,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:173978","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Catch us at Woods Hole Film Fest!","preview":"We are thrilled to announce our New England Premiere this summer at the 33rd Woods Hole Film Festival in Woods Hole, Cape Cod. \"Katie's Mom\" is slotted for the Saturday night screening, July 27th at 8PM. If you'll be on the cape this summer, you can reserve your tickets now!We look forward to sharing more exciting news soon and can't express enough how integral your support has been throughout this journey from script to screen.Please let us know if you plan to attend the festival!","published_at":"2024-06-12T14:46:23Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/173978","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/173978"},{"id":170849,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:170849","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Katie's Mom at EFM + New Trailer!","preview":"We are thrilled to announce that we've signed with Premiere Entertainment Group (PEG), who is bringing Katie's Mom to the European Film Market in Berlin to meet with distributors. PEG senior vice president of acquisitions Carlos Rincon said: “We are excited to introduce\u0026nbsp;Katie’s Mom\u0026nbsp;to buyers at Berlin. Tyrrell and Meryl crafted a smart and sexy film that delightfully weaves the aspects of life after marriage amidst a turbulent period of self-discovery.” Read more here.Their marketin...","published_at":"2024-02-16T14:35:57Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/170849","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/170849"},{"id":169309,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:169309","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Year End Updates!","preview":"Dear Friends,We’d like to wish you a joyful holiday season. We have a lot to celebrate this year! We’re just coming off the glow of our East Coast Premiere of \"Katie’s Mom,\" a sold-out screening at the Regal Union Square in New York City through Dances with Films: New York. We were honored to share our film with so many of you, our long-time supporters and investors. Thank you to all who came and wished us well!On a not-so-joyous note, the results were announced for the Decentralized Pictures...","published_at":"2023-12-12T19:26:43Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/169309","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/169309"},{"id":168488,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:168488","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"\"Katie's Mom\" Hits NYC","preview":"We are thrilled to announce that we have an East Coast Premiere! After winning the audience award at Dances with Films Los Angeles in July, we have been selected to play at Dances with Films New York.\"Katie's Mom\" will play at Regal Union Square on December 2nd at 7:45PM. You can buy your tickets here: https://danceswithfilms.com/katies-mom-ny/Please let us know if you plan to attend the screening and we will provide information about the party immediately following at The Writers Room.See yo...","published_at":"2023-11-10T15:49:10Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/168488","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/168488"},{"id":167729,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:167729","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"\"Katie's Mom\" Wins Best Feature at HPIFF","preview":"We're thrilled to announce that \"Katie's Mom\" took home the \"Best Feature\" Award at the 10th Annual Highland Park Independent Film Festival.Meryl and Tyrrell pick up the Best Feature Award at the HPIFF Awards Ceremony.Thanks to all who came out to see the film and support us!","published_at":"2023-10-10T21:41:20Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/167729","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/167729"},{"id":167415,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:167415","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Katie's Mom at Highland Park Indie Film Fest","preview":"We are thrilled to announce that “Katie’s Mom” will play at the 10th Anniversary of the Highland Park Independent Film Festival in Los Angeles.“Katie’s Mom” will screen at the Historic Highland Park Theatre on October 7th\u0026nbsp;at 5:30 PM. The theater is located at: 5604 North Figueroa Street in Los Angeles.Please let us know if you plan to attend the screening, so we can be sure to greet you. Click here to learn more or reserve tickets.Thanks for all your continued support and we look forward...","published_at":"2023-09-26T22:25:13Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/167415","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/167415"},{"id":166050,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:166050","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Last Day to Vote for Katie's Mom Funding!","preview":"Today is the final day to vote for\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;$100k grant! We became the number one ranked project four days ago and have held our place, but now it's down to the wire. Several\u0026nbsp;troll votes have taken down our score and projects are gaining on us.\u0026nbsp;If you haven't yet, please vote today by 4:59pm PST today, and if you are able, please get your SO or close family and friends to vote too! Every vote absolutely counts!Vote here:\u0026nbsp;https://app.decentralized.pictures/proposal/64b8643e...","published_at":"2023-07-31T15:53:12Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/166050","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/166050"},{"id":165894,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:165894","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Katie's Mom Wins Big + Vote for Funding","preview":"The world premiere of \"Katie's Mom\" at Dances with Films earlier this month was a whirlwind! We had write-ups in Deadline and LA Weekly, multiple glowing reviews, a packed screening at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood, and we won the Audience Award for Best Fusion Feature! As we begin our festival\u0026nbsp;journey and start to strategize\u0026nbsp;our release,\u0026nbsp;an amazing opportunity\u0026nbsp;has come up for us to win a $100,000 grant for press and advertising.\u0026nbsp;These funds would allow us to marke...","published_at":"2023-07-25T15:33:27Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/165894","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/165894"},{"id":165094,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:165094","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Katie's Mom Premiere and After Party","preview":"Please join us for our World Premiere on July 2nd at 2:45 PM at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. A few tickets are still available on the Dances with Films website. All investors are invited to the after party immediately following at Power House Bar in Hollywood. RSVP to KatiesMomPremiere@gmail.com","published_at":"2023-06-26T23:17:37Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/165094","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/165094"},{"id":164613,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:164613","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Trailer Drop!","preview":"Thank you for believing in us as we launched this campaign two years ago, with no locations and no lead actresses. Just a script and a dream. Now, just three weeks away from our premiere in Hollywood, it is our pleasure to present our official trailer with you. Please share it widely with your community!If you're in the LA area, we'd love to see you at the premiere and afterparty. Here's a link to buy tickets to the premiere: https://danceswithfilms.com/katies-mom/. Please let us know if you'...","published_at":"2023-06-12T17:23:56Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/164613","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/164613"},{"id":164302,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:164302","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Katies Mom Premiere in Hollywood!","preview":"We are thrilled to announce that our World Premiere will take place on July 2nd at 2:45 PM at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Dances with Films is LA's hometown festival for independent cinema and was chosen as one of the Top 10 film festivals in North America by USA Today in 2020. If you're in the area, or feel like coming to town, tickets are available for purchase now!We are pleased to announce that our film was highlighted in Deadline's festival announcement. As we prepare for the f...","published_at":"2023-06-02T17:06:47Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/164302","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/164302"},{"id":162364,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:162364","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"We Received an NYC Women's Fund Grant!","preview":"It is our pleasure to announce that we have received an NYC Women's Fund Grant for finishing funds for Katie's Mom. The NYC Women's Fund for Media, Music and Theatre is a groundbreaking initiative by the City of\u0026nbsp;New York Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) to address the underrepresentation of women and women-identifying artists in film, television, theatre, and music.The film has been selected from a highly competitive pool; from a total of 1,111 applications, the panels aw...","published_at":"2023-04-17T17:08:40Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/162364","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/162364"},{"id":162362,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:162362","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Meet Our New Coproducer!","preview":"We are thrilled to announce our new coproducer, Mat Tainow, who was one of our earliest Wefunder investors. After watching a cut of the film, Mat decided to increase his investment outside of the platform and become a Coproducer.We are currently seeking a few more Coproducers. If you're interested in increasing your investment or becoming an investor, please contact us at thedropoutfeaturefilm@gmail.com for more information.More exciting updates coming soon!","published_at":"2023-03-24T14:49:34Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/162362","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/162362"},{"id":161119,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:161119","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"We are Screencraft Quarterfinalists!","preview":"Exciting news! We submitted scenes from the film and a proposal to the Screencraft Film Fund and have moved on to the Quarterfinalist round. Our film was selected from nearly 1,100 submissions. Additional funds would be used for music rights, post production, and distribution costs.Over the next few months, we are looking to add a few more Coproducers and Executive Producers to our team. Please get in touch if you're interested in learning more about this opportunity. Email: thedropoutfeature...","published_at":"2023-02-07T17:01:10Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/161119","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/161119"},{"id":160154,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:160154","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Happy Holidays from Our Team!","preview":"Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season! Katie's Mom is the anti-holiday holiday movie. We can't wait to share more exciting updates with you in 2023. But for now, please enjoy some shots from our deliciously awkward Christmanukah celebration.","published_at":"2022-12-23T15:24:59Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/160154","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/160154"},{"id":159044,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:159044","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Meet Our Composer!","preview":"We are thrilled to announce that we have hired Alex Shenkman to do our composing. Alex\u0026nbsp;is a BMI Award-wining film composer and music producer who currently scores FOX's newest cooking competition show,\u0026nbsp;Next Level Chef, as well as\u0026nbsp;Season 5 of NBC's hit drama\u0026nbsp;New Amsterdam, alongside Craig Wedren.In addition to scoring,\u0026nbsp;Alex\u0026nbsp;is also an accomplished songwriter and producer, with work featured in shows, main title themes, promotional campaigns, and trailers for netwo...","published_at":"2022-10-27T16:49:44Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/159044","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/159044"},{"id":158638,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:158638","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Updates from Post Production","preview":"We are excited to announce that post-production is progressing smoothly. Tyrrell watched the first assembly and is working with our editor, Daniel Martens (SUITS) and his team to refine the cut. Both Tyrrell and Daniel are very pleased with the material. Performances are powerful, chemistry between the three leads is palpable, and the ending is moving.\u0026nbsp;We've begun looking for composers and hope to have a cut ready to submit to some fall film festival deadlines. Thank you for believing in...","published_at":"2022-10-06T20:51:54Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/158638","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/158638"},{"id":156958,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:156958","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Production Has Wrapped! And we have a new title!","preview":"These past couple months have been a whirlwind. So much happened so quickly that we didn’t always have time to share our big news. We were crewing up and casting right until the final week. Days before we went into production, we changed the film’s title from The Dropout to Katie’s Mom, which conjures up the love triangle at the center of the story, while offering a hint of nostalgia.\u0026nbsp;Now that we've had a moment to breathe, we wanted to share some highlights and thank you again for your ...","published_at":"2022-07-22T19:35:37Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/156958","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/156958"},{"id":153770,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:153770","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Meet our Cinematographer!","preview":"We are so excited to announce that we have hired Aakash Raj as DP. Aakash is a cinematographer based in LA, who earned his MFA in cinematography from American Film Institute. He is known for his work in films like TEEN AUR AADHA where he won Dadasahab Phalke Best Cinematographer award and the film is playing on NETFLIX, ARABIAN ALIEN which premiered at Sundance Film Festival and the film YUNTUM. Born and raised in Mumbai, India, Aakash Raj found his love for making images by sketches and illu...","published_at":"2022-03-22T16:43:39Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/153770","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/153770"},{"id":151284,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:151284","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Meet our New Associate Producer!","preview":"Happy New Year! We hope you had a fun and restful holiday.\u0026nbsp;We are stoked to start the year with an exciting announcement. Joe Crotty has joined The Dropout team as an Associate Producer.\u0026nbsp;Joe has spent the last 25 years as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), investor, and entrepreneur.\u0026nbsp;More recently, he has entered the entertainment industry as a producer and actor. We are thrilled to have Joe on our team and believe his skills and experience will be a great asset!","published_at":"2022-01-07T21:51:09Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/151284","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/151284"},{"id":151283,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:151283","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Happy Holidays! We're thankful for you!","preview":"Happy holidays from\u0026nbsp;The Dropout\u0026nbsp;team! We are thrilled to have you aboard this crazy roller coaster called filmmaking. 2021 has been momentous for us. We took a script we spent years polishing and began transporting our two-dimensional characters into the third dimension. And we couldn't have done it without your support.\u0026nbsp;We recently hired Curt Chatham as our Line Producer. Curt comes highly recommended by the producers of\u0026nbsp;Scrap, another female-filmmaking team, who raised t...","published_at":"2021-12-23T17:08:35Z","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","url":"/feed/151283","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/151283"}],"q_and_a":[{"id":182157,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:182157","question":"Hi Tyrrell and Meryl, I just increased my own investment given the incredibly positive update. I was excited about this project from the beginning, and humbled to become your Lead Investor. As I've followed things closely and enjoyed our conversations I've grown even more impressed. As an investor I see everything in the update you just sent as wonderful news, and as a fan of you two I think it is quite exciting and well-deserved!","author_name":"Alan Jacobson","votes":3,"created_at":"2021-12-02T01:43:57Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.dropout#question-182157","answers":[{"id":182633,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:182633","answer":"Thank you, Alan! We appreciate you so much!","author_name":"Tyrrell Shaffner","votes":1,"created_at":"2021-12-04T20:38:22Z"}]},{"id":153739,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:153739","question":"Congratulations on your success here so far! There is so much to like. Can you say more about how the script has been received by independent evaluations, since that seems to be central in distinguishing independent movies that are eventually successful? Also, it seems as though films can do really well financially right now even if not widely released in theatres. Can you say more about this shift in the industry? Finally, who would you say is your target audience? Thanks!","author_name":"Alan Jacobson","votes":3,"created_at":"2021-06-14T18:58:47Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.dropout#question-153739","answers":[{"id":153822,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:153822","answer":"Thanks so much for your investment and your kind words about the project! My answers to your excellent question are below. -- Regarding script coverage, your question inspired us to post a campaign update that includes some of the incredible feedback we got from notable contests such as The Launch’s Screenwriting Competition and the Austin Film Festival. Some highlights from The Launch include a glowing assessment of our protagonist: “Nancy is a wonderfully nuanced character whom audiences will have an easy time relating to. She’s a woman who always tries to do her best, and while she often falls short (because she’s human), she never stops trying.” And AFF said, “This is a fun, sexy script. A modern day screwball if there ever was one. I think the modernized elements like a diverse cast and current relationship dynamics mixed with a throwback genre will help to create a palpable sense of joy in audiences.” You can read more on the updates page :) -- Regarding distribution, the past year has been a time of upheaval in Hollywood. Films are now being released in theaters and VOD at the same time, and in some cases, like Universal's “Trolls World Tour,” VOD sales actually dwarfed theatrical receipts (the film made $100 million in VOD sales, more than the original “Trolls” movie made in 5 months of theatrical box office.) Netflix bought “Malcolm and Marie,” an intimate drama, for $30 million last year and offered a brief theatrical window followed by streaming on its service. On an indie scale, the distributor Kino Lorber launched a VOD platform called Kino Marque that garnered $864,000 over a roughly 6-week window in 2020 for 8 titles. These distribution developments are promising for indie filmmakers and offer viable means to make money beyond often expensive theatrical runs. A film like “The Dropout” can be savored at home with a glass of wine just as much as experiencing the film with a crowded theater to enjoy its raunchiest moments. We’re poised to take advantage of these exciting disruptions occurring in the industry, especially considering our film will be made at a low cost compared to other independent films. -- “The Dropout” depicts an affair between an older woman and a younger man, and our core target audience is Gen X women, who have the most disposable income of any group according to Pew Research Center. But we believe the film has an even broader appeal. The filmmakers are Millennial-aged women who deeply understand the pull of a sexual affair with someone who is wrong for them. A May-December romance also appeals to men, with “MILF\" appearing on Porn Hub’s top search terms year after year! And the supporting lead characters are diverse and Gen Z-aged, giving “The Dropout” the potential to be a four quadrant film. “The Dropout” also rides a recent wave of complicated women ruling our screens. Recently, Disney’s “Cruella,” and HBO’s “Mare of Easttown” and “Hacks” depict women who would be described as unlikable--or even villains--in the past, but who are now beloved heroines of their own stories (and queens at the box office and via streaming alike!) We believe a modern day Mrs. Robinson is owed her due and we look forward to exploring her complexities on the big and small screen!","author_name":"Tyrrell Shaffner","votes":2,"created_at":"2021-06-15T18:57:58Z"}]},{"id":285263,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:285263","question":"You should be able to change the name on Wefunder from The Dropout to Katie’s Mom. I invested in another film on Wefunder that started out being called Coming Together. But then changed the name to THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM .","author_name":"BENJAMIN STARK","votes":0,"created_at":"2024-06-16T00:00:41Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.dropout#question-285263","answers":[{"id":285408,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:285408","answer":"Hi Benjamin, Thanks for bringing that possibility to our attention. We just changed it! All best, Meryl","author_name":"Meryl Branch-McTiernan","votes":0,"created_at":"2024-06-19T13:07:03Z"}]},{"id":172158,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:172158","question":"Hi .Very interesting. can you please share what is the production budget. Since the film production funds are going to dilute only us assuming you wont raise the entire film budget and need more investors. . its important to understand that. .","author_name":"Ben Kalifi","votes":0,"created_at":"2021-10-02T08:39:14Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.dropout#question-172158","answers":[{"id":182154,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:182154","answer":"Hi Ben, Thank you for your interest! The maximum production budget is $450,000. Please let me know if you have any more questions and feel free to send any directly to us at thedropoutfeaturefilm@gmail.com.","author_name":"Tyrrell Shaffner","votes":0,"created_at":"2021-12-02T01:21:21Z"}]},{"id":164105,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:164105","question":"how did you come so far? We are desperate trying to raise..... https://wefunder.com/searching.for.yoo.feature.film/edit","author_name":"Marissa Lichwick","votes":0,"created_at":"2021-08-17T20:28:54Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.dropout#question-164105","answers":[{"id":168750,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:168750","answer":"We are very grateful to have had a successful campaign so far and have been blessed with a great group of investors. If you have specific questions, please feel free to reach out directly to us (our email is on our website) and best of luck on your campaign!","author_name":"Tyrrell Shaffner","votes":0,"created_at":"2021-09-09T18:13:57Z"}]},{"id":159938,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:159938","question":"Hi! Interested in investing in this film, however just wanted to know what is the estimated total development/production budget?","author_name":"Peter Maio","votes":0,"created_at":"2021-07-26T16:24:05Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.dropout#question-159938","answers":[{"id":159979,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:159979","answer":"Thanks for your interest and question, Peter. Our minimum budget is $135,000, and the budget could go up to $450,000 maximum. More funds means we can hire more recognizable cast and add production value to things like equipment, locations and post production.","author_name":"Tyrrell Shaffner","votes":1,"created_at":"2021-07-26T20:58:07Z"}]},{"id":158465,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:158465","question":"Do you have a cast set, if so whom please ? Also a lead music score artist ?","author_name":"Seth Saltzman","votes":0,"created_at":"2021-07-16T17:15:42Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.dropout#question-158465","answers":[{"id":158472,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:158472","answer":"Hi Seth, Thank you for your questions! We are very excited by our cast so far: Davi Santos is attached to play Alex, the lead romantic role, and Colin Bates is attached to play Eli, the son of the film's protagonist. Davi starred on CBS’s “Tell Me A Story” and also will star in the network's upcoming series “Good Sam.\" Colin has appeared on TV shows like “Mayans, M.C.” and “The Blacklist,” and he will be starring in the upcoming Broadway musical “Girl From the North Country.” More casting attachments will be announced as we work with our casting director to cast the film. We have not yet attached a composer for the film’s score. I've worked with many talented composers over the years in the industry and I'm confident that we will get an amazing artist for this important role.","author_name":"Tyrrell Shaffner","votes":0,"created_at":"2021-07-16T17:50:20Z"}]}],"faq":[{"question":"Congratulations on your success here so far! There is so much to like. Can you say more about how the script has been received by independent evaluations, since that seems to be central in distinguishing independent movies that are eventually successful? Also, it seems as thou...","answer":"Thanks so much for your investment and your kind words about the project! My answers to your excellent question are below. -- Regarding script coverage, your question inspired us to post a campaign update that includes some of the incredible feedback we got from notable contests such as The Launch’s Screenwriting Competition and the Austin Film Festival. Some highlights from The Launch include a glowing assessment of our protagonist: “Nancy is a wonderfully nuanced character whom audiences wi..."},{"question":"Do you have a cast set, if so whom please ? Also a lead music score artist ?","answer":"Hi Seth, Thank you for your questions! We are very excited by our cast so far: Davi Santos is attached to play Alex, the lead romantic role, and Colin Bates is attached to play Eli, the son of the film's protagonist. Davi starred on CBS’s “Tell Me A Story” and also will star in the network's upcoming series “Good Sam.\" Colin has appeared on TV shows like “Mayans, M.C.” and “The Blacklist,” and he will be starring in the upcoming Broadway musical “Girl From the North Country.” More casting att..."},{"question":"Hi! Interested in investing in this film, however just wanted to know what is the estimated total development/production budget?","answer":"Thanks for your interest and question, Peter. Our minimum budget is $135,000, and the budget could go up to $450,000 maximum. More funds means we can hire more recognizable cast and add production value to things like equipment, locations and post production."},{"question":"how did you come so far? We are desperate trying to raise..... https://wefunder.com/searching.for.yoo.feature.film/edit","answer":"We are very grateful to have had a successful campaign so far and have been blessed with a great group of investors. If you have specific questions, please feel free to reach out directly to us (our email is on our website) and best of luck on your campaign!"},{"question":"Hi .Very interesting. can you please share what is the production budget. Since the film production funds are going to dilute only us assuming you wont raise the entire film budget and need more investors. . its important to understand that. .","answer":"Hi Ben, Thank you for your interest! The maximum production budget is $450,000. Please let me know if you have any more questions and feel free to send any directly to us at thedropoutfeaturefilm@gmail.com."}]}}}