Cape grad seeks public support for film

Sarah McCarron has been working hard since her theater days at Cape Henlopen High School. Now a writer and actress in Los Angeles, McCarron has co-written a romantic comedy that explores marriage from a gender-fluid perspective, and she’s hoping the Cape community will offer support as the film seeks a production partner. 

“It’s giving an opportunity for under-represented voices to make a film about marriage by two gay filmmakers,” she said.

So far, McCarron said, the film has exceeded its crowdfunding goal for development costs, raising about $12,000, well over the $10,000 goal. The next objective is to get as many people as possible to go to the crowdfunding site Seed&Spark and follow “D.I.Y.”

“We need people to follow us and vote for the film.” she said. “It’s free to follow.”

The top 10 film projects will be considered for funding by prolific film producers, the Duplass Brothers, whose credits include “The League,” “The Puffy Chair” and HBO’s “Togetherness” and “Animals.” Jay Duplass is perhaps most recognizable as the brother on Amazon’s “Transparent.”

With the knowledge and experience the Duplass Brothers bring, McCarron said “D.I.Y.” could be made with a high level of resources and have a much wider reach.

The film, “D.I.Y.,” is set in Philadelphia, where McCarron lived from 2005 to 2009. After graduating from Cape in 1998, she earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Delaware in Drama and English. She then earned a graduate degree from the London International School of the Performing Arts before moving to Philadelphia. 

Sarah’s mother, Lewes resident Terri Lottmann, has always been supportive of her daughter’s pursuits. “I’ve always been proud of how Sarah is committed to igniting important social conversations,” Lottmann said.  “Sarah has always taken artistic risk and I’m excited her community has an opportunity to support her.”

Chris King, former Cape High theater director when McCarron was a student, said McCarron performed in all of the plays in the late 1990s.

“She was an excellent actress, and very creative and talented,” King said.

But she didn’t just perform onstage. She helped backstage, and with everything needed to put on a production. “She was interested in all aspects of the theater,” King said. 

McCarron honed her acting skills with the Pig Iron Theatre Co., performing in live theater throughout Philadelphia. She also taught classes at the city’s University of the Arts. Most of all, she said, she grew to love Philadelphia. “My professional acting career began in Philadelphia, so I consider Philadelphia one of my hometowns,” she said. “Along with Lewes, of course.”

By 2009, McCarron headed out to Los Angeles to pursue television writing and continue acting. She has studied the Jacques Lecoq method of physical theater movement, where she met Yuval Boim, co-writer of “D.I.Y.” 

Through Ensemble Studio Theatre of Los Angeles, Sarah met and worked with Gates McFadden, of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” fame and James Eckhouse, who played the father of Brenda and Brandon Walsh on 1990s hit “Beverly Hills 90210.” 

McFadden and Eckhouse play the parents of Boim’s character in a trailer for the film, and both have committed to the full production. The proof-of-concept trailer was created through a series of developmental workshops, and the footage was produced and shot by another local Lewes resident, John Wattenbarger. In 2006, McCarron acted in Wattenbarger’s well-received local film, “The Stone House.”

McCarron said she is also thrilled that Rehoboth Beach jewelry designer Heidi Lowe has signed on to participate in the film. “We’ve been collaborating with Heidi and she’s doing jewelry for the film. We are thrilled to feature her work,” she said. “She may even have a cameo as a hip metalsmith jeweler!”

“I’m really excited; I want this film to go,” Lowe said. “Sarah’s so funny and so smart.”

People must submit their follows for D.I.Y. by Friday, Oct. 13, to be counted. So far, McCarron said, “D.I.Y” is in 12th place. “I feel like this is a great opportunity for the community to rally around an exciting independent film. We are so close!” 

Follow D.I.Y. at seedandspark.com/fund/diy#team.