Sweet Talk is an innovative, colorful TV series created by Evelina Saulo.
It's being written and produced in collaboration with Story Academy and Film Crew Academy at Gotlands Folkhögskola. A funny, heartfelt, LGBTQ+ inclusive series that will mix two of our most beloved mediums; film and podcasts.
Story and Film Crew Academy have been working together on Gotland for years. Writing and producing a TV show each year is a staple of their collaboration and education. The shows that have been made through the years range from sitcoms to action, from comedy to the most dramatic of dramas.
This year we’re making an emotional rollercoaster of a show. It’s low-key, it’s personal, and most of all: it’s an unapologetic queer love story without dramatic "coming-out" arcs, without explicit and violent homophobia. It’s simply two people falling in love.
Inspiration can be found in the Scandinavian hits Skam & Sjukt Oklar, as well as American shows such as Shrill, Modern Love, & Dear White People.
However, money makes the world go round, as we all know, and to make sure Sweet Talk lives up to our ambitions, we need more capital. We want to make sure art, actors, editing, and music.... well, all of it. We want it all to be the best it can possibly be.
Help us make it so.
Frida, an openly mega proud, lesbian, is stuck. In life, in love, and on the island of Gotland. Together with her best friend Gabriella, she runs the podcast Sweet Talk - A podcast about sex & relationships that she hopes will grow and kickstart her career. Gabriella isn’t quite as passionate but is okay with being dragged along to talk about Jonathan, her long-term boyfriend, as Frida goes on and on about her dates.
However, everything changes when Jonathan suddenly dumps Gabriella.
Old feelings between the two women resurface and a whirlwind romance between Frida and Gabriella begins on the heels of the break-up, throwing the whole dynamic of the podcast for a loop.
This will be the start of a passionate, complicated relationship where Gabriella quickly realizes that Frida is the one who she wants to be with. But Frida, who has secretly loved Gabriella since high school, quickly finds herself fumbling, having gone from pining in secret while dating every girl within a 20-mile radius to having the woman of her dreams.
It does not get any easier when Jonathan soon realizes that he has made the mistake of his life and wants Gabriella back. At the same time Billie, a nationally known radio celebrity, discovers Frida and Sweet Talk and attempts to bring her to Stockholm, a city of possibilities.
In the end, it's all about choices. Will Frida opt-out of her new relationship with Gabriella for Billie and a brilliant podcast career? Will Gabriella dare to invest in Frida, or go back to the security of Jonathan? And are they both willing to compromise their own dreams to make each other happy?
The crew consists mostly of current or former students and we hire established directors, directors of photography, actors, production designers, composers, sound engineers, and so on. All these people need to be paid because no one should work for free in any industry.
Your money would go directly towards all parts of production but most importantly:
- Art-department (costume, make-up, paint, props)
- Food (craft services is KEY to a successful production!)
- Post-production (software to work remotely, royalties, fees)
- Travel and Covid safety.
We want to make sure the story is told, but most of all that it’s told well and safely. Sure, the vaccine is just within reach but we’re still doing our best to be as prepared as possible, with or without it. Travel is always tricky, but during these times we need to take extra precautions to get people from mainland Sweden to Gotland. Therefore, most of our budget is for travel, to keep our options open and to keep everyone as safe as possible.
Okay but if I contribute, what do I get?
Just some of the most awesome perks around! Everything from your name in the credits, signed posters, and stickers to an invitation to our premiere, a guided tour of the second biggest studio in Sweden, and a co-producer credit!
Sweet Talk takes place on Gotland, a beautiful island off the Swedish east coast. The show will highlight the gorgeous setting as well as make use of the incredible film talent that resides here, students and non-students alike.
And about us? We’re a group of people, of all ages, from all over the world, with a passion for telling inclusive stories. Gotlands Folkhögskola is quickly becoming one of the top Film Schools in the country and is placed just a stone's throw from Ingmar Bergman's Fårö. Our classroom is the second biggest studio in Sweden and our lecturers include icons such as Chris Vogler and Cecilia Iversen.
As mentioned above, every year Film crew Academy and Story Academy make a web series, led by a fearless showrunner. The students are mentored by established professionals. The showrunner, in this case, Evelina Saulo, is experienced in running a team and a production.
We’ll be sure to introduce you to our entire crew at a later date. For now, here’s our cast:
We get it. Don’t worry. If you can’t contribute financially but still want to watch some sweet, queer content, please share this campaign!
Get your friends and family to donate and/or share! Make sure people hear about Sweet Talk. That's all we ask.
Thank you for your time.
We love you.
Stay safe.
And stay Sweet :)