Happyness: A Comedy About Misery
Los Angeles, California | Series
Comedy, Satire
Happyness depicts fully rounded black characters dealing with mental health issues in ways that feel true to how Millenials measure self-worth by the success of our peers online. Let's face it, not all of black people's problems can be solved through church or prayer, sometimes we just need therapy.
Happyness: A Comedy About Misery
Los Angeles, California | Series
Comedy, Satire
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $16,550 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
95 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Happyness depicts fully rounded black characters dealing with mental health issues in ways that feel true to how Millenials measure self-worth by the success of our peers online. Let's face it, not all of black people's problems can be solved through church or prayer, sometimes we just need therapy.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
In Happyness we explore the dark corners of the web, specifically, we will be seeing the social network belonging to Deon and his friends. Deon, a struggling actor, finally lands the role of a lifetime. His friends who are also struggling in some form or another see this online and react as any friend would. They congratulate him online but stew in their own personal torment internally. The torment that builds to the going away party for Deon.
Gabby, the sister of Deon, is trying to create the perfect Black Family (TM) to further her and her husband's political ambitions. She thinks of herself as the next Michelle Obama, and nothing, including her husband's infidelity, her ambivalent family, or her very troubling hallucinations will stop her. Her brother’s success only drives her harder to prove herself as the top sibling.
Tyler, a child star, is Deon's mentor and friend. He finds out the news before most people because he is the costar. Once again Tyler is beaten by a fresh face while trying to shake off his past roles that fans can’t seem to let go.
Jayda, an improv teacher that has taught our group of friends is clearly talented but never has gone for fame. Is it fear or she just doesn’t want the limelight? The news of Deon getting a role reminds her that time is passing her by.
Jacob, an ex-basketball player, and rookie chef sees an opportunity through Deon to get back in the spotlight. Catering the going away party could be what brings him back to stardom. Hopefully, his legs won’t give out again.
J.B. met Deon and Tyler in Jayda’s improv class. He works a 9 to 8 and wants to be free to do stand up. But as bad as he tries to be at his job he always knocks it out of the park. Deon’s success sparks something in J.B. that he didn’t think was attainable. Stardom.
Lastly, Roger, the alcoholic manager of Deon. He just wants a client that will succeed and finally has one. How will Roger handle the success? Seems like a good reason to drink.
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One person’s life affects several people indirectly and social media only amplifies their emotional triggers making them feel like less because they're less successful than Deon on the surface. Happyness follows the lives of these people as they try not to break because of the success of Deon.
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera Package
Costs $1,975
A high-quality camera is imperative to shoot on. It dictates the style and quality fo the show.
Lighting Package
Costs $1,250
Lighting package.
Transportation
Costs $420
In efforts to transport equipment and props a moving vehicle will be needed.
Production Staff and Set Operations
Costs $3,200
The production staff is the group behind the magic, the ones executing the visual direction.
Production design/props/set decoration
Costs $2,505
Production design creates our world through props and set decor.
Wardrobe
Costs $475
Wardrobe for cast.
Makeup & Hair
Costs $650
Tired of seeing your favorite black costars looking ashy, so are we.
Locations
Costs $2,575
Locations in the pilot: restaurant, casting office, green room, living room
Sound
Costs $814
Sound equipment to record audio.
Production Insurance
Costs $1,500
Production insurance for the equipment and shoot.
Post Production
Costs $4,636
Post-production for picture, sound, coloring, and music.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Nick Bouier (Director/Writer/Executive Producer)
Nicholas Bouier, born in Detroit, MI, is a Morehouse and AFI alumnus, an alum of The Sunday Company at The Groundlings Theater, and a graduate of Second City Hollywood’s Conservatory. He was selected for Film Independent’s signature diversity program Project Involve in 2014, where he directed the short film Counter which screened in festivals worldwide; including the Sedona, Pan African, Newport Beach, Los Angeles, and Cleveland International film festivals. He was one of fifteen directors selected for the Sony Pictures Television Diverse Directors program in 2015 and in 2016 he was a finalist for the Warner Brothers Emerging Film Director’s workshop. Recently, Bouier was invited to participate in NBC’s Late Night Writers Workshop, NBC’s Writers on the Verge, and received the NBC/Groundlings Writing Lab scholarship. Bouier was a member of the Second City house sketch ensemble Penningsworth, the Second City house short form ensembles, and performs with the indie team Black Don’t Crack.
Adrien Epps (Writer/Performer/Executive Producer)
Adrien is an actor, writer, and improviser from Chicago, Illinois. Back in 2009, he got a taste of what it’s like to be on the set of a feature film by being a photo double on the set of a major blockbuster movie. From there, he would become more interested in the realm of entertainment. In 2011, Adrien began studying at The Second City Training Center in Chicago, and would then move onto the Conservatory. While there, he was in several student shows, and wrote a full Second City-style revue. Adrien also studied at the Annoyance Theatre under several renowned improvisers, including Susan Messing and Mick Napier. Once in Los Angeles, Adrien would go on to be cast in premium shows “Candidate Confessions: A 2016 Cabaret” as a member of the main ensemble and “Afros and Ass Whoopins” as an understudy, both at Second City Hollywood. He also helped form the improv/sketch group Black Don’t Crack, which has performed across Los Angeles at the major theaters such as Second City Hollywood, the Upright Citizens Brigade, and iO West, as well as numerous indie theaters. Adrien has co-written sketch shows for Second City Hollywood, and worked for the upcoming Netflix show “The Umbrella Academy,” which will be airing in 2018. Adrien has also placed in the Top Ten Percent of the Bluecat Screenplay Competition, one of the premier writing competitions in the industry.
Miatta Lebile (Writer/Performer/Executive Producer)
Miatta Ade Lebile is a Nigerian American performer who was raised primarily in Texas. She spent much of her younger years living overseas, first in France, then in Chad, and then finally, Niger, before her family moved back to the United States. She attended Cornell University, where she was named a Tanner Dean’s Scholar and earned her B.A. in Music, before she earned her M.B.A. in General Management from the Metropolitan College of New York.
While she began her career training as an opera singer, Miatta quickly made the switch to focus on theatrical productions. In Houston, she performed the title role in Aida, as Madeline True in The Wild Party, as Sophie in Ruined, among several other roles. Upon moving to L.A. in late 2015, Miatta booked the 2016 NBC Diversity Showcase. Recently Miatta has appeared in commercials for Geico, Weinerschnitzel, Google, The Ad Council of America, and PlayStation, among others, as well as indie shorts and features, new media projects, and online sketches. She recently received a UCB Diversity Scholarship, and is a student of Second City Hollywood and UCB.
Agent: Commercial: Blake Viglione / Aqua Talent Agency
Theatrical: Courtney Peldon / Aqua Talent Agency
Kentrell Newton (Writer/Performer/Executive Producer)
Actor, Improviser, Choreographer, and Dancer originally from Greensboro, NC, Kentell Newton, at a very young age discovered dance by watching videos of Michael Jackson and Usher. It wouldn’t be until Kentrell attended college, where he’d truly start dancing after being introduced to B-Boying (Breaking) by some friends. When Kentrell was 19, he joined a college dance team called Couture Productions and 102 Jamz dancers. During his time with those teams, he performed and helped choreograph numerous events including North Carolina A&T State University homecoming and Super Jam Concerts. Kentrell has performed everywhere from Atlanta, to Los Angeles, and as far as Shanghai, China. During his professional career, he joined Swagger Crew in late 2007 and performed on Season 5 of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew. Kentrell still travels the nation doing choreography and teaching master classes, workshops, and conventions in Hip Hop and has worked as a dancer and choreographer with various A-list and B-List Artist which include: Big Sean, Shaggy, Nervo, T-Pain, Roscoe Dash, Jessica Jarrell, Eva Shaw and more. He recently graduated the Second City Hollywood conservatory. He’s since been featured in national commercials for: Dominoes Pizza, and some independent short and feature films. Currently, he teaches Hip Hop Dance at various studios in Los Angeles including the world famous Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio. He also performs with the improv team Black Don't Crack.
Dwight Carter (Writer/Performer/Executive Producer)
Dwight Carter, born in Memphis, TN, is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, The Digital Animation and Visual Effects School, and The Second City Hollywood Conservatory. Dwight has peformed with several Second City Hollywood House Teams including, “Boat,” “Shortcake,” and “Buck Fuddies: A Second City Hollywood Sketch Show”. Dwight recently played Uncle Phil in The Woke Version: Fresh Prince at The Miracle Theater in Inglewood, CA. Dwight was a producer and actor for the award winning web series “Like Them.” He’s performed on various stages in Los Angeles such as IO West, The Pack Theater, UCB, El Portal Theater and Second City Hollywood. Currently, Dwight is working to animate his own cartoon.
Mirage Thrams (Writer/Performer)
Mirage Thrams is a writer, director, instructor and actress in the Hollywood area. If loving comedy is wrong, she don’t wanna be right. As a published playwright, she has won multiple award and is devoted to finding avenues for Women of Color to have a voice. She has studied and performed with UCB, Second City, ComedySports, Impov Olympic, on the Groundlings stage, and with the National Theater Conservatory. In 2017, she excelled writing for CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase. Mirage serves as the current director for the sketch comedy group The Color Collective.
Yadira Espinal (Producer)
Yadira Espinal is a Producer from New York City, with her Masters in Communication Marketing from USC. With a background in technology and production, Yadira helped launch an SVOD streaming service for SONY in Latin America. She has produced the short film "Colors of Sankofa" and the web series "Outta Pocket." In addition to her work in television, she has produced cultural activations at Afro-Punk, Complex-con and Art Basel for Black Lives Matter.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
In Happyness we explore the dark corners of the web, specifically, we will be seeing the social network belonging to Deon and his friends. Deon, a struggling actor, finally lands the role of a lifetime. His friends who are also struggling in some form or another see this online and react as any friend would. They congratulate him online but stew in their own personal torment internally. The torment that builds to the going away party for Deon.
Gabby, the sister of Deon, is trying to create the perfect Black Family (TM) to further her and her husband's political ambitions. She thinks of herself as the next Michelle Obama, and nothing, including her husband's infidelity, her ambivalent family, or her very troubling hallucinations will stop her. Her brother’s success only drives her harder to prove herself as the top sibling.
Tyler, a child star, is Deon's mentor and friend. He finds out the news before most people because he is the costar. Once again Tyler is beaten by a fresh face while trying to shake off his past roles that fans can’t seem to let go.
Jayda, an improv teacher that has taught our group of friends is clearly talented but never has gone for fame. Is it fear or she just doesn’t want the limelight? The news of Deon getting a role reminds her that time is passing her by.
Jacob, an ex-basketball player, and rookie chef sees an opportunity through Deon to get back in the spotlight. Catering the going away party could be what brings him back to stardom. Hopefully, his legs won’t give out again.
J.B. met Deon and Tyler in Jayda’s improv class. He works a 9 to 8 and wants to be free to do stand up. But as bad as he tries to be at his job he always knocks it out of the park. Deon’s success sparks something in J.B. that he didn’t think was attainable. Stardom.
Lastly, Roger, the alcoholic manager of Deon. He just wants a client that will succeed and finally has one. How will Roger handle the success? Seems like a good reason to drink.
One person’s life affects several people indirectly and social media only amplifies their emotional triggers making them feel like less because they're less successful than Deon on the surface. Happyness follows the lives of these people as they try not to break because of the success of Deon.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera Package
Costs $1,975
A high-quality camera is imperative to shoot on. It dictates the style and quality fo the show.
Lighting Package
Costs $1,250
Lighting package.
Transportation
Costs $420
In efforts to transport equipment and props a moving vehicle will be needed.
Production Staff and Set Operations
Costs $3,200
The production staff is the group behind the magic, the ones executing the visual direction.
Production design/props/set decoration
Costs $2,505
Production design creates our world through props and set decor.
Wardrobe
Costs $475
Wardrobe for cast.
Makeup & Hair
Costs $650
Tired of seeing your favorite black costars looking ashy, so are we.
Locations
Costs $2,575
Locations in the pilot: restaurant, casting office, green room, living room
Sound
Costs $814
Sound equipment to record audio.
Production Insurance
Costs $1,500
Production insurance for the equipment and shoot.
Post Production
Costs $4,636
Post-production for picture, sound, coloring, and music.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Nick Bouier (Director/Writer/Executive Producer)
Nicholas Bouier, born in Detroit, MI, is a Morehouse and AFI alumnus, an alum of The Sunday Company at The Groundlings Theater, and a graduate of Second City Hollywood’s Conservatory. He was selected for Film Independent’s signature diversity program Project Involve in 2014, where he directed the short film Counter which screened in festivals worldwide; including the Sedona, Pan African, Newport Beach, Los Angeles, and Cleveland International film festivals. He was one of fifteen directors selected for the Sony Pictures Television Diverse Directors program in 2015 and in 2016 he was a finalist for the Warner Brothers Emerging Film Director’s workshop. Recently, Bouier was invited to participate in NBC’s Late Night Writers Workshop, NBC’s Writers on the Verge, and received the NBC/Groundlings Writing Lab scholarship. Bouier was a member of the Second City house sketch ensemble Penningsworth, the Second City house short form ensembles, and performs with the indie team Black Don’t Crack.
Adrien Epps (Writer/Performer/Executive Producer)
Adrien is an actor, writer, and improviser from Chicago, Illinois. Back in 2009, he got a taste of what it’s like to be on the set of a feature film by being a photo double on the set of a major blockbuster movie. From there, he would become more interested in the realm of entertainment. In 2011, Adrien began studying at The Second City Training Center in Chicago, and would then move onto the Conservatory. While there, he was in several student shows, and wrote a full Second City-style revue. Adrien also studied at the Annoyance Theatre under several renowned improvisers, including Susan Messing and Mick Napier. Once in Los Angeles, Adrien would go on to be cast in premium shows “Candidate Confessions: A 2016 Cabaret” as a member of the main ensemble and “Afros and Ass Whoopins” as an understudy, both at Second City Hollywood. He also helped form the improv/sketch group Black Don’t Crack, which has performed across Los Angeles at the major theaters such as Second City Hollywood, the Upright Citizens Brigade, and iO West, as well as numerous indie theaters. Adrien has co-written sketch shows for Second City Hollywood, and worked for the upcoming Netflix show “The Umbrella Academy,” which will be airing in 2018. Adrien has also placed in the Top Ten Percent of the Bluecat Screenplay Competition, one of the premier writing competitions in the industry.
Miatta Lebile (Writer/Performer/Executive Producer)
Miatta Ade Lebile is a Nigerian American performer who was raised primarily in Texas. She spent much of her younger years living overseas, first in France, then in Chad, and then finally, Niger, before her family moved back to the United States. She attended Cornell University, where she was named a Tanner Dean’s Scholar and earned her B.A. in Music, before she earned her M.B.A. in General Management from the Metropolitan College of New York.
While she began her career training as an opera singer, Miatta quickly made the switch to focus on theatrical productions. In Houston, she performed the title role in Aida, as Madeline True in The Wild Party, as Sophie in Ruined, among several other roles. Upon moving to L.A. in late 2015, Miatta booked the 2016 NBC Diversity Showcase. Recently Miatta has appeared in commercials for Geico, Weinerschnitzel, Google, The Ad Council of America, and PlayStation, among others, as well as indie shorts and features, new media projects, and online sketches. She recently received a UCB Diversity Scholarship, and is a student of Second City Hollywood and UCB.
Agent: Commercial: Blake Viglione / Aqua Talent Agency
Theatrical: Courtney Peldon / Aqua Talent Agency
Kentrell Newton (Writer/Performer/Executive Producer)
Actor, Improviser, Choreographer, and Dancer originally from Greensboro, NC, Kentell Newton, at a very young age discovered dance by watching videos of Michael Jackson and Usher. It wouldn’t be until Kentrell attended college, where he’d truly start dancing after being introduced to B-Boying (Breaking) by some friends. When Kentrell was 19, he joined a college dance team called Couture Productions and 102 Jamz dancers. During his time with those teams, he performed and helped choreograph numerous events including North Carolina A&T State University homecoming and Super Jam Concerts. Kentrell has performed everywhere from Atlanta, to Los Angeles, and as far as Shanghai, China. During his professional career, he joined Swagger Crew in late 2007 and performed on Season 5 of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew. Kentrell still travels the nation doing choreography and teaching master classes, workshops, and conventions in Hip Hop and has worked as a dancer and choreographer with various A-list and B-List Artist which include: Big Sean, Shaggy, Nervo, T-Pain, Roscoe Dash, Jessica Jarrell, Eva Shaw and more. He recently graduated the Second City Hollywood conservatory. He’s since been featured in national commercials for: Dominoes Pizza, and some independent short and feature films. Currently, he teaches Hip Hop Dance at various studios in Los Angeles including the world famous Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio. He also performs with the improv team Black Don't Crack.
Dwight Carter (Writer/Performer/Executive Producer)
Dwight Carter, born in Memphis, TN, is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, The Digital Animation and Visual Effects School, and The Second City Hollywood Conservatory. Dwight has peformed with several Second City Hollywood House Teams including, “Boat,” “Shortcake,” and “Buck Fuddies: A Second City Hollywood Sketch Show”. Dwight recently played Uncle Phil in The Woke Version: Fresh Prince at The Miracle Theater in Inglewood, CA. Dwight was a producer and actor for the award winning web series “Like Them.” He’s performed on various stages in Los Angeles such as IO West, The Pack Theater, UCB, El Portal Theater and Second City Hollywood. Currently, Dwight is working to animate his own cartoon.
Mirage Thrams (Writer/Performer)
Mirage Thrams is a writer, director, instructor and actress in the Hollywood area. If loving comedy is wrong, she don’t wanna be right. As a published playwright, she has won multiple award and is devoted to finding avenues for Women of Color to have a voice. She has studied and performed with UCB, Second City, ComedySports, Impov Olympic, on the Groundlings stage, and with the National Theater Conservatory. In 2017, she excelled writing for CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase. Mirage serves as the current director for the sketch comedy group The Color Collective.
Yadira Espinal (Producer)
Yadira Espinal is a Producer from New York City, with her Masters in Communication Marketing from USC. With a background in technology and production, Yadira helped launch an SVOD streaming service for SONY in Latin America. She has produced the short film "Colors of Sankofa" and the web series "Outta Pocket." In addition to her work in television, she has produced cultural activations at Afro-Punk, Complex-con and Art Basel for Black Lives Matter.