In the Bag

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

In the Bag is the story of the long road to self-acceptance that many of us undergo after a life-altering event- told through the lens of an original musical comedy.

I’m Kyle McCloskey and I’m a director from the United States, but raised all over the world. When I was in high school, my best friend and I were two closeted gay kids on an overseas American military base. Life wasn’t easy for either of us, but the two of us found a way to express ourselves: writing original musicals. We spent hours together working on these projects.

Recently, my friend was treated for colon cancer. Fortunately, he’s still alive, but this experience has changed him for good, as he now lives with an ostomy bag. In the Bag is a tribute to him as well as to anyone who has undergone a life-altering experience, whether a disease or a loss, only to emerge on the other side, *“slightly changed, but still the same.” *

ESCAC Films, a Spanish film production company, has given us our initial investment, but it’s your contributions that will allow us to create something worthwhile. Every cent helps us create a film about survival and self-acceptance (and ultimately share it with people all over the world!)

As a queer filmmaker, I want to create stories centered on “queer joy,” a powerful emotion that emerges from fierce imagination and unceasing persistence, as well as radical love and self-acceptance. In the Bag is the most personal project I have made and with your help, the cast, crew, and I can make something truly special.

THE STORY

In the Bag tells the story of Max, an American living in Barcelona who finds himself diagnosed with colon cancer while living overseas. After completing his surgery and treatment, he finds himself surprised to discover that he has the desire to start dating again- but is he really ready to put himself back out there?

Encouraged by his boss, an eccentric woman who runs a second-hand clothing store, Max tries his hand at dating and finds an immediate connection with Lucas, the first man he matches with on a dating app. However, their date runs into trouble when Max reveals the full extent of his condition, after he had been hiding this whole time. What follows is a conversation between two human beings navigating a surprising and complicated connection as Max is pulled out of his musical fantasy and into reality.

Taking its cues from such queer cinema touchstones as John Cameron Mitchell’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Andrew Haigh’s Weekend, In the Bag explores the stories we tell ourselves and others as we reconnect with who we truly are.

This project will be filmed in different locations around Barcelona, including a local vintage clothing store and apartment. The cast and crew is made up of an international hodgepodge of people, including a cinematographer from Catalonia, a production designer from Brazil, a composer from Argentina, and myself, an American raised all around the world.

REWARDS

Whether it’s your name in the end credits, a download link to our full-length soundtrack, an online screener of the final film and the behind the scenes documentary, or a signed poster and script, every rewards tier has something sure to make you sing with delight.

Those who contribute more to the project will also receive invitations to the premiere screening and a bonus gift, created in conjunction with a local design store.

€10 – The Opening Number → Exclusive BTS updates + Name in Credits
€25 – The “I Want” Song → Digital screener access
€50 – The Group Dance Number → All full-length songs + Behind-the-Scenes Documentary
€100 – The Romantic Ballad → Signed poster & script
€250 – The 11 O’Clock Showstopper → Invitation to premiere with cast & crew (if local) Gift Card from Local Store (if international) + Special credits listing

WHERE YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS GO

In the Bag is an ambitious short film, complete with original musical numbers, intricate sets, and playful costuming- and the budget reflects this bold, patchwork approach.

Studio Rentals and Additional Crew – €400

Cast Expenses – €872

Equipment & Rentals – €1,260

Art & Wardrobe – €1800

Production Costs (Including Food!) – €2500

Insurance – €590

Post-Production (Editing, Color Grading, Sound Mixing) – €700

As you can see, our budget is split between studio costs (for singers and musicians), art and camera department equipment, specialist hires, and food for all these people: We believe in treating our team well- because great films are made by happy, well-fed (and well-caffeinated!) crews.

Additionally, your contributions will go towards the post-production costs, such as sound mixing. And of course, any additional money we have will go towards festival fees so that people around the world can see the results of our hard work (and all our names in the credits!)

SCHEDULE

This crowdfunding campaign will run up until May 13th, when we finish production and move into post-production. If all goes according to plan, the film will be finished and ready to screen by October, when we will have a screening for all those involved. A link to an online screener as well as a link to download all complete versions of the original songs will be shared with international contributors at this time.

We’ve got the team, the music, and the passion- and now we need YOU! Every contribution, no matter the size, is doing more than helping us make a movie: It’s helping an unseen story be told. Help us make this vision a reality and donate today!

FOLLOW US

Follow us here for more information and updates as we get closer to production!

Instagram: @inthebag_film