You know how they say “Do something that scares you every day”? Well, I took that advice a little too seriously and decided to do the thing that terrified me the most: Writing and performing a one-woman show. 

Very much inspired by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and her iconic stage-show-turned-tv-show Fleabag, what kicked off as an 8-minute stand-up routine (another terrifying thing that I swore I would NEVER do), quickly morphed into a full hour of theater which I performed to sold-out crowds and rave reviews at this year's Hollywood Fringe Festival!

FRINGE REVIEWS: https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/10834?tab=reviews

ORIGINAL SHOW SIZZLE (1.5 Min): https://vimeo.com/959672983

And guess what? Not only has the show snagged an invite to next year's off-Broadway United Solo Festival in NYC, but I've also received an overwhelming amount of advice to develop the show into a TV Series!

Things were getting REAL, so I recently sat down for coffee with one of my favorite filmmakers, Bo Youngblood. Bo is the woman who held my hand through all of the learning curves of setting up my film company, directed and co-produced my company’s first short film The Power Within, and took home the award for Filmmaker to Watch at the Rhode Island International Film Festival for this very project. I asked her… “Am I crazy?”. Am I crazy to want to take this show to the next level? Am I crazy to say ‘yes’ to it all? 

Her response: “You’re crazy not to”. 

So, I’m beyond excited to announce that the show is now being developed in TWO exciting avenues:

2. Proof of Concept for the Television Series: After a successful film festival run this year with our short film, The Power Within, Bo Youngblood and I will be teaming up again to Co-Produce the proof of concept for the Who’s Serving Who television series, with Bo as Director and myself as Co-Director whilst reprising my role of ‘Sydney’.

LINK TO PROOF OF CONCEPT PITCH DECK: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGQ90q_LRo/tet5VDEqUUmUCZmM66I2iA/edit?utm_content=DAGQ90q_LRo&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

For those of you who don’t know me, I'm Kelsie McDonald, and I've acted, written and produced my way around the world, from little old Brisbane, Australia, to London, Mexico and LA. I hold an MA in Acting from the Guildford School of Acting in the UK, and co-created the London-based theater company Encompass Theatre Collective out of University, which toured shows across the UK and Europe. In 2018 I started to branch out a bit and began writing and producing indie films. In 2021 I launched my production company People Power Pictures. The company's first film, female-driven sci-fi/superhero short The Power Within is a proof of concept for a feature film franchise that premiered this year at the famous Chinese Theatre within the esteemed Dances with Films festival. It was later screened at San Diego International Comic Con and the Rhode Island Film Festival. I'm currently in Guadalajara, Mexico in production for pickups on a feature film which I co-wrote, co-produce and co-star alongside Ted Lasso and Venom star Cristo Fernandez. The film is a bilingual rom-com and is due to be released 2025.

It’s undeniably the most exciting time of my career, and I know that right now is the time to get this project out to the world.

Bo Youngblood is a producer and director focusing on female driven and diverse stories. All of her feature films have had full theatrical releases as well as world wide distribution under her banner Showdown Productions. Her past films include “Safer at Home” “The Pay Day” and “Break”. She recently wrapped production on "The Cure" starring David Dastmalcian and Ashley Greene. Her feature film directorial debut “In Flight” starring Cristo Fernandez, Maria Russell, and Tiffany Smith is being released theatrically and streaming November 2024. She recently was awarded the Directing Filmmaker of the Future Award at the Rhode Island Film Festival. 

Are you keen on championing female-driven projects that focus on untold perspectives? Do you have a soft spot for feel-good stories that spread positive messages? Ready to back an emerging artist who is incredibly passionate, driven and go-getting? If you’re nodding along, jump on board—I can’t wait to team up with you!

We’ve got an amazing crew on deck, including many team members from The Power Within, and we need your support to get this project soaring! 

I truly believe it’s my mission in life to entertain and connect with audiences and we need more comedy and vibrance on our screens and in our lives! The first stage performances had the audience laughing and crying, with folks coming up to me afterwards, tears in their eyes, thanking me for sharing such a raw, honest, and relatable story. Hearing that the show made viewers feel seen and less alone was confirmation that this project needs an opportunity to reach a larger audience to share this positive effect.

The time is now, and I can’t do this without you!

As an independent artist, I have the skills, experience and determination to dream up this dual-armed project but I need YOUR financial help to bring it to life! 

This is a double whammy campaign, raising funds to take the theater show to the bright lights of NYC as well as the creation of the proof of concept short film production!

United Solo Festival entry fees and all logistical costs associated with taking the show to NYC (flights, accommodation, food etc!).

NEW THEATER SHOW SYNOPSIS: 

As lights rise on The Day Job, Hollywood’s beloved dive, Sydney—your lively Aussie waitress—wakes up mid-shift, convinced she’s still in her recurring server stress dream. But as reality blurs with her imagination, she realizes this might be all too real.

Through chaotic orders, confessions, and laugh-out-loud mishaps, Sydney unveils the exhaustion and burnout lurking behind her bright facade. Join her for an hour of comedy, raw honesty, and Aussie charm, where one night’s shift becomes an unforgettable journey into the life of a woman holding it together one tip at a time.

2. THE PROOF OF CONCEPT SHORT FILM:

Shooting a proof-of-concept for a TV series inspired by the theater show Who’s Serving Who.

Cinematography costs, camera and lens rentals, sound equipment, editing and post-production, locations, crew salaries, insurance, taxes and fees, craft services (food!)  for 3 days of shooting, costumes, hair and makeup, props and other expenses that typically pop up when shooting a film.

PROOF OF CONCEPT for the TV Series SYNOPSIS:

Sydney treats each shift like a performance, scoring laughs from customers with her quick wit and a "Tip Tally" that dings like a game show. But when she senses an invisible audience watching her every move, the lively atmosphere takes a surreal turn. Sydney's upbeat charm starts to crack, exposing hidden insecurities and a complex inner world beneath her bubbly facade. As chaos unfolds around her, she questions if her on-screen "performance" is truly her or a carefully crafted persona. Blending sitcom charm with the depth of a one-woman show, the short film explores self-worth, identity, and the universal truth that, at the end of the day, everybody is going through something.

Your contribution will go a long way in bringing future renditions of this story to life and, because I'm fundraising through Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3) organization, your donation is…

Fractured Atlas is a nonprofit organization which offers Fiscal Sponsorship for Artists, (that’s me!) allowing all donations to this project to be fully tax deductible! Fractured Atlas will generate a tax receipt for every eligible contribution.

Let’s make some magic together!

Other ways you can help this project take flight...

Thanks for serving up your support for Who’s Serving Who. It means the world to me!

Who’s Serving Who is being produced by People Power Pictures LLC, my production company, aspiring to continue telling stories from around the world, determined to push boundaries, evoke thought and inspire positive change. 

It's because of people like YOU that Who's Serving Who will deliver its message to the world: none of us are truly alone. 

And from the bottom of my heart, I know this to be true.

Thank you! 

-Kelsie

xoxo