About this project

Thank you, truly, to everyone who has supported No Look Pass!  See you at our premiere on July 9th at 2pm in West Hollywood at the Sunset 5:  http://www.outfest.org/tixSYS/2011/xslguide/eventnote.php?EventNumber=3336

WHAT IS THIS FILM ABOUT?

No Look Pass is the coming-of-age American Dream story of Emily 'Etay' Tay, a first generation Burmese immigrant from Chinatown, Los Angeles.  Despite the fact that girls don't play sports in the Burmese tradition, Etay miraculously becomes a nationally-ranked basketball star at Harvard University thanks to her patented move, the no look pass.  But Emily is caught between two worlds and feels tormented by her double life.  She strives to play professionally in Germany but her dreams are no slam dunk -- sexuality, family, race, and Don't Ask Don't Tell conspire against her, firing her passions on and off the court.

WHAT'S THE BACKGROUND STORY?

A group of extraordinarily committed friends, led by director / producer Melissa Johnson, were so moved by Emily Tay's story that they decided to give all of their time, energy, love, vacations, weekends and (Melissa's) money to start making this film in the throes of the financial crisis in 2008.

Melissa initially met Etay in a chance encounter one day at a gymnasium.  Recalling the moment Melissa says, "I immediately knew I had to make No Look Pass -- it was like a lightening bolt.  It's a film that wants to be made, needs to be made, and just so happened to call upon me to make it happen.  It has been an incredibly long road and a complete honor making this film."

Three years, 300 hours of footage, thousands of miles (to Los Angeles, Cambridge, & Germany), and countless friends' couches later...No Look Pass is inches away from completion and has been accepted to its world premiere film festival this summer.  (The festival rules stipulate that the production team can't divulge which festival it is until the festival makes their public announcement on June 7th.)

The team is thrilled about this fantastic opportunity to finally share Emily's story with the world and determined to finish the film in the strongest possible manner.  An outreach campaign has started on social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter and Melissa spends from morning until night seeking ways to reach out to communities who will be moved by the film, especially female athletes, LGBT groups, and Asian-Americans.

Official website: http://www.nolookpassthemovie.com/

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/No-Look-Pass/164972953539020

Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/#!/nolookpassmovie

HOW WILL MY MONEY BE USED?

No Look Pass is a lean, mean, unbelievably frugal machine.  The only way the team has been able to pull of the creation of the film is by stretching every penny to its absolute farthest.  (We're still not sick of eating pizza.)  And this is what we intend to do with every cent you decide to contribute.

The money will be specifically devoted to expenses related to two key things:  1.) The last steps of finishing the film, laying of a master tape, and Fed-Ex'ing this tape to the festival; and 2.) Costs related to participating in the festival.  These costs cover basic essentials of community outreach and transportation.

Your money will directly contribute to bringing No Look Pass to the public in the immediate future.  This isn't a hypothetical film that MIGHT get finished, this is a first-rate film that is in hand.  You will be a valued member of our team and a true game-changer in making the power of this film a reality.