By Travis Johnson
Monica Zanetti, the writer and director behind 2015’s indie drama Skin Deep, is currently pulling together the funds for her sophomore feature, Ellie & Abbie (& Ellie’s Dead Aunt), which is being described as “…a High School Rom-Com for teens with a Queer Twist.”
Based on the play of the same name, the film focuses on 17 Year Old Ellie Bowden, who has fallen for her classmate Abbie and just wants to ask her to the formal, but teen angst and awkwardness keep getting in the way. Luckily Ellie’s deceased lesbian aunt has shown up in the form of a “Fairy GodMother” to help navigate Ellie through her first romance.
The film stars Geraldine Viswanathan (Blockers, Miracle Workers) and newcomer Sophie Hawkshaw.
“I wanted to create a queer film that is funny, charming and above all else hopeful,” Zanetti said. “In any good Romantic Comedy you are rooting for the two leads to get together and I was want everyone rooting for Ellie & Abbie.”
The Creative Partnerships Australia’s “MatchLab” funding program will match the film’s crowdfunding campaign dollar for dollar up to $10,000. To contribute, shoot over to their Pozible campaign page.
Monica did write Skindeep and I have to say she did an amazing job of it. She was also wonderful as one of the co leads. She did not however direct it. That was me. She is the writer and director of Ellie and Abbie though.
Cheers guys.
Jonnie.