Sideways Smile
by Hang Nguyen

Hang Nguyen
Follow
Sideways Smile
by Hang Nguyen
Hang Nguyen
Follow
A comedy series about Alex, a sheltered Asian-American woman who reluctantly enrolls in a class to learn how to have an orgasm. With the help of her eccentric roommate and her new class, Alex embarks on a journey of self-discovery!
A comedy series about Alex, a sheltered Asian-American woman who reluctantly enrolls in a class to learn how to have an orgasm. With the help of her eccentric roommate and her new class, Alex embarks on a journey of self-discovery!
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Story
Inclusion Statement
The series was created, written, and directed by a Vietnamese-American woman, and it highlights women, people of color, and LGBTQ people, both in front of and behind the camera. The crew was 100% women, non-binary, and/or queer people, and nearly half people of color.About The Project
The Story
Let's be honest, when we first meet Alex, she's kind of basic. She's the kind of girl who puts up with mediocre sex because she doesn't know any better. Naive, introverted, awkward and a bit of a wet blanket, she gets away with being so damn boring by being so endearing that you can't help but root for her.
When her roommate Dara--who's as queer as her medieval weaponry collection is pointy--finds out that she's never had an orgasm, she recommends Alex take a workshop on sex and sexuality. With help from Dara and her new classmates, Alex begins to question her career, relationships, and sexuality, and whether the choices that she's made were truly hers to begin with. Meanwhile, Dara’s on her own journey… one that may or may not involve espionage and buttplugs.
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The Themes
The first season of Sideways Smile consists of six episodes, each ~10 minutes long. With the workshop as its backbone, the series explores many themes at the core of modern intersectional feminism: racism and sexism in dating and in the workplace, the model minority myth, sexuality, sex work, kink, and more. It’s equal parts educational, hilarious, and sexy. (We dare you to find another show equally comfortable throwing around eggs, dildos, and references to the Asian Exclusion Act.) We were inspired by everything from Broad City to Get Out to Bojack Horseman, and we think the end result is something special.
The Money
The pilot, which was filmed in summer of 2018, premiered at the 2019 Asian-American International Film Festival, among many other comedy festivals. The pilot won Sideways Smile an inaugural grant from the Made in New York Women’s Fund for Film, Theatre, and Television. Thanks to that support, we were able to film the remaining five episodes of the first season this summer.
We’re hoping to raise another $15,000 to market, distribute, and screen our show. We believe this series deserves to be seen widely, especially in the Asian-American community and on college campuses so we will be using this money to set up local community screenings, submit to festivals, and ensure that people around the world hear about our show! You support will go a long way in helping us bring this educational, sexy, and hilarious show to the Asian American community.
The People
Our crew was super hot (literally and figuratively), and queer, femme, nonbinary, and women of color. Representation matters and we wanted to ensure that we had diversity in and behind the camera. #bestsetvibes
FAQs
What is a Sideways Smile?
In her first class with the workshop, Alex is asked for her favorite word for her genitals. This is ours!
You’re offering sex toys as incentives? Are they … used?Yes! And... not in the way you’re probably worried about! We received a number of sex toys from our amazing partners, Primal Hardwere and Lelo. These were used as props to decorate the set for the series. They have been handled by the cast and crew, but they have never been used for their, ahem, intended purpose. These items retail for $85-250. Please note that these generally will not come in the original packaging, but they will include any necessary accessories (specifically, chargers for the Lelo vibrators).
What sex toys are available? Can I pick which one I get?
The complete list of sex toys available follows. You can indicate preference and we will try our best to send you your first choice. The earlier you donate, the larger the selection! Please note that the Primal Hardwere toys have very minor manufacturing defects (i.e. slight color change, small dent in the base) that should not affect usability.
Primal Hardwere Toys
G'lorp, Shokushu, Krubera, Squick, Blip, Growler inflatable, Petunia.
Lelo Toys
Gigi 2 (G-spot vibrator), Soraya (dual-massager for both internal and external use)
Incentives
$10
SOCIAL MEDIA SHOUT OUT!
We appreciate you so much we will shout your name to the cyber-heavens! Look for a call-out on our official Facebook page and/or Instagram stories.
$25
WELCOME TO THE PARTY!
Welcome to the party! We'll photoshop your face into the kink party scene so you can brag to all your friends about all the shenanigans you've been up to!
PLUS
+ Social Media Shout Out!
$50
DIGITAL ACCESS
Get digital access to watch all 6 episodes of Season 1 before everyone else! We promise the last episode is sooo goood, you’ll go from a #fan to a #stan!
PLUS
+ Social Media Shout Out!
+ Welcome to the Party!
$100
SAIGON BAR GIRL POSTCARD SET
You’re so amazing, we want you to have a physical memento of the show. We’ll send you a set of six 4x6 postcards created from our 1960s Saigon Bar Girl photoshoot. You’ll get prints so historically on point, we promise whoever you send it to will think they came from a museum and keep your postcard framed forever.
PLUS
+ Digital Access
+ Welcome to the Party!
+ Social Media Shout Out!
$150
VIP PREMIERE INVITE
Hey big spender! We’d be honored to have you join us at the premiere of Sideways Smile, including all the VIP perks like reserved seating and a chance to meet our creator/director. Travel to NYC and accommodation not included.
PLUS
+ Saigon Bar Girl Postcard Set
+ Digital Access
+ Welcome to the Party!
+ Social Media Shout Out!
Claimed: 7 of 10
$200
PRIMAL HARDWERE SEX TOY (LIMITED)
Damn! You must really like us… or monstrous sex toys. And yes...you read that right, hard-"were" like "werewolves!" You will receive a Primal Hardwere sex toy, which were generously donated by the company to dress our set, but we're hoping you'll put them to even better use!
*Please make sure to read the FAQ
PLUS
+ VIP Premiere Invite
+ Saigon Bar Girl Postcard Set
+ Digital Access
+ Welcome to the Party!
+ Social Media Shout Out!
Claimed: 4 of 7
$300
LELO SEX TOY (LIMITED)
Your contribution brought us a lot of joy, and we want to give that right back. You will receive a LELO sex toy, which were generously donated by the company to dress our set, but we're hoping you'll put them to even better use!
*Please make sure to read the FAQ
PLUS
+ VIP Premiere Invite
+ Saigon Bar Girl Postcard Set
+ Digital Access
+ Welcome to the Party!
+ Social Media Shout Out!
Claimed: 4 of 9
$500
SCRIPT NOTES
Our brains are your brains! Writer Hang Nguyen and creative producer Diane Chen will read your script and send you detailed notes, ideas, and suggestions.
PLUS
+ Choice of Lelo or Primal Hardwere Toy
+ VIP Premiere Invite
+ Saigon Bar Girl Postcard Set
+ Digital Access
+ Welcome to the Party!
+ Social Media Shout Out!
Claimed: 0 of 5
$1,000
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Welcome to the team! You’re officially an Associate Producer for the project, meaning you’ll be credited as such in the series and on IMDB.
PLUS
+ Script Notes
+ Choice of Lelo or Primal Hardwere Toy
+ VIP Premiere Invite
+ Saigon Bar Girl Postcard Set
+ Digital Access
+ Welcome to the Party!
+ Social Media Shout Out!
Claimed: 0 of 2
$2,500
CO-PRODUCER
Welcome to the team! You’re officially a Co-Producer for the project, meaning you’ll be credited as such in the series and on IMDB.
PLUS
+ Script Notes
+ Choice of Lelo or Primal Hardwere Toy
+ VIP Premiere Invite
+ Saigon Bar Girl Postcard Set
+ Digital Access
+ Welcome to the Party!
+ Social Media Shout Out!
Claimed: 0 of 2
$5,000
Executive Producer
You’re officially an Executive Producer for the project, in the credits for the series and on IMDB. If you ask nicely, we’ll call you Daddy.
PLUS
+ Script Notes
+ Choice of Lelo or Primal Hardwere Toy
+ VIP Premiere Invite
+ Saigon Bar Girl Postcard Set
+ Digital Access
+ Welcome to the Party!
+ Social Media Shout Out!
Claimed: 0 of 1
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
SOCIAL MEDIA SHOUT OUT!
We appreciate you so much we will shout your name to the cyber-heavens! Look for a call-out on our official Facebook page and/or Instagram stories.
$25
WELCOME TO THE PARTY!
Welcome to the party! We'll photoshop your face into the kink party scene so you can brag to all your friends about all the shenanigans you've been up to!
PLUS
+ Social Media Shout Out!
$50
DIGITAL ACCESS
Get digital access to watch all 6 episodes of Season 1 before everyone else! We promise the last episode is sooo goood, you’ll go from a #fan to a #stan!
PLUS
+ Social Media Shout Out!
+ Welcome to the Party!
$100
SAIGON BAR GIRL POSTCARD SET
You’re so amazing, we want you to have a physical memento of the show. We’ll send you a set of six 4x6 postcards created from our 1960s Saigon Bar Girl photoshoot. You’ll get prints so historically on point, we promise whoever you send it to will think they came from a museum and keep your postcard framed forever.
PLUS
+ Digital Access
+ Welcome to the Party!
+ Social Media Shout Out!
$150
VIP PREMIERE INVITE
Hey big spender! We’d be honored to have you join us at the premiere of Sideways Smile, including all the VIP perks like reserved seating and a chance to meet our creator/director. Travel to NYC and accommodation not included.
PLUS
+ Saigon Bar Girl Postcard Set
+ Digital Access
+ Welcome to the Party!
+ Social Media Shout Out!
Claimed: 7 of 10
$200
PRIMAL HARDWERE SEX TOY (LIMITED)
Damn! You must really like us… or monstrous sex toys. And yes...you read that right, hard-"were" like "werewolves!" You will receive a Primal Hardwere sex toy, which were generously donated by the company to dress our set, but we're hoping you'll put them to even better use!
*Please make sure to read the FAQ
PLUS
+ VIP Premiere Invite
+ Saigon Bar Girl Postcard Set
+ Digital Access
+ Welcome to the Party!
+ Social Media Shout Out!
Claimed: 4 of 7
$300
LELO SEX TOY (LIMITED)
Your contribution brought us a lot of joy, and we want to give that right back. You will receive a LELO sex toy, which were generously donated by the company to dress our set, but we're hoping you'll put them to even better use!
*Please make sure to read the FAQ
PLUS
+ VIP Premiere Invite
+ Saigon Bar Girl Postcard Set
+ Digital Access
+ Welcome to the Party!
+ Social Media Shout Out!
Claimed: 4 of 9
$500
SCRIPT NOTES
Our brains are your brains! Writer Hang Nguyen and creative producer Diane Chen will read your script and send you detailed notes, ideas, and suggestions.
PLUS
+ Choice of Lelo or Primal Hardwere Toy
+ VIP Premiere Invite
+ Saigon Bar Girl Postcard Set
+ Digital Access
+ Welcome to the Party!
+ Social Media Shout Out!
Claimed: 0 of 5
$1,000
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Welcome to the team! You’re officially an Associate Producer for the project, meaning you’ll be credited as such in the series and on IMDB.
PLUS
+ Script Notes
+ Choice of Lelo or Primal Hardwere Toy
+ VIP Premiere Invite
+ Saigon Bar Girl Postcard Set
+ Digital Access
+ Welcome to the Party!
+ Social Media Shout Out!
Claimed: 0 of 2
$2,500
CO-PRODUCER
Welcome to the team! You’re officially a Co-Producer for the project, meaning you’ll be credited as such in the series and on IMDB.
PLUS
+ Script Notes
+ Choice of Lelo or Primal Hardwere Toy
+ VIP Premiere Invite
+ Saigon Bar Girl Postcard Set
+ Digital Access
+ Welcome to the Party!
+ Social Media Shout Out!
Claimed: 0 of 2
$5,000
Executive Producer
You’re officially an Executive Producer for the project, in the credits for the series and on IMDB. If you ask nicely, we’ll call you Daddy.
PLUS
+ Script Notes
+ Choice of Lelo or Primal Hardwere Toy
+ VIP Premiere Invite
+ Saigon Bar Girl Postcard Set
+ Digital Access
+ Welcome to the Party!
+ Social Media Shout Out!
Claimed: 0 of 1
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
Hang Nguyen (Writer, Director, Producer)
Hang (she/her) is an educator, filmmaker, and project manager. She is the founder of Femsex Boston, an organization that runs a community workshop on female sexuality and identity. She is a member of the improv troupe Not Quite NASA and most recently starred in their sketch musical, Kung Fu Nuns. When she’s not working in film, Hang is helping to create engaging learning experiences and teaching data science to adult learners.
Diane Chen (Producer, Actor)
Diane Chen (they/them) is a multidisciplinary filmmaker and theater artist, and co-founder of Multihyphenate Productions. Their award-winning series Here We Wait racked up over 30 nominations on the festival circuit, including a win for Diane as Best Supporting Actress at Brooklyn Webfest. They’ve been seen on screen on HBO’s High Maintenance, Sundance, and TIFF, and onstage at The PIT, Corkscrew Theater Festival, Dixon Place, and more. They strive for their artistry to reflect an awareness of social responsibility and intersectionality of representation.
Jackie Schwartz (Producer)
Jackie (she/her) is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, and activist. Her mission is to create content about marginalized communities and underrepresented voices. She’s produced web series and short films that have premiered and won awards at festivals throughout the country. She previously worked as an associate producer at Fully Branded Media, collaborating on films such as: The Romantics, Margin Call, and Kill Your Darlings. Jackie is a proud advocate of self-love and a board member of Realize Your Beauty.
Harry Aspinwall (Producer, Editor)
Harry (he/him or they/them) is a co-founder of Dark Tower Films, a production company specializing in horror and historical narratives and their intersections with queerness and mental health. His fantasy satire "Orcs of New York" created a cult following of over 80,000 and was featured in The Huffington Post and Buzzfeed, and this year two of his screenplays are finalists in ScreenCraft and WeScreenplay's Diversity Voices. Harry is an upcoming resident writer at ArtFarm.
Iya Megre (Producer)
Iya (she/her or they/them) is a writer, attorney, and producer for film and theater. She has worked on immersive theater experiences in collaboration with Broken Ghost Immersives and The Megagame Society. Iya honed her editorial skills as Editorial Director for Let’s Go, the premier student travel guide company. As an attorney, her practice focuses on complex civil litigation, media law, and asylum law.
Katherine Castro (Director of Photography)
Katherine (she/her) is a NYC-based cinematographer. After studying architecture and photography in the Dominican Republic, Katherine returned to the U.S. to work in film and TV. Applying her design and photo background along with the invaluable lessons she has acquired over the years working in production, Katherine brings a unique style to her work. She was recently selected for the American Film Institute Cinematography Intensive for Women.
Besties Make Movies (Producers)
Founded by Marzy Hart and Stacey Maltin, Besties Make Movies is an independent content creation studio developing film & television content that is immodest, unfiltered, and provocative. Besties Makes Movies tells the compelling stories of those that the mainstream has left behind, in creative ways. As part of their mission, Besties projects employ inclusively on both sides of the camera. Besties Makes Movies also work tirelessly to bring sustainability to film production.
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