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.

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)