A Summary of Happy Endings Sleepover

Happy Endings Sleepover is a very special film. This is because it serves and under-served audience, but at the same time it is reachable and relatable to mainstream moviegoers. It is a gay-themed story based upon the bestselling book of the same name by noted author, Cade Jay Hathaway. Mr. Hathaway also penned the screenplay, and the book that so many readers have followed is right there in the script. This will not be a case of "The book was better than the movie..."  The original author has protected everything that makes Happy Endings Sleepover the special story that it is.

The film is in fact fully financed and is currently shooting in Denmark. Shooting will be completed by end of November, and then the film will go into post-production. This includes picture editing, sound editing, sound rerecording, music scoring, and color correction prior to the creation of the final Digital Cinema Package (DCP). It's the DCP and the final edited files that are used for streaming, and projection in the theaters.

We Have Distribution

The film will be seen on Netflix beginning in early winter 2018. Theatrical (North American) happens in limited markets (25 US and Canadian cities) in September of 2018. Home release happens in mid 2019.

What We Need

We are raising $100,000 for an additional theatrical advertising campaign to augment the one planned by our distributor. We feel that this film needs to have a proper awareness run-up in gay-friendly publications, but especially The Advocate. The Advocate is the top of the line publication for bringing awareness of Happy Endings Sleepover to the general public. But it doesn't come cheap.

We also have to book and pay for the advertising soon. The longer we wait, the higher the ad cost. And worse, ad space does sell out! We need to secure the space, and the only way to do that is by having the additional financial means with which to do it.

This film IS being made as you read this. It WILL be released in an industry-standard way. This film WILL be SEEN. Unlike many independent feature films seeking crowd funding, Happy Endings Sleepover has a history behind it.

• It is a bestselling book; the first book in a seven-book series that is beloved by its readers.
• The original author wrote the script.
• It has star talent and very experienced filmmakers behind the camera.
• It will be released when there is an expected paradigm shift from the idiocy and meanness of the Trump "Administration"... What this means to us is that people will be receptive once again to hearing positive stories of characters who happen to be gay. In America, when the pendulum swings, it swings wide. About the time the film is released, conventional wisdom dictates that the pendulum will be swinging in the opposite direction to where it currently is.
• Finally, assuming that the picture does well and is received positively by audiences worldwide, there are six more books in the series ready to be put into production over the coming years

• Imagine being a part of the success of Happy Endings Sleepover. You can be one of the people responsible for bringing this wonderful film to more audiences. Because of what we accomplish during this special crowd funding project, Happy Endings Sleepover will receive the notoriety it truly deserves. For that we thank you!

What You Get

SPEAKING OF THANKS! We haven't forgotten about you! We have created a number of Categories of Funding that have some awesome premium gifts attached to them. While we know that you would likely help this "Little Movie that Could" in any instance, we hope that you will let us spoil you a bit, too, with these fun items and experiences! And notice how as each category increases, you will receive the gifts and premiums from the previous funding categories in addition to the level that you select! Wow! That's a lot of loot! So be sure and take a look at the perks we're offering our crowd-funders.

The Cast

JONAH PARKER as JOHNNIE

The New York Times calls Jonah Parker's performance in BREAKFAST WITH CURTIS as "...subtly played." RogerEbert.com says he is "...naturally likeable." And Variety, in a rave review said, "...Jonah Parker reveals Curtis inching out of his emotional shell with impressive patience and the kind of commitment that recalls certain adolescent performances in Wes Anderson’s movies."

And now Jonah Parker has committed to play the lead role of Johnnie Allen in Happy Endings Sleepover. We are both excited and fortunate to have an actor of Jonah's standing starring in our film.

LASSE FOGELSTRØM as SANDER

The career of Danish actor, Lasse Fogelstrøm, started very auspiciously as costar to Mads Mikkelsen in THE HUNT. In 2014 The Hunt was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign  Language  Film  of  the  Year  (Denmark).  In the film, Lasse plays Marcus, the troubled son of Lukas, portrayed by Mikkelsen.

Two of the most emotionally charged scenes in The Hunt are delivered by Lasse, and his performance completely enchanted critics all across the globe. 

He also co-starred in season 2 of the popular European television series, RITA (which is available worldwide on Netflix). And in early 2017, Lasse Fogelstrøm starred in the popular and critically acclaimed Danish television series, Generation Hollywood. One of Denmark's finest young actors, Lasse Fogelstrøm is prepared to give his all for Happy Endings Sleepover.

PEPI STREIFF as MARGE

One of America's finest character actresses, Pepi Streiff has enjoyed a long and varied career on both stage and screen. In Happy Endings Sleepover, Ms. Streiff portrays the very likeable Marge Stuplemann, young Johnnie's CIA boss.

Her focused and sensitive interpretation of one of Happy Endings Sleepover's most beloved characters will delight readers of the novels, as well as audiences who meet her for the first time on screen.

SØREN PILMARK as JESPERSEN

One of Denmark's most popular and long-running entertainers, Søren Pilmark has agreed to play the role of the Danish Secret Service Chief who helps Marge and the team solve the problem that is created by the Russians and the rogue CIA turncoat.

Academy Award Nominee Pilmark has starred in countless films all over the world, and is famous for his PALLESEN & PILMARK comedy television series in Scandinavia, as well as his role as spokesman for Denmark's DSB Railway in the hilarious HARRY AND BAHNSON commercials. Playing opposite Harry the puppet, Pilmark has starred in over one hundred advertisements in the series. Notable roles Søren Pilmark has played include Niels Bohr in The Saboteurs, Fruechen in Kon-Tikli, and Jacobsen in the popular crime drama, Department Q. He also co-starred in The Vikings, and in The last King.

Meet the Filmmakers

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The Storyline

Our film tells the autobiographical tale of Johnnie Allen, a young gay man who gets a job with the Central Intelligence Agency driving spies and agents into and out of their field assignments in Europe. For his new job, he is posted in the tiny Scandinavian kingdom of Denmark. It is there that he meets the love of his life, a Danish boy named Sander. The problem is, while Johnnie is gay, he doesn't believe that Sander is even remotely like him in that way. So he spends six months in a state of constant frustration pining over the young man that he knows he can never have. It is clear as day to Johnnie that Sander is as straight as an arrow.

The time comes for Johnnie to embark on his first mission. He is tasked with secreting an agent who has been spying on the Russians and moving him to the safety of a waiting cargo ship in Antwerp that is sailing for Brazil. He meets up with the agent in Warsaw. But unbeknownst to the agent, Johnnie has invited Sander along for the ride, thereby breaking every CIA rule in the book. In fact, Sander is riding in the trunk until Johnnie can plausibly introduce him to the agent at an overnight stopover.

But in the meantime, while Johnnie is on an errand, Sander overhears the agent talking on the telephone. It turns out that the man is not the one they were supposed to Ferry to Antwerp. In fact, he is an actual Russian who is working against the United States and its nuclear deal with Iran. He intends to destroy the deal through sabotage and the assassination of a high-level Iranian diplomat, making it appear as if the U.S. government is behind it all.

Sander finally warns Johnnie, and with the help of Johnnie's CIA boss, Marge, they concoct a plan to foil the Russian plant. But instead the Russian gets the upper hand, and despite a gunshot fired by Johnnie that strikes the bad guy's foot, he manages to steal their car and get away.

Marge orders Johnnie to stand down until the morning, so he and Sander get a room for the night at an inn in the Polish countryside. And much to Johnnie's surprise—and a dream come true—Sander declares

his love for Johnnie. In fact, Sander is gay and has always felt the same way about Johnnie all these months. And for the first time, they make love.

The next day they ride the train to Antwerp, planning to meet up with Marge and provide her with a detailed debriefing. But the Russian sees them on the train platform in Antwerp and, believing that they have made him, he shoots at them. A stray bullet strikes Sander, and when Johnnie determines that proper help has arrived he goes after the nefarious Russian.

The Russian is finally cornered by Johnnie, Marge, and a tactical team. But before he can be taken into custody, he pulls his gun on the unsuspecting Marge and Johnnie is forced to kill him.

Later, in the hospital where Sander is recovering, Marge reads Johnnie the riot act. But as much as she has reason to terminate him for his breach of the rules and protocols, she elects to give him a second chance and he keeps his job.

Later, on the train home to Denmark, Sander is distressed when Johnnie refuses to introduce him to his family. Sander takes it as a statement that Johnnie is closeted at the very least, or at worst, is somehow ashamed of him and wants to keep him hidden. This ignites a horrible memory from Sander's past when he was cruelly outed in middle school by a boy he thought loved him—Sander's first love, Torben.

Sander was so destroyed emotionally by Torben's actions that he attempted suicide, and if not for the quick thinking of his then seven-year-old brother, Jannik, he would have succeeded. From that moment on, Sander vowed that he would never allow himself to be marginalized nor would he ever consent to apologize or make excuses for who he is. So he informs Johnnie that he intends to end their budding relationship.

This crushes Johnnie, who promises Sander that in no way did he ever intend to hurt him or make him feel less-than. He only wanted to protect Sander from his mother's cruelties that she would likely lob at him due to her intense evangelical religion. But he vows to do anything that Sander wishes to that end, and the two reconcile and head home from the train station.

A few months later and we see that Sander and Johnnie have made a home together. As Johnnie writes on his computer one rainy evening, we see Sander dipping bowls of ice cream and pouring coffee. As he carries the treats into the living room and enjoy each other's company, we see that they are two young men who love each other, as Sander puts it, "Until forever dies..."

Risks & Challenges

Most of the risks and challenges inherent in the film making process have been mitigated or eliminated. The hardest parts are first getting the film financed and produced, and then getting it released on distribution platforms that will bring the largest audiences to our movie. Thankfully those hurdles have been overcome. Right now our largest and immediate need is to secure the money as soon as possible in order to book and pay for the additional advertising as described in this campaign. Won't you help us? It's time that more LGBTQ films entered the mainstream and now is our opportunity.

Other Ways You Can Help

• Help us get the word out and make some noise about our campaign for Happy Endings Sleepover.
• Please use the many Indiegogo share tools that are available! Let the world know we're here.