CLICK TO SEE OUR PITCH DECK HERE!
Thank you friends for your contributions! Our principal photography is in the can!! We are now re-launching our fundraiser to help pay for post-production.
Small Town Stories: Where Salvation Meets Temptation!
While members of the High Way Church attempt to shut down Madame WuWu’s Cantina on the grounds of “moral decency,” alcoholic exotic dancer Lorraine discovers her daughter Lexi stripp'n for tips to leave town. Lorraine wrangles a ragtag group of misfit barflies together to preserve the cantina and unexpectedly draws Lexi and the church folks into a zany talent show that changes the town, and Lorraine, forever.
Why We're Relaunching Our Campaign!
We just wrapped filming! Small Town Stories is entering its final phase: post-production. This is where the magic truly happens—where our story is polished, soundscapes come to life, and colors set the mood. To bring our film to its full potential and share it with audiences, we need your help to cross the finish line! Your support now will help us deliver a high-quality film that stays true to our vision.
Why Now?
We live in a time where it feels like we’re all on opposite sides of the street — divided by beliefs, backgrounds, and experiences. But Small Town Stories reminds us of what happens when we meet in the middle — when we listen, laugh together, and see each other fully.
We’ve got the heart. We’ve got the story. We’ve got the footage! Now we just need your help to bring it home.
Every dollar gets us closer to sharing this funny, heartfelt story with the world — a story about connection, community, and finding common ground when it feels impossible.
Why Us?
Small Town Stories is more than just a funny feud between strippers and church folk, it’s about what happens when a community is forced to see beyond its differences.
On one side: the High Way Church. On the other: Madame WuWu’s Cantina. What starts as a battle over "moral decency" turns into something far more surprising — a messy, heartfelt, and hilarious journey toward connection, understanding, and unexpected friendship.
Movies have always helped us laugh, cry, and see the world through someone else’s eyes. At a time when it feels like people are more divided than ever, Small Town Stories reminds us of the simple truth: we’re all human. We all want to belong. And sometimes the wildest stories help us remember that best.
How You Can Help
By giving to this project and sharing it with your social and business networks, we can put together the financial resources to make a wonderful and impactful movie that will help bring us together. There are a multitude of ways you can help support our project, including:
- Sending our Crowdfundr page to your friends and families!
- Posting about our movie on your social media, and following us @DebrasSmallTownMovie on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube!
- Contributing directly to our Crowdfundr and claiming a fun perk or product!
- Texting SMALLTOWN to: US (870) 800-GIVE (4483) or Canada (506) 700-GIVE (4483) to give to our campaign over text!
Any help is greatly appreciated, and with ya'll's support we'll be able to make a fantastic movie!
Our Promise
When you support our project, you join a community of individuals passionate about community and the power of art through storytelling to create change. As we make this movie together, we’ll keep you updated every step of the way to show you the impact of the work your money has enabled.
SO...JOIN US!!!!
This is one of those times when you can
truly make a difference within an issue that affects us all.
Make a contribution, purchase some cool perks, or even just
share the campaign on any/all of your social media.
We promise to make you proud. And all of us a bit less stressed out. Thank you!
Perks
Your very own copy of the final draft of the Small Town script signed by screenwriter Debra DeLiso, in digital form. It can be signed to you, or someone of your choice. Makes a great gift for the movie-lovers in your life!
- 2 claimed
- 18 remaining
Want to move to another level in your creative life? This perk gives you a 30-minute creative consultation with award-winning Hollywood veteran actor/director Debra De Liso, who has taught hundreds of students at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and USC's Theatre program. Choose a date between December 2023 and March 31, 2024 for your Zoom session.
Do you have a story to tell? Have you always wanted to try your hand at acting? In Debra DeLiso's Theatre of Compassion Academy, you can do just that! This perk enables a 40% discount on her asynchronous (on your own time) Solo Performance Course, which costs $249, but can be yours for $100. Also makes a great gift!
Highlights
See all activity16Milestone Budget
First things first. We're committed to making a high-quality, DIY indie movie. This takes a lot of faith, which we have, but it also takes cold hard cash!
IMPORTANT NOTE: We have an agreement with SAG/AFTRA as an "Microbudget" project. This means we need to make the film for under $20,000. Below is what the budget will be made up of.
We will save a great deal of money by finding low-cost locations, doing DIY set decoration, and having props, costumes and set pieces contributed through our family, friends and YOU, our contributors!
Transparency: Where is the Money Going?
We believe in being upfront about how your contributions will
be used. Here’s the breakdown of our
post-production
costs:
-
Sound Design & Mixing:
$5,000
-
Colorist & Final Grading:
$4,000
-
Editor:
$5,000
-
Miscellaneous Post-Production Costs:
$1,000
- Data Storage & Transfer: $2,000
- Film Festival Submissions & Marketing: $3,000
Total Goal: $20,000
Every dollar raised will go directly to ensuring that Small Town Stories is completed at the highest quality possible and reaches the widest audience.
For more information, contact debradeliso@gmail.com
Characters
Small Town is peopled with a diverse and
quirky cast of characters. Here's a look at a few of them.
(See them all at smalltown-movie.com)
On one side of the highway is Madame WuWu's Cantina... | On the other side is the High Way Church... |
|
| Other Characters... | LEXI - Lorraine's feisty daughter, a wild woman with an extraordinary singing voice. MADAME WU - the strong willed Chinese cantina owner, sick with cancer, tango dancer. CELIA -a Latina motel maid and political activist. ALMA - the Filipina stripper/snake dancer and town apothecary. TXU - Basque town mechanic, motorcycle mama and animal rescuer. JOHNNY JON - a slick L.A. hustler, African American who secretly longs to be a renowned chef. MATE - Johnny Jon’s side kick, a dim-witted but tender-hearted Australian. DANNY - a good natured, disabled African American Viet Nam vet, talented illustrator. DICK - "Little person," horny bar fly and Shakespearean actor. NORMAN - the cross-dressing hotel receptionist. | PASTOR PETE - a hypocritical preacher, peeper, and closeted lounge singer. SHERIFF JACK - the only local authority, fair minded, with a soft spot for Lorraine. DAVEY – Wilma's repressed son secretly dresses as a chanteuse. JESSICA - Wilma's daughter studying to be a lawyer, represses her own happiness. |
LORRAINE
WILMA
Your very own copy of the final draft of the Small Town script signed by screenwriter Debra DeLiso, in digital form. It can be signed to you, or someone of your choice. Makes a great gift for the movie-lovers in your life!
- 2 claimed
- 18 remaining
Want to move to another level in your creative life? This perk gives you a 30-minute creative consultation with award-winning Hollywood veteran actor/director Debra De Liso, who has taught hundreds of students at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and USC's Theatre program. Choose a date between December 2023 and March 31, 2024 for your Zoom session.
Do you have a story to tell? Have you always wanted to try your hand at acting? In Debra DeLiso's Theatre of Compassion Academy, you can do just that! This perk enables a 40% discount on her asynchronous (on your own time) Solo Performance Course, which costs $249, but can be yours for $100. Also makes a great gift!
