Always on
This project successfully funded on 21st March 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
Diva & Dave
Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Aim
Dave and his estranged daughter, Ellie, reunite at his mother's funeral. Unbeknownst to him, she has undergone a pink and glittery makeover.
Summary of Diva & Dave
Synopsis
At his mother’s funeral, anxious loner Dave endures awkward condolences and unwanted memories, until Ellie, (now Diva) his estranged daughter, bursts in, all colour and chaos. Thrown together after years apart, the grumpy recluse and his flamboyant daughter struggle to share a home. As Diva fills the lifeless house with energy and noise, Dave’s stubborn immaturity is gradually exposed and, with her help, slowly softened. In the end, Diva learns patience, Dave rediscovers warmth, and a fragile reconciliation begins to take root.
Parental acceptance is a huge part of growing up, especially for people our age. When we leave home, go to university, or simply grow into ourselves, we often change in ways our parents don't expect. That shift can create distance, misunderstanding, or silence, something many young people experience as they navigate adulthood.
But this story isn’t just for us. It’s for the parents, too. For the people who may struggle to accept who their children are becoming, or who fear they’re losing the version of us they once knew. Diva & Dave explores both sides of that divide: the young adult trying to be seen, and the parent trying to catch up.
Through this film, we want to open a conversation about acceptance, change, and the emotional work it takes on both sides to find each other again.
Ellie, known as DIVA
Ellie left home for university just as her parents’ marriage was falling apart. London gave her the noise, colour, and freedom she’d never had growing up. She thrived, finding confidence in the drag scene, building a chosen family, and carving out a life that felt entirely her own.
She works as a bartender in a drag club, surrounded by people who understand her better than her own parents sometimes do. Her mother keeps in loose touch through postcards from around the world, while her father insists “the phone works both ways”, a stance that’s left their relationship frozen in place for years.
Ellie’s love life is messy but hopeful, marked by an on-again, off-again relationship. Despite everything pulling her away from home, she’s returned for a little while, determined to help her dad, even if neither of them quite knows how to bridge the distance between them.
Dave grew up in a house where violence was routine and silence was survival. After his parents divorced, he was sent to boarding school, and by sixteen he’d enlisted in the Air Force, a place where structure and discipline gave him something solid to hold onto. He spent over thirty years working his way through the ranks.
During a work night out, he met Eliana, and what started as a brief romance unexpectedly became a marriage. Their daughter, Diva, arrived soon after. But as the years passed, the cracks in the relationship widened, and shortly after Ellie left for university, the divorce was final.
His retirement came sooner than planned when his mother was diagnosed with dementia. He returned to the village he grew up in, slipping into a quiet, subdued routine that left little room for joy or ambition. The loneliness, the history, and the old patterns sit heavily on him, and reconnecting with Diva may be the first disruption his life has had in years.
A Word From Our Director
Hi, I'm Aimee Gayle and I am the Director and co-Writer of Diva & Dave. This is a story of acceptance that is very personal to me and I am very excited to be bringing this narrative and these characters to life. Our film follows a father and daughter as they learn to see eye to eye after years of estrangement, and after a major wardrobe change. This is a story rooted in something universal: the desire to be seen, understood, and accepted. Whether it’s navigating a complicated relationship with a parent or stepping into the person you truly are, Diva and Dave taps into experiences so many of us share.
We’re excited to share Diva’s perspective of being a Female Drag Queen, surrounded by a vibrant and supportive team who understands and celebrates both Diva and Dave.
A Word From Our Producer
Hi, I'm Lee Samuels, the Producer of Diva & Dave. To bring this story to life, we’re reaching out for your support. Creating a film with talented actors, visually striking locations, and a distinctive production design costs — and I’ve set our crowdfunder target at £2,500. Hitting this goal will allow us to craft this film to the best-quality it can be. Every single donation counts, no matter how small. As a thank-you, we’ve put together a tiered reward package for our supporters. Each tier offers unique perks designed to bring you closer to the filmmaking process — from ‘thank you credits at the end of the film’ to 'Live Q&As with the crew'.
So if you’d like to learn more, you can find all the details on our Crowdfunder page linked below, and in our Instagram and TikTok bios. Thank you for supporting independent filmmaking — it truly means the world to us.
A Word From Our Production Designer
Hi! I’m Ruby Parker, the Production Designer on Diva & Dave. Production Design plays a vital role in reflecting the character's inner conflicts and underscoring the emotional distance that drives the story. It’s a true privilege to tell stories that celebrate queer experiences and the exceptional artistry of drag. In today’s challenging climate, Diva & Dave feels especially meaningful, and with such a wonderful team behind it, I can’t wait to start!
We need £2,500 to make Diva & Dave a reality, and here’s how your support will help:
- Actors, with chemistry: We need professionals who can bring the full complexity of these characters’ dynamic to life: the tension, humour, and heart of their relationship.
- Costumes, hair, and makeup: Diva and Dave are opposites, but we need this contrast to feel authentic and personal, not dramatised.
- Locations: From the church to the pub, the house, and even the car, every setting needs to reflect the close-knit, small-town world they live in.
- Equipment: Lenses, rigs, and technical extras will let us explore every creative way to tell this story visually.
- Festival run: Once we’re wrapped, we want to reach as many people as possible, film lovers, communities, anyone who will connect with this story.
Every film comes with challenges and for Diva & Dave, we are aware of a few key areas that need careful handling:
- Representation: We want to tell the story of Diva and Dave without turning either of them, or the people they represent, into caricatures. Their flaws and growth need to feel human, not exaggerated. The film also includes queer themes, and we are committed to representing them respectfully and authentically without stereotypes or distortion.
- Locations: Many scenes take place in a pub, which is a difficult space to secure. We also need a house that feels like Dave’s even before dressing it, and a countryside setting that feels authentic.
- Casting: Our actors need to not only resemble each other slightly but also have a believable, lived-in dynamic. Their chemistry is essential for the story to work.
By acknowledging these challenges early, we can plan carefully, collaborate with the right people, and make sure the film feels truthful, grounded, and visually convincing.
Even if you can’t donate, there are ways to support Diva & Dave:
- Spread the word: Tell friends, family, or fellow film lovers about our project.
- Come to our fundraising events: They’ll be a chance to meet the team, have fun, and directly contribute to the film.
- Follow us online: Keep up with updates, behind-the-scenes content, and event details on Instagram and TikTok.
Thank you for supporting Diva & Dave!
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made